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XIV

 Erik felt different when he woke up. Only an idiot wouldn't be able to notice a difference.

 He had a strange dream, one that scared him a little. In the dream, Count von Krolock had stood over him, smiling, baring his sharp teeth, and moving closer and closer towards him, until he was close enough to bite...

 Erik shook his head. Don't be silly, he told himself.

 He sat up in bed, and seemed to realize rather abruptly what was wrong. That was just the problem: nothing was wrong. He didn't feel tired, he didn't feel weak and dizzy. He felt physically fine.

 Could it be a miracle? Some miraculous overnight recovery? If he was, then perhaps good fortune was on its way after all.

 He stood up and took a turn around the room. He felt perfectly fine on his feet; no dizziness, no tired feelings. It was as if he had never been ill in the first place.

 He didn't understand it. What had happened? To miraculously recover overnight was ridiculous, and he knew it had to be nearly impossible for such a thing to happen.

 He looked to his reflection in the mirror which hung on the wall. Was it possible he had somehow become more pale then he was the last time he looked at his reflection? He had already been rather pale before, but now his skin looked white and ghostly.

 His lips began to part, and he thought he saw what looked to be something sharp in his mouth. He opened his mouth wider, revealing a pair of sharp fangs.

 He gasped and took a step backward. It wasn't a dream. Count von Krolock really had come to him, had bitten him, and made him-

 "You're surprised."

 Erik spun around. Count von Krolock stood in the open doorway.

 "What have you done to me?" he cried.

 "I made you a vampire," the Count replied calmly. "You are like me now."

 Erik let out a cry that sounded like a mix of horror and despair. He collapsed on the bed, his head in his hands.

 "Why?" he moaned. "Why did you do this?"

 "I did not think you would be this upset," von Krolock remarked, studying him curiously.

 "Upset!" Erik looked up at him. "What right did you have? What right could you possibly have to do this to me?"

 "You were dying, Erik. Do you not understand that? You had a disease that cannot be cured. I saved you."

 "Oh, you think you saved me," Erik laughed hysterically. "I wanted to die! It isn't just everyone else that hates me! Do you know all the loathing and hatred I have for myself!? And I now I'll have to live with it forever!"

 Count von Krolock could not help watching and listening to him with pity. This was a man who had simply wanted to die, just to die and get it over with. Now he believed he would have to live with his own horror forever.

 But there was one thing Erik didn't think of that the Count had realized a long time before: this could be another chance at life.

~~~~~~

 Count von Krolock entered the room again. Erik stood by the window, arms crossed.

 "It's going to be day soon," he said. "Say what you have to say and get it over with."

 The Count sighed and closed the door. "I did mean any harm to you, Erik. I was trying to think about your well-being. Think of this as another life, another chance at life. Perhaps, as a vampire, you can try to be someone better."

 Erik scoffed. "Of course. I would so much better as a blood-sucking demon. Do you think becoming a vampire made you a better man?"

 "No. But I have learned to live with who I am and what I am. That is what you have to do now."

 "Why? Why should I? Suppose I just stood here as the sun came up, curtains pulled back, and let myself burn. Then I can have what I wanted: death."

 "Don't kill yourself, Erik." von Krolock stepped closer. "You don't even know how you will be as a vampire. At least try. If you decide you don't want to be a vampire...well, we'll find a way for you to die. Say yes, Erik."

 Erik turned around to face him, and raised his eyes to his.

 "I will try," he said. "But I am not a very patient man. If I decide against this, kill me. Just kill me."

 The Count nodded. "That is something I can agree to." He came to stand next to Erik by the window. "I never really noticed until now what I started. Herbert, Sarah and Alfred, even Kudol and those fools Chagal and Magda. And now you. It's quite the strange family to have, isn't it?"

 Erik shrugged. "I don't know. I never had a family. Not really."

 "Then I suppose you have one now."

 It was true that Count von Krolock had created something, something he didn't realize and something Erik had always desired.

 A family, however odd it may have been.

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