The next morning it rained, too. The rain from yesterday didn't cease, and I had to keep the window closed for the rain was so heavy it would wet the floors, too.

Adalyn and Bernadette came in and dressed me up in a red dress that I supposed the Elders dug out for me, and dolled me up. They never touched my face, but braided my hair up and gave me pearl earrings and a choker to tie around my neck.

"I wish you the very best," Bernadette said. She was freckled and had a gentle face. People often said she wasn't extraordinarily pretty for a vampire of the Butterfly Clan, but she was only fifteen, and hadn't matured yet.

Then there was Adalyn, also fifteen, who was quiet and never opened her mouth, and pretty with a mysterious air about her. However Lark, at ten, already blossomed into a beautiful girl with straight black hair and almond eyes.

The two girls left, and then there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Rowena and Selma opened the door like two twin mechanical dolls, and Agnes strolled in before she turned and showed the guests in.

I inspected each of them carefully.

The first was tall and brown-headed, with glasses and a long face. He looked like the oldest, but seemed wary of us—particularly me, as he narrowed his eyes at me. He would be a hard one to seduce.

The next was a smiling man with long brown hair at his shoulders. His coat had many frills, and his boots were of black leather and reached his knees. He looked easy but I didn't like him. I didn't want to give pleasure to a man like that, much less have his child.

The man behind him was a tall and pale ginger. His hair was curly and his lashes blonde. He kept looking down like he was afraid of seeing him. It might be fun playing with him, and he had a somewhat feminine form about his face, maybe it was the soft jawline.

Next was a man with dark skin. I rarely saw people such as him in our land. He looked at me in astonishment—a face I always saw. Then he brought his eyes away, slightly ashamed, but glanced at me once more before turning to whisper something to the ginger. He wasn't bad, either.

I stood up, ready to introduce myself, and at the same moment, the last man entered the room.

I stopped.

Sabine—?

No. That couldn't be.

I looked at him again, but I couldn't shake off the resemblance. He had her hair, cornflower yellow, the yellow I saw on the sunflowers that children outside picked, the yellow on a butterfly's wings, not too bright, but soft, like sunlight streaming through the curtain.

It was a color I loved, as it was so rarely seen in my dark tower.

He had the same soft waves, and although his hair was short, only up to his neck, it framed his face. He looked like the painting of angels I saw once, from some book the Elder's showed me.

His eyes met mine. They were just a shade or two darker than Sabine's milky ones. His were more alert, less delicate.

"Seems like you've taken a liking to someone."

I looked over at Agnes, who smiled pleasantly. She was a splendid actress. I mirrored her and Rowena and Selma snickered. The men only stiffened. They were such cowards, but I didn't mind that. My eyes turned back to him, and he didn't flinch or pull back. He stared back at me. Then he gave a wry smile.

"Now let me introduce you gentlemen to the most beautiful girl in the Butterfly Clan." She always called us "girls" instead of "vampires" in front of guests. To let their guard down, she said. "This is our Margery, twenty-four this year, and of pure blood. She's a quiet one, but loves humans."

I stood up, loose brown curls brushing my cheekbones, the hem of my skirt brushing the floor and the tip of my embroidered Moroccan slipper peeking out.

Then I smiled, sweetly.

"And, Margery, here, in order, is Dr.Gregoire, the man in charge of the project."

The serious man gave a polite nod.

"It's a pleasure to work with you. Are you a doctor?" I asked.

"No, I'm a professor. Doctor is simply a title because I have a doctorates degree from university." I nodded, pretending I understood. I already didn't like this man: I despised those who knew things I didn't.

"Next," continued Agnes, "are the two who will be doing the interviewing: Yves and Marcel."

"Pleased to meet you, Lady Margery," said Yves, the one with the frills. I smiled and tipped my head. Marcel was quiet.

"Next is the scribe Karl, and lastly, the illustrator who will be drawing our portraits, Uriel."

Uriel.

I looked at him. He still had on the same expression he had since he saw me: unimpressed, unmoved, but beautiful. Like an angel. A marble statue. Then I made up my mind.

He would be my target.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," I finally said. "I hope you'll take care of me. I'd love to hear about your world."

"Of course," said Yves, beaming. "I love telling stories, and we've been to so many places—the East, deserts, islands, places hot and cold—I'm sure the stories will entertain you."

"Yes. Vampires don't live in a lot of places, after all, and many clans are dying out," Dr.Gregoire said without delicacy. I saw Agnes glare at him. "But remember, Yves, you have a job."

"Of course, don't worry."

"But regarding the interviews, I think we ought to do it together," the doctor kept saying. "I don't trust my boys to be with your vampires alone."

"What?" Agnes's mouth parted into a red circle. "You must jest! My girls are not what you humans portray us to be in your crude novels! That's nothing but lies!"

How ironic.

