"You must do something soon Vladia. I'm getting worse," the maestro rasped from his wheel chair, the heavy comforter slipping slightly from his spindly legs.

Vladia knelt down in front of the maestro and took his cold bony hands in hers, "You must have patience. Now that we've found the perfect match we can't spoil everything by rushing," she tucked the comforter back over his lap, "there is still time. You've been this close before and you're still here. Right? The girl must be alone when I take her. It would be foolish and dangerous to involve anyone else."

      The skull-like head sank to his chest with a negative shake. "Why am I cursed this way? Why does this condition haunt me down the centuries?"

"Maybe we're not as immortal as we think." She said softly, rising and walking to the sideboard for a glass of water. Taking a tiny sip, she returned, offering him the glass. "After all, many of our converts have passed on, and weren't we converts once ourselves?"

"Vladia, don't take my situation too lightly. Fate could just as easily deal you this hand - sooner than you'd like." The chair squeaked forward and rolled slowly toward the door. "I must rest now. It's late. Help me to my room."

      She took his empty glass and set it on the table then pushed the chair out of the parlour and down the darkened hall. Opening the door to his room, the musty smell of the soil covering the floor filled her with a tingle of pleasure and security. Her own room contained the same comforting composition. She lifted his withered frame from the chair as though he weighed nothing, and placed it on the wooden pallet in the centre of the earthen carpet.

"Sleep well maestro," she cooed, closing the door gently behind her as she left.

      Although impervious to mortal frailties as her breed was, Vladia still pondered the twisted, illogical force that left certain aspects of their endurance so ironically vulnerable. She knew very well- her existence was anything but secure. She and her kind thrived solely on the lifeblood of others. Literally. They lived in a world of twilight and darkness, in relentless pursuit of replenishing that essential need. There was no existence without it, and compounding the dilemma, time and evolution had demanded a purer product; the need to match their individual life source more closely became a race against extinction. Any feeding satisfied the normal requirements, but did not stop the deterioration of the body- for that, total infusion of compatible blood was required. That was Vladia's bond to the maestro. He was her master, the one who had converted her to this endless journey through darkness. Her duty held no option but to serve him forever. This was how they perpetuated, one to one, each creating his own inescapably committed dependent. Vladia knew that the match she had found for him was also exactly the one she would need one day and she ponder just how difficult that might be to repeat... the maestro was reaching a point of diminishing prospects.

*****

Tami awoke to the kitchen sounds and smells of breakfast and clattering dishes. She stretched lazily, shucking the covers down to the foot of the bed with her feet, blinking in the bright sunlight that stabbed through the blinds, leaving a corrugated pattern down the far wall and across the bedroom door. Slipping her feet into a pair of fluffy slippers, she padded across to the window and peered out. The glare of the sun brought shadows into sharp focus, and torn remnants of cloud hung motionless, looking like holes in the pale blue sky. She dragged her housecoat from the back of the chair in front of her desk, and slipping it on, trudged down to the kitchen.

      "Morning dear," her mother smiled, poking at several strips of bacon sizzling in a pan on the stove, "sleep well?"

"Mmmh," Tami managed, flopping into a chair next to her father who was buried in the morning paper, "anything interesting?" She tapped the paper and stifled a yawn.

"Morning Tam. No. Not much. Just the usual gloom and doom from our glorious leaders." Her father folded the paper and lowered it so as not to be rude. "There is one item here that's not good news. Seems some local, pizza delivery boy, disappeared in the middle of a shift last night. Went out with a delivery and that was the last they heard of him. Did you know him, his name is Walter McPhee?"

"Really?" Tami looked surprised. "I think Peter's brother goes to junior college with him."

Tami's mother turned from the stove, setting a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her husband,

"Must have been one heck of a tip maybe."

"Sick, mom," Tami sniffed, sneaking a slice of crispy bacon from her father's plate.

"Hey, get your own!"

"I'm just going to have some toast and juice mom," she said, crinkling her nose at her dad.

"Yeah. That and a chunk of mine." Her father complained, setting the paper aside.

"What's happening today? Anything?" Tami inquired.

      Gently guiding his daughter's hand away from his plate, he replied, "Mom and I thought we might take a spin up to your grandmother's. You interested?"

"Nnnh, well, not really. I mean, I just don't feel like sitting around in Nana's living room doing nothing."

"You could avoid that by taking part in the conversation dear," her mother chided, sitting down across from her.

"Mom you know what I mean. I love Nana and all that but it's really, ahhh, well - boring sometimes."

"I'm sure she be pleased to know that."

"Dad I just . . ."

"It's okay. Settle down. I was your age once believe it or not. I know what you mean. But she won't be around forever and I think she'd like to hear, once in a while, face to face, that her only granddaughter loves her."

      Tami picked at the crust of her toast feeling desolate.

"Cheer up hon," her mother offered, "what will you do if you don't come?"

"I was just going to call Glor and maybe get together with her," she sneaked a peak at her father who looked down, giving a simple shrug.

"Do you mind dad?"

Chewing the last of his egg, he smiled and shook his head, "Nah. Go have fun with your friends. Maybe you give her a call later though, just ask how she is and all."

