I hear a soft roar in my ears and feel my own blood pulsing through my fangs. Tears roll down my cheeks as I sit on a bed in my robe, staring at a half-eaten plate of roast pork that I insisted on being served.

Lorance rests his hand on my foot but it doesn't give me comfort. I am beyond comfort. I kick his hand away. I feel sad, and violent, and desperately hungry. I shove the plate away.

Lorance speaks softly and slowly. "Emma, my poor, sweet, Emma. I'm so sorry you're in pain. But I warned you that mortal food gives no comfort when your bloodthirst rages," he says.

I jump from the bed and pace across the room, navigating an obstacle course of antique furniture. "I've changed my mind, Lorance. I don't want to be Transcendent. Find a way to get me out of this," I say.

"Please, Emma, just have a quick look through the one-way glass. Then we can talk more about this," he says.

My fingers dig into the lush blue-and-silver upholstery of a nearby chair. I glance over at the one-way glass on the far side of the room. Just the thought of looking through it makes me feel filthy and evil.

Lorance rises from the bed, takes my hand, and leads me over to the glass. I don't want to go with him, but I find my feet following. Is he using his powers to coerce me?

As I approach the glass, I find that I can't look away. Three beautiful men sit in some waiting room from hell. All look nervous.

Lorance points to a wiry blond with glasses. "That is Bernhard, a Dutch student studying in Prague." Lorance then gestures toward a dark-haired, muscular man in a blue uniform. "That is Leos, a constable in nearby Český Krumlov." Lorance points to a man on the far right with long auburn hair and a pretty face. "And that is Heiko, a German painter," he says.

I find Heiko attractive, but I'm instantly revolted by my feelings. "This is disgusting, Lorance. It's like you're asking me to choose a prostitute. I won't do it."

Lorance sighs. "Very well, Emma. I'm sorry you feel that way." He draws a curtain over the one-way glass and opens a nearby cabinet, taking out two glasses and a bottle of wine.

Looking defeated, he pours himself half a glass and downs it in one long drink. Then he fills both glasses and takes a seat at a little table across from the bed.

Despite my anguish, I feel bad for Lorance. He wants to help but all I'm doing is giving him shit. This transition is playing havoc with my emotions.

I join him at the table and he pushes over a glass of wine. I grab it up without hesitation. I love wine and I'm hoping it will dull the pain. It looks like a cabernet, but at this point it could be engine oil and I'd still suck it down. I take a deep drink.

The wonderful warmth of the wine spreads from my mouth all the way down to my toes. It makes me feel all tingly and excited. I feel a silly smile spread across my face. "My God, Lorance, what kind of wine is this?" I ask.

Lorance looks somber. "It's a special vintage, Emma, made solely for the Transcendent. It's called bloodwine," he says.

I feel a creeping sense of horror. "Blood?" I ask.

"It's something we drink for pleasure, but it will not give you sustenance. For that, you need to feed from a living being," he says.

I find myself screaming at him. "Did you just feed me blood?" I ask.

He reaches over to touch my arm, further enraging me. I leap up and throw the table halfway across the room. The bottle and glasses shatter on the floor, splashing bloodwine all over the room.

I turn and race for the door. But Lorance has stepped into Velox and gets there ahead of me. I pound on his chest as he blocks my exit. "Let me go, you bloodsucking son of a bitch!" I yell.

He takes the punishment without raising a hand to me. Eventually, I become exhausted and the fire in my belly has me cradling myself with both arms. I sob as I stumble over onto the bed and curl up in a fetal position.

I want to die. I want to spend eternity in the Love Library with Julian.

I close my eyes and cry until I'm gasping for air. A cold sweat covers my body and I begin to shiver.

Lorance pulls a blanket over me. To my surprise, he crawls in to join me. I feel his bare skin against my leg. Is he naked?

It takes enormous effort to open my eyes and roll towards him. But it isn't Lorance lying with me, it's Heiko! He whispers something in German as he strokes my hair. Lorance is no longer in the room, but I sense that he's just outside.

Heiko wears that same intoxicating cologne that the tattoo artist wore. Something tells me that it's not a cologne at all, just my hunger.

Heiko tucks my head under his chin, a comforting gesture. I hear the blood pumping through his neck. Something horrible inside me wants to tear him apart.

I whisper to him as I kiss his throat. "Get out, while you still can," I say.