I/1

  -Mother, I have brought you some water. I said to my mother whom was laying sick in her bed.
  -I am not thirsty, Valentina. Mother said with a whispered voice.
  Since last week, mother hasn’t got out off her bed. Her body was all sweaty and trembling from the fever. I tried my best to take care of her but I am only twelve years old.
  Me and mother have been living in a small wooden village in Transylvania since I can remember. We were the poorest family, therefore we didn’t have enough money to go to a doctor. Our home was a four wall wooden cabin with one bed, a table and two chairs, a fire place and an old wardrobe with our clothes (more rags than clothes). But we weren’t this poor when I came into this world.
  Mother told me many times about her life when she met father. They were happy together and lived in peace and harmony in a huge castle, surrounded by wealth. After I appeared in the picture things chanced. My mother had to take me away from that castle. Although I asked her many times about the reason of our departure from our luxurious home, she said to be patient, for I may found out the answer from my father, that is if I would ever get to meet him.
  Now, my only concern is to take care of mother. Before coming back with water from the river that was streaming in the back of our cabin, I asked our neighbors how to take care of my mother’s fever. They told me that they will announce the doctor because I couldn’t take care of mother all by myself.
  Our close neighbors were also my mother’s masters. They committed her as their maid and offered her this cabin to live in it with me. They were the only people in this village eager enough to give me and mother jobs and protection.
  The doctor finally came. He examined mother for long minutes quietly. After he finished, he took me outside the cabin and asked me quietly so mother couldn’t hear us talking.
  -Do you have any relatives, little girl? His eyes were looking at me full of pity.
  -I have a father, but I haven’t met him yet. I answered looking concerned into the doctor’s eyes. And I had a good reason to worry, for he told me a bad news after words.
  -How old are you?
  -Twelve. Why are you asking questions about me, doctor?! My mother is the sick one, not me. I was getting irritated from all his questions, as if I was his patient, not mother.
  -I have bad news regarding your mother’s illness. I am afraid she has only few days to live.
  After hearing this, I ran into the cabin and jump into bed near mother. With my head buried in her warm chest, I began to cry very loud. I didn’t had to tell mother about the doctor’s diagnosis. She knew that she was going to die since she got sick.
  -Valentina, promise me something. Mother tried to say with her last strength.
  -Yes mother, anything for you. I pricked my ears to hear her maybe last words.
  -We both know I may not live much longer, despite my age. I may be thirty two years old and you are still a child, but death doesn’t forgive anyone. So promise me that after I will be gone, you will leave this cabin and this village, and you will try to find your father.
  -Yes, mother. But I don’t know how he looks like.
  -He is not from this world. He looks like us, talks like us but he has a gift that is in the same time a curse!
  Since that moment, mother hasn’t spoke anymore. Three days later, her pain came to an end and she went, I hope, to a better place.
  Our neighbors buried her in the local cemetery. They paid for her funeral ceremony and also gave me some money for my journey. I told them about my last conversation with mother and they agreed to help me. I don’t know if they did this to help me or to gladly get rid of an unwanted orphan, but I accepted the money anyway.
  When the funeral ceremony was over, everybody left me alone near mother’s grave.
  -Mother, I will find father and try to live happily ever after. I promise you! I said with tears in my eyes, as I was reading mother’s grave stone: R.I.P. Maria, mother of a child.
  With no reason to stay in that village, I did as mother told me. I left right after the sun set, with the money from my neighbors and dressed in an old purple dress of mother’s. It was big for me, but it was warm enough.

*
  For years I have traveled and it seems that father is nowhere to be found. And mother’s description of him was also useless: ”He is not from this world. He looks like us, talks like us but he has a gift that is in the same time a curse!”.
  These words were the last that mother spoken before she went to God. I was twelve years old back then and for eight years I searched for my unknown father in whole Transylvania. I’m sure he’s still living in Transylvania because in my journey I also took mother’s diary. She wrote some pages about her first love when she was my age.
*
  ”FIRST PAGE OF DIARY: Today is my birthday. I am twenty years old now and it is time for me to get married, according to our family tradition. I wonder who my chosen one will be?! It will be the son of the priest or the backer’s?
  I have been asking myself these questions all morning, until I decide to catch a white rabbit for good luck. Unfortunately, after few hours of search I got lost in the forest. But God helped me found a little cave to spend the night in.
  SECOND PAGE OF DIARY: When I waked, I found myself in a large room with two small balconies in sides. In front of my sight was a black wooden door. Then I looked at the bed I slept in; it was a double black wooden bed with white sheets and a bloody red cover. After I got off the bed some footsteps were approaching the door. When the door opened, a tall handsome man entered the room.
  THIRD PAGE OF DIARY: Me and Vladimir spent all day talking about our lives. Despite his strange pale skin, sharp fangs and reddish eyes he made me fall in love with him so badly that I decide to spend the rest of my life with him in his castle. A year later I gave birth to a beautiful girl. We named her Valentina because it was Saint Valentine’s Day. Although she had dark hair and pale skin like her father, her eyes were hazel like mine. I hope the hair and skin are the only things inherited from her father.”

II/2

And mother’s diary ended there. The problem was that there were many men named Vladimir, with dark hair, but none had pale skin nor reddish eyes. It is said that there aren’t people with reddish eyes, at least not in Transylvania. But I’m not giving up; I’m a persistent young woman and nobody is going to stop me find my father.
  City after city, village after village. In these eight years I think I’ve searched every place inhabited by people and still no clue. The idea of searching beyond Transylvania’s borders crossed my mind countless times. In the end I had to drop this thought, because I might get even more lost.
  The reddish eyes were my key clue in finding him, but the only creatures with such eyes were the bats. Normal people have blue, green, black, grey or hazel eyes. My mind was starting to tell me that my father might be some sort of devilish creature. If this theory was true, then why mother became his wife when she was a very religious person.
  She was faithful towards God, Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit as any Christian; and so was I. Sundays we always go to church to listen the priest’s divine voice as he was singing about God’s empire and his lessons. Speaking of ...
  Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day, my birthday. It’s been twenty years since I was born in father’s castle. But since I can remember, me and mother lived in a log cabin outside of a small village. Why mother moved there with me? Didn’t she say she wanted to live her life in father’s castle? What happened between them? Why didn’t father come to visit us all these years? I had so many questions for father, reason why I began looking for him. If he didn’t want to find me, I truly wanted to find him. But Transylvania is huge and I am little, despite my age and power.
  As I was walking through a creepy forest, with mother’s old purple dress on me, tired and hungry in the same time, I saw a shadow flying above me. I couldn’t see what or who it was because it was night time already. I tried to ignore it, thinking that it was just in my imagination. Soon I had the feeling that I was being watched by unseen eyes.
  I ignored this feeling as well, thinking that my mind was starting to play tricks on me because of the tiredness and my empty stomach which was getting louder every minute.
  Suddenly rain drops began to fall and I had to find shelter. Like mother, I found a little cave. It was warm inside. Sitting near a wall of it, I gazed at the almost full moon in the starless night. Tomorrow, on my twentieth birthday, it will be a perfect full moon just like my other birthdays. Not long my eyes were tired and I lay down to get some rest. My long dark hair covered all my back, my purple dress was wet and it pasted on my pale skin. I shut my eyes, took a deep breath and went to sleep.
  I woke up in the same time with the sun rise and I found myself in the room mother described in her dairy. The only difference was that a forty years old man was watching me from the end of the bed. He was wearing black shoes and pants, a white long sleeved shirt with a bloody red vest. On his shoulders he had a long cape, black on the outside and Burgundy on the inside. His face was pale as mine, the hair was black, only that it had white sidebars. Then my eyes began to shed tears when I saw that he had reddish eyes, just like my mother told me.
  To be sure that I wasn’t dreaming I asked him: Is your name Vladimir?
  He approached and said with a smile: Welcome home, my dear Valentina!
  Finally I have found my father, I was so happy that I start crying loudly while he hugged me lovingly at his chest. It was the best birthday present I had in my entire life and I truly believed that life with father would be pink.
  My instincts, however, told me that something bad was going to happen, but I was so happy I didn’t care.
  Father broke the silence and asked me about my life until now and of course, about my mother. He’s face was full of curiosity and joy from my return home. Soon his happy face disappeared. As I described mother’s last moments of life, he became more and more sad.
  -Even in her last minutes, she still remembered me and said my name. He said softly while caressing me on the head. Normally I hated when someone does that to me since I was little. But since the person doing this now is my father, I let him do as he pleased.
  Now it was father’s turn to cry in my arms. After he will calm down, I won’t cut him any slack in asking him all the questions that I had gathered all these years in my head.

III/3

After I served breakfast, father gave me a quick tour of the castle. It had many rooms, most of them bedrooms, in dark gothic colors. But I noticed something strange about the decorations: all windows were covered with black velvet curtains. Although it was morning and the sun was shinning, the curtains made darkness inside the whole castle. My curiosity made me talk before thinking:
  -Father, why don’t you let the sunbeams illuminate the rooms?
  He looked into my eyes and answered calmly:
  -Because I hate the sun. You have many things to learn about us so until then ... please no more questions. Do you like our castle?
  -Our castle? I asked forgetting that twenty years ago I was born in this place.
  -Of course you forgot, my dear! You were only a couple of days old when your mother run away with you.
  -Why did she done that? My curiosity intervened again.
  -No need to rush things, Valentina. We just reunite. We have all the time in the world to know each other better.
  We continued the tour and I was silent, letting father do all the talking. Even when he let me see the castle from outside, alone, I didn’t ask why. It was almost lunch time and the sun was powerful. My eyes began to hurt so I returned quickly inside.
  After lunch, I helped the butler wash the dishes. He was as tall as father only he looked like an old priest with baldness in the middle of the head. Since breakfast he was quiet and not at all surprised that his master had a daughter. Maybe he knew about me all these years, but act cool now because that is what butlers do: not intervened in the master’s family life. I gathered some courage to break the ice:
  -Where did father went, grandpa?
  -Master Dracula always takes a nap after lunch; he answered with a soft voice. His name was Daniel, but he preferred to be called grandpa. I didn’t ask him why. Having a grandfather is great, although I haven’t had one since now. I know this from other children’s stories, they bragged in my face many times with their huge families and that made me hate them even more.
  Letting my sad childhood memories aside, I continued talking to my new grandfather to know him better:
  -You’re not like the other butlers, you’re sweet and kind.
  -Because you and master Dracula treat me like a family member. And being the eldest it is logic for me to be the grandfather.
  ”Vladimir and Valentina Dracula. Finally I have a last name.” Suddenly I remembered the days when all the children in the village made fun of me because I didn’t have a father nor a last name. Now things are going to be much better. As hard as I try, I can’t get rid of my past and focus on my present and future as I desire to do.
  -The dishes are washed Miss Valentina. Do you wish to be escorted to your bedroom?
  -Of course grandpa.
  Grandpa Daniel took me upstairs to the first level. The second and last level were composed in many attics. My door was made from cherry wood and painted in pink. When I entered, my room let me speechless. It was medium sized, with cherry wooded floor, walls painted pink and a crystal chandelier was hanging from the ceiling. On the other side of the room there was a simple bed with white sheets and a pink blanket with flower pattern on it. Near the bed was a large wardrobe filled with beautiful dresses. Each dress was black with few colors printed on the corset. By now I got used with father’s gothic style so my new wardrobe didn't surprised me at all.
  On the left side of the room was a desk with a small chair under a large window, covered with a purple velvet curtain. In parallel with the desk was a make-up table containing perfumery, make-up kits and dark colored jewelry. Above it was an oval shaped mirror in a black curled frame. When I looked into it my face reflected transparency.
I turned to grandpa, whom was watching me with a smile on his face, as I was admiring my new bedroom. I was acting like a little girl. Seems like these years of traveling all by myself didn’t made me mature enough for my age. I couldn’t care less.
  As I was searching every inch in the room, I asked grandpa countless questions about every item and every detail I could lay my eyes on. To my surprise, grandpa answered my every question with calm. Usually, when I ever ask someone about something, they just ignore me or make me go away to let them continue what they were doing when I start interrupting them.
  In the end, I lay down in my bed and took a deep breath. I was surprised to see how tired I was because of my little exploring. Grandpa Daniel took a sit near me and pointed my mirror again. My transparent appearance was still there.
  -What is so interesting about that mirror?! I asked grandpa, trying to guess what he wanted me to do.
  -Mater Dracula left a note for you in it, Miss Valentina. He said giving up. He told me to let you find it by yourself, but it seems that this room caught your whole attention instead.
  My face went red from the embarrassment that I felt in that moment. This is why he stood calm all this time while I acted like a curious little girl.
  -Sorry grandpa, I just got carried away. This is my first own bedroom and I couldn’t control myself.
  -Miss Valentina. I know what kind of life you had until Master Dracula brought you home. He told me everything while you were having lunch. Enough talking, go and read the note. Maybe it says something important.

IV/4

I ignored my strange reflection the minute I saw a white card with a red rose caught in the mirror’s frame. I opened to read the few lines written so elegant:

  ”Happy birthday, my beloved daughter Valentina! For years I dreamed that one day you will come back to me. I am aware that you may have many questions about your mother and I, the reason she left me and why we are different from other people. All these questions will be answered at midnight tonight, when you will be exactly twenty years old and discover with your own eyes who you really are! I will be waiting on the rooftop, Daniel will escort you, if you want.
With love, your father, Count Vladimir Dracula!”

