Mark had to admit, being a vampire did have some perks.

Apparently most of the myths about vampire weaknesses were fabricated by other vampires. They had spread them as rumors as to give their victims some hope if they ever came across them. They found it made it more entertaining to let their victims think they had a chance.

It made Mark shudder.

"So what, were not allergic to garlic and holy water then?" Mark questioned, sarcasm heavy on his voice. Lukas gave a small amused smile.

"No, holy water and garlic do not affect us, we can walk on hallowed ground and sunlight does not burn us, but you will be a bit irritated by it until the change is complete." He replied.

"What about a wooden steak to the heart?"

"There are only two ways to kill a vampire. Decapitation, and destroying the heart. We can handle some damage to the heart, and if shot the bullet needs to be removed as soon as possible, but if it's ripped apart by, say, a think object, we will die. So that myth does have some partial truth to it."

"So we are essentially immortal." Mark concluded.

"More or less. It seems that if you are turned at a younger age, your body will continue to mature until you are at the age of 25, your prime, then you will cease all aging together. I was turned when I was 22, about 200 years ago." Lukas finished.

Mark was a little stunned to hear that, seeing as Lukas didn't look older than 30, but as he just said, they don't age. Mark shifted a little uncomfortably in his chair before speaking again.

"So, in 5 years I'll stop aging, and unless I'm killed, I'll live forever?" His voice was unsure. He didn't know how to feel about it. On one hand, it was amazing. Most people barely lived past 60, and many more died at birth or in their childhood. It was a gift to be guaranteed life. But at the same time, a curse, as he would spend his entire life watch the people around him die, forever aging, withering, while he lived on. He put that at the back of his mind to examine later.

"Essentially, yes." Lukas confirmed. Marks head hurt. This was so much, happening so fast. Sitting here, in his home with a vampire, talking about the history of them. There biology.

His biology now.

Something he said clicked in his head.

"Wait, you said I would still be bothered by the sun until the change is complete. I thought it was already done. I mean, the changes have become pretty obvious." Mark questioned, ignoring the ever growing burn in his throat.

"The process is more or less done, and most of the changes have happened or are staring too. You've already discovered your strength, and you have the thirst," he paused as Mark shifted, uncomfortable with this topic. "But there are other things. Speed, sight, resilience. These are things that are starting to change in you, but won't be realized until the last step in your transition is completed. Think of it as when a young boy begins to turn into a man. The process is slow, and needs fuel for it to complete." Lukas smirked, "Though this will be a much faster transition."

Mark let out an amused huff. "So what's the next step?"

Lukas hesitated. This alarmed Mark a bit. He didn't think he was going to like what he had to say.

"One of the things you have yet to gain is your teeth," Mark subconsciously brought his hand to his mouth as he said this. "As of right now, they sit in your gums, with no ability to extend or retract them. After you will have full control over them, choosing when and when not to let them out. We typically feel the urge to let them slip when we have a strong desire to feed, and they can move against your will, but training and self-control can over power that." Lukas paused again, letting that sink in for Mark, as he was hit with a realization.

"I'm NOT killing anyone." He stated, firmly. "I am NOT going to drink another human's blood. I don't care what the costs are, I refuse." He didn't even want to think about it. The idea of coming across and unexpected person, grabbing them from behind. The idea of letting his teeth extend and sink into their neck, draining them-

He didn't think about the feeling of pleasure he felt under his disgust.

"You don't have to kill anyone." Lukas interrupted his train of thought. "I myself, survive off of animal blood. It's not quite the same, and you have to have more regular feedings in order to keep up your strength, but it can be done." Mark let out a relieved sigh. While the idea of having to kill an animal and take its blood was still unappealing, and for more reasons than Mark wanted to address, he could live with it. He tensed at Lukas next words.

"But, the only way to finish the transition is for you to drink human blood at least once."

"You just said I won't have to! I'm not killing anyone!" Mark jumped from the seat, pointing an accusing finger at Lukas. Lukas stood with him, though much more calm. He'd expected a blow up at this.

"First of all, Mark, no one said that feeding equals death. While the desire for blood often urges us to drink until there nothing left, it can be controlled. Most vampires don't want to kill their victims, even if just for the fact that a body causes them problems. After a quick feeding, the victim will pass out, and wake up with the wound healed, and believing it was nothing more than a passing nightmare." Lukas explained, as Mark tried to reign in his emotions. God was this his life now? Discussing the details of drinking blood like it was an everyday thing? He sat back down in his chair and put his head in his heads. This was too much. He couldn't handle this. Why did this happen? Why didn't he just let him die? Mark knew the answer though. Even agreed with it.

Revenge.

Mark sat back up, hands flat on the table. "But you said, I can't even use my teeth until after the change finishes. How am I supposed to-" He swallowed, "drink human blood without them?" Lukas actually laughed at him a bit. "What?"

"Mark, our teeth merely allow us access to the veins in order to feed. We don't drink with them."

"Then how-" Marks brain finally caught up with his mouth as he halted. "Oh."