Tami stood and kissed him on the ear. "Thanks dad. I will. I promise."

      By the time Tami had helped tidy up the kitchen, made her bed, showered and agonized over what to wear, it was after eleven. Her parents were ready to leave as she came down stairs and they discussed times and dinner plans.

"We should be home around four - four thirty," her mother said, "will you take the roast out of the fridge around three thirty please."

Tami nodded, kissing them both goodbye and waiting at the door until they got in the car and drove off. She shrugged away a little twinge of guilt and went into the living room to telephone Gloria.

      "Martin called and he said the gang is going to meet down at Duffy's for some lunch and just hang out. You coming?" Gloria reported, dangling her bare foot over the back of the sofa and straining the stirrup of her pink stretch pants.

"Who all's going?" Tami asked.

"Well Allen will be there Tam." Gloria teased.

"You are so drecky, honestly." Tami replied. "Yeah, okay. I'll leave in a few minutes. See you there, bye."

"Bye." Gloria put down the telephone and bounced up off the sofa to the hall mirror, striking several poses and tugging her sweatshirt down.

      Duffy's was the local teenage watering hole. A long narrow diner, with a counter on one side and deep padded booths down the other and across the back. The tabletops were plastered with photos of airplanes and ships, covered in a thick coat of Verathane, part of the military motif that Duffy preferred. Duffy was a short, blocky little man with thick hairy arms covered in tattoos; an ex sailor who rarely came out from behind his 'galley' counter, where he cooked up a storm. He wore a gob hat Gilligan style, with the brim down over his ears, and a bright blue apron screened with an image of Barney Google. Annie, his long-suffering wife and only waitress, loved the weekends when the diner filled with kids and their upbeat chatter. Unable to have any children of their own, she and Duffy became surrogate parents, listening to all the problems that real parents weren't aware of, and dispensing appropriate advice and comfort. Martin had arrived first, naturally, and had commandeered the back corner booth. Everyone's favourite. In his trademark, backward baseball cap and baggy cargo pants, he was regaling the group with an animated tale of one of his exploits.

      "Martin you're so full of it." Gloria said, sipping her pop and squeezing next to him in the corner.

"That's why you're so crazy about me Glor," He joked, leaning against her side.

Everyone rolled their eyes and joined the laughter as Peter pelted him with his rolled up napkin.

"Peter, you crush me. Hey," Martin carried on unperturbed, "check out the weather!"

They all craned around to look through the porthole styled windows, and saw that the clear blue sky had been replaced with a dull grey, darkening seriously toward the horizon.

"Not more rain," Christine whined.

"That looks major. Bet it's gonna pour." Martin said.

Tami checked her watch. Two-fifteen, she read, surprised. The day had just zipped past. "I think I'm going to head for home in case it starts. My parents will be along soon and I've got to get some things ready for dinner." She looked to Allen, waiting for him to slide over and let her out.

"Wow! See that!" Gloria pointed wide-eyed. A brilliant flash of lightening flared through the windows into the diner. After several seconds, a booming crash of thunder followed, rattling the row of hanging florescent lights over the booths.

      "Oh no," Tami lamented, "I'm going to get drenched."

"Well I'm stayin' here," Martin announced, calling out to the front, "Annie. Another grilled honey bun please."

"Keep eating like that Martin and those pants of yours will be tight on you," Annie appeared at the table with an umbrella and handed it to Tami. "Here you go dear, take this and bring it back when you can."

"Oh thanks Annie. That's great." Tami said.

Allen handed Annie some money for their food and then took the umbrella from Tami. "C'mon, I'll walk you home."

"Oooo-umph!" Martin coughed; a sharp dig in the ribs from Christine prevented the beginning of his intended tease.

"See you guys later," they called.

"Call you later." Gloria waved.

*****

Vladia smiled to herself, looking through the drapes at the darkening sky. A bit of a break, she thought, going out midday without worrying about the sun. Huge black clouds were rolling in quickly with the lightening and thunder coming much closer together. She walked down the hall and listened at the maestro's door. He would sleep for a while yet, she concluded, and calmly went back to gather her rain cape from the hallstand. Slipping silently out of the house and into the first spattering of large raindrops, she glided down the street in search of her quarry. Maybe fate would be kind and she would find the girl alone- somehow.

*****

"Thanks a lot Allen," Tami said, as she watched him shake the water off the collapsed umbrella onto the front steps.

"No problem. But if it's okay with you, I think I'll keep this to get myself home."

"Oh sure. Of course." Tami said. "I'd better turn some lights on, it's really getting dark in here." She went toward the wall switch and noticed the blinking light from the answering machine on the hall table. Turning on the light, she pressed the replay button on the machine and waited for it to rewind. The message was from her father. The storm was so severe in her grandmother's area they would not be getting home that night. Her mother had telephoned Mrs. Kingston, Gloria's mother, and arranged for her to stay overnight with them. When she arrived there, she was to call and let them know everything was all right.

      Allen had listened to the message along with Tami, as he stood in the entry hall waiting to say goodbye. A huge flash of lightening, followed immediately by crashing thunder, caused the hall light to flicker and die.