  Five minutes before midnight, grandpa Daniel escorted me to the rooftop. I choose to wear a frilly black dress, I let my hair loose on the back with a silver headband to make it look nice. My new ear rings and necklace were also silver with bat shaped pendants on them. And the black middle heeled shoes were comfortable, making me feel that I was walking on air. I didn’t know mother had gothic tastes in fashion like father; as I can remember she always wore old boring clothes.
  -This dress fits you better than Lady Maria, grandpa Daniel said while opening the door which lead to the rooftop. I will let you and Master Dracula some privacy.
  -Thank you grandpa! I answered.
  After the door was closed, I stood there trying to see something in the dark of the night. As far as my eyes could see, the rooftop was made of bricks and in front of me father was staring at a white sheet hanging on the wide wall of the tower. The castle had four towers, two of them were leading to the rooftop, while the other two were supply rooms. I start moving closer to father, the shoes heels making little noise on the ground.
  When I was almost one meter apart of him, the full moon began to shine and it illuminate the whole place. Father turned around and looked deep into my eyes:
  -Now you are prepared to see yourself as you are!
  He took the sheet off the wall, unveiling a large mirror. When I looked into it I noticed that father’s face and hands reflections were missing, only his clothes were visible. And next to them was my black dress and silver jewelry reflecting as they were; my face, hair and arms were transparent.
  -As you can see I have no reflection of my skin and hair, while yours are transparent. Have you ever heard of the word ‘vampire’, Valentina?! Father asked without taking his eyes off the mirror.
  -Uh, yes, few times. The villagers were scared to say this word because it meant some kind of monster who lives to drink the human blood.
  Father didn’t say anything and I was getting to feel that I have said something offensive towards him. My instincts told me that I was right, at least I thought so.
  As I mentioned before, I am a Christian and went every Sunday to church, where the priest told us not only about God, but also about Lucifer. It is said that Lucifer was one of God’s angels and his thirst for power made him loose his place in Heaven. He created a place under the human earth called Hell, where he rules among demons and other dark creatures. They don’t come to earth, except vampires. I remember that one Sunday, the priest from my former village told a story about the first vampire that came on earth to feed with the human blood and that we, as humans, must follow God’s lessons to remain safe.
  Now that I think about it, this story seems made up to make people come to church more often. When I was a child I believed every word the priest said, now I am wondering how much of the things he said all those years were actually true.
  What if he lied about demons and vampires?! I guess I have to let father in light me about this matter. He didn’t say a word since I began remembering all these things.
  After a minute of silence, father replied:
  -Only half of your answer is true. Yes, I am a vampire and you, my child, are a half vampire.
  -You mean to say that you live to drink blood?! I was terrified because I might be tempted to drink blood and this thought sickened me.
  -The human blood is indeed a delicacy, but animal blood is also good to a vampire. Since you and Maria left me, animal blood was on my daily menu. You are half vampire so you do not have to worry about drinking any.
  ”What a relief!” I said to myself. I hate to admit it, but the sight of blood makes me feel dizzy. Seeing it all red and fluidly makes my skin to have goose bumps.
  -Are you fine, Valentina?! You seem paler than usual. My father noticed it immediately.
  -I am just relieved that I don’t have to drink blood, since I am only half vampire.
  Father gazed at me for few seconds and asked, his voice sounding somehow disappointed:
  -Why? It has a nice color and it is warm. It makes you feel warm on the inside after you drink it. Trust me, it is good, it makes you feel … alive!
  -I think you are right father, still, I would prefer to keep away from it as much as possible. I hope you understand me.
  Father didn’t say anything, instead he put his hand warmly on my shoulders. It is strange how easily he understands me and doesn’t disapprove my ideas and point of view about well ... everything. He is resembling so much to mother. Maybe mothers and fathers are the same, the difference being that one is a woman and the other a man.

V/5

Father then grabbed my right hand and took me down in the library. There was a huge fireplace with two armchairs in front and a coffee table in between them, the rest of the room being filled with thousands and thousands of books. Father sat in the left armchair and I sat in the other. We were face to face, the fire made his reddish eyes glow and his fangs as white as the full moon. He looked into my eyes and began to talk:
  -Before you were born, your mother Maria, agreed to be my wife despite the fact that I was a vampire. Of course she knew what a vampire was, but she made me swear to drink nothing but animal blood. Unfortunately, when a vampire stops consuming human blood, he or she gets older, like the mortals. For Maria’s sake I kept my promise, until one day.
  He made a pause and after a while, things began to be interesting for me. Father continued his story with a sorrow look on his face, his eyes were reflecting sadness as I was looking into them. I also have the bad habit of looking deep into someone’s eyes, to see them through their souls. Father got used in making eye contact with me and he even lets me read his thoughts and feelings reflecting on his red eyes.
  -Her town villagers found out where she was for the past year and thought that I was keeping her as a hostage. Foolish mortals, they are too naive and stupid! You were a couple of days old when they gathered in front of the castle’s door and brought it down. I told your mother to run away with you somewhere safe, where they couldn’t find you. She did as she was told while I managed to send them running back to the village. When Maria returned back with you, ten or twelve people were laying on the floor at my feet, bleeding.
  Then she looked me in the face and saw blood dripping from my fangs.
  ”You broke the promise, how could you?!” She asked and she ran away with you crying. I followed her, but outside was day already and I could not run into the sun. So I sat there watching Maria running, until her sobering and your crying could not be heard any more.
  Father got up and knelt in front of me, his reddish eyes were wet and he grabbed my hands and kissed them. His words got mixed with his crying:
  -The reason why your mother left me is because I broke my promise, drinking those people’s blood. She was afraid that I might do the same to her. I would never have done that, I loved her so much. Please, believe me ... my dear Valentina.
  I put my arms around father’s neck and hugged him very tight. Hearing the answers to the questions that I have gathered in my mind and heart all these years, made me feel different than I expected. From my mother’s stories, I thought father left us for another woman or even worse, since she refused to tell me the truth every time I asked her about father. The longer mother refused to tell me about him, the more curious I began to be.
  My soul felt easier now, as if I had a heavy rock on it since now and after father made light into my mind, it somehow lifted off. This feeling was making me so very happy. Being brought to reality by my father’s hot tears that were dropping on my shoulder, I focused my attention on him:
  -I believe you, father! I kissed him on the forehead and hugged him even stronger. His warm tears were falling on my shoulder forming little rivers.
  I wanted to cry along with him, but I didn’t. I was pleased to finally find out the truth about my parents past. At least now I have a new path in life: to learn more about vampires and half vampires. I think I know everything about human nature, it is time to discover new types of people. I truly hoped so; but for now I have to cheer father up. The idea of him crying on my birthday didn't suit me.
  -Master Dracula, may I enter to give Miss Valentina my birthday present for her?! Grandpa Daniel’s voice beyond the door interrupted out little pity party.
  In that moment father realized what he was doing. Visibly ashamed, he stood up straight immediately and answered:
  -Of course, Daniel. Come in!
  He then pointed his right index finger towards the door and made it open by itself. Grandpa Daniel then entered the room with a silver tray having on it a silver vessel lid covering something interesting for me. Grandpa revealed what was under the lid: a delicious chocolate cake with my name and age written on it with whipped cream and having red fruits such as strawberries, cherries and tiny pieces of apples covering the whole cake in an elegant design. On top of it was a sparkly white candle.
  Father approached the cake and he snap his fingers in front of the candle. After his action was done, a small blue flame was burning on top of the candle. I was too amazed to even thank them for the cake. It was my first cake that I have in my entire life, because mother and I were too poor to buy one. Every year, she made me some small fruit pie instead.
  -What is the matter, Valentina? You do not like chocolate?! Father asked concerned. It was my first birthday spent with him and I am sure he wanted to make everything perfect, to repay all my birthdays that he lost until now.
  -I am fine, father, really. I was just amazed by your ... ummhh ... I tried to imitate father’s gestures when he did all those unusual things.
  -By my tricks?! I see. Well Valentina, as a pure vampire I also have telekinetic powers, also known as the ability to move objects with your mind. And the ability to control the powers of nature such as fire. But enough said, it is your birthday and we must have a good time. You will learn more about vampires after that.
  -Blow into the candle and make a wish, Miss Valentina! Grandpa Daniel said, bringing the cake in front of me. But remember to wish in your mind. If you say it out loud, it will never come true.
  I closed my eyes and tried to form the wish in my head: ”I wish to have a long beautiful life in father’s castle. Please God, make it happen, for I have experienced sadness enough. Amen!” I opened my eyes and blew softly into the candle. After the blue flame extinguished, father and grandpa clapped slowly and said in the same time:
  -Happy birthday, my dear Valentina!
  -Happy birthday, Miss Valentina!
  Father kissed me on the forehead and left without tasting a piece of the cake. He wished me good night before closing the door with his telekinetic powers again.
  -Don’t get upset on Master Dracula. He would love to eat some cake with you, but it doesn’t have any blood in it. I hope you understand how hard it is for him to be a vampire. Grandpa Daniel explained when he noticed my disappointed face.
  -I am trying to understand him grandpa, he seems so far from the life we normal people have. I mean, you are normal, I am half of each world.
  Grandpa Daniel and I began eating the delicious chocolate cake in silence. My mind was still thinking about father and his unnatural powers. ”I wonder, can I do what he does?!”

VI/6

Grandpa went to his bedroom and I did the same. Tomorrow, me and father will meet in the library again to study about vampires and half vampires.
  Until morning I had a bad sleep, being excited and scared at the same time. Grandpa Daniel served me breakfast in the morning, but father wasn’t in the kitchen, he must be having a glass of blood in the library from my guessing.
  I helped grandpa Daniel with the dishes and went to the library. Father was sitting in the same armchair as last night. He had three books on his lap. The minute I sat in front of him, he put them on the coffee table and asked me to read the titles from left to right:
  -”The history of vampires” ; ”The first half vampire” ; ”Vampires and half vampires: enemies or allies?”.
  -Start reading the first book on your left Valentina! It is the important one. After he said this he left me alone in the library.
  The book had almost one thousand pages but in ten days I managed to read it all. The writing was easy to understand and very explicit about the past and life of vampires. It is said that The Devil itself created the first vampire, in order to punish the sinners on the earth. Soon more people were transformed into vampires by the first one with just a small bite of his sharp fangs on their necks. Of course, the vampire wanted only their blood and didn’t expect this result. In order to consume human blood without making them vampires, the humans must be killed first.
  I have also learned how to make the difference between humans and vampires. It is easy because vampires are immortals, if they drink human blood their youth extends, they have red eyes and sharp fangs, for an amount of time they can levitate, the mirrors don’t show their reflections, they have telekinetic abilities and can control the forces of nature, such as fire or lightning, as father said to me the previous night. And they have only two weaknesses: the sun light and garlic. The sun light makes their skin to burn and turn into ashes, if they don’t go into shady places. And the smell of garlic makes them suffocate. Despite people’s believes, vampires can also breathe.
  For an unknown reason, the mortals think vampires don’t have pulses. This idea is wrong because being immortal, a vampire’s heart continues to beat.
  This information will be useful some day, if I ever meet other vampires besides father. After telling father what I have learned, he told me to begin the next one. The second book fascinated me more because I was a half vampire myself.
  Soon my excitement disappeared. The half vampires were considered inferiors from the normal vampires because one of their parents was a mortal human being; reason why the vampires tried killing the half ones to keep their kind pure. One hundred years ago, a half vampire called Dragomir became a normal vampire after drinking the blood of his dead wife, whom was mysteriously killed. Half vampires have some things in common with pure vampires: the immortality, levitation abilities and are weak to the smell of garlic.
  There are many differences between the two kinds: half vampires don’t have red eyes, nor fangs, their reflection is transparent instead of invisible, they can live under the sun’s light, they don’t drink any kind of blood. If they do consume just a little drop of blood they became pure vampires. Some of them prefer to live as normal human beings, but most of them became vampires because of the persecutions and the mean names they get from other humans or vampires such as ”hybrids”. This word is an insult meaning that your parents came from different worlds and you are a mixture between them; not being pure because you are not neither one nor the other. And that means you have been born impure. When I found out about this I began to cry because the hybrids weren’t accepted in neither of the parents worlds nor families.
  Father didn’t bothered to ask me what I have read this time, knowing how I felt after finding out how cruel the half vampires are treated by everybody. He just said that Dragomir, once a half vampire himself, was his best friend since they were children.
  -What?! How could that be? He must have at least one hundred and a few years old! I said with amazement.
  -Immortality tricks death; father said calmly. Remember what you learned these days, it will come in handy for the rest of your life.
  -Yes father! I was ashamed that I forgot to think before opening my big fat mouth. ”Keep in mind Valentina: first you think, then you can speak!” I said to myself.
  -If you would like, I can write to Dragomir to come here in our castle for a few days. Besides what you know from books, I want you to socialize with another vampire, maybe he will tell you what was it like being a half vampire and how he managed to change.
  -Of course. Hearing it from a former half vampire, I will know how to deal with those who will persecute me for not being pure. If you ask me, it is a stupid motivation to persecute someone for this reason. And the humans seemed pretty ignorant, especially those living in villages.
  Being glad of my point of view, father asked grandpa Daniel to bring him paper, a pen and a black inkwell. He wrote a few lines and after finishing the letter, he told grandpa to go to the post office and deliver it. The nearest post office was in the small town outside The Black Forest that surrounds the castle.
  -Father, can I please go with grandpa? I’m curious to see the town.
  -Fine, you may go. Just keep in mind that those people are not to be trusted, especially if they know that there are vampires nearby. I have never seen this much selfishness, vanity, envy and other sins on this earth than the ones living in those people’s hearts. Even the priest is a sinner. You must not trust what they say or do or anything you see!
  -Yes, father. I understand.
  -Have no worry, Master Dracula. I will teach Miss Valentina how to deal with those people; grandpa said as if I was a little girl who doesn’t know how to behave.
  It is true that my behavior is a little rebellious and childish most of the time, but I am doing my best to behave like a princess. When I was a child, in my former village, I have known a rich girl who was always bragging about how better she was from the rest because of her father’s wealth. The only good thing about her attitude is that I managed to learn how to act all elegantly and girly, without even trying too hard. My mother was proud, but she also said that if I wanted to be respected I must be myself all the time.

VII/7

Before going into town, I put on a light red dress with petal shaped sleeves and with a small rift in front. The dress had white laces and it was reaching my knees. The shoes were also red with white flower buckles on them. I tied my hair into a ponytail, leaving my bangs fall freely on my forehead and two wavy hair strands covering my ears. Around the neck I put on a white pearl necklace. Grandpa Daniel was dressed in a beige suit with white shoes and shirt. Around his neck he had a yellow bow and a straw hat on his head.
  We both dressed this way in order not to attract attention upon us. Nobody must know where we come from or what we are. Grandpa is a normal human so he has no worries, I am the one who should be careful how to act or talk without getting into trouble.
  After we left the castle, grandpa Daniel showed me a secret path connecting the castle’s huge gate with the entering course into town through the whole forest. It took us about ten minutes to cross the forest into town.
  -Master Dracula made this path for me the day he hired me as his butler. This way no animal or other creature that hides in The Black Forest can’t harm me. But this path must remain a secret, it must be known only by the inhabitants of the castle.
  -Don’t worry grandpa, I’m not naive. You must get up real early in the morning to fool this girl! I said with a cocky grin.
  -Very good then, Miss Valentina! Grandpa laughed.
  The small town was pretty compared to my old village, where me and mother used to live. It was composed of farms, an old looking school building and a scary church that had an old priest with a rude face. And besides these buildings, many houses were painted in all the colors you can think of, making you feel like in a fairy tale. In order to reach the post office we needed to go through a shopping area, which contained endless shops with clothes, food, books, jewelry and other good looking merchandise. As we were walking I heard a female voice behind us talking:
  -That young woman looks much like that eccentric rich old man, living in the castle.
  Another woman replied:
  -I didn’t know he had any heirs. Maybe she’s his new wife, trying to get his wealth. His first wife was young too, but didn’t saw her for quite a long time.
  Just then I got angry because those two women had no right to talk untrue things about me and father. So I approached them and said loud and clear:
  -Excuse, me. I am the only child of that ‘eccentric rich old man’ as you called him. You should be ashamed of yourselves! It is not polite to spread gossip about people you don’t know nothing about.
  They were silent when I finished talking to them and returned to grandpa. He was waiting in the post office’s front door.
  -I sent that letter, Miss Valentina. Where did you disappear so suddenly?
  -Some women were talking nonsense about me and my parents.
  -Be careful what you say Miss Valentina! Some people are not worth talking to. This is the reason why Master Dracula never comes here, not even during the night.
  -Can we see the rest of the town? I want to spend more time outdoors. It’s been days since I last went outside of that dark castle!
  -But you study on one of your bedroom’s balconies.
  -Please grandpa, just one more hour. I’m sure father will understand.
  I looked at grandpa with sad puppy eyes, this trick always fooled mother to make her give me what I want. And it worked on grandpa too. He showed me some beautiful dress shops and jewelry stores; but the public library interested me the most. I borrowed some romance novels since father’s library was full of books about vampires and other dark creatures.
  -I must admit, Master Dracula’s tastes in literature are not fit for a young delicate lady. We are lucky this town has a bright appearance.
  Grandpa smiled under his straw hat and made the sign of the cross when we walk beside the church’s gateway. I wanted to agree with him but in that moment I saw a young handsome man in front of the church’s main doors, talking to the rude looking priest. He was a little taller than him, with golden hair and light blue eyes. I stood pat to see him better but he went inside along with the priest.
  -That young lad is Amen, the priest’s son; grandpa said behind me. You like him, don’t you?
  -Um ... a little! I start to blush, obviously ashamed of my childish behavior.
  -You don’t need to hide your feelings. It is fine to let them surface. Everyone falls in love at one point in life.
  Then he touched my cheek lovingly. I wanted to change the subject. Talking about personal feelings made me feel weak in front of someone, even in front of people close to me that I trust. So I asked grandpa when he fell in love for the first time. When he finished his long story about the women in his life we were at the castle already. Before we went inside, I persuade grandpa to keep my crush on Amen a secret:
  -Please, grandpa Daniel! Let me tell father about Amen when I think it’s the right moment.
  -It is not right to have secrets from Master Dracula. However, as a butler, I have no obligation to interfere in his family matters. You have my word, Miss Valentina!
  I kissed him on the cheek and went to tell father about what I saw in town, except Amen, of course. The castle’s hallway seemed like an abandoned cemetery compared to the bright colorful town. It has been more than a week since I came here and supposed I would got used living in this castle. Well, to be honest, if father will be kind to paint some walls in light colors, maybe the castle wouldn’t seem so depressing.

