The room was solid white around them from ceiling to floor. Even the sickly boy lying in the hospital bed was white. His skin had paled tremendously in his condition. Tubes ran in and out of his arms, up his nose, into his mouth, and down his throat. One machine beeped slowly and unevenly in time to a barely functioning heart. Another gave the strange mechanical sounds of breath as they moved the boy's unresponsive lungs.

Matt Hardy’s face was buried in his arms where he leaned on the bed, his sobs muffled but still audible. It had all happened so quickly. One moment he was looking up at his brother in a glorious moment of pride, standing tall and strong atop a ladder that towered over the table and his victim below. Now here he was only a couple hours later clinging tightly to Jeff’s hand and wishing his fingers would close around his in response. But there was no response at all from Jeff Hardy. He had crashed and burned. His head had met the table at the wrong angle, nearly snapping his neck in two, and his body had crumpled into a misshapen heap. Matt could still feel tremors of the terror that had shot through him. He had knelt by his brother instantly to touch his neck and cup a hand over his mouth. No breath. No pulse. He had nearly gone mad right there in front of everyone in the arena. He thought he had screamed. He imagined how many of their fans had fainted at the sight as he raised his head. His cheeks were red, his eyes swollen and bloodshot. He reached out to pet Jeff’s forehead tenderly.

“Please, don’t leave me. I love you. I’m begging you, Jeff, don’t die. Hold on to me and don’t let go.” Matt squeezed Jeff’s hand as another thought came to his mind. “And whatever you do, don’t follow Mom. Please. Just tell her you can’t come yet. Tell her it’s all my fault, but I won’t let you go, Jeff. You’re gonna stay right here with me. Please?”

“Matt?”

He turned his head to look over his shoulder. He was shocked at who he saw standing in the doorway. It was Adam Copeland, called Edge by the fans and some of his co-workers. Matt was allowed to call him Adam, though. He was one of the privileged few who knew the man well. In fact, a little too well. He watched as the perfect beauty walked towards him, broad shoulders swaying, blond tresses framing his aristocratic features. He stood up as he approached, but dared not let go of Jeff’s hand.

“Adam… What are you doing here?”

“I needed to come see what was wrong with Jeff. I saw everything inside of my mind, but I needed to come and double check.”

“In your mind?” Matt frowned at him, having never liked the fact that Adam could read minds and watch people whenever he fancied. “Why were you watching us?”

“I wasn’t until I heard you scream from the other side of the country. I was at home in Florida, relaxing and minding my own business when your scream of… Was it fear? It pierced my mind and chilled my heart.”

“So I did scream…” Matt muttered. “I’m assuming you flew here?”

“Yes, of course. It’s the quickest way.”

“You know you shouldn’t do that. I thought that they had told you it wasn’t good for you or something?”

Adam gave his usual wide grin, his withdrawn fangs almost blending in with the rest of his oversized teeth. Almost. Matt saw them clearly and shuddered. Adam didn’t like the response so he wiped his smile away quickly.

“Sorry. I tend to forget you don’t like vampires.”

“I don’t mean it personally, Adam. I explained it before.”

“I know, Matt. I know.” He looked down at Jeff finally, his cat-like emerald eyes seeing everything even in the dim light. “Will you let me check him over?”

Matt nodded silently, sitting back down where he had been. Adam moved around to the other side of the bed as Matt whispered to Jeff.

“Adam’s going to see if he can help, Jeffro. Don’t be scared, though. I’m right here.”

“I won’t hurt him. He knows that.”

“Can you hear any thoughts from him, Adam?”

He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. “He’s dreaming. I can see you very young in front of him. The two of you are playing and laughing. He probably doesn’t know what’s happened to him yet if he’s dreaming something so sweet.”

“Please, help him. The doctors said it’s hopeless.” Tears brimmed in Matt’s eyes again as he looked up at Adam. “He can’t die.”

“Be quiet now. Let me do my work.”

Matt tried to stay out of the way, but never let go of Jeff’s hand the entire time. Adam used all of his senses in order to feel, sense, and see what was wrong inside of Jeff’s body. He could see things no modern medical machine could ever detect. His hands roamed lightly over Jeff’s body, correcting small things as he went. It was when he got to Jeff’s neck and head that his frown deepened. He could see and feel the bones of Jeff’s neck were nearly destroyed despite the doctor’s attempts to piece him back together. Beyond the beautiful childhood dreams Jeff’s mind was a haze of broken thoughts and memories. All of which were deteriorating quickly.

“Oh dear…” Adam whispered.