"Are we seriously doing this?" Mark whisper yelled at Lukas as he followed him through an alleyway. It was early in the evening, people still milling about, but the sun had set. They had left Marks house and were heading into the town so to complete Marks change. Mark wasn't completely on board yet.

After he realized he would have to actually drink blood like you would water, Mark lost it again. He couldn't fathom the idea of it, and while it made sense, and it was pretty stupid to think that teeth could be used to suck up blood, it still shocked him. This time he didn't attack Lukas, but did a number to table. By the time he had relaxed, it was a mess of broken wood and splinters at their feet. He had the decency to look a bit sheepish and Lukas let out a hearty laugh at his look. He reviled he had been in a pretty similar state when he found out as well.

"It's not something I enjoy," He had said with a grimace. "And I avoid it as much as I possibly can. But there will be times when you have to have human blood. If you become mortally wounded, animal blood won't cut it."

"Then I won't get hurt that badly." Mark had said with a confidence he didn't actually possess. Lukas had let out a small laugh and left the subject alone.

"Do I have to do this? What if I just not complete the change? Just leave it as I am now?" He had asked hopefully, but Lukas was already shaking his head.

"Eventually the thirst you feel now will over power your will and you will kill someone. At this point your body knows what it needs so it's telling you with the thirst. Once you've had human blood, the burn recedes. It doesn't go away completely but it's manageable. But if you leave it to build, let it fester, it will overtake you and you will go mad with blood lust. And it won't be just the one person you will kill. You won't stop until someone stops you." Lukas had finished with a hard look in his eye. Mark hadn't even bothered to argue that point, something in Lukas's face giving him pause. He wondered if Lukas had seen it happen. He didn't ask.

At that point it was early evening and the sun would be setting in a couple hours. Lukas had told Mark they would leave right at sundown to go into town to finish up the change. He told him to take everything he wanted from the house because they wouldn't be returning. He had said he didn't have to worry about necessities, just things he didn't want to forget. He then stood and walked outside to leave Mark to it. He still wasn't set on this, drinking blood, but Lukas had not given him anymore chance to argue. He sighed, and went to his room. He had grabbed a bag from his closet and then thought of what to take. Clothes obviously, but what else? What would he need? He decided on the knife he had been given by his father when he turned 15. One of the few times his father had given him anything after his brother's death. He had said it was passed down from father to son on their 15th year, and usually the oldest son. He didn't say much after that, barely getting those words out as he turned and silently beckoned Mark out to the field. Mark cherished it. He had also grabbed what little money they had that was usually kept in his parent's room under a loose floorboard. While he had been in there he had stopped at his parent's dresser. His parent's belongings were strewn across on it, shaving razor, spectacles, and little bits of jewelry his father had made for his mother. Two things had stuck out to him though. His father's smoking pipe and mothers wedding band. Bother were plain, and old, would be passed over by anyone else. The pipe has been in the family for years, cherished by his father and fathers before him. Jakob had always had that pipe with him. The wedding band, made by Jakob for Ada out of twine and string, wrapped together to finely as to create a strong band that would never fail. Jakob has said it was to represent their own bond. Both worthless in the eyes of a stranger, but meant so much to his parents. With tears in his eyes and a shaking hand, Mark had grabbed both items and put them in the bag.

He had calmed himself before he walked out of the room, telling himself he would have the time to mourn later, before grabbing one more item, his brother's hat, and walking out of the house. Lukas had been standing there waiting. He nodded to Mark, which he returned before taking one more look at his childhood home, the place where he was raised with the family he loved. But his family was gone now, all dead, so was it really his home? All it was now was a reminder of what he once had. What he's lost. He shook the thoughts and memories away, and with one last glance, he had turned away forever.

Now though, he found himself outside of the local pub, bag in tow, while Lukas waited for the right drunk to stumble along their path.

"Do we really have to do this?" Mark whined. He accepted that he needed the blood in order to help himself and others in the long run but he still didn't like it.

"Yes, now will you please pipe down unless you want someone to hear us?" Lukas was starting to get annoyed with him and he couldn't blame him. Mark probably would have beaten the shit out himself if he were Lukas. The man had the patience of a Saint. He was about to make another complaint, when Lukas put his hand up, effectively shutting him up. He crouched down, and Mark followed his lead. He heard the sound of someone walking towards them, or at least trying to. With the grunts and cursing that would follow small bangs and scuffles, it sounded like they was having a bit of a hard time. He could hear them getting closer, and at this point could discern it was a man, probably very inebriated. The moment the man walked by the opening of the alleyway they were crouched in, Lukas wrapped his hand around the man's mouth, arm around his neck and quickly dragging him back with him. They backed into a door that lead into an abandoned store, and put the man into a chair then tied him up before the man was even able to register what had happened. Mark closed the door behind him as Lukas finished tying the man's legs and arms to the chair, and Mark got a better look at him. He knew the man.

"Mr. Klein?"

Lukas stood, and looked back at Mark. "You know him?"