VIII/8

Father was in the living room and by the sound of it, it seemed that he was having a friendly talk with two other men. I saw the door open. The living room contained a long rectangular table, about ten meters long and two meters width. Under the table was a huge carped that occupied most of the floor, in Burgundy with black and yellow curve pattern on it.
  On the left of the room, were wide windows, all closed and covered with velvet curtains. On the right, old paintings illustrating nobles that once lived in the castle were hanging, looking very boring to me. The picture on the other side of the room captured my attention. It was a portrait of father and mother when they were living together. They were holding a sleeping baby in their arms and looked very happy together. Under our family portrait was a fire place, same as the one in the library, only it was twice as bigger.
  Father was sitting near the fire place, on his left (my right) was an older man with grey hair. I noticed he was a vampire by looking at his red eyes and his bright smile that revealed his fangs. He was wearing a dark green suit with black shoes, white shirt and an orange-red nuanced tie.
  On father’s right (my left) a man between twenty and twenty five years, with dark brown straight hair tied in a short ponytail, pale skin, a cross shaped scar on his right cheek, red eyes and pointy fangs; was sitting looking uninterested of anything. He wore a red shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows and two buttons were opened revealing a quarter of his chest. A metal cross neck chain was covering it.
  -Oh, Valentina, you are back! Come and meet our guests! Father said after he saw me standing in the doorway.
  As I approached them, I saw a half empty bottle and three glasses that were smudged by a red fluid. Father noticed the scared look on my face and covered the bottle and glasses with a sheet.
  -Excuse me, gentlemen! As you know my daughter is a half vampire and she is not used to see me drink blood. But do not worry dear, it is animal blood. Mister Dragomir here killed a deer on his way to us.
  In that moment I felt awkward in front of the three male vampires, I felt weak in front of them. My face began burning red.
  -Don’t worry Vladimir, I was just like her back then! She will get used to it eventually. Dragomir’s accent wasn’t Transylvanian such as mine or father’s. Even grandpa Daniel had a little Transylvanian accent, although he was a Jew.
  -Excuse me for asking sir, but where are you from? I tried to be polite. Who knows how a vampire reacts to rudeness.
  -Bulgaria, young lady. And I must say, you look like Vladimir ... if he was a woman of course. And that lad sitting in front of me is my son, Cornelius.
  When I turned my eyes on him, Cornelius winked at me and pulled out a chair near him as if he was inviting me to sit next to him.
  -Don’t fear darling, I don’t bite ... very bad! He teased me, showing his fangs and licked them with his tongue. His accent was also Bulgarian like his father’s.
  I looked puzzled at father, he smiled a little and pointed with his look on the chair that Cornelius offered me. So I sat without looking at him, but I could feel that Cornelius’s eyes were staring at me.
  -Why did you show your fangs, Cornelius?! Now the girl is scared of you! Dragomir argued with his son while looking very friendly at me.
  -Sorry, dad! I assumed that being Dracula’s daughter, she wouldn’t get scared of anything. He teased me again. I wanted to slap him over his scar but knowing that our fathers are best friends, I controlled my anger.
  -Well, you seemed to forget that my mother was a normal human and I’m not as strong as a real vampire! I replied instead, looking angrily at him.
  When he saw that I gave him attention, he teased me again:
  -If you want, dad discovered a cure for this ‘insignificant’ detail!
  He succeeded on making me so furious that I got out of the room as quick as I could and went to my room. I inherited that ‘insignificant’ detail from my mother and there is no way I would get rid of it, just to become a real vampire. I prefer to remain a half vampire for the rest of my life than giving up on the last thing that reminds me of mother. Dragomir seemed to be a nice vampire. Too bad his son is an insensitive jerk. I bet Amen is a lot better match for me.
  As I entered my room, Amen’s figure appeared in my mind and I couldn’t stop thinking of him. My body felt weak, my forehead was sweating and my arms were trembling nervously. I sat quickly on my bed, because my feet began to tremble as well. I remember that mother told me about how she felt near father. She had the exact same symptoms, meaning that I wasn’t well at all. I was contaminated by an incurable disease called LOVE.
  Yes, love is a disease because once you got it, you will never get cured of it. And it is bad because it makes your body, mind and soul vulnerable; and ironically, despite the fact that it is the most beautiful feeling in the world, it is in the same time the only feeling that makes you suffer the most.
  Considering that I never felt this way about any boy in my life, love was now something new and scary. It interested me and in the same time it made me feel like a frightened little girl. Trying to think about what to do, I picked one of the romance novels I borrowed from town, maybe they will explain how to deal with love.
  After all, every story has a grain of truth at some point, right?!
  And another strange thing: Cornelius’s figure appeared in my head, this time my cheeks were red and I start trembling of anger. Why on earth does this boy enjoys teasing me, when he doesn’t know nothing about me!?
  Or was I too sensitive towards mother, even after she passed away years ago?! Why do I even care what Cornelius thinks about me? Is it because I am a half vampire and that he is pure, which probably gives him the idea that he is better than me?!

IX/9

I began reading one of the novels borrowed from town in order to calm down. Reading is a treatment for my soul when I’m angry, sad, bored, etcetera. Someone knocked three times at my door and I heard father’s voice:
  -Valentina, it is me! Can I come in?
  -Of course!
  -Are you alright?! I hope Cornelius did not upset you much. He cannot stand the presence of half vampires because when he was a child, Dragomir spent most of his time with them, helping them to become real vampires. He had no one to love him because his mother was killed and ...
  -Father, sorry to interrupt you. I know about his parents from the book you gave me to learn. Mother died when I was twelve but I don’t hate anyone for that, because it wasn’t no one’s fault.
  -Cornelius is more emotional than he shows. He behaves like this because he does not know who to trust.
  -By the way, how did they arrived here an hour after we send the letter?
  -Well dear, I send him a letter on Saint Valentine’s Day, telling him that my dear daughter returned home. I did not expect his visit today, it is indeed a wonderful coincidence. Father’s appearance was glowing with happiness and I was satisfied to see him like this.
  -And how did they get here through The Black Forest without someone noticing it? My curiosity never takes a break.
  -Another advantage of being a vampire is that we can run ten times faster than a horse. This is how Dragomir and all of our kind hunt animals for their blood.
  Father went out of my room. Before closing the door I asked:
  -Where are our guests now?
  -In one of the first floor’s bedrooms. Do not worry, nobody will come near your bedroom without permission.
  The door closed and my room sank in a deep silence. After reading few chapters I found out that romance novels bored me and I decided to get some sleep. It has been a long day and I wanted to rest before going into town tomorrow to return the boring novels and maybe get to meet Amen again. That night I dreamed about him. We were walking in a park full of colorful flowers. He picked up a red rose and put it in my hair. When he wanted to give me a kiss, Cornelius appeared out of nowhere and killed Amen with a silver knife. Then he came towards me and said with an angry face and his red eyes glowing:
  ”-You won’t escape me again, hybrid!”
  I woke up with my forehead and hands all sweating. My whole body was shaking as well. I tried to calm down because my heart was beating at its full power and I was breathing very heavy. As soon as it slowed down a little, I got off bed and try to begin a new day with a smile. Maybe a bubble bath and something good to eat will calm me down.
  At breakfast I was dressed in the same dress as yesterday. The nightmare from last night won’t go away from my head. Even grandpa got worried when he saw my plate full:
  -Are you ill, Miss Valentina? You haven’t touched your food!
  -No, grandpa! I’m tired because I had a nightmare that disturbed my sleep last night and now it’s stuck in my head.
  -Oh, dear! Maybe the thought that three vampires are living in this castle scares you. Last night I locked my door from the inside to be sure that our guests don’t want a midnight snack. If you want, you can go into town today, but don’t let anyone see the secret path!
  -Are you sure? Won’t father get upset?
  -As long as you and that disrespectful lad are separated, everything will be fine!
  I agreed with him. Cornelius wouldn’t dare to come after me in daytime. First I went to my room and grabbed the novels. The path seemed longer than yesterday. I guess when you walk alone, everything seems to last longer. After returning the books I went to the church. Being the priest’s son, Amen will certainly be there. When I arrived at the church’s front door, I stood there asking myself if it is right to go inside.
  Suddenly I heard an organ play inside. I opened the doors slowly and entered without a sound. After the doors were closed, I felt that someone was watching me. This feeling disappeared from my mind when I saw at the end of the right row of benches a big organ making a peaceful tune. My heart began to beat loudly in my chest when I saw who was playing it. It was Amen.
  The musical piece ended, he stood up and noticed my presence.
  -Hello there! Welcome to the House of God! Don’t be afraid, He won’t hurt you.
  My heart’s beats increased and I could feel my face burning. I had to say something. Standing there quietly made me look like a fool.
  -I ... I’m sorry. I w ... wanted some time ... alone!
  ”What was I saying?”
  -It is normal for people to come here for a little peace and quiet. This atmosphere is good for meditation and praying. Or do you want to confess your sins to the priest? Amen’s soft voice and kind personality really made me want to faint.
  -No ... no, not at all! I just want to think about my personal problems. I tried to act as natural as I could, but it was obvious that I was nervous. After all, Amen wasn’t just any guy, he was the one that I fall in love with, but I must not let him know that. At least, not for now.
  -Well, take a sit. He showed me to sit in the front bench of the right row.
  I did as he said and he sat next to me. I avoid looking at him and move my glance towards the big icon of Jesus Christ sitting in front of the altar.
  -I hope you don’t mind! Being the priest’s son most of the time I spend it in this church all by myself and sometimes having company makes me happy. He looked straight at me: You’re not from this town, aren’t you?
  -No, I am not. I tried to stay calm and act normal. I must not let him know what I really am. If he is a real Christian, he will try to hurt me if he knew that I was part vampire. I have heard in my journey many stories about vampire hunters, most of them being priests and monks. Maybe I will confess my secret, but first I must let him know the real me. This way the chances of getting him angry because of my true identity will be small.
  -What is your name? He asked me another question, seeing how quiet I have become all of a sudden.
  -Valentina. ”God, bless me with strength. The more time I get to spend near Amen, the weaker my body and soul gets!” I start praying in my mind.
  -A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.
  When I heard the word ”beautiful”, I felt that my heart had stop beating. It was a good thing that I was sitting down, otherwise I’d be passed out.
  -I see you are a shy one! Amen replied noticing that I was quiet once more.
  -Yes, sometimes. Just around people I truly like. ”Oh, no. What I just said!”
  -Am I one of those people?
  -Well ... I don’t know what to say. After a minute of silence I replied:
  -I don’t know who you are. I lied to him because I didn’t want to be a desperate person in his eyes. The first impression counts the most.
  -My bad, I forgot to introduce myself properly. My name is Amen. Where do you come from?
  -From the castle in the middle of The Black Forest!
  -Really?! I heard someone talking yesterday that Count Dracula has a daughter. I didn’t knew he was married.
  Then I began telling Amen the story of my life since the day mother died, without telling him that father was a vampire. If he finds out who knows what trouble he’s going to bring upon me and the inhabitants of the castle.
  -And why did your mother ran away?
  -Do you really want to know? This question somehow seemed improper to me.
  -If it bothers you, then no!
  -Good. I try to forget the past and focus on the future.
  -You are a strong girl, Valentina! I like you!
  -You do?! Then I told Amen about yesterday, when I saw him talking to the priest and the real reason why I came into town today. At first I was scared, thinking that he may have the impression of how silly my actions were, but in fact he was listening very carefully to every word I said. Soon, I got interrupted by my stomach. Skipping breakfast wasn’t a good idea and now I was hungry. Sorry about that, I should probably go home now to eat.
  -Don’t! I know a good restaurant not far from here. We can have a decent meal and have more time to know each other better.
  -Like a date? ”Oh no, my curiosity is really getting out of hand.”
  -If you want to, sure!
  He was right about the restaurant, it was two minutes far from the church and it was a medium sized wooden cottage. Most of the tables were in the front yard. Inside, the kitchen occupied most of the space. A forty year old woman with red hair, hazel eyes and freckles on her cheeks came out with a piece of paper and a pen.
  -Welcome Amen! It’s been a while since you last ate here. How are your folks?
  -Mother’s doing well, but father’s somehow ill and he is too stubborn to go see doctor Ion. He thinks God will help him if he prays all night.
  -So sad to hear this. Well, you know that most priests are fanatics. What do you expect? Never mind it, who’s this enchanting lady?
  Before Amen could respond, I took a step in front and introduced myself like a real princess:
  -My name is Valentina, madam. It is an honor to have lunch at this lovely restaurant!
  -Oh, come here sweetie and give aunt Linda a big hug! Oh, dear, how skinny you are! Don’t worry child, I make the best chicken stew in town. Sure it’ll put some meat on your bones.
  This woman, Linda, despite her fragile physical appearance, she had a lot of strength in her. Seeing that I was getting a little purple because of her powerful hug, she let go of me. After I got some blood in my cheeks again, Amen offered me a sit on a table near a flower garden. What good manners he has! Cornelius should really learn a thing or two from him.
  What am I doing?! Why am I thinking about Cornelius when I’m dating Amen at the moment?! Gosh, I feel really awkward right now!

