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// 10 - You're Adorably Terrifying! 
// Story: For Want of a Vampire 
// by David Silver 
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Sunset crashed into her side, knocking her clear of Orange Peel. The two slid across the smooth wood floor and bumped against the couch even as the woman grabbed ahold of Sunset and squeezed her with a sudden viciousness that made the captured mare squeak in pain.

That summoned her would-be partner, abandoning his raiding of the fridge with the sound of vegetables dropping to the floor amid two grapefruits. "Sunset? Wha--" He trailed off as he beheld the situation and Orange coughing for breath on the ground. "Release her immediately!"

"No!" She squeezed Sunset harder. "You take one step, just try me! Imma break her clean in half!"

Orange rolled up to his haunches, shaking herself out with dizziness. "Let's not be too hasty..."

"Hasty! You're the ones busting into my pad and stealing my stuff!"

Sunset suddenly squirmed in that vice grip. Her snout was near the woman's neck. Even if she didn't favor the taste of blood, she wasn't thinking it through and sank her teeth into that available neck. Copper flooded her snout. The woman's iron grip softened as she began to sink beneath Sunset, as if the bite was somehow calming rather than a traumatic wound. Together they crashed to the ground.

Orange flipped his ears back, guessing what was going on. "She's one of us, now."

Sunset recoiled, blinking down at her barely-concious victim and over at Orange. "Did I do it wrong, master?" She licked over her lips and scowled. "It tastes horrible!" She hopped down and dashed for the sink, guzzling water to clear away the foul taste.

Sunrise went for the woman, prodding her with a hoof. "You'd better not hurt her again." He snorted a little. "Can I break her in half?"

Orange shook his head firmly. "No! No. Not if she's already becoming one of us. She'll be a part of our family." He looked to the fridge. "Take what you can. Does she have a backpack?"

Sunset hopped down from the sink and looked around quickly. "Here, master." She snatched up a bag and worked it onto herself, nestled between her wings. It didn't take long to get it loaded up with their loot of fresh produce waiting for preparation.

All they had to do was grab up their newest member, supporting her between the three of them before they burst through the window and carried her across the street. There was an alarmed noise from below. They'd been spotted, but there was nowhere to go but forward. They fled on straining wings, carrying the sleeping human back to the castle.

The unnamed woman was changing in their grasp, shifting in ways that made their flight more awkward than it already had been. She wasn't shrinking, a fact that confused Orange. She also wasn't changing nearly so much in her limbs. Were vampire spawn less able to pass on the gift than true vampires? They put her down in the courtyard somewhat roughly, all three heaving for breath.

Richard came from above, springing up from where he had touched down as a bat instantly. "Who is she?" His eyes fell to her punctured neck and a radiant smile overtook his pale features. "Has one of you found your bloodthirst? There is hope for you yet!"

Orange put a hoof in front of Sunset. "She threatened us, master, and we defended ourselves."

Sunset and Sunrise quickly bobbed their heads.

Richard raised a brow. "Even a cornered pony may expose its teeth, it seems." His expression darkened as he noticed the changes overcoming her. "Your taint hasn't changed."

Orange pointed at her. "I think it has, master. She's not..."

Their attention was drawn to a loud banging at the gate. A man wearing some sort of uniform was standing there with a club in hand, running the club along the bars of the gate. "Hey. Can I borrow you a sec?" He shouted out at them, pushing up the brim of his hat. "You're breaking a few codes we have to talk about."

Richard gestured for the castle interior. "Bring our 'guest' inside. I'll deal with this troublesome soul." They took off, dragging the still-changing form of the woman with them as Richard strode purposefully for the gate, smiling as widely as he could without displaying his fangs. "What seems to be the problem?"

The man whistled softly. "Where do we even begin? I don't know how ya pulled it off, but this entire property isn't zoned for this part of the city. Hell, do you even have a deed for the land this is parked on?"

Richard felt a frown trying to break free. A bureaucratic agent, the worst kind. "Oh my... We can't have this stand. Please, come in. We'll sort this out as quickly as possible."

The interloper looked confused at Richard's eagerness to comply. "Oh, yeah... I woulda figured you were some kinda prank or somethin' with that whole... Uh, nevermind. Open the gate here?" He waved the club at the closed gate.

Richard had it opened with a flick of the rest. "Enter..."

"Motion activated? Fancy." The man stepped inside without fear. "Now look here Mister..."

"Dracula."

"Aw come on now." The man frowned at Richard. "What's your real name?"

"Richard von Dracula." Richard raised a brow. He did not favor the impertinent tones of the man. "Have you eaten tonight?"

The gates closed behind the man with a soft bang, sealing him inside.

Inside the main hall of the castle, the three vamponies watched as the woman grew a mild snout and pony ears. She gained a tail and hooves for feet, but her hands remained, her general shape remained. She hadn't become a pony. She was as much human as pony. She was one of them, and yet not.

Her eyes snapped open even as bright green fur swept over her body. "I thirst..."