My mother once told me I had the tendency to exaggerate. I'd use flowery words to describe anything, most particularly myself. She may be right, but believe me when I say that the dream with Cedric Corey and the two Bishops was by far the bloodiest I'd ever been. It was also the most thrilling.

Corey's dream was the same: rain outside the window, bed in the middle of the room. He never had the chance to do anything. The dream version of me was there in his dream. At my will, it lunged for him, wrapping her arms and legs around him from behind and they both fell into the bed. With a snap of my finger, its limbs twisted and transformed into a long, tight sheet, keeping him still as I straddled his hips.

When he tried to speak, I covered his mouth with my hand. "I'm done, Cedric Corey," I whispered above him, bending lower as the powerful throbbing of his pulse pulled me toward his neck. "I tried to be a good witch, but you make it very insufferable."

His words were mere vibrations in my hand. I could hear nothing but his heartbeat. And as I took in the smell of him, my mouth opened. A stretching pain pulled at my teeth. A soft hiss escaped my throat before my teeth locked onto his skin, piercing it just deep enough before retracting to give way to the thick, hot liquid.

That was my first feeding, and I barely remembered it. I didn't know how much I sucked off him. All I could remember was the feeling of elation. It was almost orgasmic, if I should be honest. My limbs quivered at the first draw and swallow. And that's all I could recall. It could have been minutes or hours. It could have been seconds. The next I knew, I was staring down at him, wide-eyed, as my head cleared and I realized he could be dead. He continued to bleed, and I didn't know how to stop it. His blood was soaking the mattress and all I could think of was it was all such a colossal waste.

Then I heard his faint beating inside his chest, and I swallowed. I took a deep breath, looked down at my bloody white dress, and sighed. Climbing off Corey, I fell to the ground, my body adjusting to the rush. The high. It had just gotten a taste of what it had been craving for and was wanting more.

With a groan, I pushed off the floor, locks of blood-soaked hair swaying at the sides of my face. "Bloody tarnation," I mumbled when I stumbled on my feet. My head had lost connection to my body. I felt like a child learning how to walk. Then, as if in a snap, everything went right. Locked in place again. Fully under my control once more.

I let out a shaky breath and walked to the blue door. Wiped the side of my mouth with a fingertip. Licking the side of my mouth, I puff of disbelief escaped my lips. I did it and it wasn't so bad.

Two more to feed, I thought with anticipation, blood already throbbing fast and strong and eager for more.

***

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in Corey's room. I should have been worried, but I wasn't. For the first time in a long time, I felt utterly wonderful. Like my body was mine again. Like I could do anything.

I stared at the three witches. It wasn't hard rolling their body in the dream and throwing them out a white door, which meant two things: they would manifest the physical things from the dream and remember everything in the dream. The latter was the reason I did it, the former just a consequence. For now, they were too weak to wake up.

I'd deal with them in a moment. First, Bellatrix.

I checked all rooms and cursed when I couldn't find her. Corey must have his own repertory somewhere. Brenna said they didn't have closets anymore, but they still have hidden compartments for their witchcraft. Taking a hold of my crux, I closed my eyes. "Come on, Bella. Where are you?"

There was nothing but darkness. "Tarnation!" I growled, whirling around and rushing back to Corey. I couldn't kill him. Not when he was the only one who could tell me where Bellatrix was.

I sat down, pulled in a deep breath, and tried to think. Gritting my teeth, I summoned Katz.

He barely had time to realize where he was when I asked, "Where are you right now?" He looked around the same park in Mertha Krall's dream. "Felix! Where are you right now?"

He blinked a few times, clarity slowly coming into focus. "I don't know."

"Are you in Corey's secret compartment?"

"A what?"

"Felix, think! Snap out of it. Where the bloody hell are you?"

"I don't know. Maybe Corey's vault."

"Well, I can't bloody find it."

"What happened?"

I gave him the details in one breath. Incredibly, I wasn't short of breath when I was done. "Are you with my familiar?"

"Who?"

"My fox!"

"I think so."

I paced around. "What do I do?"

He looked confused, but after a few blinks he managed, "You have to get the hell out of here."

"How will I even do that?"

He rested his forehead on the heel of his palms. "Let me think."

"Fine. While you do that, I'm going to find Evensen."

I heard him curse before I entered the blue door.

The fire was crackling when I came through the door. I looked around and he still wasn't there. Closing my eyes, I summoned him.

He took one good at me and he froze. "What happened?"

My eyes snapped open, and I met his stride to the middle of the room. "We're caught. All of us. Corey knows."

"Calm down. What in the bloody hell happened? Tell me that's not your blood."

"Corey's currently unconscious with the two Bishops. Katz is trapped in Corey's vault somewhere with Bella. And I'm utterly bloody alone. What do I do?"

"And the blood on your dress?"

"I fed on them," I said. "Trapped them in a dream and fed on them."

"Bloody hell, Aster. You did what?" he asked in disbelief.

"I had no choice."

"Damn it!" He ran his fingers through his hair in half frustration and half panic.