X/10

After we finished that delicious chicken stew, my stomach felt much better. Amen insisted on paying the bill himself:
  -I am the one who invited you to eat here! It is rude for me to let a lady pay.
  -Neither of you don’t have to pay, aunt Linda said coming with a plate full of home made cookies. Amen you are a blessing to my restaurant because people gather around here to spend some time with you, especially the ladies. And as for you my dear, I know Daniel for years and he said you are like a granddaughter to him. Consider that we are a family. Now I want this plate empty when I return.
  -Thank you aunt Linda, you are too kind!
  Linda came closer to my ear and whispered:
  -I am the only kind person in this town. The rest of them can’t be trusted so be careful child. These demons will destroy your soul easily!
  My first date with Amen was perfect. Despite my awkward behavior, I think I have made him a good impression. But, at our departing, he insisted to walk home with me:
  -Let me escort you to your castle, my princess! It is indecent for a gentleman to leave a lady alone.
  -You are an angel Amen, but ...
  I didn’t know what to say to him so he can let me go alone. I made grandpa a promise that I will not tell anybody about the secret path. Soon my problem was solved when I heard grandpa Daniel’s voice behind me:
  -There you are, Miss Valentina! Master Dracula was worried about you. It is time to return home!
  -Alright grandpa. By the way, this is Amen!
  Grandpa and Amen shake hands and had a short conversation. After me and grandpa waited to see Amen gone, we went to search the secret path. On our way to the castle, I told grandpa how things went for me.
  -Seems to me that Amen had fall for you as well, Miss Valentina!
  -You think so, grandpa?! It was the first time in my life when I went on a date with a young man and I didn’t know what to do.
  -As I reconsider your story, you did pretty well. Hear this from an old man who had deal with love many times: If you want to succeed, be yourself and things will be fine.
  -Speaking of love. I met a woman who owns a small restaurant behind the church. Her name is Linda and she said that you two are pretty close.
  Now it was my turn to tease grandpa about his love life. He didn’t seem to notice it though:
  -She’s the only person you can have a decent conversation without worrying that you’ll end up either broke or dead.
  -Are the town people really that bad? I was sure grandpa and father were exaggerating, but after what Linda whispered into my ear, I began to believe their warnings.
  -Trust me! Even the police are making illegal trades in order to become rich.
  Somehow things became clear why The Devil created vampires on earth. Someone had to put things in balance. Who knows what the world could have been without vampires?!
  -Why is father’s castle near this town anyway?
  -His duty is to get rid of those sinners.
  -Today I didn’t heard rumors about any deaths.
  -That’s because Master Dracula does things slowly but efficient. For example, months ago he found some ill animals in the forest and lured them into town, where they were eaten. Few weeks later, the people who ate them died from food poisoning. Normally, being a vampire, it is easy for him to just kill them in a second. However, he promised to lady Maria that he won’t kill any human being for any reason.
  -But mother is dead now. This means that the deal is off. Why is he still keeping it?
  -Because his love for his wife didn’t disappeared, despite the fact that she’s ... gone. Love is such an interesting and mysterious feeling. You never get bored with it.
  I looked down ashamed that I spoke nonsense again. Grandpa was right. Even if mother isn’t around us anymore, her memory should be respected and father is, apparently, the only one who still cherishes her memory after all these years. Instead of doing the same, I am worrying about my own childish problems. Tears began pouring on my cheeks and chin. Grandpa noticed them and said:
  -You don’t have to feel bad about what happened to your parents, Miss Valentina!
  -But I should be more understanding and supportive towards father on keeping his promise, even after mother died. I feel like a bad selfish person, grandpa.
  -Tell me, Miss Valentina, would a selfish person admit when he or she is wrong or feels bad when something bad is happening? No. To admit your mistakes makes you realize how to become a better person!
  Grandpa Daniel always knows how to make me feel good. When we arrived at the castle I told him how wonderful he is and went to see father. I was heading to the living room, thinking that he and Dragomir must be there, drinking blood. My skin began to have goose bumps when I remembered that bottle with deer blood. I told myself to be strong in front of anybody and anything. Even if that anything is fresh blood.
  The living room was empty. I took this chance to see the family portrait again. The three of us looked so happy together. In all my life I have never seen mother so happy and beautiful. Her face was telling me that her life is perfect. It was perfect until her stupid villagers destroyed all her happiness.
  Maybe that was another reason to leave her natal village. I was glad to leave the village where we lived together along with all the bad memories. This castle was the perfect place to escape your past and build a bright future. As long as no stupid human sets foot in the Dracula family’s castle, things will be alright. This thought made me smile with all my heart at our family’s portrait.
  Too bad grandpa is not in it. Later I will ask him why he didn’t want to take part in this portrait. He was also a family member.
  -What a nice family! Too bad it didn’t last, but as you know happy endings are only in fairy tales to make stupid brats dream well at night!
  Cornelius’s voice scratched my ears badly. I would recognize it from a million. He was standing next to me, looking bored at the picture. I looked at him annoyed, still upset at him for what he said yesterday. Still, I said nothing to him, thinking that he might leave me alone when he sees that I am not eager to have a conversation, especially with him.
  -The butler told me that you had a great time in town today. Is it because of that priest’s foolish son, Amen? What a ridiculous name! He began talking, seeing that I was silent.
  I couldn’t keep quiet any longer. He had no right to insult Amen.
  -Amen is the word spoken at the end of each pray, meaning that you truly believed in those words towards God. Maybe now he will go away and leave me alone.
  -I don’t go to church ... as I can remember. He said instead of giving up. He’s stubborn as a mule.
  -Gosh, I wonder why?! I said with sarcasm, happily to make him shut up.
  -How cute of you to defend that idiot! He looked into my face satisfied that he made me angry again.
  -What on earth is your problem!? Since you arrived here all you did was to tease me and make me want to slap you. I tried to be polite since you are a guest here, but I had enough of your rude behavior! So listen close, Cornelius! I was standing one centimeter in front of him, keeping an eye contact between us to intimidate him. If you don’t began to act polite like a gentleman, I will tell father to kick you out of this castle!
  He stood still, with a smirk on his face and when I wanted to leave the room, he grabbed me by my waist and brought me near his half-naked chest. He put my head on his left side. His heart was beating harder than a drum and I stood there listening to it. After a while I realized that we were hugging.
  -Um ... Cornelius, let go of me now! Someone might catch us like this.
  He reached my head and looked deep into my eyes:
  -I don’t care!
  His face was without emotions, still I could feel his heart beating loudly. In that moment my face was burning and my heart was beating as well. I closed my eyes. His pale face and red eyes were making me feel weak again. Soon his breath was near my face. When I opened my eyes, his lips touched mine and his arms were hugging me really tight. My hands were hanging beside my body, sweating and shaking. I put them on Cornelius’s chest to push him away, but he was stronger than me. So I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Then Amen’s face appeared in my mind and I manage this time to loose the hug and kiss, breathing hard.
  -What’s wrong love? Don’t I kiss good like that blond?
  My tears began to fall. I ran away from Cornelius again. My feet felt heavy as I was reaching my room. I locked the door and jumped into bed, crying with my face in my pillow. Today I had my first date with Amen and suddenly ended up kissing Cornelius.
  What was wrong with me? Why does my heart beat for both of them instead for one of them? I had to make a choice because I can’t continue doing this to Amen.

XI/11

{In this chapter it is presented the story of Cornelius’s life and his point of view about the latest events that took place in Dracula’s castle.}

  Since mom died, dad wasn’t interested in taking care of me anymore. I was ten years old when I became half orphan and since then I grew up on my own. My dad was too busy helping the half vampires with their problems. His method was simple: in order to change into real vampires, the hybrids must drink human blood after killing them. This method was so simple minded that I could not stop wondering why any other hybrid didn’t thought about this before?
  Now my mom had to die because of their stupidity. I lost my trust in half vampires along with her and began depending only on myself.
  On my twenty fourth birthday, two weeks before Saint Valentine’s Day, my dad noticed that he had a son and acted like a real father. Oh, well! Better later than never!
  But on Saint Valentine’s Day dad receives a letter from his best friend, the king of vampires himself, Count Vladimir Dracula. Twenty years ago he married that human female and most vampires believed that she made him weak. Let’s hope that he came into his senses when she disappeared from his life.
  In the letter, he told dad that his half vampire daughter is twenty years old and she finally returned home after her mother died eight years ago. This news didn’t impressed me! And it got worse when dad wanted to go visit them and celebrate their family reunion.
  Me and that half vampire have only one thing in common: the fact that our mothers are dead. But dad wanted to meet her anyway. As we were approaching the castle, through The Black Forest, I soon find out dad intended to make Dracula’s daughter a real vampire and maybe she will be my bride. I didn’t respond to his idea. I told him I will think about it, although I was against arranged marriages. Why do parents have to decide whom their children are getting married to?! It is a foolish thing. I will marry that girl only if she’s my type; if not then no wedding.
  My dad wasn’t happy about my point of view but I was an adult now so he respected my decision. In the long years when he was too busy about his work, dad never tried to make some time to raise me. Instead he left me with his sister-in-law, mom’s twin sister, Miranda. She got married to a Russian guy, Boris and had twin daughters, Scarlet and Rose. Although they were my cousins, I never got along with them so well. Maybe because I was too jealous of them; they had a mom and dad that cared and loved them, while my only parent was traveling who knows where, not giving a damn about his only child whom became motherless.
  In all these years I have gathered so much hatred towards Dragomir for this, that now I don’t consider him as a dad anymore. It is useless for him to make up now for his mistakes, I will never forgive him, never!
  The castle was dark and old looking, just the kind of place I like. The butler was annoying and I was surprised to find out that he was an ordinary mortal. After he will die, Dracula would better find a vampire butler to replace this old fool.
  We were invited into the living room and dad gave Dracula a bottle full of the deer’s blood that we hunt down before coming here. This was the gift from us. Dracula seemed pleased and ordered the butler to bring three glasses. When the bottle was half empty, the two of them began reminding of the old days.
  Soon Dracula stood up and said looking at the other end of the room:
  -Oh, Valentina, you are back! Come and meet our guests!
  After a long time of boring events, the half-blood princess finally showed her face. I must admit she was indeed beautiful like her old man said. Tall, thin, pale skin, long black hair, hazel eyes and that red dress ... mmhh ... made me want to eat her up! After Dracula introduced us, I pulled out a chair on my right and said:
  -Don’t fear darling, I don’t bite ... very bad!
  She hesitated at first, but in the end she sat next to me. Her sweet scent seduced me immediately. As she continued ignoring me, I thought teasing her might make her look at me. So I made a little joke about her human nature half. When she finally looked

at me and spoke, I could feel my heels burning. Unfortunately I went too far and I made her run away. Guess I’m not every girls dream after all. Or maybe she plays hard to get, if so, then I love playing games.
  That night dad argued with me. I act cold and careless. I do felt sorry for what I said to Valentina, but dad wasn’t aloud to know this. Like I said before: I will never forgive him because of his absence during in the most painful part of my childhood.
  The next day I have been searching for Valentina in the whole castle. Dracula asked me what I want from her and I responded that I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior. This respond made him to forgive me and said she went into that small town, outside The Black Forest. The good news was I know where she is, the bad news was that outside was daylight. The sun was shinning pretty strong for the beginning of March.
  Thinking that Valentina wouldn’t stay long, I went to wait for her in her bedroom. The minute I opened the door, Valentina’s odor was all over the place. I took a deep breath and my heart start beating by all its power. Who would have thought that a half female vampire could make me become her slave?! Near the door was a plastic umbrella stand. I took the black one and went after Valentina in town, without being noticed.
  My first impression of that little town was not so good. It was too colorful and too lively for my tastes. I prefer dark, haunted and abandoned places with less dirty humans and more vampires, worth to hang out. Fortunately I had a big straw hat on my head, to cover my eyes. During daytime I’m not strong enough to handle a bunch of mortals.
  Finally I saw Valentina at a pathetic restaurant, eating with a blond human fool. At the sight of those two, my blood began to boil with hatred. In that moment all I wanted was to break that human’s neck with my bear hands and suck the life out of him. Just then, they got up and I returned to the castle as fast as I could. In less than a minute I arrived and returned the umbrella to Valentina’s room.
  The rest of the day I sat in my bedroom, which it was three doors away from hers. Dad invited me to drink fox blood in the library with him and Dracula, but I refused. All I wanted was to be alone and think of a plan to make Valentina be mine for eternity and to get rid of that idiotic human male. Suddenly, I smelled that old butler and went out to meet him.
  -Hey there, old man! Do you know where Valentina is?
  -She has returned from town. I hope you won’t upset her again young lad. She is happy now that she met the priest’s son, Amen. And this information must be known only by you. Don’t you try to make me or Miss Valentina trouble!
  -I swear to keep quiet!
  I let him stand there in front of my room’s door and went searching for Valentina again. The main hall was full of her odor and it led me into the living room. She was staring at her family picture and I approached her without a sound. When I got next to her right, my anger towards her friendship with that no good son of a priest vanished. Every time I was near her, she always made me feel like in heaven, full of peace and love. I turned my head towards the painting on the wall and said:
  -What a nice family! Too bad it didn’t last, but as you know happy endings are only in fairy tales to make stupid brats dream well at night!
  Seeing that she was quiet, I continued:
  -The butler told me that you had a great time in town today. Is it because of that priest’s foolish son, Amen? What a ridiculous name!
  After I insulted her little friend, she fought back looking cute. I didn’t pay attention to her words, my eyes were too busy feeding up with her physical beauty. When she finished, I said something randomly to show her that I did listen, even though it wasn’t true. One thing I do know about girls: they hate when no one listens to them talking.
  -I don’t go to church ... as I can remember.
  -Gosh, I wonder why?
  Her sarcasm didn’t bother me. On the contrary!
  -How cute of you to defend that idiot!
  She began threatening me that she will tell Dracula to kick me out of the castle and when she got to leave, I grabbed her at my chest, looking in her pretty eyes. She was afraid that someone might see us, like I care about what others might think. Therefore I said to her very careless:
  -I don’t care! After saying so, I began kissing her sweet lips. At first, she tried to escape, but I was stronger than her and she assign to the temptation. The kiss made me feel strong and invincible. She got loose quickly and tears began to fall from her eyes.
  -What’s wrong love? Don’t I kiss good enough like that blond?
  I had no idea if she kissed him or not. I didn’t care because I was sure that my kiss was better anyway. When we were hugging and kissing, I could hear Valentina’s heart beating in the same time as mine. Things were clear as crystal: she is meant to be mine!
  Surely she must have feelings for me as well, otherwise she would have fought better to get me off her. But she didn’t, moreover she kissed me back!
  Oh, beautiful half-blood princess, I will make you my queen. Just you wait and see!

XII/12

(In this chapter it is presented what Vladimir and Dragomir have been doing in the library, while Valentina had her first date with Amen and kissed Cornelius in the living room.)

