"I feel positively foolish," Kylo spoke softly for Persephone's ears only. His words were a gentle slur. Before him, the world swayed. As they re-entered the ballroom, his gaze fell upon the guests. Kylo bit his lower lip to keep from crying when he saw Dracula moving fluidly – as if he had no cares in the world – to the opposite side of the room and drape his arm around Corbin who was chatting with a young man Kylo's age. "I should not have taken the absinth he offered me. Very, very foolish..."

"Hush, dear Conde." Persephone reached for his hand and held it in hers. "It was not the alcohol which made you go with him."

Kylo's hand felt warm in hers. He didn't know it was because she had recently fed. "I shouldn't have gone up there with him. I don't know what possessed me."

The music around them kept the pair's conversation close. In the room, people were dancing in perfect synchronization to a wonderful waltz Kylo had never heard before. Through the windows, Kylo saw a few of the party-goers running amok. Their laughter trampled the roses. Their shrieks of delight were a violent streak against the sky.

Persephone patted Kylo's hand then let it go. "Count Dracula has many talents. Ushering others into his bed...or the floor...or the kitchen sink is one of them."

"Kitchen sink?" Kylo furrowed his brows. "Did you say sink?"

Persephone waved her hand wanting to dismiss the question. "This bullshit spewed from his lips about his experience and the whole..." She shifted her tone and mock-spoke like Vlad while echoing his words, "And why, pray tell, are you with someone like that woman and not with someone like me? Is something I have heard before."

"Oh?"

"Yes."

"You were listening?"

"Yes. I was pondering taking a nap in a corner of the library – on the ceiling between Shakespeare and Shelley where it would be very cozy indeed- so I was making my way upstairs when I heard you both."

"How..." Kylo paused while he watched the air speckle with dust mites, "How did you know he's said those things before."

Persephone raised a brow. "I know."

"But how?"

Looking away she pursed her lips like she'd just tasted something sour. "It's not important. Plus those damn blue eyes of his are..." As a waiter approached, Persephone swiftly grabbed two champagne flutes. "Ah, this I like." She handed one to Kylo but pulled it away before he grabbed it. "Or maybe you should not. Bad idea Persephone, bad."

Kylo's hand remained up and waiting. "So, eyes? Captivating?"

"Hmm? Oh yes. Damn blue-eyed Transylvanian bast –" biting her tongue she humphed then downed the first glass and handed Kylo the empty flute.

From across the room, Queen Marillia looked up towards Persephone and gave a gentle waggle of her finger.

"I must be off. I see my Queen in need of my presence and in the distance, your lord is approaching. I must dash." Giving Kylo a half-curtsy, Persephone skittered away and headed towards Queen Marillia and her entourage. Upon passing the Lord, she paused for a second and gave him the same curtsy she'd given to Kylo.

"This night is a tangled web." Kylo set the glass on a nearby table and touched his fingertips to his temples. The buzz of the absinthe held him close and he found himself hoping he'd never see anything green in his glass again. "My Lord," he uttered to himself as Vincent halved the distance between them, "I need you."

Reaching his beloved, Lord Vincent stopped a breath away and leaned in a touch. "I thought someone must have whisked you away."

"I was..." Kylo's words fled, they headed for the door and ran off into the garden where the rest of the wild things were and trampled the roses and left streaks in the sky.

When Vincent pulled him close something inside him melted. Kylo sighed and at the same time swayed like the earth below him was made of jelly.

"Have you drunk more?"

"No," Kylo lied.

"If I were to kiss you, would you taste of absinthe?"

"Possibly."

Vincent slid his hand into Kylo's. "Then let me take you someplace else. I want to find out for myself."

As Kylo began to nod, ready to tell the lord to take him away, Corbin's voice found them in a rather unGodly howl. "Little broooooooother! Cooooooonde! Won't you come meet my favourite human in the world?"

Turning at the same time, Kylo and Vincent looked towards Corbin who was pointing to a dashing dark-haired man in a high-necked shirt made of lace.

"Come, darlings, won't you? Come and meet Brandon Stoker, the writer and my cousin!"