"Oh, calm down, Madame Agnes. I'm not saying they will harm us, but to have an unmarried man and woman together in a room is bad for both parties, is it not?" The doctor moved his hands slowly as he spoke, and made himself look reasonable, on the other hand, Agnes look hysterical. I liked him a bit better.

Agnes gave a small nod. "Fine. I suppose so. But I have a strict rule that only one person may enter the tower room at a time."

"Why?"

"The tower room is too small. Look, even now we are all only standing a feet or so from her bed. I'm sure Margery doesn't want five men in her bedroom at once."

"Yes," I said. "Pardon me, but I wouldn't like to be interviewed." The doctor frowned heavily.

"Then what about the stories—" Yves asked, only to be interrupted by Selma.

"Oh, but Margery certainly must have a portrait done!" She smiled at Yves. "You there, the illustrator—you can tell her what stories she wants to know and draw her, can't you?"

"Yes! Or maybe even paint an oil portrait!" Rowena added.

The men turned to Uriel, who only glanced at the doctor, who nodded, before turning back to Agnes.

"Will you, young man?"

"Of course, ma'am." Her face relaxed.

"That's terribly kind of you."

"But—" Dr.Grégoire protested, "alone?" Agnes narrowed her eyes, and I thought I saw the face of a cat—an angry, slender feline face with glowing eyes like the devil's.

"I've adhered to your request, Dr.Gregoire. This is my estate, and my girls have already been subject to your cruel prejudice. I will not tolerate any more abuse from you."

He finally looked lost, almost scared. Then he nodded.

"Apologies, Madame Agnes. As for you, Uriel, do your best."

"Yes, Doctor." Agnes couldn't stop smiling.

"Now let us depart, it is nearly time for luncheon."

They nodded, and set off.

This time, however, Yves turned back, and said something to Agnes. She gave a brief nod, then left.

Uriel stood there, and now, without the other men blocking him, I could see him better. He was slender, dressed in a plain, ragged brown coat, inside a tunic and black pants, and his boots were of brown leather.

He turned to look at me, but he didn't walk any closer.

The footsteps of the others were echoing in the stone hallway, and soon I could no longer hear it. They had probably headed down the stairs.

Only we were left. I couldn't help but smile—his bravery both amused me and already made me grow fonder of him. Although he was so skinny, poorly-dressed, and inexpressive, there was a determination about him.

"Is there something you want from me, Uriel?" I asked.

"I remember this clan," he replied, calmly. "Some years ago, you vampires killed my father."

"I can't remember," I replied truthfully. "Care to give me more details?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," he replied. I was stunned. Did he just tell me for no reason? "Are you going to kill us?"

"I won't," I replied. "There's no advantage for me. Agnes only wants one thing now: children. And of course, coverage."

"If I'm the one allowed into your tower, you must need me for something. What is it?" I couldn't help be amazed by his observation. Rarely did humans catch on that quick.

"You are going to be my prey. Agnes wants me to seduce you, and bear a child."

"A child?" He was as still as before. "Don't jest. I don't want to impregnate you or any vampire. My father always taught me it was a trap women used to ensnare men."

"Your mother sounds like a fine woman. But your father is right, I don't recommend it, to you, or me." I walked closer, and he backed away a little. There was still space between us.

"So why are you letting me in your tower despite this?"

"I want you to bring me away from here."

A ghost of a smile passed his lips. "Really? That's what you desire? And what will you give me in return, vampire?"

"It's Margery," I corrected. "I don't know, I'll spare your life. What do you want?"

"Anything goes?"

"It depends, of course," I snapped.

"Kill someone for me."

Now I was intrigued. "You want me to kill for you." A fellow researcher here? The doctor?

"Yes." He didn't waver. In fact, there was a strange stoic beauty about him, hair falling into his left eye, lips pressed together, eyes half-lidded.

"And who do you want me to kill?"

Her eyes shone, and then he said the name I would never expect.

"Agnes."

Agnes. The ruler of our clan?

It must've shown on my face because he sneered.

"I see. I suppose you can't, if so, the contract is off." He lowered his eyelids and turned around. I nearly rushed out to grab his coat, but stopped in time.

"Wait, human!"

He stopped, and turned back. "Hmm?" He was holding back a smile. Annoying bastard.

Don't get too cocky.

"It's not impossible, but it's not going to be easy." I thought of their faces, Sabine's, Cecile's, and the younger girls. The dark castle we were encased in, the tower I was doomed to live in. I clutched my chest. "Let me think about it."

He smiled.

"Take your time, Miss Margery."

"Until then, promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Don't go near any of the others—Sabine, Primrose, or Cecile. Especially not Sabine. No, Primrose, she's more dangerous."

"I'm not interested in any of them." He hid a smile as he turned to leave. "After all, love is only an ensnarement."