“What is it? Adam, tell me you can help him,” Matt said urgently.

“Matt, there’s only one way that Jeff can be saved and I was told once before that I was never allowed to perform such a trick.”

Matt’s chocolate eyes went wide. He knew what was being implied. Adam had offered up the gift not long after becoming friends with the Hardy brothers. They had both rejected venomously. Now as Jeff lie on the brink of death Matt couldn’t help but rethink their decisions.

Either Jeff dies without ever knowing he had been killed… Or I go against him and allow Adam to make him a vampire. He would be saved, but at what cost?

“He would never return to wrestling. He would lose his precious home. And overall Jeff would most likely be burdened with all that comes with immortality,” Adam answered him.

“Stay out of my head, Adam.” Matt sighed and stared at Jeff intensely. “Isn’t there anyway that you could ask him? Maybe enter his dreams or something?”

“That’s not a power I possess, Matt. Only you can do that.”

He scowled. “I haven’t been able to do such things since I was a teenager. I don’t have those kind of powers anymore.”

“Are you sure you haven’t just neglected them and shoved them aside?”

Matt glared up at the vampire without fear, casting his anger upon him in full force. Adam only arched his brows and looked away. Matt knew he was right. He had developed faint telepathic abilities as a child, but Jeff had been the only one he shared them with. Jeff was the only one who could be trusted with such secrets. His baby brother had kept all the secrets he’d ever been told. Now those secrets were slowly being forgotten as Jeff’s mind and body tried to shut down.

“Fine, but this is the last time I’m ever going to do this. It’s not right for a normal human to have a power like this.”

Adam didn’t say a word. Matt forced himself to remember exactly how he had done it all those years ago. He found himself slipping into it easily, his mind reaching out and straight into Jeff’s. He projected himself in image and appeared in the middle of Jeff’s dream. He was standing in the woods behind their home, outside the old hideout in the bamboo where they’d played super heroes. Jeff had just emerged, looking to be only eight years old. Behind him was a vision of himself at the age of eleven. As soon as Jeff’s eyes laid upon him, though, the dream changed. The younger Matt disappeared and Jeff slowly changed into his current appearance.

“Hey Matty,” he smiled.

“Hi Jeff. Playing in the fort again?”

“Yeah, kinda. But wasn’t that a long time ago?” Jeff looked confused.

“Listen, Jeffy, ya know how I used to be able to do things with my mind?”

“Yeah. Your magic voodoo ways,” he chuckled.

“Well, that’s what I’m doing right now. You’re dreaming all of this, Jeff, and I had to come in here to talk to you.”

“Oh. Well, why didn’t you just wake me up?”

“I can’t. Here, come sit next to me, little brother.”

Jeff blinked slightly but knelt down in front of Matt on the ground. “You only call me that when something’s serious.”

“This is serious. Jeff, earlier tonight you and I had a match. You did the Swanton off the ladder, but it all went wrong. You nearly broke your neck. You were dead for a little bit in the ring, but the paramedics saved you. Sorta.”

“Are you really telling me this? You’re not part of the dream?”

“I promise you I’m not. Right now I’m sitting next to you as you’re lying in a hospital bed. Jeff, you’re dying.”

“I don’t feel like I’m dying,” he pointed out.

“You’re in a coma. Listen to me, please. Jeff, you don’t have much time. I need to ask you a question before you die. It could save you.”

“Well, if it’s gonna save me than do it! I don’t wanna die, Matty!”

Finally Jeff was starting to realize the sincerity in his brother’s voice. Matt reached forward and squeezed Jeff’s shoulders, looking into his green eyes intensely. He could feel the tears threatening to come again, but he swallowed them back as best as possible.

“There’s only one thing that can save you.”

“What?”

“Adam.”

Jeff’s eyes went wide before narrowing with anger. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“I’m sorry! That’s why I came here to ask you first! I wasn’t about to just let Adam bring you across when I know you had refused before.”

“There’s no way I’m gonna be some blood sucking corpse the rest of eternity! I’d rather die!”

Jeff got to his feet to stalk off, but Matt gave chase and grabbed his arm. “Please, think really hard about it this time, Jeff. It really is your one and only chance at life. I know you despise the thought, but maybe you might wanna reconsider and consider everything. It’s either vampirism or death.”

“Same thing. How could I be something that I despise? I have enough trouble living normally as it is!”

“Maybe that’s the problem!” Jeff stopped and looked at him with a stern and confused expression. “We all know you’re not the most normal person. Maybe that’s why you’re unhappy. You’d be able to do anything you wanted as a vampire. You don’t have to feed off humans either, remember?”