"Yea," Marked swallowed. "His name is Arnold Klein. He, uh, he was friends with my father, but I haven't seen him in years." Since his brother had died to be exact. His father had cut ties with a lot of his friends after they lost Johan. He took in Arnold appearance. The man was a blacksmith last time he had seen him, and based on the burns and soot he was covered in, he felt safe to assume he was still in that line of work. He had aged badly over the years, wrinkles covered his head, bags under his eyes. His dark brown hair receding, and thinner. He was dressed in plain black pants and shirt, stains covering the front. He met Arnold's unfocused eyes and watched as he took in his surroundings.

"What the hell is going on here?" He screeched, words slurred from alcohol consumption. Lukas ignored him and went to grab the knife in his bag. Mark continued to stare at Arnold, and he saw recognition flicker in his eyes.

"Markel? Markel Fischbach? Is that you boy?" Mark felt his heart rate rocket at being recognized, especially with what he was about to do. He couldn't speak past the lump in his throat.

"What in God's name are you doing? Abducting people like this. Let me go this instance and were gonna have a good long talk with your parents. Always said you were trouble didn't I? After Johan, may he rest in peace, I told your parents to keep an eye on you and now look-" He was cut off by Lukas hitting him across the head. Mark flinched at the sound of the blow, and stared accusingly at Lukas.

"What?" He raised his arms in defense. "His voice was annoying, don't pretend you don't agree. Besides," He started to untie one of his arms. "He doesn't need to be awake for this." Lukas grabbed Arnold's wrist bringing the knife to the skin.

"Wait!" Mark lunged forwards, stopping Lukas. Lukas looked expectantly at Mark, waiting. When Mark said nothing, he spoke up.

"Look Mark, I know this is hard, and I am sorry it has to be someone you know-"

"No, it's not that." Mark interrupted. "I never liked this guy, was an ass back when he and my father were friends, and he's an ass now." He let go of Lukas wrist and backed away. Lukas stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "It's just, if I go through with this, it's over. Markel Fischbach will be dead, his family dead. He won't exist anymore. No one here will even know he's gone." Mark was breathing heavy. His vision was a little blurry and the ache in his throat was burning fiercer than ever. He looked at Lukas, eyes pleading. "Who will I be?"

Lukas dropped the arm he was holding, and placed the knife down as he walked over to Mark, placing his hand on Marks shoulder. Looking him dead in the eyes, he said, "You will be whoever you want to be. You have the chance to start over, leave past mistakes and sorrows behind. After tonight, you will be everything you could ever want to be." He placed his other hand on Marks shoulder. "But you will still be you." They stood there for a few minutes, before Mark nodded. Lukas stepped back, grabbing the knife and moving back to Arnold.

"Now, when you see the blood you are going to be very overwhelmed. Don't fight it, let it happen. I'll be here to stop you from doing anything brash. Okay?" Mark nodded. They had gone over this earlier. Mark was going to be hit with intense blood lust, senses going into overload as everything in his being tells him to feed. He looked over at the chains that Lukas had installed into the wall. Those were for Mark, for when he loses control. He is frightened but ready. He nods again, and Lukas takes the knife and slits Arnold's wrist.

The change is immediate.

As the blood bubbled at the cut and started to slide down his wrist, Marks head felt like his head exploded. The burn in his throat crescendo, becoming painful. His body went rigid as his eyes locked on with Arnolds wrist, as everything else faded away from sight. Body moving without his control he was at Arnold before he even knew it, grabbed his wrist and brought it to his mouth an began to drink.

The copper taste exploded in his mouth, and he moaned, the feeling of it sliding down his throat, coating his throat and relieving the burn. Mark couldn't remember anything ever tasting so good before. It was like heaven and it was all he could focus on. Too soon though he felt hands on his shoulders that began to pull him back. As his mouth detached from the source, the burning came back immediately and he growled at the force that took him away. He lashed out and felt him connect with something behind him, a body, and felt it go flying, hearing it crash into the wall behind him. He brought his focus back to the wrist, latching back on as he began again, reveling in the taste. Too soon though he felt arms back on him, restraining his arms and ripping him back. Mark screamed in rage, trying to fight back, as he was dragged away and felt metal cuffs being put on his wrists. As soon as they were in place, he was dropped and the person backed away as Mark lunged, only to be painfully held back by chains. He saw red, and his ears were ringing. Everything in him was telling him to feed, to get to the blood, to drink until he couldn't. He roared with rage and anguish, and continued to pull at his restraints, ignoring the pain he felt in his wrists and shoulders. He was fairly certain he dislocated them. It felt like hours before his senses started to return to him. His breathing began to slow as his eyes took in the room. His throat no longer burned and the pain in his body was beginning to numb. He saw that Arnold was gone, and Lukas was on the other side of the room, staring at him. Then he saw the blood all over the ground, all over Lukas, then looked down and saw it all over him. His mind caught up and realising what had just happened Mark lost it. Heaving sobs wracked his body. He finally let the grief and sorrow that had been plaguing him since the morning overcome him. He mourned over what had just happened, mourned over his parents, over himself, the death of himself. Mark felt arms wrap around him, his head guided to something solid, but soft, as he cried himself into nothingness