Bailey Second Guesses

"Is it going to hurt? Bailey asked, skipping a step to catch up with Darby's fast pace."How long will it take? Are the fangs like normal teeth?"
 Darby let out an exasperated sigh.
"Are you going to do this the whole way there?"
"We are talking about changing my life here. I think I should know a little more about what I am in for before I make a decision."
 "You already made a decision," Darby reminded her, her thick dark eyebrows creasing into a confused frown.
 Bailey bit her lip and looked down at the sidewalk.
 "I know what I said but now that I have had time to think about it, I am getting nervous."
 Bailey waited a minute for Darby to say something and when she didn't, Bailey sidled up to her and looked up expectantly.
"Do you want me to tell you it's all roses and sunshine? That you will wake up feeling like a superhero and all your problems will be solved?"
  Bailey cocked her head to the side thoughtfully.
 "Well no, not that exactly. But you did imply that my quality of life would be significantly better. I guess I was hoping for proof."
 "That's not something I can give you," Darby admitted, using a softer voice than Bailey had ever heard. "I can tell you it was a big adjustment for me but then again, I didn't get the option of deciding for myself like you have."
  Bailey's eyes went wide.
"You mean you didn't even want to be this way?"
"What do you mean "this way?" Darby snapped, the softness in her voice instantly gone. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned on Bailey glaring at her with a ferocity that made the timid girl take several steps back.
 "I...I didn't mean anything by it," she whimpered. "I just meant this isn't something that should be forced on anyone."
 "Sometimes things happen that we didn't choose," Darby said simply. "And we have to adjust to it."
 "How long does it take to-" Bailey started to ask another question but stopped when she caught the annoyed glint in Darby's eye.
 "Do you want to make a pros and cons list? Should I flip a coin?"
 "No, but you could stop being a bitch," Bailey snapped. Darby looked down at her with a hint of an amused smile.
 "Oh really? A minute ago you were cringing away from me and now I'm getting sass?"
 "I couldn't stop you if you decided to hurt me. But I still wanna go down swinging."
 "I don't want to hurt you, I want to help you. But you are going to have to decide for yourself what you want. If you want to back out, you should decide now," Darby told her, stopping and gesturing to the ivy covered house that towered in front of them.
  "I used to drive past this house when I worked at the supermarket down the street. Is this where you live?"
  "It is. Would you like to go in?"
   Bailey stared at the house for a moment. It was imposing and mysterious in the growing darkness. She knew if she went in there with Darby right now there was no turning back. She would be a vampire with the ability to defend herself and control the weak minds of arrogant pizza delivery guys or self centered bosses. Darby would teach her to be confident and stand up for herself and maybe they would actually become real friends.
  "I would like to go in," Bailey told her. "I'm ready to be like you."
  "Very well," Darby answered. She led the way to the large wooden front door, turned the brass handle and pushed till it creaked open. The two girls stepped into the entryway and Darby shut the door behind them.
  "I should tell you I don't live here alone. The man who owns this house is named-"
  "Stephen," hissed a voice in the darkness. Bailey screamed as she felt the sensation of someone coming up right behind her.
  Darby rolled her eyes.
 "Do you always have to be so dramatic, Stephen?" she complained.
 "Forgive my manners," the vampire said, stepping around the still trembling Bailey so she could see his face in the dim light of the candle he held.
 "I am not used to having visitors that I do not eat," he admitted. Bailey nodded and extended her hand.
 "Hello, Stephen. I am Bailey. It's nice to meet you."
 "The pleasure is mine, I am sure," Stephen said, taking Bailey's pale hand in his paler one and giving it a gentle kiss. "Darby has spoken quite highly of you. We both expect great things."
  "Stephen will you back off?" Darby snapped. "She just got here, I am trying to make her feel comfortable."
  All of a sudden, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the house sending shivers up and down Bailey's spine. She yelped and squeezed Stephen's hand.
  "Make her comfortable you say? You might want to start by silencing your guests," Stephen mused with a wry smile.
  "Wh...what is he talking about?" Bailey asked, still clinging to Stephen's hand. Darby looked down at her uncomfortably, saying nothing. How was she supposed to explain why Thomas, one of Bailey's neighbors, was chained up in a room to be used for the girl's first meal as a vampire?
   "Darby!" Bailey said again, more insistently this time. "What is Stephen talking about? Who is that?"