“I love animals just as much as I do humans.”

“Not all animals. We’ll pick one you’d like to kill.”

“Why are you do determined to change my mind? You asked me, I said no. Shouldn’t that be it?”

“But Jeff, I love you. I don’t want you to die.” A tear traced down his cheek as if on cue, catching Jeff’s attention. “You wouldn’t be in it alone. I’d come with you. There’s no way I’d let you become immortal without me there. You can’t stay young while I grow old and die. Saving you would be in vain if that happened.”

“Matt, you hate them even more than I do. I mean, you just listed off all the things I find attractive about it. You’re completely repulsed by it all, though.”

“I love you.”

Jeff was silenced for a moment. “I love you too.”

The brothers stepped into one another’s embrace, not letting go for what seemed like a long time. A voice from outside was interrupting them, though. Jeff seemed to understand and let Matt slip away, out of his arms and out of the dreams he had created for himself. Matt looked up at Adam.

“I have to do it now if at all,” he said. “He’s fading fast.”

“Do it. He agreed to it.”

Adam didn’t waste another moment. He moved with his vampiric speed to block the door and ensure no one would get in. Then he was back at the bedside in a blur of black leather and blond hair. He and Matt carefully removed all the things that until then had been sustaining Jeff’s life, aside from the respirator. It was all that kept his heart still beating. Using the already opened skin on Jeff’s right arm Adam began his task of changing the young man into a vampire. He drew from him all the blood that he could without killing him outright, swallowing down the sweet fluids with little enjoyment for once. Then with his razor sharp fingernails he slit his own wrist and pressed it to Jeff’s mouth. Matt removed the respirator to make more room and tilted Jeff’s head back to open his throat. Already there was banging on the door from the hospital staff who had been monitoring him from their desks. The blood slid smoothly down Jeff’s throat without a single catch. He startled them both when his eyes flew open, wide and panicked. He latched onto Adam’s wrist with both hands and mouth and began to suck the life from him with all his might. Adam growled with the pain, but allowed him for a few moments longer.

“Enough! Jeff, stop!”

With Matt’s help Adam finally dislodged himself from Jeff’s grasp. Already the death was coming over him, screams of agony shredding the air of the room. Matt pulled him into his arms and held him tight, holding in his fear and sorrow as he felt Jeff’s body thrash in a final fight for life and slowly grow weak. Then all at once he went slack. The weight pulled Matt down to the bed as he held his dead brother in his arms.

“Matt, get away from him. He’ll be hungry as soon as he comes back.”

“No. No, I’m holding him through it all. If he bites me so be it, you’ll just have to do it again. Not like I don’t plan on making you do so anyway.”

Before Adam could respond a soft gasp came from Jeff’s lips. He didn’t awaken, but he was indeed very much in the world of the living again. Matt stared down at Jeff in awe. His brother’s skin was still pale, but no longer sickly. Instead he looked fair and fragile as if he were made of fine porcelain. He had the faintest hint of color to his cheeks, his lips were a deep shade of pink, and his usually stringy hair was radiant and soft, though, still holding the red and blue colors it had been dyed with. Matt slowly looked up at Adam.

“It’s done then?”

“For the most part. We should leave now before they figure out how to unbend that door.”

Matt glanced at where the security guards were still trying their damnedest to get in. “How are we leaving?”

“Through the window. You can hang onto me while I hold Jeff. We’ll just drop down outside the hospital and walk away.”

Before Matt could really comprehend Adam turned to the window and put his foot through it as if it had been fake movie glass causing the entire window to shatter and fall to the floor and also to the street below. He came over to gather Jeff into his arms and then went back over to the window. Matt peeked out at the world below, thinking about the fact that they were on the twelfth floor.

“I won’t let you fall. Just hold onto my waist as tight as you can. I’m going to aim for the alley way across the street so we can land without being seen.”

“Okay. Been nice knowing ya.”

Adam chuckled as he shifted Jeff so Matt could find his hold. Once he felt Matt’s full strength squeeze around his waist he jumped, pushing himself out away from the building at an angle to head for the alley he had designated. It was mostly a simple free fall into the dark cover of the buildings. Never the less he felt Matt’s arms trembling from the effort he put into holding on. Either that or he was trembling from fear. Most likely both, but Adam decided not to prod the boy’s mind. Once they had landed safely Adam looked at Jeff in his arms and slapped his face.

“Hey! Why’d you hit him?” Matt protested.

