With Lucas' help the dinner was ready and the table laid when Lia arrived.

We ate together, chatting about our day, until Lia started asking Lucas about his uncle. Apparently, Stoker went on a short tour to present his newest book and she wanted to know if he went alone.

I could see that Lia was burning with curiosity about Stoker's love life, but I was not going to help her to push Lucas to tell her anything he would not want to disclose voluntarily. I had already complicated Lucas' life enough without making Stoker angry with him for having told on him.

Lia gave up after a few tries, seeing that her skilfully chosen questions were met with artfully vague and evasive answers, scowling at me when I couldn't suppress my giggles.

As she hadn't helped with cooking, Lia insisted on washing the dishes, refusing any help. Lucas disappeared into his room saying he needed to finish unpacking and study, and I dragged myself into the bathroom.

I took a long shower, washed my hair again quite unnecessarily, then spent ages drying it on the lowest heat my hairdryer was capable of producing. I knew that I was procrastinating, and that it would not help me but... You can only hide in the bathroom so long, with two other flatmates, I remembered when Lia knocked on the door, saying that she needed to take a shower too.

Fine. You can do this. I encouraged myself once I was seated on my bed, propped comfortably against my pillows, my new notebook, open on a clean page, resting on my lap.

Without thinking about it too much I started scribbling.

First, I described how it felt when I saw Vlad in the castle for the first time, my utter confusion, and how I followed him through the time passage without hesitation, because of the deep, fathomless love I felt for him even before I properly remembered who he was.

Then I wrote down my memories of my previous life with him, flaring unexpectedly in my mind during the year I spent in the castle, usually in the most unsuitable moments.

I poured out my visions over the blank pages next, those that helped Junior save Vlad when he disappeared for days soon after I arrived in the castle.

And finally the premonition which helped me understand that something was very wrong when Vlad left to attend the hearing with Radu, even before Junior returned with the awful news of Ioan's death, Clara's abduction and his father's arrest.

When I woke up in the morning my notebook was still lying open on top of my quilt and my reading light was on. It had been another dreamless night, and I felt empty and disappointed. I... I needed to know what was going on the other side.

Later, once I was dressed and ready for the day, I found Lucas in the kitchen, getting toasts and coffee ready for everyone.

"Morning." I greeted him, suppressing a yawn, as I shuffled towards the nearest chair.

"Did you sleep at all? I saw your light on well after midnight." He asked, laying all the food and drinks on the table.

"I fell asleep writing in your uncle's notebook." I said, sipping my hot coffee carefully.

Having spread a spoonful of jam over my toast I took a bite, even though I wasn't hungry at all. I didn't feel good about the absence of my dreams, my stomach was tied in knots. But I didn't want to offend Lucas.

"Thanks, Samara, he'll be happy to hear that." He said, looking at me intently. "Are you all ri..."

"When is he coming back again?" Lia asked from the door, saving me momentarily.

I know I'm a mess but they don't need to keep asking me if I'm all right! I despaired as I put together a couple of sandwiches for my lunch before leaving my two friends alone, to get my bag from my room.

Lucas took me to work before heading to his class, promising he would be back on time, with Anaïs. The thought of spending the afternoon with his little sister made me finally smile.

"Thank you Lucas, I can't wait to see her," I told him truthfully.

He shook his head, smiling, "You might not say this again once you get to know the little monkey better. She's not always as sweet as she looks. Don't tell me I haven't warned you."

Then he opened the door for me and made me enter the shop, before waving at me through the glass, then vanishing into the crowd.

Much to my surprise, Mum appeared in the shop in the early afternoon.

"You forgot your present." She announced, as if nothing more important had happened between us, producing the little box containing the silver locket from her bag.

"Thanks, Mum." I said simply, putting it in my pocket. "So how are y..."

"Samara, please forgive me. I want you to come back home, I can help you..."

"No Mum." I said firmly. It felt as if my life had changed quite significantly since last Friday and I couldn't simply go back. "I have just moved out and I'm fine with Lia. We have a new flatmate, too. I can't just move back home. It's high time I stood on my own feet, anyway. I can't live with you and Dad forever."

Mum observed me solemnly, contemplating my words, but did not object. "We are divorcing," she said instead, taking me by surprise.

I opened my mouth and closed it again. What am I supposed to say to that?

