Jackson pulled the woman even closer and continued the assault until Gabriel ripped him off her yelling, "I said, that's enough!"
Coming to his senses, he recoiled and stared at the woman as her own blood streamed down her neck and across his chin.
Gabriel licked the blood from her neck then held her gaze again, "You will now return home and forget everything that happened here." She dropped into a curtsey and left.
He led the remaining man to Sarah. "Your turn, Lass."
Sarah searched her friend's eyes, with a tear-stained face. Gabriel laughed. "Why look to him, he is helpless." Jackson closed his eyes and nodded to her. When she turned away, he blocked the view with his hands and prayed she had done the same to avoid witnessing his savagery.
They were escorted back to their rooms and instructed to stay there until morning, when lessons would resume.
Jackson asked, "Aren't we to be fed?"
"You have just been fed."
"I mean real food, sustenance."
Gabriel brought his face to within inches of Jackson's. "Blood is your sustenance." Seeing the horror in the young vampire's eyes, his tone softened and he backed up. "Partaking human food is now extraneous, yet can still be quite enjoyable. You will find sleeping to be an unnecessary luxury as well."
Jackson could not bring himself to return Sarah's gaze. He had never felt such shame and self-loathing. He closed the door to his room, and leaning against it, thought, what kind of monster have I become? He stood at the mirror and gazed upon himself for the first time since being abducted. His mouth dropped open in wonder as he took in his own physicality. He recognized himself, yet his reflection was... better. In every sense, better. His black hair appeared darker, thicker and shone as if coated in oil. His soft brown eyes were now the color of a deep topaz, feline in nature. Even the slightest skin imperfections had disappeared. He removed his waistcoat and shirt. Every muscle in his chest and abdomen displayed definition beyond normal. He took his entire body in and thought, I am a perfect specimen of man, yet inhuman.
After composing himself, he found Sarah's room and knocked on the door. He could hear her weeping, so entered and sat next to her on the bed.
"You should have come to me. I did not know you were so distraught."
"I thought you felt disgust toward me and would turn me away."
He held her face in his hands. "No, any disgust is toward myself, I could not bear to see it reflected in your eyes."
"Stay with me, please?"
"Of course." The vampires lay on the bed together, Sarah's head on Jackson's chest. He had been with women before, but always those of questionable virtue. He had never experienced this intimacy with a lady of breeding, and knew that if her family ever learned of their actions, they would demand restitution for his behavior. In truth, his intentions were honorable. His feelings towards Sarah resembled those toward his older sister, Emily, whom he idolized as a caregiver, teacher, and confident.
They were quiet for a time, before Jackson summoned the courage to speak. "Have you gazed in the mirror since we arrived here?"
"No, I must be a sight."
"I think you should see." He rose, held her hand, and led her to the looking glass.
Sarah stood, dumfounded, with a hand touching her cheek. "What happened?"
"Evidently, vampirism enhances physical appearance."
Sarah and Jackson spent the night becoming acquainted as well as discussing plans for escape. They discovered that they had led similar lives, both belonging to families of high standing and wealth.
Sarah felt unsure about running at first, however Jackson held strong to his conviction that death would be preferable to living as a minion for a madman.