CHAPTER FOUR

Alex flew through the night sky, racing for all he was worth. In one hand, he clutched the vial containing the remainder of Ivory's elixir, he had drunk the required portion and he was feeling the energy pulsing through it, praying, hoping beyond hope that his blood could save Aya's life.

*

Alex dove for New York, and had a sense of dread as he swooped down low. He landed in the courtyard, at a running clip, and sprinted for his house. 

Alex's heart dropped, as he walked slowly into the darkened room. He could see  Lucy and Aya still lying there, on the bed. From here, he could sense Aya was still breathing, she was still alive, although she still looked deathly ill, and the sight felt like a knife going through him.

Alex looked around for Pablo, he had been counting on the dog to keep his daughter safe till he got back.

Alex looked around more carefully, and as he did, his heart stopped. There, lying against the far wall, unconscious, was Pablo.

Alex walked over to him, knelt down, and felt his rib cage. Pablo was breathing, but in a shallow way. Alex looked up and saw signs of blood, of a struggle.

Suddenly, she realized someone had been here, and had hurt Pablo. But who? How? And if so, why were Lucy and Aya unhurt?

Before he could figure out the answers, he heard a shriek and a snarl, and out of the corner of his eye, saw something plunging for him.

Alex was so caught off guard, she could barely react in time, as Matilda lunged at him, fangs extended, snarling, and threw him.

Alex went flying across the room and crashed into a far wall, hard enough to shake the entire room. He slipped to the ground, dazed, and looked up to see Matilda charging him again.

Alex couldn't process what he was seeing. It was definitely Matilda.

 But Matilda was a vampire. And was attacking him. And was stronger than nearly any vampire he’d ever fought.

She had been turned, Alex suddenly realized.

And by an evil vampire.

Stephan.

"Yes, that's right," Matilda said, in a deep, guttural voice. "Stephan is my master now."

Matilda lunged again, but this time, Alex was ready. He rolled at the last second, and Matilda went head first, right into the wall, and Alex turned around and elbowed her hard in the small of her back.

Matilda screamed out in pain, as she collapsed to the floor. Alex saw his chance to really hurt her, but he couldn't bring herself to. This was still Matilda. His wife's mother. 

Who had been turned by an evil, monstrous vampire. It was not Matilda's fault.

Alex could sense that deep down, the good was still in Matilda. And that she could break free of this.

So, instead, Alex jumped on Matilda from behind, and held her in a deadly lock, keeping her from moving, from hurting anyone, or herself. Matilda writhed and squirmed for all she was worth, but Alex held her tight, as if trying to hold a demon in place.

"Get off of me!" Matilda screamed.

"Matilda, it's me! Alex! You've been turned. 

I know you don't understand any of this but believe me! trust me! you're now a vampire!

you were turned by an evil vampire. I know that the good Matilda is still inside. It is still with you. Release the evil strain. Become the Matilda that I know.” Matilda writhed and squirmed and screamed, and Alex sensed a tremendous battle going on within her. It was as if Matilda were battling with herself, as if she were possessed.

"Alex," came a voice, a new voice, from within Matilda. "Free me. Please. I'm hurting! It's painful! please!.”

Alex slowly got up, and took several steps back, watching carefully.

Matilda turned and looked at her, breathing deep, guttural breaths, like that of a wounded animal.

Matilda stared at him, and as she did, her eyes glazed over, turning colors, from brown to black to green.

For a flash, Alex recognized the old Matilda. he sensed the epic struggle happening within her.

Matilda suddenly reached over, grabbed a silver knife off the floor, raised it high and began to plunge.

But she wasn't trying to attack Alex.

Rather, she was trying to plunge it into her own heart. To kill herself, Alex realized.

Alex jumped out and grabbed Matilda’s hand, just before the knife could reach her heart. He held her grip with all he had, but Matilda’s grip was so strong, it was an epic struggle just to hold it back.

Their struggle seemed to go on forever, both of their hands shaking, until finally, Alex squeezed as hard as he could, and got Matilda to drop the knife.

Matilda leaned her head back and roared, as if trying to exorcize the demon within her.

Suddenly, Matilda turned and sprinted across the room. She headed right for the huge stained-glass windows, and without pausing, leapt right through them, glass shattering everywhere.

Alex watched as Matilda flew out into the night, her huge wings flapping, flying as fast as she could to get away from this place.

“She disappointed me," came a dark, guttural voice.

Alex slowly turned, knowing whose voice that was.

Stephan.

He stepped from out of the shadows, dark coal eyes, his skin white and pale, long fingers with a tightly drawn back pale blond hair.

He hadn't changed over the years.

He was a monster, from the depths of hell

He walked slowly towards Alex, facing him head on.

“You are a sick, evil creature," Alex said. "And you're going to pay for what you did to my family with your life.”

Stephan smiled back at him.

"You couldn't kill me the first time: what makes you think you can kill me now?” 

"You we're good enough to imprison me the first time. but now it's pay back." Stephan continued.

Alex fearlessly took two steps towards Stephan, squaring off with him.

"And you couldn't kill me the first time: what makes you think you can kill me now?”Alex said, gritting his jaw.

 Stephan snarled and roared, the roar of an animal in its fury—and Alex did the same.

Two adversaries, squaring off, neither willing to give an inch, they lunged for each other, both aiming right for each other's throats.

This time, it would be life or death.