"Everything's going smoothly," I told Agnes when she visited another night. "I've made up with Uriel, and he showed me his drawings. I think he's less wary of me."

"Wonderful," Agnes said, and Selma and Rowena cheered behind her.

"Anyways, why is she here?" I turned to look at Primrose, who had opened my wardrobe and was digging through my clothing. She seemed bored of that and then went for the trunk where I kept my other things. I scowled. "Why are you going through my things?"

"I think I ought to get new dresses too," she said. "I ruined one last time. Oh, doesn't this one with the roses suit me, like my name?" She held the dress against her.

I scowled. "Put it back."

"Now, now," Agnes began, "we will get you both more dresses next time. We should share, as resources are scarce now."

"Why?" I asked.

"As you see, Selma and Rowena are in no condition to go out, their bones ache every now and then, and I can't leave now, obviously, with the guests in the house."

"Then can I?"

They all froze and looked at me, and Primrose whipped her head up, too.

"What? Why would you leave the tower? That's not allowed, right, Agnes?"

"Stop being such a hysterical child!" I hissed.

"You're not allowed," Agnes said at the same time. "What have you gotten into your head, you imbecile?"

Primrose's cheeks grew full as she smiled. "See? What did I say!"

You're the fool, I thought, but looked away so Agnes couldn't tell how embarrassed I was. She was right: what had gotten into my head? It was all Uriel—I had been thinking of the outside lately. Stores of all kinds of fabric and dresses. I was sick of our old rags.

"Get me a new dress soon," I said anyways. "I've been wearing the same few outfits, and I need to seduce Uriel. He's seen a fair amount of things in the outside world and I don't want to bore him."

"Oh, you won't bore him," Agnes said confidently. "You're the pride of our clan, despite your foolishness and rashness. Your beauty, at least, doesn't disappoint."

"As if," Primrose muttered under her breath. I didn't even feel happy at Agnes's compliment, which clearly irked Primrose. She had included too much insults for it to even count.

"But if you do desire it so, maybe on the next rainy Sunday I can go out." Agnes stood up. "Goodnight, Margery."

"Goodnight."

The Elders and Primrose left one by one and then closed the door behind me. I stood up and took out the floral gown Primrose was looking at. It was old, almost frayed at the edges, and the embroidery was also coming loose. The lace was ragged, too. I sighed and put it back in the trunk. We were a beautiful clan, but also a clan that followed traditions and never changed. I would never own a dress like the ones I saw in Uriel's sketchbook. A dress like the humans in capitals wore.

I would always be this beautiful butterfly—but what if one day people no longer like this beauty?

What will I do then?

Days passed with the men writing and in Uriel's case, drawing, and then a few days later, a rainy Sunday happened. I practically ran down the stairs in my hurry, not bothering to finish buttoning all of my bodice.

"So, will you be going out today?" I asked Agnes smugly the moment I stepped into the dining hall. The children were still setting up the food. Sabine looked at me in confusion. Agnes's face twitched.

"Yes, Margery. It happens that today I have business to attend to outside. Selma, Rowena, please take care of the girls in my place."

"Of course!"

"As we shall!"

"Oh?" Dr Gregoire murmured as he put down his tea. "I didn't expect you to leave the castle. What are you doing?"

"Yes, what is it?" Cecile asked.

"I have to order some dresses," Agnes replied.

"For me, too, certainly?" Primrose asked. Agnes turned to her.

"You can have Margery's leftovers."

"What? But I'm shorter than her! The hems drag on the floor."

"We have to be frugal." Agnes went back to eating her food.

"Humans do business with you?" Karl asked, incredulous.

"No, they do business for the money," I replied.

"And how where do you get money?" Yves asked.

"We sell our antiques sometimes," Cecile explained. "The things owned by vampires are usually very valuable, and there's collectors who would do anything to get their hands on something from our clan."

"There are?"

"Of course, Yves, just like there are strange researchers who would come to a clan of man-eaters," I remarked.

"Margery!" Cecile looked at me, vexed. Sabine chuckled softly.

"Oh, but it's a good thing for us, isn't it, Margery?" I gave her a look, on edge.

"Yes."

"Either way, I trust everyone to get along and not cause any problems today, even with my absence," Agnes said. "Now let's return to eating."

After breakfast, I returned to the tower and then Uriel came. We had being doing nothing but sketching recently and posing recently, but today I had a different plan.

