Something settled into the core of my being.
Because as much as I hated Mr. Archivolt and the way he’d treated me and my friends,
I knew that he was right. I was a vampire.
For the first time, I knew exactly who I was—my life made sense.
Mr. Archivolt
It’s time for your Becoming…
Mr. Archivolt
I can tell by the way that you’re holding yourself now.
Mr. Archivolt
You’re ready for this.
Mr. Archivolt
You’ve CHOOSEN it.
Mr. Archivolt
And I needed you to come to this realization...
MR. ARCHIVOLT checked his watch and smiled.
Mr. Archivolt
At this exact moment in your life.
Mr. Archivolt
Because it’s your birthday.
Mr. Archivolt
You were born sixteen years ago today,
Mr. Archivolt
At this very minute.
Mr. Archivolt
Which means, it’s time to Become one of us.
Kiara
Sorry, but I’m not interested in becoming an asshole.
I saw a flash of fire in Mr. Archivolt’s eyes
And he swiped at Abby with something…
Opening a long gash in one of her legs.
Kiara
STOP!!! I’ll do whatever you want!
Kiara
I’ll join whatever it is you want me to join…
Kiara
But, please, you have to let Abby go.
Mr. Archivolt
Unfortunately, that won’t be possible .
Mr. Archivolt
Abby will die.
Mr. Archivolt
And the person who will kill her…is you.
Kiara
No…never. I won’t do it.
Mr. Archivolt
Oh, you will.
Mr. Archivolt
To become one of us you must take Abby’s life.
Mr. Archivolt
You must sever your ties with humankind.
Kiara
You mean my friends?
Mr. Archivolt
They aren’t worthy of your friendship.
Mr. Archivolt
You are so much more.
Abby
Get out of here while you can!
Kiara
You’re crazy if you think I’ll ever hurt Abby.
Mr. Archivolt
Dying isn’t an option for you, Kiara.
Mr. Archivolt
You’re an immortal.
Mr. Archivolt
But it’s a fact for Abby. I’ll kill her if you don’t.
As Mr. Archivolt slowly raised his hand to Abby’s face…
I realized he’d been using the nails of his fingers to torture her.
Long and steely-black, they flashed menacingly in the candlelight.
Kiara
Don’t you touch her!
He slams her head against the stone wall…
Knocking her unconscious.
Mr. Archivolt
That should make it easier for you.
Kiara
I told you, I won’t do it.
Mr. Archivolt
You’re not the first to say that, though most accept their fate.
Mr. Archivolt
But the fact of the matter is, in the end, we all do it.
Mr. Archivolt
We have no choice. It’s in our nature.
Kiara
I told you, I’d rather die.
Mr. Archivolt
And I explained that you can’t.
Mr. Archivolt
But you can suffer. And you will, if you don’t feed.
Mr. Archivolt
It is a pain like you cannot imagine, Kiara.
Mr. Archivolt
And the longer you fight it, the worse it gets.
Mr. Archivolt
Eventually, you’ll grow ill with fever and dementia.
Mr. Archivolt
And then, finally, you’ll wake in a daze to discover…
Mr. Archivolt
You did it anyway.
Mr. Archivolt
Surely you don’t want to lose control like that
Kiara
But why does it have to be Abby?
Mr. Archivolt
Because like that Maya Fernandez girl…
Mr. Archivolt
Abby is destined to become a witch.
Mr. Archivolt
Can you imagine the extent of your power, of our power, if you feasted on a child like this at your Becoming?
Kiara
As I already told you, I’m not hurting my friends.
Kiara
So I won’t imagine it—not under any circumstances.
Kiara
And second of all, I don’t understand why you think I have so much power.
Kiara
Seems to me that you and I have the same amount.
Mr. Archivolt
That is precisely why you’re so powerful…
Mr. Archivolt
Because you have the potential to be as great as me.
Mr. Archivolt
You have powers you wouldn’t believe, Kiara.
Mr. Archivolt
You are… special.
Mr. Archivolt
Even among us, you are a rarity.
Mr. Archivolt
Believe me, no one is calling you that.
Mr. Archivolt
Kiara, you are the first natural born vampire in a thousand years.
Mr. Archivolt
You may become the most powerful one of all time.
Mr. Archivolt
And when you drink that witch’s blood…
Mr. Archivolt
You will make our entire species more powerful as a result.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Connor lick his lips
And my stomach lurched in disgust.
Mr. Archivolt
The clock is ticking. Your Becoming is upon us.
Mr. Archivolt
Connor, hand me the book.
Mr. Archivolt
I will read the incantation as Kiara takes her first bite.
Mr. Archivolt
Don’t be foolish. One way or another, Abby dies tonight.
Mr. Archivolt
Question is, will she die for nothing, by my hand?
Mr. Archivolt
Or by yours, so you can embrace what you are…
Mr. Archivolt
Choose. NOW.