“He barely felt it, believe me. He’s stronger now. He needs to wake up, though.”

Jeff groaned in protest. “Five more minutes…”

Adam thereby dropped Jeff’s legs, only holding his upper body and slowly making him stand on his own two feet. Jeff seemed to know what was going on, running a tongue over his new fangs and stretching his agile body. He looked as if he’d woken from a nap. But when he finally cleared the sleep from his eyes he was all curious wonder. Through his eyes the world looked shiny and new and much more detailed than even the keenest human eyes could see. He stared at everything he could see, eventually his eyes falling on Adam.

“Go ahead. You have to get used to this,” he said as he leaned down slightly to Jeff’s height.

“You’re so smooth. Like you’re not even real.” Jeff hesitantly touched Adam’s cheek and then his hair, threading it through his fingers. “Do I look like this?”

“You sure do,” Adam nodded.

Jeff turned his head to Matt. “I am?”

“Am what?”

“You said I’m beautiful.”

Matt arched a brow. “I didn’t say that. I thought it.”

“Ah, so that’s the gift you were deemed with.” Adam patted Jeff’s head. “Each of us has something that is strong in us. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised considering your brother can manipulate people’s dreams.”

Jeff barely heard anything Adam had said. He was staring at Matt now. He came over to his brother without fear, not feeling nervous around him. He ran his hands over Matt’s beard scruffy face, through his hair, and then back to his face to trace each detail with his fingers. Matt didn’t seem to get a big kick out of it, but he knew Jeff was seeing things that only vampires could. He tried to be patient so that he would be treated the same when it came his turn.

“My god this is amazing,” Jeff muttered. “I can see so much more. I can feel things better. I can hear every thought going through Matt’s head. In fact I can hear a lot of people’s thoughts. It’s so noisy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to block most of that out,” Adam said.

“I can’t hear anything from you, though,” Jeff said.

“That’s because I’m the one who made you. There can be no mental connection between us. I don’t know why. That’s simply the way it is.”

“That sucks.” Jeff looked back at Matt with a small smile. “It’s not so bad so far, big brother.”

Matt smiled back. “I’m just glad to see you at least somewhat back to normal. Instead of lying in that bed with all those machines hooked up to you.”

Jeff came forward to hug him, but then stopped and backed away again. “Whoa, wait a second. I can hear your heartbeat and that whooshing sound of blood. Am I right that I’m hungry?” he looked up at Adam.

“Most likely. You’ve been reading Anne Rice again haven’t you?”

“A little. She actually gets it right.”

“That’s because she knows some of us.”

“Should I even be here right now if he needs a snack?” Matt asked nervously.

“You don’t have much choice but to be here. I don’t suggest that you watch me teach him to hunt, though. Maybe you should go to a hotel.”

“I can’t go back to the one where I’m at now. No doubt they’re combing the city for me and Jeff already.”

“You mean you and my body,” Jeff snickered. “They think you’re a necrophiliac I bet!”

“Ew, and an incestual one at that!”

Adam covered his face and shook his head momentarily. “Dear god what have I done? I made the strangest of the Hardy Boyz into a vampire.”

“You’re doomed,” Jeff laughed.

“Matt, just go to a seedy little motel somewhere. You won’t get questioned by anyone who runs a joint like that. Stay there until Jeff and I come find you.”

“Then what? Where are we gonna go?”

“I’ll take the two of you back to Florida with me. They won’t expect you to be clear across the country in a matter of thirty minutes.”

“Matty, your brain is racing at a million miles per second,” Jeff said with concern. “Just calm down. Adam will help us fix everything.”

“Am I projecting or are you just that good at reading me now?”

“Never mind,” Adam interrupted. “You’ll have plenty of time to talk later. Right now Jeff needs to eat and Matt needs to get walking.”

That said Matt gave a slightly dirty look at Adam and walked away, slowly changing his appearance as he went by removing his fish-netted sleeves and pulling his hair back. Adam and Jeff were left alone then. Jeff was more than a little nervous about the prospect of hunting.

“Don’t worry, Jeffy. I’ll try to make it easy on you.”

It was hours later that Matt was still sitting in a dimly lit motel room. He sat on the bed with his knees pulled to his chest, slowly eating what was left of his french fries. He had been recognized multiple times on the way, but had managed to remain concealed most of the time. He had resorted to pulling his pants up to a normal level above his hips, turning his Hardy Boyz shirt inside out, removing his fishnet, and pulling his hair back into a tight ponytail. Being less obvious than usual barely helped.