  At first, Dragomir brought Vladimir into the library to talk about his son’s rude behavior. He tried to apologize in the name of Cornelius, trying to explain that he had his part of blame for not taking care of his son when he had the chance.
Vladimir assured him that he was not upset. With this problem settled he changed the subject. The real reason why he called Dragomir and Cornelius to his castle is to make Valentina a pure vampire, but only if she desires as well.
  Hearing this, Dragomir got so excited that he begun making plans about the steps that need to be made. Soon, he ended up talking about marrying Valentina with his son, Cornelius.
  Vladimir tried bringing him to reality:
  -Dragomir, I know you have good intentions, but I do not think it is you to decide it! Vladimir said after drinking all the fox blood from his glass.
  -All I am saying is that Valentina’s life would be much easier this way. You know the history of half bloods. Neither the vampires nor normal humans don’t accept them. Trust me, I was one of them in the past and it will be a wise decision for your daughter to follow my example; to become a pure vampire!
  -My friend, you are right! But let us take one step at a time. After twenty years of loneliness, me and Valentina are finally reunited; despite the fact that her mother and the love of my life is gone. I want to know her past, I want to know her personality and be by her side from now on.
  -I see. Well it is enough time for that. I was thinking that Valentina and Cornelius may fall for each other and you can have a bigger family!
  -How could you come up with this idea?! In case you did not notice, your son is upsetting her!
  Dragomir arranged his tie nervously and continued:
  -That’s exactly what I am thinking! If those two get to know each other better, maybe Valentina would manage to change Cornelius in a good way!
  -And how does this going to happen? Vladimir asked doubtful.
  -Just think about your wife, Maria. Before you married her, you were the strongest, most feared and most cruel vampire the world ever known. But after she came into your life, you got soften. You stop drinking human blood or killing any sinful mortal. Some of the vampires did bring up the idea about dueling you to death to take your title, my dear friend.
  Hearing these words, Vladimir’s eyes shone brighter than the flames:
  -How dare you? He grabbed Dragomir by his shirt and began tightening his fingers.
  -Calm down, Vladimir! I am on your side! I just want to inform you about what the other vampires think about you at this moment. This is the reason why Valentina should become pure. If she does it, the others will respect and fear you again, like in the old days.
  After listening to Dragomir, Vladimir let him out of his hands:
  -Is that so? He asked Dragomir, still not believing the words he’s been told. All his life, he did not care how others thought of him. He did as his heart told him and by now it told him well.
  -Yes, old man. This is the reason why I came here in the first place: since your wife was a mortal and you have a half blood daughter, the vampire community wants to take away your title as King of vampires. Making Valentina a pure vampire and letting her marry Cornelius will probably change their minds. Moreover, everybody will win something from this.
  Vladimir sit in the armchair near the fire place and said exhausted:
  -All this time I have been living in the past. Since Maria run away, time froze for me. But when I found Valentina sleeping in a cave in The Black Forest twenty years later, it was then when I realized that the years have past.
  After a silenced pause he continued:
  -You are right Dragomir, it is time for Count Vladimir Dracula, The King of vampires to restore his feared reputation. And about Valentina’s condition; that will have to be her decision, not mine! If she wants to become a pure vampire like her father, very good. If she does not, then I will have to face those against her in a battle to the death. As for the idea of being Cornelius’s wife ... to be honest I still do not like this idea, but if she indeed loves him, then I will give them my blessing.
  With the conversation closed, Dragomir and Vladimir filled their glasses once more, cheered and drank for their friendship and for the good things that will occur in the future.
*
  The two male vampires didn’t know that Valentina has been listening to their conversation from the beginning. After crying a while in her bedroom, she wanted to confess her love for Amen and Cornelius to her father.
  ”He is my father and I must ask him for advice, mustn’t I?! I mean, that’s the reason why you have parents in the first place, to help you grow and teach you how to deal with problems. I hope he won’t get mad that I love a mortal who happens to be the priest’s son. And Cornelius is not a good choice either. Despite the fact that he’s Dragomir’s son, he is rude and conceited. Or the fact that our fathers are best friends will make Cornelius more fit for me?
  Oh, mother! I really wish you were near me right now. This is a perfect time for a mother-daughter conversation. But in my case, it has to be a father-daughter conversation instead.”
  Valentina squeezed her brains all the way from her bedroom to the library front door for ideas. She must find a way to explain to her father her feelings about the two boys that took her heart. She tried to figure this problem out by herself, unfortunately she didn’t had love problems before.
  In the end, she figured that maybe her father knew the correct answer. After all, he has been married to her mother and both gave life to her. Therefore, Vladimir was an expert in love, or Valentina is the only one who thinks that?!
  When she reached the library’s door, Valentina heard her father talking to someone. It was Dragomir’s voice and even though she knew it wasn’t polite to spy on someone, she put her left ear on the door anyway. This way, every word spoken from the other side sounded very good into our little spy’s ear.

*
  My heart began to beat fast and my forehead was sweating. Was it all true that father’s reputation has gone bad since he married mother? If so, I had to not be selfish and make a sacrifice for him as he did, letting mother and I to have a normal life. Oh, mother, where you may be now, I hope you won’t be upset when I will become a real vampire. I will do this for father because I love him as much as I love you and I want him to be happy.
  But to be Cornelius’s wife ... this decision will have to wait. My love problem can wait, father’s reputation in the vampire community is much more important now.

 

XIII/13

After Dragomir left father alone in the library, I entered very confident:
  -Father, I heard what you and Mister Dragomir spoke! I want to tell you that I have decided to become a pure vampire.
  -Valentina! Father said with his eyes wet, ready to shed tears.
  -I know you want to restore your title in front of the other vampires, so I agree. Let them come to our castle tomorrow night and then we can begin the transformation.
  -Valentina ... do you realize that you have to kill a human being and drink his/her blood after that?! Father asked looking concerned into my eyes. His eyes were spreading mercy and pity towards me. I swallowed nervously and said:
  -I will choose my first victim!
  After this statement I went into town to have a better thinking. Father called grandpa Daniel, Dragomir and Cornelius to help him decide which vampires should be invited. I am sure that the three vampires will hunt animals for more blood and grandpa will have a lot of decoration to do. Before I left, I promised to help him on my returning back.
  Fortunately, aunt Linda’s restaurant was still opened when I reached the town, even though it was almost bed time. She was surprised to see me at this time:
  -What is it dear? Are you fine? Daniel is fine?
  -Yes, we are fine. I just want a quiet place to think, that’s all.
  -You are lucky! This place is empty at this hour! Let me close the door and windows to have more privacy.
  Aunt Linda closed the restaurant carefully, as if someone didn’t had anything better to do than to spy on us, and brought from the kitchen a tray containing a bowl of noodles soup and a small plate with backed potatoes.
  -Sorry darling! This is what was left after today’s dinner menu.
I took a sit at the table where she put the tray, which was at a corner next to the kitchen. The food was warm and great. When I finished eating, I wanted to return home, but aunt Linda sat next to me:
  -Please, stay here a little longer. I want to ask you something.
  -What?
  -How are things in the vampire world?
  I didn’t know what to say. How could aunt Linda know that there are vampires in this part of Transylvania?
  Noticing my silence, she continued:
  -Daniel didn’t tell you that I know your family’s secret? Stupid thing for him to do! Yes child, I am aware that Count Dracula is a vampire and that you are only half human. Me and Daniel are some sort of secret lovers so I am informed often about what is happening in the castle.
  -I guess telling you what bothers me won’t surprise you.
  -I don’t think so!
  So I began telling her the conversation between father and Dragomir, my decision about becoming a pure vampire and my dilemma on finding my first victim.
  -Finding a ‘volunteer’ in this matter will not be a piece of cake. But I can give you some names of the people I can’t stand in this town.
  -No, aunt Linda! I better let father or Dragomir to do this task for me.
  -And what about Amen?
  Until then my mind was focused on restoring father’s reputation in the vampire world that I almost forgot all about Amen. Indeed, after I will become a pure vampire, I would probably have to marry Cornelius and forget about him. It may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do.
  -Aunt Linda, it is late! I should probably go home now. Tomorrow I will help grandpa Daniel with the cleaning and decoration. And don’t worry, he won’t be my first victim!
  This made aunt Linda breathe easily and she escorted me outside.
  -Good night darling and good luck tomorrow night! She said giving me a strong hug and added: we may never see each other again. After letting me free, I noticed tears streaming on her cheeks and chin. I wipe them out and kissed her on both cheeks. Then with an even sorrow heart, I said goodbye to her.
  A few steps more and I was near the Black Forest. I had to be careful that no one saw me and I went home. Tomorrow will be my last day as a half vampire. I may never see daytime again, but at least I got my father near me now ... and grandpa too. Maybe aunt Linda will come visit me from time to time. Being grandpa Daniel’s lover, I’m sure father won’t allow anything bad happen to her.
  -Have a lovely night sleep, my half-blood princess! Cornelius teased me when I entered the castle.
  -Where can I go without seeing your face?! I asked him irritated as I was passing by him, to get to my bedroom.
  -Let me think, nowhere! He said with a smirk and winked at me.
  Good thing I walked fast enough and I arrived at my bedroom door in time. If I had to listen to Cornelius one more time, surely I would have done something he will be sorry for. Just when I was about to open the door, Cornelius called at me three doors away:
  -Make sure you’ll dream about me tonight!
  -Ugh, you ... you, uuggghhh! Was all I could say before entering into my bedroom and locking the door from the inside. Looks like grandpa Daniel had a good idea after all.

XIV/14

(In this chapter, it is presented Amen’s life since Valentina came into town.)

  -Young man, have you no shame in front of God? How many times I must tell you not to flirt with girls inside the church? The church is God’s home and you have no respect for it! My father was angry because he caught me chuckling with some cute girls during his preach.
  -What can I do father? I am young and I have a right to love, don’t I?
  -One girl, yes; many, no! Choose one girl and settle down in your own home. You are a man now and you must find yourself a good wife.
  -Yes father. I will try.
  Then he opened the church’s front door and went inside, I was following him when I saw Count Dracula’s butler with a beautiful brunette maiden, in a red and white dress. I wanted to see her better, but father closed the door. As punishment for my inappropriate behavior in God’s house, father told me to practice my organ musical pieces until I have learned my lesson.
  The next day, father stayed at home because of his health condition and mother accompanied him. Therefore, I was responsible for the church while he was absent. It was Friday, which meant that everyone in town was working hard. The Sundays are always full of Christians. After sitting in the big, silent church all morning, I got bored and tried to play something at the organ. Usually this makes time go faster.
  Soon I heard the door open slowly and someone came in. When I finish playing, I turned my eyes to see who it was. To my surprise, it was that dark haired maiden. Maybe you don’t have to pray in order for God to grand your wishes. From the looks of her, she was the shy type, so I made the first move.
  I invited her to sit with me in the front row of benches. After a good time of chatting, her stomach began making noises. Oh, how cute she looked with her cheeks red! Happily, behind the church there is a small restaurant owned by father’s cousin, Linda.
  She always gave me free food, not only because we are related, but because all the young girls and boys in town gather at her restaurant when I am around. I may be the priest’s son, but I am the most popular guy here and the most handsome, if I do say so myself.
  I closed the church’s big windows and locked the front door careful, some people have no fear of God and they might try to steal something. The icon frames and candle holders are either gold or silver, with shinny valuable stones on them. I am not sure if they are real or counterfeit, but I don’t want any more trouble with father. The last thing I need is to be blamed because of some stupid sinner that dared to steal from the church.
  Linda was jolly and friendly as usual. It annoyed me when she came with a big smile on her face, trying to act like we are close. Even though we're blood related, me and Linda aren’t so close as people might think.
  And to my surprise, Valentina was very polite and respectful like a princess. Considering her social place, it was normal. I found out from our chatting that she is Count Dracula’s daughter and her name is Valentina because she was born on Saint Valentine’s Day. I didn’t know the Count was married nor that he ever had any children. Valentina told me her past and then I realized why the Count is so unsociable and full of secrets. Another advantage for me to become rich without working a single day. If I shall marry Valentina, then Count Dracula’s castle and wealth will be mine. For this to happen, I had to act like a real gentleman in order to win her trust and heart.
  Girls love gentlemen, that’s for sure and if I play my cards right, I can win easily.
  Our date at the restaurant went well. Few girls past besides us and looked really jealous at Valentina. I didn’t bother to look at them. For an unknown reason, Valentina’s face made me feel hypnotized and all my attention was on her. Strange thing! I have been dating countless times, but no girl was able to mess with my mind this way.
  Something unusual about Valentina made me wish to do things that I didn’t dare to. If Linda hadn’t come with a plate of home made cookies, by now I would have touched Valentina on her female body parts. Not that I didn’t liked this pleasant thought, but I might loose her trust and that wasn’t good.
  After we left from Linda’s restaurant, I wanted to escort Valentina home. She refused immediately. I didn’t know why she became so restless all of a sudden. An old man appeared, calling her name. It was the Count’s butler and he came to take ”Miss Valentina” home. I didn’t object, so I went home as quick as I can.
  When I arrived, my parents were sleeping and I went to my room quietly. That night I could not sleep properly. I dreamed about Valentina. We were together and something inside of me made me undress her and do inappropriate things to her. I couldn’t control my body and Valentina, instead of being scared, she was enjoying it. I woke up sweating hard and breathing heavily. I never, in my entire life, had such thoughts or dreams about someone.
  Although I dated many beautiful ladies, none of them made me think of doing such things to them. But Valentina managed somehow to release the animal inside me. What kind of a woman was she?! Was I really in love with her or is she some kind of witch that cast a spell on me?
  I put my head on the pillow and tried to sleep. Valentina! Why do you make me suffer?
  All I want from you is your love, your wealth and everything valuable you can inherit after the Count’s death. Is it bad to want someone for its belongings?!
  I think not. Father married mother for the same reason, therefore why shouldn’t I do the same?

