Getting out of the bed wasn't easy. The dream, once it was gone, left me feeling miserable, more alone and lonely than before, if that was even possible.

Cheer up. At least you know he's all right, I tried to reason with myself, wanting to believe that what I saw in my last two dreams was true.

Why should it not be? I had had this sort of visions, or premonitions, concerning Vlad before. My mind managed to find its way to him through my dreams while we were separated and help Junior save his father's life. It was as if we were linked, somehow.

You saw him. He is doing fine, under the circumstances. And you must go on, as well as you can, for him, I told myself.

My mind was in turmoil, but at least physically, I was feeling better this morning. The obnoxious headache from the previous day was completely gone. So, seeing that I had woken up too early to do anything else, I made my bed, then grabbed a couple of foldable boxes from underneath it. I started filling them with my belongings, things, and clothes Mum wouldn't notice were missing over the next few days. I needed to move some stuff over to Lia's before Friday night.

When I heard Mum walking past my door on her way downstairs, I stuffed one of the boxes under my bed, leaving it there ready for tomorrow. Then I rushed into the bathroom, got dressed, and prepared my bag for the day. When the front door shut behind Mum on her way out, I took my bag and the other box and headed downstairs myself.

'I'm off rowing. See you later. Don't forget about Friday night.' Mum's note was waiting for me on the kitchen table.

While the water boiled for my tea, I popped outside to feed Whisper, finding her-- Or was it him?-- already waiting.

Lily didn't venture into the freezing garden with me, but she curled at my feet as I sat down to eat my bowl of cereal, my eyes strolling back to Mum's note.

How could I forget about Friday night, the night when I would tell my parents that their only daughter is some ten weeks pregnant? Not with the guy they knew, and approved of, as her only boyfriend and maybe a future husband, but with a man she will never be able to introduce to them? Or even tell them his real name?

I propped my elbow on the table, resting my chin in the palm of my hand, while I swirled my remaining breakfast in its bowl of milk absentmindedly with a spoon held in the other. However bad this sounds, it's not your biggest problem, I reminded myself. How this child of yours will be is what should worry you more.

I sighed deeply, stirring Lily to life and earning myself a curious look from the little dog, complete with her head inclined to one side and twitching ears. She seemed to be trying to suggest that if she could cock her eyebrows at me, she definitely would. Well, Lily wasn't the only one who didn't understand anything. I was completely lost.

Who could tell me something about vampires, and half-vampires here in London? I had no idea. A thought of Lucas flashed through my mind but I dismissed it immediately; the notion of him being a vampire looked utterly ridiculous now. There were no vampires in present day London. But who else was there? Who could know something about my vampires, and their world?

Finished eating, I texted Lia, asking her to come to the shop later to pick up my box.

'Don't make it too full.' She texted back. 'At least leave those books you keep dragging around with you at home today, you're not supposed to carry heavy things.'

She was right, as usual. I wouldn't carry the heavy history book with me today but I couldn't leave my copy of Dracula...

Suddenly it hit me. Bram Stoker. The writer. He, according to both Vlad and Alina the receptionist, had walked through the time portal and visited the parallel world, just like me. How come did I not think about him before?! There was no one else who could help me more than one of his descendants. Stoker must have left notes, and diaries...

I googled him quickly, finding the name of his wife and son, and their well known, blue-plaqued house in Chelsea. But I had seen that house before. It was owned by the National Trust and nobody lived there. I scrolled down the screen of my phone impatiently and finally found something more interesting. The address of the writer's last residence in London, where he had lived up to his death. It was in Pimlico.

Starting to feel hopeful, I took a screenshot of the page, saving it for later use. Pimlico wasn't too far. It would take me some twenty minutes to get there by tube from Hammersmith, changing the train once... I mused, consulting now the tube map on my phone. I would go there straight after work and knock on the door. Someone must be able to tell me something.

I turned Mum's note upside down and wrote my own message for her, reminding her that I would be working mornings all this week, then most probably meeting my friends after, every day. Just in case I wouldn't find anybody at home at Stoker's address today, and had to go back even tomorrow, or the day after. I was determined to talk to someone, sooner or later.

Lia appeared in the shop at eleven, just when I was starting to feel hungry, remembering that I hadn't brought anything to eat with me. She knew me too well, I realised as she handed me a small plastic bag with the name of the closest supermarket printed on it over the counter. There were sandwiches, two yoghurts, a fruit salad and a bottle of water too.

"Thank you, Lia. I forgot about food completely," I said.

"I thought you would, with all the things you have on your mind. It's not raining now, but still, it will be better if you eat here, and avoid the lunchtime cues in Paris. You should steer away from crowded places during the flu season as much as you can."

When she saw me roll my eyes at her she raised her hands in mock surrender. "It's just a friendly advice," she said, then continued, "So what did William want from you yesterday? Anne didn't tell me much..."

I sighed. "He wants us to get back together. Start all over again."

"Oh!" Lia exclaimed. "What did he do with Kate?"

"There's no Kate, apparently."

"And... what will you do? Maybe you should tell him about the child and see what he will say..."

"Lia, are you crazy? The child is not his; it's not his business at all. I don't care about William, I'm going back to Bran next autumn!"

"I see you really liked your trip then, young ladies." Mr. Turner appeared at Lia's side, a pile of new books in his arms. The man just couldn't resist Lia's charm. Whenever she arrived, he tried to find a reason to talk to her.

He placed the books in front of me, asking me to price them while he got lost in ten minutes' long conversation with my friend about Bran Castle.

"It was nice to talk to you, Mr. Turner, but I must go now," Lia finally announced, reaching for my box. "I'll see you later, Sam. Will you come over after work?"

"No, not today," I said as we watched Mr. Turner carrying most of the books away again after he had said his goodbye. "I must go... I have something to do." Somehow, I couldn't tell her about my newest weird idea. She had heard too many of them from me lately.

"Okay..." she said cautiously, not pushing me for information. "You'll tell me later. Just be careful and call me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Lia." I smiled at her. She was amazing. "Will you pass by tomorrow? I'll have another box ready."

"Fine, no problem. But call me, or at least text me when you get home, all right?"

Nodding my head in agreement I watched her go, then finished with the rest of the books. I carried them over to Mr. Turner on my way to the kitchen, as soon as Jessica arrived and took my place at the till.

When I walked out of the shop in the early afternoon, the short hair on the back of my neck stood immediately to attention. I recognized the now familiar feeling of being watched... But I had no time to ponder over it as with the next step I took while scanning the crowd crawling like ants along the pavement behind me, I bumped into William. He caught me by my shoulders to steady me.

"Come with me for a coffee?" he asked, smiling, while I tried to gather my wits.

"No, thank you. I have something else to do," I said calmly and patiently. There was no point in getting angry with him. William was... William. Hopefully, he would understand with time and leave me in peace.

"May I walk with you to the station, at least?" he asked, his bright blue eyes pleading. "I still want you to give me one more chance. Just one date. Please."

I shook my head, and deciding not to react to his proposal, I said, "I don't want you to walk with me; there's no point. Bye, William."

"We are rehearsing a new play. I'm sure you would love it!" He called after me as I walked towards the station alone.

Even he knew me too well. I was sure I would like the new play too. William and the rest of the actors in his theatre were a bunch of talented and devoted people. They loved what they were doing, and all of their plays were incredibly successful.

No, you don't. I warned myself, my tongue itching to ask what was the name of the play they were rehearsing and all the other very important details.

"Mara..." I heard William's disappointed voice as I pushed my way along the crowded pavement away from him, without pausing or looking back.

I had too many things to worry about to waste my time and energy on William and his world, where I didn't belong anymore.