As I woke up, I saw the curtains still drawn around my bed, all except on one side. Through there, I could see an empty chair made of dark wood and a grey, stone wall behind.

This wasn't my room. I closed my eyes again, counting to ten slowly. Then I reopened them, only to find out that everything remained the same. I was at home, in the castle. His castle. Our castle... Last night's events had not been only a dream.

A sudden surge of happiness raced through my body and gave me an unexpected energy. I needed to see him. I had been waiting for too long... How long, exactly?

I sat up and looked around for slippers or any kind of shoes, except those from the previous night. But there was nothing, neither shoes nor dress. Even Katerina was gone.

Having decided that the lack of garments would not stop me in my exploration, I chose the softest of the blankets on my bed-- white, lined with a silvery-grey fur-- and wrapped it around me like a dressing gown.

Then I descended the few stairs of the wooden dais where my bed stood and touched the stone floor of the chamber with my bare toes tentatively. It felt freezing cold despite the lively fire burning in the fireplace, but its coldness could not stop me either; I half tiptoed, half ran to my mirror anyway. The large basin was already refilled with some clean and warm water. I washed my face and teeth, and the simple act made me feel refreshed enough, almost presentable again.

Hopefully, Katerina will keep her promise about the bath tonight. Finally, I combed my long, wayward hair, looking at myself in the mirror. There, that will have to do, I told myself, never quite happy with the result.

Too curious about my surroundings to muse about my looks any longer, I walked to the nearest window. The view of the Carpathian Mountains was breathtaking. High, snow-capped peaks towered in the distance, and some lower hills covered with colourful trees stood much closer. I could see several well-trodden paths disappearing into the undergrowth of the forest, but not even one person walking outside. All seemed perfectly still and eerily quiet.

Turning around, I noticed three different doors leading out of my chamber. I walked over to the one through which we had entered last night, set in the wall directly in front of me, and found it locked. That left me with two other options. I chose to try the one leading to the left, farther away from my bed. It was unlocked and led into a short, narrow, and dark corridor, and I walked through without hesitation. From the corridor, I stepped into a small library, and crossing it, I reached another open door.

Another bedroom. Vlad's chamber, surely-- I recognised the short, dark green and richly embroidered cloak he had been wearing the night before, now thrown over the back of a chair. This room was similar to mine, except the bed looked smaller and less comfortable than the one in my chamber. Maybe it was just the effect of all the dark colours, though-- the covers were inky blue, with some charcoal grey furs spread on top, and the curtains were made of thick, midnight black velvet. The bed was already made; he must have gotten up much earlier than me. Or maybe he had no chance to use it, I thought, overcome by guilt when I remembered him sitting by my bed at night.

Despite the freezing morning, the fireplace was empty, and one of the windows was open. Did he never feel cold? Attracted by the sound of voices coming inside through the open window, I walked over to it and found out that this room was overlooking the courtyard where I arrived with my group the day before. It was weird to see that even now, it was quite full of people, but they were dressed differently. The men, like Vlad, were wearing tight hoses or breeches instead of the typical, ubiquitous jeans, short fitted jackets, and wide cloaks. The very few women I could see in the group wore wide, floor-length dresses with unusually long sleeves and flowy capes. They were all pale, beautiful, and inhumanly attractive. It seemed to me that they were leaving, rather than coming.

Suddenly, I heard a soft clicking of shoes on the stone floor of the chamber somewhere behind me, and from the way my heart sped up, I knew who they belonged to even without turning round. It seemed that all my senses were attuned to him, always searching for his presence.

The footsteps paused for a while, and then, too fast, he was behind me. Vlad wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me slightly away from the window as if to hide me from view of those in the courtyard. I leaned against him, revelling in his closeness. He pushed all my hair to one side gently, nuzzling my neck at the precise spot where my strange, tiny, scar-like birthmark was, then covered my naked skin with featherlight kisses. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of his cool lips against my now burning flesh. My breath hitched, and my knees trembled, and I couldn't decide if I wanted him to continue or stop... I have missed him so much for so long, I knew it now, but at the same time, I had only met him yesterday. It was all so confusing.