I blinked in confusion. "Why? What's wrong? You told me I need to feed."

He drew a deep breath and grabbed me by the arms. His grip tightened as he looked into my eyes and said, "How long ago did you feed?"

"Well, I don't know. I was too busy to check the time."

"Answer my question."

"I don't know. Half an hour?"

His fingers dug deeper into my arms. "You only have an hour before the effect kicks in, so listen to me very carefully. Get the bloody hell out of there. Find Alistair and stay with him. I'll send someone for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Bad blood!" he gritted out. "Bishops take a dose of venom every day. It's part of their job."

I stiffened. "What sort of venom?"

"The one that immobilizes vampires for an entire day."

Blood drained from my face. "B-But—"

"Wake up now, Aster," he said, pushing me to the door, his eyes wide with panic.

"But I need to get Bella—"

"You can't do that if you get caught. Wake up now!"

***

I didn't know how long I had left, but I kept running. Apparently, being a vampire didn't give me the special talent for speed like Alistair. However, it sure gave me the endurance. I was not even out of breath when I stumbled back into my suite.

My three apostles went out of their room, eyes wide with anticipation.

"What happened?" Tiff asked.

My eyes flew to Akira, who asked, "How did it go?"

"I have to leave," I said. "Corey wants me to take me somewhere safe."

"What do you mean?"

"A group of ferals are apparently after me," I lied.

"What about Bellatrix?"

I stopped to face Akira, but at that moment, I couldn't think about what I'd do to him for the trouble he caused me. "She's safe. Corey and Mertha found her while she was taking a stroll around the city."

"Is this about the Omen?" Tiff asked. "Are we finally invited to their secret mission?"

"We'll start packing," Lexie said.

"No. You all stay here where it's safe. I just need to get my trunk." They watched as I effortlessly dragged it out of my room.

"This is all so weird," said Akira.

"Well, this is Corey's order."

His eyes went to the door. "Where are the Bishops?"

I closed my eyes and sighed. Truly, I had no time to spare, so I mumbled, "Sleep." My eyes opened at the sound of their bodies dropping to the floor. I gritted my teeth and, with my incredible strength, carried them to their beds. At the door, I stared at them sleeping peacefully. They should be inside a pleasant dream now, unaware that they might never see me again, but if we ever did, I hope they would remember this little act of kindness. "I'm sorry. I quite liked you all," I said before I left.

***

Evensen told me I should find Alistair and hide. I intended to do that, but not without something I could use as leverage.

I returned to Corey's suite with my trunk, my mind racing to the next move I had to make. It was almost impossible, but at that moment, I was desperate. Kneeling beside him, I felt for his pulse. Pulling my trunk closer, I opened it and took out my repertory. My mother never told me I couldn't do this. Nor did my grandmother.

I leaned the mirror against the trunk so it stood before me.

There was no sign of the mess I left behind in the dreams of my victims earlier, but the effect of their blood was there in my eyes—stunningly scarlet and strong. I never thought I'd like being a vampire, but I had to admit I looked good as one. I smoothed my hair with one hand and smiled at my reflection. The improved immortal image of me disappeared, replaced by my shelf.

Before I could doubt my plan, I rose higher on my knees and rolled Corey's limp body toward my repertory. I've thrown dolls and poppets in there before, but never a real human body. I didn't even think he'd fit, but he perfectly did.

Smiling with satisfaction, I smiled at my repertory again, and the mirror reappeared.

I checked the clock. There were still five more hours before midnight, but that didn't matter. I only had less than an hour before the venom took effect.

Crossing my legs, I closed my eyes and summoned Alistair into a dream of my choosing: a white room with no doors in sight.

His initial confusion was quickly replaced by irritation. His brow furrowed. "You know, witch, you're really getting on my nerves."

"I'm trapped somewhere. I accidentally drank Bishop blood."

"Vampire 101, you don't," he wryly said.

"Evensen said you have to take me in."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm your only chance in taking your sister through a border."

His face tightened. "Where are you?"

I gave him my location. "You'll have to get me. I don't think I'd be able to get out of here alone."

"How long ago did you feed?"

"I may have fifteen more minutes left."

He cursed under his breath.

"You can't do it?"

"I can, but this is a bit of an inconvenience."

"Well, I'm sorry. I can wait, of course," I shot back.

"Fine. Stay where you are," he said, then chuckled. "Which you'll do in a few minutes. Now, where's the door?"

A white door appeared behind me. "I've locked the hotel door to Corey's room."

He pointed at the door. "I only need this door, witch."

"I have a trunk with me. Take it with you, too."

"Why?"

"Let's just say it has a very heavy leverage."

He scoffed, a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. When he disappeared, I took a deep breath and turned the door blue. I walked back out into Katz's dream. He was no longer sitting on the bench. He was standing by a tree, watching a dream version of Mertha Krall. As I approached, he turned to me, his eyes clearer now. "I know where we are."

I was almost afraid to ask. "Where?"

"I'm quite certain we're in the Fog." My heart dropped. "Mertha's worst realm."