subtenebris | AU Fic: Reborn in Darkness

The strigoi that attacked Anika on the street was long dead by the time that Alessandro reached the old warehouse where Anika and Edmund were sheltered. Its broken body lay crumpled on the floor, dragged inside by the Malkavian, who hadn't wanted to leave a body to attract the police.

Edmund liked Anika, that much was obvious. She hadn't been gone from the hospitalk very long when he decided to follow her, to watch out for her and see her home. The attack on the street by the strigoi was a fluke. It could have happened to anyone on the crowded New York sidewalk, but Anika was the one who didn't move quite fast enough. The strigoi hadn't gotten much of a meal, though. Edmund appeared outo of the shadows as if by magic and broke the feral vampire's neck.

But it was clear by the time that Alessandro arrived that she was infected. Her breathing was quicker, her skin flushed and hot, as if with fever. She was unconscious for now, mostly through Edmund's power, but her limbs jerked as the worms slowly began the change.

Alessandro looked on critically. "I don't know, Edmund. I appreciate you like the girl, but I haven't met her or tested her myself. I don't know if she's worthy of the Blood."

"She is, Alessandro. I would give it to her myself, but...I don't know, she just doesn't seem right for it. I think the truth would break her, and that would be a shame."

Alessandro looked dubious. "If the truth would break her, then she's not worthy of my blood."

Edmund knelt and brushed hair from her face. She was sweating as the infection burned through her. "You know what I mean, Alessandro. I wouldn't have chosen you, either. The truth wouldn't set you free, it would send you into darkness. She's very smart. Very driven, I've seen it. She would make an excellent fledgling."

Alessandro sighed. "You won't let up, will you?"

"Well, I would prefer you to agree with me, but I'll change her either way. I just thought you'd like her." Edmund tried and failed for an innocent expression.

Alessandro sighed and sat next to her. He pulled her gloves off so that he could see the veins in her wrists. The blood was still dark under her skin, but he could just barely see other things crawling under her skin. "I need to drain her blood, but I'm not going to feed on those worms. You need to find us food. We'll both be starving when I'm finished."

Edmund grinned. "Coming right up."

"And Edmund? If I do this, our plans will be set back, probably for decades. I am not letting you train her, and I cannot bring her back to the Sabbat without her jeopardizing our plans. You'll need to get me in to see the Prince."

"I will." Edmund disappeared, back out onto the street.

Alessandro put a hand on Anika's forehead, and with that touch, she started to wake. He said softly, "You've been infected. I am about to begin draining the infected blood from your system. When I'm done, it will be your choice whether you live or whether you die a human."

She blinked furiously, trying to clear her head. "Wh...what?" So much. There was so much. The strigoi that fed on her. She could feel it dead, but they'd been a hive mind, and it was as if she could feel them, like a hive of ants under the city. And then there was Edmund and Alessandro. She moaned. So hot. If only he'd get her a drink of water. That's all she wanted. Something to cool her throat. Her throat hurt.

Alessandro pulied out a pocket knife and pressed it to her wrist. "This is going to hurt, I'm sorry. I dare not drink your blood. I don't have enough blood to spare for you and the worms." With that, he slashed first one wrist, then the other, and then he held her down as blood poured from the wounds. More and more, and with it some of the worms as well, fleeing her as her struggles slowed.

Finally, when she felt as if she was going to sink slowly into sleep...and would that be so bad, really? Then, he bit at his wrist and held it above her mouth. "Now decide. Live or die. If you live, you'll be a vampire. More powerful than you can imagibe, with the strength and ability to end the plague that took your life. If you die, you die a human and not one of those monsters."

The first drop of blood hit her lips. Her tongue flicked out, beyond her control now. She was thirsty, so thirsty, even more than she was tired, she was parched. And the blood! She moaned...no, she couldn't! What would Oni say? Would she see any of them again? But the thirst didn't care and in a moment neither did she, as warmth and pleasure radiated through her body, more intense than any she'd ever felt before. She reached up and grabbed for Alessandro's arm, holding his bleeding wrist to her mouth, and drank.

Alessandro moaned, holding her to him, pulling her up and out of the mess on the floor as she grew stronger and the pleasure grew. And then, just as he started to get light-headed, enough. He pulled his wrist away, marveling at her strength as she reached for it again. "Enough. You need living blood, not more of mine. Let me see you. Can you stand?" He stood and stepped away, waiting.

Anika looked around them. The dark warehouse was bright as day to her. She gasped. Alessandro stood to the side, watching her. She stood, then made a face as her insides churned, then she felt the hunger.

She must have made a sound, because Alessandro said softly, "You're hungry. Your blood was drained and what little remains is likely being used to fight the infection. You need to feed."

As if on cue, Edmund came back, leading an older couple. Both rushed towards Anika when they saw her, but Alessandro held the man back. "Oh, dear, your friend told us you were sick. You shouldn't be standing up."

Alessandro nodded softly to Anika. "You need it. Don't fight this time." As the couple began to get nervous, backing away, Alessandro reached out and grabbed them both, holding them still. "The Beast will force you to feed eventually. Better to feed on your own terms than discover what you're capable of in a frenzy. Feed. And then we'll talk."

Anika looked as if she'd argue, but Alessandro bit into the man's neck. When the smell of blood hit her, she couldn't help it. She reached out and, as the woman screamed, she bit into her neck.

Edmund watched, a pleased grin on his face. They'd be happy, he knew it.