"Oh great!" Tami exclaimed, "Just when I need to see to use the phone."

"Guess a fuse blew," Allen observed, "I could check it for you."

"Would you? Sure, the box is in the basement. I don't know anything about that stuff. Meanwhile, I'll call Gloria's mom and tell her I'll be over shortly. Soon as I get some overnight stuff together."

"Have you got a flashlight or something?"

"Uhm, yeah. My dad keeps one in the kitchen drawer. This way. Be careful."

      Allen followed her slowly through the dark house, his hand lightly resting on her back for guidance.

"Gee, all the power must be off," Tami exclaimed, "the freezer light's out."

"Well gimme the flashlight anyway. I'll go down and have a look."

She handed him the flashlight from the kitchen drawer and said. "Don't throw any switches or whatever. Be careful."

"Don't worry. I'm just going to take a look," he said, lighting his way down the stairs to the basement.

      Tami made her way back to the telephone and called her girlfriend's house.

"Neat Tam." Gloria surprised her by answering. "We'll have our own little pj party." She paused to giggle, "Unless of course you and Allen will . . ."

"Glor!" Tami warned, exasperation in her voice.

"Okay. Okay, see you soon." She clicked off before Tami could ask about the power but then reasoned, Gloria would have said something if it were out at her place too. 

Waiting for Allen, she went to the window and looked out; there were no lights anywhere; momentary stark images danced when the lightening flashed. It must be the whole neighbourhood, she thought. Then something caught her eye. A shape moving in the side garden. Another flare of sheet lightening lit the scene and the shape became a caped figure, approaching the house. Caught in the brief flash, was a pale, severe face with piercing green eyes. Tami stepped back with a gasp. It was the woman from the arena! She ran to the top of the stairs and called, "Allen! Allen come up here. Quick!"

      Sneaking back to the window, she strained to see into the dark yard. The sudden clicking sound of the door lock from the front hall sent a twitch through the hairs on her neck. Another tremendous rattle of thunder almost shook the house loose from its footings and the kitchen shimmered as though caught in a strobe light. Another light hit her full in the face and she screamed in fright.

"Tam. Tam it's just me," Allen shone the flashlight away from her face and went to comfort her. "Sorry if I scared you. You call and—"

Clutching at his arm, she hushed him impatiently, "Shh! Listen. Someone's at the front door." Tami squeezed herself closer to Allen. "It's that woman from the arena," she whispered hoarsely, "I saw her in the yard."

      Allen instinctively shone the light out into the hall. "What? What are you talking about?" The yellow beam picked out the front door, reflected in the front hall mirror. "There's no—"

"Look!" Tami shrieked, pointing along the beam of the flashlight.

The doorknob turned more forcefully, back and forth, the clicking of the lock louder. Allen freed his arm from her grasp and stepped toward the hall.

"No! Don't go! See who it is." Tami grabbed at him again. She was pushing and pulling at the same time, knees together, legs bent, trembling.

"Make up your mind." He pried her fingers loose again and moved further into the hallway with Tami shuffling along behind, pulling at his shirt.

      Suddenly the door flew open and a blast of rain poured in around the billowing black cape. Tami screamed again, jerking Allen backwards. He let out a yelp of his own, waving the shaking light up into the ghostly face of the intruder.

Vladia smiled wickedly at the cowering couple as she seemed to float toward them. The glistening cape fell into a long, draping triangle from her pale throat. Extending her arm, she waved it slowly downward and the beam from the flashlight followed it, freezing in a small yellow puddle at her feet.

"It's not polite to shine lights in someone's eyes." Her voice was soft and chillingly cold. She had hoped to find the girl alone, but he would be just a small inconvenience.

"Wha- what, what . . ." Allen stuttered, feeling Tami's nervous fingers twisting the back of his shirt into a knot.

      "ALL-en. Do something!" Her free hand was harrying the slender chain about her neck.

"Oh yes Allen. Why don't you do something?" Vladia moved a pace closer smiling wider and exposing the two pointed fangs on either side of her mouth.

Wide eyed, hopping from foot to foot, Tami screamed again, pulling Allen backward off balance. Her other hand jerked at the chain, flipping the small silver crucifix it held onto the front of her sweater. Vladia stopped abruptly. The backs of her long fingers shielding her averted face and she hissed a short gasp.

"What! What are you doing?" Tami cried at her, bouncing around and tugging Allen with her.

Allen managed to gain his balance and trap Tami's arms from gripping him again. "Tami! Tami it's your cross! She can't look at your cross!" He clasped the little crucifix in his fingers and stretched the chain in Vladia's direction. "Look! Look, she's afraid of it!"

Tami's eyes crossed as he pulled the chain and it cut into her neck. Vladia immediately caught the scent of fresh blood and in frustration a deep growl vibrated from her clenched mouth. She stumbled back into the doorframe, her glowing eyes trying to peek between her fingers. Allen dragged the terrified Tami forward, holding the cross out from her neck as far as he could. The black cape billowed up again and with a final angry hiss, Vladia was gone.