I pulled a shawl over myself and my head and when Uriel came, I grinned. He still had on his usual bland expression but there was a slight crease between his brows. I pressed it and he flinched and jumped back.

"What?"

"Hurry up, we are going outside today."

"What?" He stared at the window. "In the rain?"

"Yes."

"Are you allowed to leave?"

"Of course not, but I can trust you to keep a secret, can't I?" I smiled. "I'll show you something good."

"And what about Selma and Rowena?"

"They never watch carefully. They slack off all the time," I reassured him. "And don't worry, they are nearly blind too. They can hardly tell whether it's me or Primrose anymore, as we both have dark hair."

"Then let me get my umbrella—"

"We don't have time, let's go!" I grabbed his wrist and pulled him after me. We went downstairs and I checked the hallways were clear before we ran to the front door and opened it.

Outside the rain fell without cease, steadily getting stronger, and when I stretched out my hand, the heavy raindrops pushed my palm down.

"Did you know, Uriel? This island is named garden because the rain is always falling."

"Really?" He walked over to me and also lifted up an hand to feel the rain.

"Yes. That was a long time ago, when there were more vampire clans here, or so I heard when I was younger."

"From your mother?"

I drew back my hand. "I can't remember. It might've been her, or one of the many mothers who later died because they weren't pureblooded. They were kind, though. I think."

"You can't remember anymore, can you?" His voice was low.

"Yes," I admitted. "Vampires live long, but to live long, they sacrifice many things, from their memories, sanity, to feelings."

"Feelings?"

I turned to him, and looked into his eyes, irises trembling. They were hardly but a few inches away from me. I smiled wryly.

"Yes. To live long, we have to forget many things. Like the death of our clansmen, and we have to harden our heart—if we even have one. I've always been taught to feel as little as possible. Anger, sadness, and even happiness."

"That's cruel," he said. "You're sacrificing what makes you human, what makes you the person you are. Without those memories we are only a blank slate."

"That's why Selma and Rowena are like that. They were like us once, but they've forgotten."

He stood there, still.

"You pity me, don't you?" I asked. "I suppose it's understandable. After all, I'm a vampire. A creature in your eyes."

"Margery, I didn't mean—"

I stepped out into the rain before he could speak, and stretched out my arms.

The raindrops fell on me like butterflies landing on me, like soft kisses, like the tapping of a child's finger, or stroking of a mother's.

In the rain, I smiled, and I danced, spinning around, catching as many raindrops as I can.

"Margery!"

I opened my eyes. Uriel stood there, and then took off his coat and wrapped it around me.

"Your shawl and gown are soaked! Let's go in."

"Why? It feels wonderful!"

I stretched up and hugged his neck, laughing, and he toppled around before he hugged me to steady us.

"Margery, I'm sorry if I sounded arrogant before. I don't look down on you at all." His whisper on my neck tingled, and I only hugged him tighter. A replacement for Sabine, I told myself. Or maybe an apology. One human who I won't harm.

"What a liar," I whispered.

"What?" He couldn't hear me in the rain so I laughed.

"Really? Swear on your heart?"

"Yes, I don't. I think your clan has done a lot to come this far. They way each animal, specie, and person evolve is different. Each person develops according to the time and place they live."

He only thinks that. Words are easily to say, but can never be believed. The cold raindrops continued to fall on the both of us, and I stepped away again, gripping the coat.

The rain, however would never lie.

"Come, come play. Come dance with me."

I took his hand and he twirled with me, although he was like a piece of wood tripping over his own feet."

"Why did you choose me to kill Agnes? Why did you confide in me?" I asked him. "Was it my looks?"

"I'm afraid not, I honestly don't think you are that beautiful."

"You're just saying that. Everyone finds me beautiful."

I smirked and I thought I saw his eye move away quickly in embarrassment.

"I chose you, Uriel," I whispered, heart feeling lighter despite the raindrops, "because I love your hair."

"And if I cut it?" he joked, a wry smile on his face.

"Well, then I'd find a replacement. But as of now, you're the only one who can be honest. See me as a vampire specimen like I see you as a free escape." I held his hands and they wrapped against mine.

"Is it so wrong to study you as a vampire?" He leaned on me, gently. "Or would it be more wrong to see you as a woman?"

I thought over what he said but I never answered it.

I didn't know the answer myself.