XV/15

I woke up really tired in the morning. Someone knocked three times at my door. Who could it be at this time in the morning? I looked at the balcony’s glass door and saw the sun rise only half, meaning that it was early.
  -Who is it? I asked half asleep.
  -It is me, Miss Valentina! I brought you breakfast!
  It was grandpa Daniel’s voice so I got up and went to open the door to him. When he entered, he had a tray with a big omelette, honey pancakes and a big mug of coffee mixed with milk. The food was held in silver plates and the mug was made of porcelain. Grandpa put the food on my desk and turned to look at me with a sorrow face.
  -What is it, grandpa? I asked concerned.
  -Miss Valentina, you know that I care much about you and Master Dracula, but must you become one of ”them”? I mean it hasn’t been a month since Master Dracula brought you here and suddenly you want to ... to change?
  His voice, face and posture showed me how sad and afraid he was. It was a shock for him indeed. To comfort him, I embrace him by his shoulders and whispered to his ear:
  -Don’t worry, grandpa! I promised aunt Linda that you won’t be my first victim.
  After I let him loose, his face was no longer afraid, but surprised:
  -How did you find out Linda is aware of vampires?
  -She told me everything yesterday, including the fact that you two are secret lovers.
  Grandpa went to the door and before shutting it, he said:
  -Finish your breakfast, Miss Valentina, before it gets cold! I will go to talk with Linda and then we can decorate the living room together.
  I never saw him so rigid and serious. Even if he has been father’s butler for a long time, he always behaved like a grandfather. Now I was asking myself if I somehow caused aunt Linda trouble by telling grandpa about our discussion from yesterday. My attention was distracted by the delicious smell of my breakfast.
  Without any other worries, I began to eat it in the balcony, facing the rising sun. It was probably the last time I will ever see the sun light or eat normal human food. After tonight’s event, I will live for ever in darkness, drinking blood. While drinking my coffee, I wondered how could blood taste like. Pretty soon this question will get an answer.
  My breakfast ended silently. I went to my closet and took a towel and a white bathrobe. I was still wearing my nightdress and slippers. Maybe a warm bubble bath will raise my moral a bit. The bathroom was just the other side of the corridor, in front of my bedroom door.
  When I opened the door, I met Cornelius leaving the bathroom only in a pair of white pants and white slippers, with a towel hanging on his left shoulder. He had a razor blade in his left hand.
  I looked at him and noticed his black wet hair dropping on the back of his neck and his face was freshly shaved.
  -What are you looking at, love? Haven’t you seen a shaved man before?
  -A shaved man, yes! But you are a vampire.
  -Vampires wash and shave themselves too, darling; he answered with a smirk on his face as he always does, revealing his perfectly white fangs.
  -How do you shave if you don’t have a reflection? I asked puzzled.
  -You get used to it. Dracula told me and dad that tonight you will have your first vampire party. What made you change your mind about giving up your human half?
  -It is none of your business, now leave me alone! I have a lot to do today, so let me take a bath in private.
  He opened the bathroom door for me and I went inside. After closing the door, he added:
  -You are doing this for me, aren’t you?! I knew you will come into your senses and choose me in the end.
  The door closed slowly and I turn the hot water on. The bathtub was almost full when I undressed and got in. The hot water made a big steam in the whole place. Above the tub was a small window. It didn’t manage to let the fresh air from outside to enter because of the steam inside. Despite this unimportant detail, the place was nice and fancy.
  For almost a month I have been here many times without having a good glance at every small detail. Now I realize how little it was compared to my bedroom. It had four meters long and two meters high, the walls entirely covered in white faience and the floor was made out of grey quadratic rocks.
  Near the tub was the sink with a marbled frame mirror above it and next the toilet. Opposite the sink, a medium sized drawer containing soups and other sanitary ware, had been settled.
  Soon the steam began to vanish and the water’s temperature to decrease. I got out and put on my bathrobe. I opened the drawer and took a hair brush. While brushing my hair slowly in the mirror, my transparent reflection seemed unfamiliar to me. After I done brushing my hair, I approached the mirror and had a better look at my face. Trying to memorize every detail of my image was another way to remember my appearance for the time when I will not be able to see myself in the mirror.
  Cornelius’s words came into my mind in that moment:
  ”-You get used to it!”
  Was it really easy to get used not seeing your own face in the mirror for ages? Come on, Valentina! You are a woman now. It is time to act and think like one. I returned to my bedroom and opened my wardrobe, searching for a dress I never worn before. A midnight blue dress, with short sleeves and tight in the waist caught my attention.
  In a second I changed into it and also found a pair of black shoes with bat wings on the round golden buckles. Their heels were small, perfect for a busy day. A black hair band had been chosen from my make-up table to keep my brands on the back, along with a golden necklace having a cross pendant and a pair of golden ear rings.
  Again, I looked closely at my reflection in the mirror and went to wait for grandpa in the living room. He should be back by now.
  By the time I got there, grandpa already done setting glasses and bottles full of red liquid, most likely animal blood, on the table. Our family portrait was cleaner and colorful than before and the entire place looked like new.
  -Grandpa, why did you do this all by yourself? I told you that I will help too.
  When he faced me, his eyes were red and tired from crying. He seemed older now.
  -I am deeply sorry, Miss Valentina! I wanted to do something around here in order to distract my sorrows and I guess I got carried away.
  It was amazing what some people are able to do in order to maintain calm, as nothing bothers them.
  -Have you talked to aunt Linda?
  -Yes. We both feel sad to hear that you will become a vampire. But we are also proud to know that you are doing it for Master Dracula. We ... we need time to get used with the changes taking place now.
  -I see. And what else do you have to tell me? My instincts told me there was more to be known.
  -Let us go in the library. Master Dracula, Sir Dragomir and his son are there. You will find out the rest, along with them, what else I need to say.
  We went to the library, where the three male vampires were. They were wearing black suits, black polished shoes and white shirts. The difference between them was that father had a red tie and his usual cape on his shoulders, Dragomir had a red bow and Cornelius, his crossed neck chain and the two upper buttons opened.
  After me and grandpa came in, they looked curious at us.
  -Master Dracula, Sir Dragomir, fellow Cornelius and (grandpa took me by the hand and dragged me near Cornelius, then he continued) Miss Valentina! I have an announcement to make.
  -What is it Daniel? Father asked worried.
  -As you all are aware, Miss Valentina decided to become like you, a vampire. At midnight tonight, when the vampire guests will arrive, she will take the life of a mortal and drink the blood in order to transform.
  I looked worried at grandpa as I hear him talking trembling nervously, sweating, despite the fine temperature in the room and his face turning red as a tomato. My instincts were telling me that my ears will hear some awful news. And they were right once again. With my heart beating, I continued listening very careful:
  -Without any other disruptions, I want to present Miss Valentina’s first victim: ME!
  ”What?! I couldn’t believe my ears. Maybe I have misheard grandpa. There is no way he could agree to do this sacrifice, even for me.
  What will aunt Linda say? Or she already knows about this?!
  Oh, grandpa, what are you planning to do?!”

XVI/16

(In this chapter I thought to present Amen’s doings, since he last saw Valentina.)

  Valentina hasn’t showed up in town any more and I began to think that somehow I have upset her. The next day, after a night full of dreams about her, I spend it in Linda’s restaurant, hoping that my dark haired princess will come. The second day, the same, she didn’t came although I have waited for her.
  Where I did wrong? What did I do to make her not coming to see me?
  Maybe her father won’t let her go out anymore or ... he found for her a wealthy young count, maybe a prince. Why didn’t you though about this, Amen?!
  Being rich, Valentina surely wants someone close to her social status, which apparently you aren’t!
  After wasting another day inside the restaurant, I decided to go home, but when I heard the clock tower beating eight times, Linda’s voice was welcoming someone in the restaurant. It was unusual because she doesn’t let anyone inside after this hour. Being curious about who the mysterious guest might be, I returned, but Linda already closed the windows and the front door.
  I sneaked under a window next to the front door and I heard Valentina’s voice. Then I heard a chair being pulled and Linda told her to stay a little longer. In order to hear better what the two women were talking about, I went around the back where Linda always let the kitchen window half opened. From there I could easily distinguish every word they spoke.
  Linda asked Valentina a question:
  ”-How are things in the vampire world?”
  How could Valentina know something about vampires? Is Linda making jokes? Because if she is, then they are not funny, at all! It is not fun to mention those blood sucking monsters. Linda continued:
  ”-Daniel didn’t told you that I know your family’s secret? Stupid thing for him to do! Yes, child, I am aware that Count Dracula is a vampire and that you are only half human. Me and Daniel are some sort of secret lovers so I am informed often about what is happening in the castle.”
  I could not believe my ears! Daniel the butler and Linda being secret lovers wasn’t a surprise. But both of them knowing that the Count is a vampire and still they continue working for him, it must be the biggest sin ever. And Valentina is not a normal human!? She’s not a human nor a vampire, but half of each!? This means that she’s a dirty hybrid.
  To think that I was going to make her my wife! I felt nothing for her in that moment, except hatred and disgust. And as if that wasn’t enough, I heard her telling Linda that tomorrow night she will bring all the vampires in her castle to be witnesses at her transformation into a pure vampire.
  ”-Finding a ‘volunteer’ in this matter will not be a piece of cake. But I can give you some names of the people I can’t stand in this town.”
  Linda, keeping the existence of vampires near our town a secret is one thing, but helping them to kill people in order to make hybrids into pure vampires, you went too far. Father will be ashamed with her now. In fact I will tell him and the whole town their plans for tomorrow.
  When they finished talking, I got away from there as quick as I could without making too much noise. It was Saturday night. Tomorrow morning, when everyone in town will gather at the church, I will inform them what Count Dracula and his daughter are planning to do. Now I know why I had the desire of touching Valentina’s body. Female vampires use their hypnotic powers to fool the common men. This way they make them into slaves, obeying blindly every order, like a mindless zombie. The shy girl thing was just an act, how blind I was not to notice that earlier!?
  If Valentina becomes a pure vampire, then she will use her hypnotic powers on me again and I will be her victim. And what’s worse, I will have to live in the middle class for the rest of my life and all because Valentina turned out to be a vampire instead of a rich girl. Damn it! Damn you, Valentina for destroying my hopes in becoming a wealthy man! DAMN YOU!
  Now I have to get my hands dirty working common jobs for years, in order to make myself wealthy. NO! Don’t you even think about this, Amen! You are too important and handsome to damage your body working all day on the fields or with farm animals.
  After you get even with this two faced hybrid, you can look for other wealthy girls to fool them around.
  As I entered my house, father was praying in his bedroom. I excused myself for the rushed entry and told him every word spoken by that bloody hybrid and that two faced traitor Linda.
  For the first time in my life, I saw father being proud of me and praising me:
  -Well done, my son! You are indeed a priest’s son! You made me very proud.
  -Thank you father. So what are we going to do about those demons?
  -For now let us rest. As you heard, their event is tomorrow at midnight, right?
  -Yes.
  -In the morning we will announce the town people about the invasion of those demons. We will form an army of strong men and women and shall charge to the castle. With God’s guidance we will get there before midnight. Until then, we both need to get some sleep.
  That night a had a nightmare: I was a poor old farmer working on a field. After I done my work, I returned home where an old woman, surrounded by many children was waiting for me. I asked her who she was and she told me that she was my wife. And to my horror, all those children were ours as well.
  I woke up trembling and sweating more abundant than last night. In that moment, I swore to myself that I will never become a common farmer, no matter what.

XVII/17

(This chapter it is not recommended for the weak ones and those under the age of 12! It contains violence and bloody scenes. Linda, Valentina’s human friend, will be burned alive on a wood pole after the town people beat her without mercy. The events are presented from Linda’s point of view. To the readers under the age of 12 that are too stubborn to follow my warning, don’t say I didn’t prevent you!)

  Daniel came to my restaurant the next morning, after the night when I said goodbye to dear Valentina. He wanted to talk about Valentina’s first victim problem:
  -Linda, you know that if Miss Valentina kidnaps a human from this town, the locals will come to the castle and Master Dracula’s secret will be revealed.
  -So who do you think we shall choose, without causing any suspicion? I asked.
  Without a sound, he took me by the waist and gave me the biggest and passionate kiss we ever had in years. After he let go of me, I saw his eyes full of tears.
  -Why are you crying?
  -Linda, my love, I am afraid this is our last kiss. After tonight you may never see me again.
  -What do you mean? I had a hunch that I would not like the answer. It proved that I was right.
  -I will volunteer in being Miss Valentina’s first victim.
  My world collapsed. I felt on the floor trembling, with tears in my eyes and repeating words like I have gone mad:
  -No, no, not you, no, no, not you...
  -Linda, please understand! If I am the victim, then nobody will notice my absence and this way the vampires will be safe. Don’t you see that I am the perfect man for this?!
  -I will miss you! I will feel your absence! AM I NOBODY TO YOU?!
  -You are the most important person in my life! This is the reason why I am sacrificing myself. I am the one who told you about vampires in the first place and since that day I lived with the fear that you will suffer because of me. If I die, you will be safe. I am doing this for us. Maybe this seems all crazy to you now, but one day, I hope you’ll prove me right.
  -I know, Daniel! I know ... . My crying was so strong that I could not speak any more.
  Daniel picked me up from the floor, gave me a big hug whispering in my ear to be strong and he then departed from me and my life for good. After he left I stood there like a statue. Was it all true or it was just a nightmare?
  The cruel reality hit me when the church’s bell announced the entire town that it was Sunday and everyone must go to pray and hear the priest’s lecture. Before leaving, I splashed some water on my face, so that nobody would know that I had cried.
  "Father God, please give Daniel a quick and painless death. This is all I can ask you to do for him."
  The church’s front yard was full of people. By the look of it, I could guess that every person in town young and old, rich and poor was present. It wasn’t enough space for me there, therefore I decided to stand outside the gates with few older women.
  It was a strange thing this Sunday. Usually, the priest let people inside the church. Now, they were standing in front of it because the doors were closed. I thought my cousin, the priest, is losing his mind because of his illness. He should have gone to doctor Ion when I told him to. But no! Nobody listens to Linda!
  Soon it will be too late for him. By the time he will realize that I was right, he will be as good as dead. God forbid my dark assumption.
  The clock tower beat seven times. After the last striking ended, the front doors of the church opened and the priest, along with Amen, came outside.
  -My Christians! I have an awful announcement to make. The Devil sent his servants to do us harm. Thanks to The Lord, my son Amen had the courage and determination to reveal their true faces.
  The people began to whisper and I became nervous because I didn’t know what bad things might happen. Amen always brings bad news to his poor father, no wonder he got sick. Even though he is my second grade nephew, I still don’t like him. He was a bad seed since he was a baby.
  -People, please, make silence. My father and your priest need silence to continue! Amen shouted to shut the noise.
  -As I said, I know who the Devil’s servants are. Count Vladimir Dracula, as many of you are aware, comes out of his castle few times during the night. Nobody asked themselves why he never comes out during the day? If you have not, then prepare yourselves for what will come: HE IS A VAMPIRE! A BLOOD-SUCKING DEMON!
  The crowd began to whisper more nervously and scared. I was stoned. How could they discover the truth about Dracula? Daniel told this only to me. Wait a minute, of course. Amen, who else? And I thought he had feelings for Valentina.
  -It is true! Amen shouted to make himself heard. He has a hybrid daughter and tonight he will gather more vampires to witness her transformation into a pure vampire. She will kill and drink the blood of an innocent human like us. Some of you noticed, few days ago, Dracula’s butler with a black haired woman, dressed in white and red! That woman’s name is Valentina and she is the Count’s daughter!
  Oh, no! It was bad. I turned around and tried to head for The Black Forest and search the secret path leading to the castle. I must tell the vampires and Daniel to leave somewhere safe but Amen shouted:
  -And the restaurant’s owner, Linda is the butler’s secret lover! Both of them knew that there are vampires in the castle, but they kept all a secret. What’s worse is that they are their allies!
  I could felt on my being the countless eyes of the crowd stare at me with hostility. Then the priest shouted:
  -She is on the vampires side! She is a treacherous, therefore she must die in pain, in order to receive God’s forgiveness for her terrible sins.
  I made a step back, trying to run away, but the angry crowd caught me and tied me up by the arms and legs.
  -She must suffer like Jesus did, if she desires to enter the gates of Heaven! The priest’s voice sounded behind the mob of angry people. Instead of helping his only cousin, he cares more about his useless job.
  After they finish tying me up, the women and children began throwing stones at me shouting:

*
  "-Perish, evil witch!
  -Burn in Hell!
  -Vampire lover, take this!"

*
  But the pain was nothing compared to what the men were about to do to me. Tying me and throwing stones at me wasn’t enough for them, so the men near me begin beating me with their fists on my face and kicking me hard in the stomach and chest. They also were cursing me:

*
  "-You evil slut!
  -Because of you the vampires suck the blood of the innocent!
  -This is what you deserve for betraying your own kind!"