"I'm fine about it, and your father as well. We should have done it a long time ago." She stated, then changed the subject before I could say anything, "So. Lia told me about your appointment with her mum on Friday. We need to celebrate, Samara. And I want you to meet Julian. How about a dinner on Saturday at Luigi's? You, me and Julian?"

They won't let you go alone, my subconscious reminded me about Lia, Lucas and Stoker. "Hmm... fine. May I bring a friend?" I decided quickly.

"Of course. Shall I book us a table for four, for eight o'clock?" She asked as we were approached by Mr. Turner who finally noticed Mum and came to say hello.

"Do you want me to call Dad?" I asked her once we were alone again.

"Did he not call you? He said he would... I guess he didn't get over your baby news yet, but hopefully he'll understand, sooner or later. Well, you should do whatever you feel is right, I think."

I nodded, deciding that I would not call him unless he made the first step. I had nothing to apologize for, this was my life, mine to ruin or enjoy, and he never really cared, anyway.

When Mum was gone I texted Lucas, asking him if he had anything planned for Saturday night, thinking that if he couldn't come, I would have to bully Lia into accompanying me. But he texted back immediately, saying that he was free.

Later in the evening, I had to laugh at the memory of Anaïs as I recounted it to Lia, the little girl's face and her white cardigan covered in chocolate ice cream when she made Lucas promise that he would take her shopping for long skirts like mine, as soon as he would come home for Christmas.

After a few hours spent in their company, Lucas insisted on walking with me home and leaving me with Lia before taking Anaïs back to their father, saying he would be back late and I needed to rest.

He was right, I realised now, yawning. I needed to sleep more.

"You know, it's been a while since I saw you laughing like this. I missed it." Lia observed, her caramel eyes piercing through me over the kitchen table. "Thank goodness for Lucas. If it wasn't for him, you would mope around the whole year."

Her words, somehow, made me feel guilty for feeling cheerful and carefree. I shouldn't, mustn't feel happy until I'm reunited with Vlad, I thought, looking away from her.

Finishing my cup of tea quickly I sighed, and Lia, noticing my mood swing, changed the subject, "Lucas said he'll drive you to the hospital in the morning. I'll meet you there and stay with you during the check-up if you want, ok?"

"Thanks, Lia." I mumbled, feeling immensely grateful to both of them.

Standing up I collected our cups, then rinsed them in the sink. I let Lia pull me into an embrace when she met me by the kitchen door, then escaped into my room, not really in the mood to talk anymore.

I fell asleep while writing in my notebook again. But this time, I woke up briefly when Lucas returned, well past midnight, and managed to switch my light off.

'Four dreamless nights in a row', I wrote in the notebook in the morning, right under the entries describing my previous, vivid dreams.

The appointment wasn't before ten o'clock so I stayed in the bed longer than usually, trying to figure out why my dreams were gone. When I got so upset by thinking about Vlad that I was close to tears again, I showered, got dressed and went to prepare breakfast.

As I passed Lia's room I knocked on her door, but she was already out. So I put the kettle on and set the table only for two. While I laid out our selection of cereal boxes on the table, I caught a glimpse of Lucas walking fast and silent across the sitting room, then sneaking outside, on the balcony.

I paused as the sudden realisation hit me. Of course! He must keep it somewhere...

I replaced his plate and mug with a yellow plastic cup I bought a few days ago, because its fancy shape reminded me of those Vlad and Junior used... It wasn't made of gold but it would do.

Lucas raised a questioning eyebrow at me when he finally came to the table and sat down.

"I don't want you to hide. I understand." I told him, pouring some milk over my cereal.

"Samara..."

"Don't be ridiculous. I spent a year in the world populated by vampires. You need blood to survive and you can drink it here, wherever. This is your home now too, you mustn't hide..."

"Ok. You might be used to it, but Lia..."

"The sooner she will realise how vampires live, the better for her, don't you think?" I grinned at him. "Oh, come on. Please." I added as he still didn't move.

He rolled his eyes at me then went out again, coming back shortly with a blood bag. Taking a pair of scissors from a drawer he cut it open, then poured its contents into the cup, throwing the empty bag in the bin.

"Do you want a sip?" He asked, grinning, as I watched him bring it to his lips.

"Ew!" I exclaimed, feeling my face contort in disgust but unable to prevent it. Luckily it only made him laugh. "No, thanks." I said as soon as I composed myself again. "And keep the cup as a moving in present."