My jaw felt as if it dropped to the floor, and I briefly comprehended that my head no longer hurt from the multiple blows I’d suffered prior to the potion. My eyesight was sharp again too.
I stepped closer to him. “Can you undo it? Please? Can someone somewhere undo this?”
“No. No one has ever reversed the course once they’ve turned into a vampire.” His statement was said so matter-of-factly.
I somehow managed to contain my shock and growing fear, and a part of me was overwhelmingly relieved to know that I could stillfeel,even if it was terror. And I still remembered whoI was and where I came from. I hadn’t changed completely, but I was also entirelydifferent.
“Will I need to drink blood?” I could barely get the question out, but it was what Nathaniel had told me he’d learned of vampires, as repugnant as that was.
“Of course, you will,” my uncle replied, again in that very practical tone, as though he hadn’t just turned his niece into a horrific creature. “And if you asked that question, it seems you are more knowledgeable about vampires than I have given you credit for. Very good, Primelle.”
He led me to the stairway and traipsed down it, his steps light and buoyant. “And in case you’re wondering, you’ll no longer need to sleep unless you prefer it, and the urge to drink blood will at times feel uncontrollable, but you shall learn to control yourself.”
I barely felt the steps passing beneath my feet as I kept pace behind him. “What do you mean I won’t need to sleep?”
“Sleep isn’t required for vampires, although some choose to keep that habit. But now that you’re fully transformed, you’ll no longerneedto sleep. However, if you choose to always stay awake, you’ll have to hide it lest others become suspicious of what you’ve become.”
“What?”
We reached the bottom of the stairs, and with a start, I realized we were back in the entryway, the same one that I’d been in yesterday, except instead of turning toward the library, my uncle led me down another hallway toward a corner door.
“After I give you your orders, you’ll be returning to Whiteolf under a glamour that you’ll continually need to replenish to hide your paler complexion. You shall also always keep your fangs retracted, only letting them come forth when the need to feed arises. And when you return, looking exactly as you always were,your Imperial Warrior will accompany you so as not to raise suspicion, and then you’ll carry on with my instructions.”
My thoughts whirled as my uncle’s insidious plan fully took root. My uncle had indeed changed me into a vampire to control me, and he planned to send me back to Whiteolf to do who knew what. But if he thought a glamour could fool other fae, he was an absolute idiot.
I snorted angrily. “How do you expect that to work? My heart no longer beats! Everyone will eventually know.”
“True, very true,” he replied calmly. “But when anyone begins to suspect that, you shall enter their minds and erase all of their suspicions.”
My jaw dropped again, and genuine panic began to consume me, yet nothing inside reacted because I was technicallydead.
The urge to collapse hit me so hard that my feet stumbled, but just as fast, I regained my footing because something inside me said that I must carry on. Arnel had commanded me to follow him.I must follow.
My stumble did little to slow me. I moved so easily now, so fluidly. Yet, I didn’t feel like me. Despite still having my emotions, I feltother.
My uncle opened the door in the corner, revealing a dark circular stairway that led downward, and it struck me again that nobody was about. No servants. No sounds. It was as if his entire castle was completely empty.
Don’t go. Resist him. Don’t go down there, Primelle!
I planted my feet to the floor, and Arnel began to descend.
Tension coiled around my muscles, my feet trying to lift.
No. Fight it. Don’t go.
But my foot lifted.
And I was following my treacherous uncle.
Stupid, betraying body!
Somehow, I managed to control my howl of fury and disbelief and bit out, “Doesn’t anyone work here? Why is nobody around?”
“I have staff, but they only come one day a week. I don’t like fae milling around my home, so, right now, no. The castle is empty save for my trusted followers.”
I seethed. “Trusted followers? Does anyone actually trust you?”
“I don’t like your tone, Primelle.” My uncle’s voice grew cold, commanding.
