I felt like the walls of my room were bearing down on me, it felt suffocating and claustrophobic. I paced the room trying to take in each breath and count before releasing it to try and stave off the panic rising up inside me.

Silas had pulled no punches when he had revealed what lay in my future.

Feeling shaky, I sat down. This could not be happening. I bit my lip, it drew blood.

The door to my room opened. A vampire I had never met stood in the doorway.

“Follow me,” he commanded.

I didn’t want to go anywhere. I wanted to stay in the safety of the small bedroom.

The vampire frowned when I hesitated.

I swallowed at the look he gave me as I slid slowly from the bed to stand.

He turned and I followed him.

Some Sires watched as the vampire led me to the door that led to where the vampires lived. He put his hand to the scanner and the doors opened.

I felt panicked. If I passed through those doors I would never get out. Never. I would be forced to have a child with a vampire who made my skin crawl and I had no doubt that Thane would use whatever he could to keep me obedient.

It was a life I feared.

I stopped, unable to proceed.

The vampire waited, looking back over his shoulder at me.

I remembered Silas’ warning. I didn’t have a choice.

“Avery.” The vampire prompted.

The name reminded me of a time that was passed, I was no longer that innocent human.

My innocence and hope had been crushed by the vampires. They had broken me down and built me into Sire who could withstand more pain than I thought possible. I had learnt to take the life of another. But a new cruelty lay ahead. One I did not believe I could survive.

I glanced at the male vampire as he studied me coldly.

There was no doubt if I did not do as I was told they would use the fear of my family’s safety to ensure my cooperation. As Silas had reminded me, I didn’t have a choice.

I moved to pass through the doors. The doors swished closed behind me. I took a breath to hold as I followed the vampire, trying to fight the survival instinct to run and get as far away as possible.

The living quarters for the vampires was very different to the Sires. There was no longer sterile white walls, floors and ceilings.

Rich warm colors decorated the carpets, walls and ceilings. The decor screamed money and power.

I allowed my eyes to take in everything I could as the vampire led me through the passageway that widened into a circular hall.

The sound of my footsteps echoed through the vast space. I stopped to take in the artwork hanging from the walls and then to the intricate paintings that decorated the ceiling. It was beautiful.

The Vampire I had been following cleared his throat.

I hurried to follow him to another door. The doors opened to the outside as he put his hand to the scanner.

This time when I passed through the doorway I took a moment to allow the sun to shine on my face and felt the warmth. It felt like a lifetime since I had been outside, not confined within four white walls that had become my prison.

I inhaled deeply. I smelled the grass, flowers. For a moment I felt hope and just for a fleeting second I felt free. No longer confined within my prison. It lifted my spirit into the clouds before I followed the Vampire down a stone path.

How was it possible the Vampire could walk in the sun? Was that another feature of Vampires that was untrue?

The stone path led to a large building that I entered behind the vampire.

Inside there was a vast reception before he led me upstairs and down a passageway of doors. The interior, very much the same as the vampires section of the building we had just left.

He led me into a bedroom. “This is where you will stay until the ceremony.”

“Ceremony?” I croaked. What was he talking about?

“Tonight you will be given to a Vampire.”

I swallowed hard. Given, like an object. No choice.

“You will need to wash and change. There is an outfit in the wardrobe for you. Everything you will need is within this room.”

I nodded, still trying to get to grips with what was unfolding. It was happening faster than I had anticipated.

“Be ready within an hour.”

He closed the door and I sank down onto the bed, staring at the door.

He hadn’t locked me in, but they knew I would do whatever they commanded when my family was still at their mercy.

In that moment I felt so emotional and I shed a tear. Sniffling, I thought back to my parents and wondered what they were doing while I was contemplating the worst possible cruelty that I would have to endure to ensure their safety.

My life was theirs and if I didn’t do as I was told, my parents would suffer the consequences.

I took a deep breath and released it before I went to the wardrobe and found a crimson red dress with a sash around the waist.

The material was beautiful with intricate designs of symbols I didn’t recognize. There was a pair of sandals in the same color.

To keep myself from freaking out and doing something I might regret I kept my mind on fulfilling the task of running the shower and stripping naked.

Any time my mind would wonder to Thane I would stop myself for fear of what I might do.

I washed my hair and body. Rinsing before I towel dried my hair and wrapped the towel around my body. I brushed my hair and dried it.

There were various body lotions and perfumes. I didn’t use any of it. It was my small defiance against what they were making me do. I would do no more than was necessary.

The outfit fit perfectly. It was striking. If this had been any other time I would have loved it but it felt like a prison outfit. I slid the shoes on and sat down on the bed waiting for the vampire to return.

There were moments of wild panic I had to hold myself steady through before the door opened and the same vampire who had led me to the room told me it was time. It was difficult not to feel nervous and I had no idea if I was succeeding at hiding it. I didn’t want to show any weakness, no matter what.

I held my head high as I followed the vampire back to the entrance of the building. He led me outside. It was dark, the night sky sparkles with stars.

It was beautiful.

I released a nervous breath slowly as I followed the vampire to another building. There were two vampires guarding the doorway. They did not even glance in my direction, instead they stared straight ahead.

It was all happening too fast for me. I wanted time to get my head around what was being expected of me.

My hands shook as we entered the building. The room was filled with vampires. Women and men. All dressed in black. The red I wore, made me stand out in-between the dark attires.

There were so many of them, I inhaled a breath and held it as the crowd parted for me.

I was led through the room. All eyes were on me.

The vampire in front of me finally stopped in front a row of five chairs a couple of steps up on a raised section.

There were two female vampires and three male vampires who occupied the seats.

Their stares were bold as they studied me.

Then I was alone in a room filled with vampires. I had never seen so many before. Their eyes shimmering a deep golden color, making me very aware that they held the power while I held none.

The soft hum of conversation died down as the male vampire in the centre chair stood. He had long dark hair and sharp features. His eyes bore into mine and I held my breath, too afraid to breathe.

It was then I felt a shiver of fear race through me. The way his eyes scanned me made me very aware of every inch of the fabric I wore. I bowed my head slightly, unable to take in any more. My senses overwhelmed.