He flopped onto his side on the bed, watching the ketchup packets bounce with his weight. His thoughts were still racing as Jeff had noticed. He had so many concerns. He knew his whole entire life had already changed drastically. There was only a slim chance that he and Jeff could return to their normal routines and jobs. How would they explain everything if they tried? Matt’s main concern was for their father. He had called him before being let into Jeff’s hospital room and the eldest Hardy man was on a plane for California at that precise moment. How can you explain vampirism to a man like him?

Matt sat up as the door was shoved open. Jeff stumbled in with one hand to his head, instantly falling across the bed. Adam followed, closing the door behind him and taking one of the chairs.

“What happened? Jeff, are you okay?”

“Leave him alone, Matt. He’s not feeling very well.”

“What did you do to him this time?” he scowled as he rubbed Jeff’s back.

“I taught him how to hunt.”

“And to fly,” Jeff muttered.

“Adam, I thought you said you shouldn’t do that! What does that do again? I can’t remember.”

“It takes your fucking humanity!” Jeff answered.

Matt turned his narrowed gaze on Adam. “Matt, I’m sorry. He has to be able to fly on his own to get to Florida.”

“I always thought that being able to fly would be the most remarkable thing in the world. I’ve always wanted to fly. But all it does is make you incredibly cold and you feel like some sort of monster on the prowl.” Jeff sat up and looked at Matt with his glowing eyes. “And as if that isn’t bad enough, about an hour ago I killed another living person.”

“I thought you didn’t have to kill?”

“I don’t. I did it anyway because I was fucking hungry. And that asshole didn’t try to stop me!”

“Adam, you’re making me hate you more and more with every passing second,” Matt growled at him.

“He had to do it at least once. Now that he has he’ll never feel that urge ever again.”

“I never had homicidal urges in the first place!”

“You’re a vampire now, Jeff. Everything inside of you has changed. I need to insure that you become a well rounded and very normal little vampy.”

“You make it sound like you’re raising a child,” Matt said.

“I am! Jeff for all technicalities is my son now. He carries my blood in his veins. He’s been completely reborn. He knows nothing of what life is like for him now so I, much like a parent, have to teach him.”

“I’m not your son. My name is Hardy, not Copeland. I’ll be your student, but not your kid.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll never say it that way again if it makes you happy.” Adam got back to his feet. “We need to leave. Jeff and I saw a news bulletin concerning the two of you only a little while ago.”

“They’re searching for you, Matty. I was right. They think you stole my body.”

“Great. Just what I always needed. Matt Hardy, the incesty necro.”

“That could be a good persona for you on the show,” Jeff smirked.

“C’mon you nutjobs. Let’s go.”

“Matty needs a coat. If it takes half an hour he’ll freeze.”

Adam shed his own leather trench and handed it over. It was a size too large for Matt, but it didn’t matter. The three of them went outside, Adam leading the way towards the side of the building. Without even a grunt of effort he jumped to the top of the building next door. Jeff and Matt looked up to admire the three story leap then looked at each other.

“I guess he expects me to get you up there.”

“Not like you’re not strong enough to lift me anymore.”

Jeff put an arm around Matt’s waist and jumped, making a somewhat easy landing on the roof. Unfortunately Matt stumbled and nearly ate tar paper when he fell.

“Sorry about that.”

“Eh. I’m getting used to being carried around by other men.”

“Jeff, do you want to carry him or should I?”

“You do it. I want to at least try to make my trip enjoyable.”

Matt frowned slightly, but didn’t protest. He had hoped Jeff would take him. He tried his best to block his thoughts as he zipped and buckled Adam’s coat up. When he looked up Jeff was already high above them attempting acrobatics in mid-air. Adam scooped him into his arms and joined Jeff among the stars.

“Are you ready? I hope you can keep up with me.”

“If not, I’ll just follow Matt’s thoughts. I should be able to sense him from a distance right?”

“Most likely.” Adam looked down at Matt in his arms. “Are you going to be okay?”

Matt stole glance down at the world below. “Maybe I’ll try to take a nap.”

“I doubt you’ll manage that.”

With no further warning Adam shot off towards the east, Jeff lagging behind only momentarily. For a newborn vampire it seemed that Jeff was quite powerful. He had keen telepathic abilities, strength that nearly matched Adam’s, and could even fly without much effort. Adam was more than impressed. He was also worried, though. If others sensed Jeff’s power and realized he was just born they’d be fearful. He’d be seen as a threat. They’d want him destroyed. That was something Adam was personally going to ensure never happened.