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yours," she intoned as she continued from the center of Mareith's chest down to her navel," a mingling of destines joined on this sacred night under the watchful presence of those who reside above." Tracing her lithe finger down Mareith's hips, thighs, and legs, the High Lady Vandene ended at the tips of Mareith's toes, leaving only her left arm bare. "With this we consecrate you in our darkness and welcome you into our select fellowship. You are sealed to us forever, as are we, to you."

Placing the dagger in Mareith's left hand, the High Lady Vandene poured the remaining blood into Mareith's open mouth and closed her slack jaws. Pinching her pert nose together, the High Lady Vandene forced Mareith to swallow the life essence of the Seldrain. As the warm, salty liquid passed her lips, Mareith stirred slightly, the sharp metallic tang breaking her joyful reverie. A sweet warmth began to burn at the center of her being, a tingling sensation dancing unchecked across her skin. In a sudden rush, the warmth spread like wildfire to consume her entire body, the very blood in her veins boiling as her humanity was seared away. She screamed, her torso arching upward as every muscle in her body spasmed uncontrollably. If the High Lady Vandene had not been there to hold her down, the force of her convulsions would have snapped her spine like a bundle of dry, dead twigs.

As it was, she writhed in agony as her body underwent the fundamental change from life to unlife and she wanted nothing more than for the pain to end, no matter the cost. The small window in her mind that could still focus through the agonizing haze was surprised to find that she still clutched the bloody knife in her twisted hand. All she had to do was plunge it into her heart and it would be all over, the release of death ending her torment. Raising it slowly, she placed the quivering tip above her heart and started the fatal thrust.

With a snarl of rage at the last of her human weakness, Mareith knocked the dagger from her trembling hand with last ounce of strength she possessed. In a final burst of unbearable anguish, Mareith's body went limp, the torturous transformation draining all of her remaining energy. Slipping into unconsciousness, she did not see the High Lady Vandene's triumphant smile.

"She has passed the third and final test, that of pain. She is now one of us; prepare her for the customary offering to the blood gods. She is now your disciple until such time that you deem her worthy. Teach her our ways and how to use her new found powers," the twelve said as their indistinct forms coalesced into the surrounding darkness.

The High Lady Vandene nodded and waited for Mareith, the vampyre Mareith, to awaken.

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