"Why are they leaving?" I asked after a while, nodding towards the people outside, my voice unsteady; the half whispered words breaking the spell of the moment.

Before responding, he turned me around so he could see my face.

"They are dangerous for you, Samara. They are vampires, all of them," he said without preamble, his voice serious, angry even.

The information did not surprise or scare me. Somehow, I knew it.

"Like your knights?" I asked, shuddering, remembering those who escorted me in my chamber last night.

"And me," he admitted, somewhat hesitantly, taking a few steps away from me, his green, blazing eyes boring into mine.

There it was, his cautiously pronounced words confirmed what I was thinking, what I knew. He had become one of them during my absence. Why? It wasn't fair!

"But you are not the same.  You are not dangerous for me!" I exclaimed, feeling... betrayed.

"Why do you think so, Samara? I'm a vampire now, just like them."

"Because I love you! Whether you are one of them or not... " A few angry tears made their way down my cheeks, falling on the warm blanket wrapped around my body.

He came quite close to me again, embracing me, caressing my hair soothingly.

"Don't cry for me, Samara, please," he begged. "It's my own fault that I became what I am. After they took you away from me..."

His confession was interrupted when he lifted me in his arms and noticed my bare feet.

"You crazy girl, are you not cold? Where are your shoes?" he asked, carrying me towards his bed.

"I couldn't find any," I told him the truth.

Sitting on his high bed, I was brought face to face with him. He stood in front of me, massaging my frozen feet, trying to bring them back to life, his eyes never leaving mine. Something was telling me that maybe I should object, to stop him, and I wondered if I was starting to remember the morals and the proper behaviour of this era, before other, more important things. But whatever it was, it was too easy to ignore, and I just let my body melt under his gentle touch, closing my eyes.

When I reopened them, I caught him staring at me, a content smile playing on his lips, obviously enjoying the effect he had on me.

Vlad let go of my feet and leaned in very close, making my breath hitch. I reached out to him, resting my hand on his smooth hair, then his full lips. Letting my hand drop towards his heart, I found his bare chest, covered with a sprinkling of soft hair, through the still unbuttoned shirt he was wearing. Then, I felt his unusual heartbeat under my palm. His erratic heart seemed to have a completely different, strange rhythm, but at the moment, it was racing as fast as my own. This man was awakening feelings inside me, which I didn't know I was capable of. I felt as if I had never been touched before I met him. No one has ever made me feel so... spellbound. Vlad leaned his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes, impatient for him to kiss me...

But before our lips could meet, we were disturbed by old Katerina. She burst inside the room, calling, "I can't find her, my lord, Lady Samara has disappeared..."

Then she saw me sitting on his bed and gaped, looking appalled. When she spoke again, the despair in her voice was replaced by a severe reproach.

"My lady! Well, never in my long life... You are not to come to his lordship undressed like this!"

I had to smile. This old woman seemed to be as strict as my mother, the one waiting for me back in London. And I had never met anybody half as authoritarian as her so far.

"Stop reproaching her. Is this the way you watch over her, woman? Where were you, and where are her clothes, then? Go bring her some shoes, at least!" Vlad defended me.

Mumbling to herself, she walked off, leaving us alone again. Her brief presence had shattered the magic of the moment, Vlad's playful mood was gone, and he was serious again.

"Samara, the guests are leaving, but there are still some around. I don't want you to meet any of them. Would you please stay in these rooms today? It's safer. Tomorrow we should be alone, I'll show you around the castle, we can do whatever you want."

"But will I see you again today?" I asked. I couldn't imagine a whole day without him.

"Of course, my love. I'll come to you as soon as they're gone," he said, smiling.

The nurse came back, handing me a pair of leather-and-fur, cosy looking flat shoes, or rather, slippers. Under Katerina's disapproving look, Vlad put them on my feet, and I kissed him on the cheek before jumping off his bed. Then she took me by my arm and, without further delay, started dragging me out of the room.

"Katerina, have fires lit in all of these rooms, so your lady can come over here whenever she wants. And get her some breakfast!"

"Her food is ready, my lord. She just needs to get dressed," she responded without turning around, still angry with both of us.