*
  -I have betrayed my own kind?! What a joke, what about the priest, who turned his back on his relative because of his snitching son?! These were the only words I could spread out, before my mouth became full of my blood.
  After they finished beating me, I felt my body heavy and full of bruises and eventually I collapsed in a pool of blood. I got scared at the blood that I have lost. My body was so weakened and covered in blood that I couldn’t move a muscle. Soon my eyes closed and I got unconscious!
  When I woke up, I found myself tied up against a wooden pole. Some men were placing logs and planks around me. They done quickly and the priest came near the pile of wood that surrounded me.
  -Now good Christians, let us pray for this poor unfortunate soul!
  He opened the Bible and began reading a prey for those who die by the hands of their neighbors. At the end of it, he said the last words louder:
  -IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN!
  Amen came with a box of matches, he lit one and before dropping on the wooden pile, he said to me with a smirk:
  -Don’t feel sad, Linda! Your vampire friends will join you in Hell pretty soon!
  The burning match fired the wood and the crowd was cheering about it. Even the children I once served them with free cookies were happy to see me burning alive. Absolute no one looked sad for me! NO ONE!
Maybe it was better this way! Now I found out who the true demons are: not the vampires, the humans! God knows the truth and He will make justice.
  Valentina, please give Daniel a painless death! After he dies, we can live together in Heaven!
  This thought made me so happy that I couldn’t feel the fire burning my flesh anymore. Soon all the pain and suffering vanished, letting nothing but a feeling of relief. I couldn’t feel that I had a body. My soul became lighter and lighter and ... and I woke up flying in the air! The voice of the people disappeared and I saw ... THE LIGHT!

XVIII/18

(After Linda was burned alive and perish in the big flames, the town locals were thinking a plan to invade Dracula’s castle and destroy all the vampires. This chapter is said from Amen’s point of view.)

  After Linda’s body was buried in the local cemetery; me, father, the town’s mayor and the police chief gather at the church to make up a plan. The locals went home to rest and decide who will join us in the battle against the vampires and who will remain to protect the women, children and the old folks.
  The mayor began:
  -We must gather all the strong men and women and form an army. After that we split them in two teams: team one will come with us to fight those demons and team two will remain here to protect the town.
  -God give you power, mayor! My father said making on the mayor’s body the sigh of the cross. Then he turned to me and asked: Amen, my only child, on which team do you want to be?
  -In team one! I responded immediately.
  My father dropped the Bible. He began imploring me to change my mind. After listening to him, I answered cold:
  -If you want me to become a priest like you and to inherit this church from you, then you must let me fight the Devil’s servants. This way I can prove my holiness to the people of this town.
  My words let him speechless. He nodded and I went with the mayor and the police chief to gather some allies.
  All the strong men and few women, those who were strong and brave enough, were willing to come with us. They brought with them pitchforks, burning torches, swords, wooden bats and lots of garlic. Father gave me a bottle of holy water and a silver cross to be sure that I will be safe.
  The first team was prepared now for battle. We took the fastest horses and said our goodbyes to the love ones. While we were heading for The Black Forest; the second team, along with the rest of the town, were praying and wishing us good luck.
  ”Prepare yourself, Valentina! This will be the last time you will ever see a human face. I will personally kill you, your kind and burn the castle to the ground! After that, the town people will see me not as a future priest, but as a hero. Maybe they will build me a huge statue. That I will like to happen.”
*
  While the town people were making their way through The Black Forest, not knowing the secret path it would take them more than an hour to arrive at the castle, the vampire guests began to land. Valentina watched them appear flying in the air, as lightly as feathers. Daniel was waiting for the big moment in the living room, near the fireplace. Valentina and Vladimir Dracula were standing at the opened front door. It was an hour before midnight.
*
  I looked somehow disappointed at the sight of other vampires, who were traveling in this manner. Father noticed my fidget and asked me:
  -Is everything all right with you, Valentina?
  -I am somehow disappointed, father, that’s all?
  -Why? I thought you wanted to meet other vampires.
  -I do, but I was hoping they would transform into bats.
  -Oh, I see! Father said with a laughter. Well, dear, the bats being vampires in disguise is another ridiculous story invented by the mortals. Do not believe their words, believe in those of a vampire. Those are the truth ones.
  Meanwhile, Dragomir and Cornelius were coming from inside the castle with long torches. They light them up and the blue flames showed the guests figures more clearly. They were nearly one hundred by the look of them, all dressed in black and dark colors in a more frightening gothic style than my wardrobe. Their glowing red eyes, white fangs, pale skins and unfriendly postures made me feel like a small mouse in the claws of a hundred cats.
  Dragomir and Cornelius began serving them glasses with blood. It wasn’t enough for the many guests so Cornelius said:
  -Don’t worry, the rest will be served inside!
  Father took me by the right hand and we went closer to welcome our guests.
  -Good night, my dear vampires, males and females! As you all know, this is my only child, my daughter Valentina!
  The vampire crowd looked at me, some seemed pleased, some were staring at me rudely and the rest didn’t know what to think about me. Father continued:
  -I invited you tonight at our castle to witness Valentina’s transformation into a pure vampire.
  This time, the crowd was cheering, applauding and whistling with joy.
  My doubts and fears disappeared at the sound of the happy movement. Now I can relax, knowing that the guests won’t make my first party a bad one.
  Father whispered in my ear to guide the guests into the living room, as an old vampire tradition says so. I raised my voice to make myself heard through the crowd’s noise:
  -If you will be so kind to follow me, I will lead you to the room where my first victim is waiting patiently!
  Then I turned around and head to the opened front door, walking calmly with my head held high and the hundred vampires behind me. Dragomir and Cornelius were standing both sides near the front door. Dragomir said with a commanding voice:
  -Do not lay a finger on the mortal! He is the ‘guest of honor’ and Count Dracula will be furious if someone sucks his blood before his daughter.
  The vampires near him approved with devilish smiles. A blond female vampire in a dark red dress said to Cornelius:
  -Rumor says that you and Dracula’s daughter are going to be husband and wife! Is it true?!
  -Jealous, my lady? Cornelius asked her with a smirk.
  The female vampire hissed at him with her fangs and her glowing eyes were staring at me with hatred. She went on with two twin female vampires, both with red hair, as red as their eyes.
  Despite the distance between me and Cornelius, I managed to hear what he was saying to his father:
  -Valentina is always pretty and sweet, even when she’s angry! Not many women have her luck, unfortunately.
  Ignoring his words, I opened the living room’s wooden doors and let the guests go inside. At the sight of them, grandpa began to tremble. I went to calm him down, while everybody was feasting with the blood bottles on the table.
  The bottles were quickly emptied and to not waste any more time, father told me to begin my initiation. He placed a silver knife, two palms long with a ruby on a side of its handle in my right hand.
  The front row told the rest to be silent and to see what I was about to do to poor grandpa. Dragomir, Cornelius and father were behind me. I looked at grandpa, trying not to cry in front of everyone.
  Grandpa Daniel took a chair, placed it one meter in front of me and sat on it. He made a sign with his right index finger to me to cut his neck. Then he closed his eyes, looking very peaceful and waited for his death with calm. I placed the knife near his neck, my hand trembling and sweating nervously.
  Countless eyes were watching my every move, I could feel their anxiety. I said in a whisper to grandpa:
  -Goodbye, grandpa, I love you!
  Soon the silence vanished because we all heard some strange noises and shouts coming from the outside. Those standing near the windows said:
  -Count Dracula, there are mortals outside your castle and they are trying to get in.
  -What? How could that be possible?! Father asked more worried than angry.
  The crowd began to mumble something about a war or about having new midnight snacks for the party. I looked at grandpa and he said to me whispering:
  -Let me cut myself while no one is looking! I know it is cheating, but I will spare you the pain of killing me!
  I answered him in the same manner:
  -No! If someone has to kill you, that would be me! Stay here and let me see what is going on.

XIX/19

I rushed at the window to see with my own eyes what was going on outside. Men and women with burning torches and weapons were forcing the main entrance, trying to invade the castle. With a heavy heart I saw Amen among them. From the look at his face, he was angry and restless. He wasn’t the kind young man I knew anymore.
  -Silence! Father shouted to make the guests quiet. I do not know how they found out about my castle, but no worries. Come, follow me outside and teach these intruders that it is not excusable what they are trying to do! Dragomir, Cornelius lead the way!
  After father’s orders were given, the vampires rushed outside to fight those town people. Only three persons stood, the blond female vampire and the red-haired twins. Me and grandpa were all alone with them in the living room. I went in front of her and asked:
  -If you don’t mind, why didn’t you go with the others?
  -Someone has to protect Cornelius’s future wife; she said with a cold voice.
  -How do you know him?
  -I raised Cornelius when his father was too busy with half-bloods. He is like a son to me and I hate to see him suffer. I don’t like you because your kind made Dragomir to neglect his only child. If you pass your initiation, I may change my mind; her eyes were pointing at grandpa.
  -I will finish it later, now we have bigger problems. By the way, what’s your name?
  -Miranda, and these two are my daughters: Scarlet and Rose.
  I looked at the twins and saw a small difference between them: Scarlet had thinner lips and above them a birthmark shaped as a heart, while her sister had a rose shaped birthmark near her left eye.
  -What are you going to do? Miranda asked me.
  -First, I will take grandpa to my bedroom and then join father in battle.
  -And you’re going to get killed! She said sarcastically.
  The sound of battle from outside made Miranda change her mind quickly:
  -Scarlet, Rose protect the mortal. I will go with the princess.
  While grandpa was heading to my bedroom with his new guards, me and Miranda went to the hallway. Before leaving, I took a sword from an empty armor. Miranda saw it and asked:
  -What are you doing with it?
  -It is the only weapon I know how to use.
  -When you’ll be one of us, I must teach you how to fight bare handed.
  Outside was a real battlefield: vampires and mortals fighting to the death. The town people used burning torches and swords, while the vampires were relying on their supernatural powers. On the ground, bleeding human corpses were being drought by the injured vampires to heal their wounds and defeat the ones still living.
  The sight made me stand like a statue, watching them open mouthed, not noticing that Miranda left me to join her kind. I was searching for father when someone put an empty bag on my head and took me on his shoulders. While being carried this way, I dropped my sword. The air was getting thinner with every second that went by.
  I must do something before I run out of air. I refuse to go down without a fight, even though I don't have any important skills.
  -Who are you? Let me go! I screamed but no use. After tying my arms and legs, the mysterious kidnaper took the bag off. It was Amen and he brought me on the rooftop.
  -You! I said frightened and surprised at the same time. What are you doing?
  -Getting my revenge; he said looking angry towards me.
  -But what did I ever do to you?
  -You used your hypnotic spells on me, making me fall in love with you. I thought you were a rich girl, reason why I was planning to make you my wife and finally leave the middle class life behind for good. But then, I found out that you and your precious father are monsters, blood-sucking demons! Thanks to you, my dream of becoming a rich man is nothing but a dream. I plan to kill you and your kind and steal every valuable object from this castle. Maybe I will make it my own. Why not?!
  He was nervous and walked around me while he was talking. He began to brag about how he will transform this castle into his own heroic museum, how people from all over the world will see him as a hero and other stupid visionary things.
  -Thanks to you, my ticket to a wealthy life is gone for ever! He shouted pointing to me.
  Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. The man standing in front of me was the same one I fall in love with for the first time in my life. I looked into his eyes and asked:
  -Did you ever love me? Or you just wanted me for what I had?
  -My dear, if loving you means loving your beautiful body and wealth, then yes, I loved you.
  He started giggling and put a silver pocket knife under my chin:
  -Say hello to Linda for me.
  -Linda?
  -Oh, of course! Excuse me for not telling you earlier that ...
  He told me with an evil satisfaction how my dearest Linda was tortured and killed like a witch, when she had no guilt at all. She was a good person, with a pure heart that never harmed a soul and yet her people turned against her. After Amen finished his horrible details, I screamed at him, releasing all the anger kept inside of me, during Amen’s cruel story:
  -HOW DARE YOU CALL THE VAMPIRES BLOOD-SUCKERS, WHEN YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE ARE WORSE. AT LEAST VAMPIRES KILL TO SURVIVE, LIKE A WOLF DOES TO HIS PRAY, YOU HUMANS KILL FOR FUN AND FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH GOALS!
  -ENOUGH, HYBRID!
  Amen raised his knife and wanted to strike, but Cornelius appeared out of nowhere and pushed him against the wall. The impact made Amen drop the knife and grabbed Cornelius by his wrists to get loose. But Cornelius was stronger than Amen.
  -I think you need this more, love; Cornelius said throwing the knife next to me.
  After I untied myself, I went near the two men:
  -Cornelius, as a punishment for his crime against Linda, Amen will take grandpa Daniel’s place. He will be my first victim! Do you have something against it?
  -Good choice! I hate to admit it, but that old butler doesn’t deserve to die like this, even if he’s a mortal. This blond idiot on the other hand ...
  Cornelius put Amen between us, so I can do what it had to be done. I knew he wanted to kill Amen with his own hands, but for an unknown reason he let me do it instead. It wasn’t a good moment, but I realized who truly loved me all this time, Cornelius. But I must focus on other important task for now. I raised my right hand with the knife in it and said with cold voice to Amen:
  -May Linda forgave you for the way you betrayed her.
  SLASH
  I hit Amen right in his heart. Warm blood began streaming from the knife, staining my hand. Before giving his last breath, Amen tried to say something, but the blood streaming from his mouth and nostrils didn’t aloud the words to be heard. After his body became a worthless corpse, Cornelius dropped it on the floor, with the knife in it. I looked at my hand, closed my eyes and licked the blood until my hand was clean.
  Seeing that I managed to do so, Cornelius asked concerned:
  -Are you fine now?!
  I wanted to answer but I got dizzy and fainted. When I opened my eyes, I saw everything in a pale shade of red and felt an easy toothache.
  -Look at you now, princess! I hate to say it but you look better with red eyes and fangs.
  I turned my head to see Miranda and her daughters standing near my bed. Cornelius was on the other side watching me as if I was some sort of a miracle.
  -What is it, Cornelius? Don’t I look good as a vampire? I asked him, noticing my invisible reflection in the mirror.
  -If you could see yourself through my eyes, love ... If I saw that you were beautiful when you were a half-blood, now you are even more beautiful.
  I got up and looked around for grandpa, at least he’s still alive.
  -Scarlet, Rose where’s grandpa Daniel?
  -Some mortals tried to climb into your balcony so me and my sister took care of them; Scarlet began.
  -But when we finished with them, the old man wasn’t with us anymore. I went to look for mom, thinking she maybe saw him; Rose ended.
  -Miranda?
  -I came with Cornelius in your bedroom and he sensed you on the rooftop. I stayed here until he returned with you unconscious.
  Without a moment to spare, all five of us run outside the castle to see if the battle was over. The sun was closely to rise and we had to get all the vampires inside before daylight.
  At the castle’s entrance, all the town people were laying dead and with their blood drought. Curious was that the vampires, a few feet apart from the pile of dead people, formed a circle and by their behaviors, something horrible happened.
  I made my way through the crowd and got in the center of the vampire circle. What my eyes saw, I will never forget as long as I live: Dragomir had his hands stained with blood and at his feet, were father and grandpa in a puddle of blood. I rushed near them and took father in my arms crying.
  -FATHER, NO! Why Dragomir? I thought you were father’s best friend!
  -Because in the vampire world, weaklings have no right to live. I told Vladimir that there are vampires who wanted his head. I was one of them. Now that you are a vampire, dear Valentina, you can prove to me if you deserve to rule over us in your father’s place.
  -Dad, what have you done? Cornelius asked when he saw my dead father in my arms.
  -What a strong vampire has to do, Cornelius. Valentina Dracula, I Dragomir Ivanov challenge you in a duel to see which one is more suitable to rule as the king of vampires. The duel will take place here, within a month, you will have enough time to practice your powers until then. Good luck, you will need it!
  With this being said, Dragomir flew off followed by a dozen faithful vampires, leaving me crying with pain on my father’s dead body. It wasn’t fair! I didn’t get to spend enough time with him, just when I thought I will live with my father forever.
  I had dreams and hopes that me, father, grandpa Daniel and aunt Linda will become a family and live happily ever after in the castle. But as Cornelius said that day in the living room: happy endings happen only in fairy tales to make brats go fast to sleep.
  And he was right, I hate to admit it. Now I was all alone once more: Linda got burned alive by her town folks, father and grandpa Daniel were murdered by Dragomir, whom I once considered as an ally, in other words ... my life is officially a nightmare.
  I had no other family member left alive and no friends. How could I manage to continue my life without someone to rely and trust from now on?

