They found him six months later.
Elian Torres, seventeen years old, dying of cancer in a New York hospital. The doctors gave him weeks, maybe a month if he was lucky.
But it wasn't the cancer that drew Aiden's attention—it was Elian himself.
Aiden had been volunteering at the hospital, using his foundation as a cover, sensing for supernatural potential in terminal patients. The ethics were murky, but the alternative was letting people die who might want a chance at immortal life.
"He's remarkable," Aiden told Kieran after his third visit to Elian's room. "He's dying, in pain, but he still finds ways to make the nurses laugh. Still talks about what he'll do when he gets better, even though he knows he won't. He has this... light about him."
"Sounds like someone I know," Kieran said with a slight smile.
They approached Elian carefully. First as volunteers, then as friends, and finally, when he was down to his last few days, with the truth.
"We know this sounds insane," Aiden said, sitting beside Elian's hospital bed. "But we want to offer you an alternative to dying."
"Alternative? Like experimental treatment?" Elian's voice was weak, his body ravaged by cancer.
"Like immortality."
Elian laughed, then coughed. "Are you guys from some weird cult?"
"No cult. Just truth." Kieran moved to where Elian could see him without straining. "We're vampires. Real vampires. And we can turn you, give you a new life, a healthy body, centuries to experience everything you'll miss if you die now."
"Vampires," Elian repeated flatly. "You're serious."
"Completely serious." Aiden let his eyes flash crimson, let his fangs descend slightly.
Elian stared. "Holy shit. That's... that's real. You're really—"
"Really vampires. And we're really offering you a choice. Die in the next few days, or let us turn you and live for centuries."
"What's the catch?"
"You can't go out in sunlight. You need blood to survive—synthetic mostly, sometimes real from willing donors. You'll outlive everyone you know who stays human. And you'll be bound to us—we'll be your sires, your teachers, essentially your vampire parents."
"Vampire parents," Elian murmured. "That's... actually kind of nice. My real parents died when I was twelve. Foster system after that."
Aiden's heart ached. "So you understand what we're offering? Family. Not just immortality, but belonging."
"Can I think about it?"
"You have two days, according to your doctors. Take the time you need."
Elian did think about it. And thirty-six hours later, with his body shutting down, he made his choice.
"Turn me. I don't want to die at seventeen. I want to live, see the world, experience everything. So turn me. Please."
They did the turning in a private room Marcus had prepared. Kieran drained Elian carefully, bringing him to the edge of death. Then Aiden gave him their combined blood—both sires' blood mixing, creating a stronger bond.
The transformation took three agonizing days.
When Elian opened his eyes—crimson now, healthy, alive—he looked at them with wonder.
"I can breathe without pain. I can move without hurting. I'm... alive. Really alive."
"You're vampire," Kieran corrected gently. "But yes, alive in all the ways that matter."
"Thank you." Tears—blood tears—streamed down Elian's face. "Thank you for saving me. For giving me this chance."
Aiden pulled him into a hug. "Welcome to the family, Elian. Welcome home."