Rubbing her eyes, she tried to something through all the darkness. After failing to see anything, Mara started to sit up. She found it hard to move at all and hit her head on something hard. Squirming, Mara figured that she was in a confined space, but was just not sure how confined. After a moment, it all came clear to her. The last she remembered, she was lying on top of a casket drinking Mausolem’s blood…
Screaming, Mara beat her fists violently on the stone slab above her. The slab did not move. Still screaming, she kicked at it over and over again with her feet. Mara felt the hot, saltly tears running down her cheeks as she ceased the kicking.
Hours passed and she was still stuck inside this casket. Every now and again she would scream, but knew it would do no good. It had surprised her when she heard the scraping of stone. Soon, she could see the dim light of the room. Mausolem was standing over her.
“You! You did this to me!” She screamed at him while jumping out of the casket.
“Now, Mara, calm down. All of it is essential. There would have been no other way to bring you from the states to here, in your condition.”
“My condition? Where did you bring me?!”
“Yes, your condition. You are still going through the transformation.”
“Transformation of what?” She asked wearily.
“The transformation of becoming a vampire.”
Mara was silent for a moment.
“So it wasn’t just a dream like the others.”
“No. It was something very real.”
“So, where are we?”
“I have taken you to my château in France.”
The tears swelled up in Mara’s eyes. After a moment or two she recollected herself and was able to speak again.
“You…You took me thousands of miles away from my home… and for what?”
Mausolem stared into Mara’s pale gray eyes. He adjusted his frock coat and sat down in an elaborate high backed chair.
“You see, that life you once knew is no longer of any importance. The pale yellow house you onced lived in is no longer your home.” He paused for a moment as Mara fell into a black velvet arm chair.
“This is your home now.”
She let out a choked cry.
“I will never see them again?”
“No. You will not.”
“Were you this calm when this was done to you?”
He was shocked by the question into a moment of silence. After some time he cleared his throat, speaking once more.
“Are you curious about the tale of how I came to be?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you will have to wait until tomorrow night. It is nearing dawn, and you have to get settled in your new room.”
At that, Mausolem stood from his high backed chair and went to Mara, extending his hand. She had accepted it and walked with him down the long corrider. Soon they arrived at a tall, black door that came to a point at near the top. Mara noticed that there was a patteren of twisted roses and weeping ravens carved on the door.
“This is your room,” said Mausolem while opening the door. I had it specially re-done for you. As you will notice with all rooms here the walls, floor and ceiling are made of stone. As with mine, your’s has no windows.”
“Why?”
“Because, I am sure that you want the choice to sleep in a bed, and not in a coffin. However, you will find your coffin in the back corner of your room. At some point, you will need it. When you do, you will notice that it has been crafted for your utter comfort. Now, before you get ready to sleep, I must let you know a few more things. When you wake tomorrow, it might still be daylight. You are not to leave this room until I enter. Do you understand?”
Mara nodded her head yes.
“Good. If you wake up, and I have not yet come, there is a selection of books on that table there to keep you occupied.”
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome. I shall see you tomorrow evening, my dear.”
Mausolem exited, closing the door behind him. Mara went straight to it and tried the handle. It was locked, just as she suspected. Slumping against the door, she glanced around the room. It had been decorated nearly entirely in all black. The room itself was enormous. Mara figured that the whole of her old house could easily fit inside of it. The silver candelabras lighted up this magnificent room.
Mara moved to the four poster bed. On it, she found a black cotton night dress. It fell to the floor and the long sleeves were made of a sheer material, not unlike the sweater she was wearing now. Mara had removed this and her black jeans and ebony-colored studded tank top. She dressed in the provided nightwear and turned down the covers. Soon she fell asleep amongst satin pillows and velvet comforters.