When I finally woke, I realized why they were so vivid; I was in Astrid’s bed. Even after months of her absence, it still smelled like her. I did a very good impression of a creep and sniffed her pillow for about fifteen minutes. That was when the door opened and Stephen entered. He was about six-five with black hair and dark brown eyes, dressed in a business suit, as usual. “Good evening, Devon. You look better.” I looked down and realized I was wearing black flannel pajamas and my scorpion was actually pressed to my chest with duct tape. Since my clothes had been soaked with Marcus’s blood, I was glad I didn’t have to wake up in it. I picked at the tape. “Take that off and your uncle will go on a rampage,” Stephan warned. I left it alone. “Did Marcus make it?” “He did. Vampires are nearly indestructible. As it is, a stake to the heart wouldn’t kill us unless the heart is obliterated completely. No wizard or healer could have saved him.” “Did he… Does someone have to die to become a vampire?”
