She’d only wanted friends, had gone out for a few drinks, ordered the “Blood Martini,” which had seemed fine…at first, and she hadn’t really bought into the whole thing, but she’d been intrigued and her newfound friends had assured her the “drinking of the blood” was all part of the ritual, all part of the fun, all part of this whole funky vampire craze.

But now she was sick with fear and the rising mist that slowly seeped through the floor gave her the creeps.

What was going on?

Where was she?

How had she gotten here, in this dark, cavernlike room?

Who, dear God, who were the people she felt watching her, their eyes caressing her?

Men?

Women?

Both?

Oh, Lord, what were they going to do to her?

She heard a footstep and tried to twist her neck, but failed.

Another footstep.

Her blood ran cold through her veins.

Help me, she silently prayed. Please God, help me.

Frantically she tried to see who was approaching. One person or more?

“Sister Ariel,” a male voice intoned.

Sister? Why would he call her that? She did remember foggily some mention of an initiation rite…that must be what this was. But why did she have to be naked and God, oh, God, why couldn’t she move?

She recognized his voice, didn’t she?

“Sister Ariel comes to us willingly.”

Who is “us”? And no, no I didn’t come willingly.

More steady footsteps, and though he was at her back, though she couldn’t see him, she felt his presence. He touched the spot behind her ear and she wanted to recoil, but couldn’t. There was something dangerous and frightening, but also seductive, in his touch.

His finger grazed the back of her neck and a thrill slid through her even though she was revolted. Her heart was pounding loudly inside her head and a red glow had turned the stage, if that’s what it was, to a dark scarlet mist.

It crossed her mind that she might be dreaming, or tripping out on some drug, but deep in her heart she knew this was real. He touched her intimately, leaning closer, breathing across her skin, brushing a nipple with one hand.

Her body responded though she willed it not to. She still could not see him, could not twist to stare into his face. “Sister Ariel joins us willingly tonight to make the final, ultimate sacrifice.”

No…this can’t be right. Ariel struggled inwardly, but her body wouldn’t, couldn’t, move.

“Our sister. A virgin.”

For the love of God, what was this? She wasn’t a virgin…. This was nuts, just plain crazy.