XX/20

(This chapter represents Dragomir Ivanov’s life story, including the reason why he turned against his best friend, Vladimir Dracula. This male vampire isn’t as friendly and sociable as he posted in front of Valentina before her party.)
*
  As a child, me and Vladimir Dracula were close friends. We both shared the same dream: to become the most powerful vampires the world has ever known. I had doubts in my case because I was a half-blood, but Vladimir always supported me.
  When I grew up, I fall in love with a female vampire, Mirabella. Although her twin sister Miranda tried to change her mind about being my woman, she accepted to be my wife because she loved me sincerely. Of course I made Vladimir my man of honor at our wedding. Soon after that, Mirabela gave birth to our first child, a boy that she named Cornelius, like her father.
  My life was complete and I was happy with my beautiful wife and son. I thanked Heaven when I found out Cornelius was a pure vampire like his mother because the life of a half-blood is miserable in both human and vampire communities. It is cruel for me to reminiscence all the sufferings endured until my friendship with Dracula. But he, Mirabela and Cornelius changed my life into a good one.
  I was so busy with my family life that I completely forgot about my childhood dream in becoming the strongest among vampires. It was remembered when Vladimir became the king of vampires. Then my hopes have vanished. What chances does a half-blood like myself have to defeat a pure vampire in battle, nor become the king?
  The worse was just around the corner, but I was too upset that I wasn’t the king of vampires and my attention got distracted. That was a big mistake and it’s consequence was even worse: my beloved Mirabela was killed by a vampire hunter. Or at least, this I was told that happen by a secret witness, too scared to show his/her face.
  Being a pure vampire, I thought it was impossible for an ordinary hunter to kill Mirabela. Who was it then?! At the time of murder, Cornelius was playing with his cousins, Scarlet and Rose at my sister-in-law’s house, Miranda.
  Full of anger mixed with pain and a wishful revenge, I kissed my dead wife’s lips and accidentally swallow few drops of her still warm blood. The taste of it wasn’t bad, but soon I felt sleepy and fainted. After I opened my eyes, I saw everything around me in a pale red light. Then I touched my teeth and feel fangs inside my mouth. When I returned to Miranda’s house, she asked who I was and I told her everything that happened.
  My poor Cornelius was only ten when his mother was buried. All her vampire friends and relatives encouraged me to share my discovery with the other half-bloods. Cornelius’s grandfather, Mirabela and Miranda’s father, my father-in-law said looking me in the eyes for the first time since I married his daughter:
  -I hope you are not mad at me, Dragomir. When you married my daughter, my reputation was getting bad. Since you purified yourself, you can purify others too and our family will most likely get in the history books.
  -It doesn’t bother you the fact that your daughter’s death made it possible for me to become one of you?
  -My boy, to win something you must first lose something. And yes, I feel sad for my daughter and grandson ... and for you of course, but life must go on.
  After my wife’s funeral ended, I let Miranda and her husband Boris to take care of my son; while I began my mission in purifying the half-bloods. Luckily for me, most of them accepted my help and were happy of the results. It wasn’t that hard: all they had to do was to kill a human being (my wife was a vampire, but the half-bloods aren’t strong enough to defeat the pure vampires, so the mortals blood was a replacement) and drink as much of their blood as they could.
  Of course there were moments when my experience wasn’t believed that easily. Those half-bloods were convinced that I was just another pure vampire that enjoys making fun of them, so I had to write two books with the former half-bloods. The first one was called ”The first half vampire” (at the ending I added my transformation into a pure vampire) and the second one was called ”Vampires and half vampires: enemies or allies?”.
  When Vladimir saw that I was a real vampire now, he could not believe it either. During our meeting I found out that he also got married, but to a mortal woman named Maria. Before their small wedding, she made him promise to stop drinking human blood. And after a year she ran away with their half-blood baby because Vladimir broke the promise.
  In my opinion it was better this way, if the vampire community found out that the king married a human being, who knows what could have happened. My jealousy towards my childhood friend grew when he told me that after Maria’s departure he will continue to be king. Now my dear friend will be a weak king and soon he will be weak enough for me to easily take his title.
  This thought gave me hope once again. When I returned to my son, Cornelius, he was twenty four years old and turned out to be a strong and handsome young man like his father. Unfortunately, all those years of my absence made him cold and untouchable for me. I had to work hard in gaining his trust and respect once again. I was about to share him my plans in taking Vladimir Dracula’s title as the king of vampires, when a letter came from Vladimir.
  Speaking of the devil!
  From the letter, I found out that Dracula’s long lost daughter had returned home. Her name was Valentina and she was four years younger than my son. This gave me an idea: in order to receive the title as vampire king, I must pretend that I intend to marry Cornelius with Valentina, of course after I will make her a pure vampire as well. After that I will kill Dracula and his daughter and the throne will be mine!
  My plan was brilliant, but I didn’t share it with Cornelius because he was the bait. Before arriving at the castle, I hunt down a deer, bottled its blood and give it to Vladimir as a gift. So far no one noticed my real intentions.
  Things went without problems for me until Valentina’s initiation party, when a bunch of foolish mortals interrupt her from killing the butler. I had to obey Dracula’s orders to avoid any suspicions, especially that Miranda and her all grown up daughters were there.
  After I helped killing all the mortals, I kidnapped that butler and killed him in front of his master. Dracula was angry, but his diet on animal blood made him so weak that I manage to kill him too without even trying so hard. I wanted to do the same with Valentina, but Cornelius, Miranda, Scarlet and Rose were on her side, although they were my family.
  In the end, I challenged the little princess to a duel to the death and see who will be the one that takes Count Vladimir Dracula’s place!
  The answer is simple: ME! What?! As if a new pure vampire has enough skills and strength to defeat me.

XXI/21

After challenging me to a life and death duel, Dragomir Ivanov left into The Black Forest followed by almost a quarter of the vampires invited to my party. The rest of the vampires remain loyal towards me and father.
  When the sun rose, we were all inside the castle, covering the windows with the dark velvet curtains. Now that I was a pure vampire, the castle didn’t seem so dark and scary like it used to be when I first saw it.
  Our guests put father and grandpa Daniel’s lifeless bodies in two coffins. Cornelius found them in father’s bedroom. The coffins were then settled in the living room on the long table. Some male vampires cleaned the dead ones bleeding wounds, washed them, covered their skin with special oils and changed their clothes with clean ones. The females put red roses around their coffins, praying for father’s soul. They prayed for grandpa Daniel’s soul too only because Cornelius said that maybe he will serve father in the afterlife as he did in this one.
  Miranda, Scarlet and Rose borrowed some of my dresses and picked the blackest one for me. They said I should wear the black clothing since it’s my father’s funeral. They and Cornelius supported me all the time while a vampire was lecturing the event, a respectable looking male named Antoine who was 166 years old, as Miranda whispered to me when he began to talk about father’s reign.
  All the time, Antoine had the most touching way of speaking about the king of vampires, I kept my eyes on my little family. Father and grandpa looked so peacefully, you were thinking that they’re just sleeping. Endless tears were streaming from my eyes while I remembered all the time spent with them. It was short, but lovely.
  How long has it been since father brought me home? Two or three months maybe? The time spent with them was indeed short comparing to the years growing with mother and searching for my unknown father through Transylvania. It was not fair! Just when I found hope of a normal life, that I will live with father for ever after I’ll be a pure vampire, his so called ‘best friend’ betrayed him and with father’s life my hopes and dreams vanished as well.
  When Antoine finished, the nearest vampires covered the coffins perfectly. Unfortunately, outside was daytime, so we had to wait until dark falls to bury the dead ones.
  -What shall we do now, princess? We can’t go out into the sun! Antoine asked me with a strong vocal resonance.
  I wiped my tears fast and climb on the table between the two coffins. Father’s coffin was on my right and grandpa’s coffin on my left.
  -Now we can’t do anything. We must wait until night comes.
  All the guests approved, but Antoine asked again:
  -And what shall we do ‘till then?
  The crowd began questioning my idea. Miranda approached and shouted to them:
  -Have faith in our princess, now that Count Vladimir Dracula’s reign is over. We must help her train to revenge his death and win the title as queen among vampire kind.
  The crowd changed their sad faces into joyful ones. They recovered amazingly fast from father’s death, unlike me. I was still torn up about him and grandpa. But I was a real vampire now and Miranda was right. If I wanted to rule over them, I must win their respect and trust. I said with a loud and clear voice, maintaining my head up, just like father used to do when he addressed to our guests for the first time:
  -Until night time, we shall rest and gain strength for after burying the dead ones, we must destroy what is left of that small town, outside The Black Forest. As you know, the mortals that attacked us yesterday came from that specific place and it is most likely that those who remained there will try to avenge the ones we killed. A part of blame for father’s death is theirs too, so no one must be left alive!
  The place soon was filled with cheers and joy; Cornelius, Scarlet and Rose and even Miranda shouted, soon followed by the rest:
  -LONG LIVE VALENTINA DRACULA, PRINCESS OF VAMPIRES!
  Hearing these words, I gained some courage. After I told everybody to calm down, I went to my bedroom with my four trusted companions. I ordered my guests to make themselves at home and try to sleep where ever they could. Although the castle had lots of bedrooms, most of the vampires ended sleeping upside down from the ceiling, hanging on the wooden logs that made connection between the walls and the ceiling or from chandeliers.
  In my bedroom, I gave Miranda and her daughters some quilts and they set to sleep on the floor. I had a huge carped on the floor and guessed they won’t get cold. I also had to cover my window and the glass balcony doors with my purple velvet curtains. The three females went into a deep sleep after getting into their new unusual beds.
  Cornelius and I were the only ones awake. The whole castle was silent and full of sleeping vampires.
  -What are you doing here? I asked him almost whispering to not wake up the ladies.
  He responded also in a whisper:
  -My room is occupied by Antoine and his friends.
  We continued our conversation in the most silent way we could:
  -Turn around so I can change into my night dress; I said to him.
He did as I said. After I finished, I went into my bed and place my head on the pillow. Cornelius took his shoes and shirt off and came next to me. My bed was designed for a single person so me and Cornelius were too close to each other. I was so near his naked chest that his heart beats seemed louder to my ears. He put his arms around me and asked:
  -Can I have a kiss before sleep, my princess?
  I didn’t notice it, but since I became a vampire I saw Cornelius in a different light. He seemed attractive to me when I was a half-blood, but now something changed. His odor was stronger, his heart beats were louder and his appearance was more good looking.
  Seeing that I didn’t make a movement, he asked concerned:
  -It is a bad timing? I understand if you don’t feel like it now. It is hard for you since what was left from your family has gone.
  -It is not that! I said.
  -Then what is it?
  -You seem different, everything seems different since my transformation.
  -Ah, that is it! You need time to get used with your new life style, that is all!
  -I guess you’re right. Good night ... I mean ... good day!
  I turned my back at him and tried to get some sleep. Cornelius sighted in my hair. He slept facing me, although I turned my back at him.
  -What about my kiss? He asked again.
  -Another time; I responded. Even if I didn’t kiss him, he kissed my neck and put his arm on my shoulder.
  -Sweet dreams, my princess!
  I wanted to tell him to get his arm off me, what if one of the ladies wakes up and saw us like this? But I changed my mind noticing that he was sound asleep. The fact that I was sleeping in the same bed with Cornelius, with his arms around me was pleasant. And my dreams were also good: I dreamed that I was a little girl in a white dress with pink bows and my mother and father were young and alive. They seemed happy to see me and called me to join them. I did so and after they sat on a sofa with me in between them, I saw grandpa Daniel painting us on a sheet. Now I realized why he wasn’t in the portrait with us, he was the painter. Suddenly, aunt Linda came with a tray of sweets and told me that if I stay still, she will give me a reward. Seeing mother, father, grandpa Daniel and aunt Linda all young and alive made me cry happily.
  I realized it was only a dream when Miranda woke me up. Outside, the sky was dark blue and full of sparkling stars.
  -Are you fine, princess? I heard you crying and thought that waking you up might help.
  Miranda and her daughters were already dressed up, while I was still in bed. I turned around and saw that Cornelius was gone. That vixen! He hangs around me when I don’t need him and when I do, he’s never there!

XXII/22

Miranda, Scarlet and Rose helped me get dressed and done my hair as quick as they can. After we finished, we went down to the living room where the guests were feasting with the animals they hunt down for breakfast. The two coffins had been moved near the fire place and the table was full of dead rabbits, deer, foxes, wolves and even five or six bears.
  I quickly count the vampires and they were almost seventy males and females, without me and my four trusted companions. Cornelius served us with three glasses of blood. When my glass was empty, I felt the smell of a wolf in my nostrils. The blood I drank must have been from a wolf. My blood vessels began streaming faster, making my entire body stronger.
  -Don’t drink ‘till you’re full! I shouted at everyone. We must make room for the human blood or did you all forget about my plan from yesterday?
  The vampires laughed with satisfaction and approved me, some even said with loud voices:
  -You heard the princess, fellow vampires?! Leave some room in your stomachs for the ‘dessert’!
  Antoine, Cornelius and other four male vampires took the coffins on their shoulders. Me, Miranda and her daughters lead the way to the back yard of the castle.
  Before, the back yard was a vegetable garden but that was until father start living here. Grandpa told me once that after father took the castle as his own, the vegetable garden was destroyed. Instead, the place was full of tall grass and few oak trees on the side. I ordered the vampires to dig a grave pit under the tallest and thickest oak tree, so that their king would be resting under its shade during day time.
  It didn’t took them long to obey my orders, considering their supernatural powers and after they put father’s coffin on the bottom, they covered it with soil, then I put a bouquet of red and white roses on the mound. The bouquet was made by Scarlet and Rose while I was dressing up this evening.
  -And now let us have a moment of peace! I said facing the crowd with a sad but serious look on my face.
  Again, the vampires obeyed, but I did hear some of them complaining, saying that these rituals are a waste of time. Thanks to my developed sense of vision I saw who it was: a medium sized and chubby male vampire, who wasn’t patient.
  In a second, I was in front of him. Everybody around us looked curious at me to see what I had in mind to do to him. I grabbed the chubby vampire by the thick neck and said loudly and irritated at the same time:
  -Dear guests, this gentleman over here doesn’t have enough patience to do the necessary funeral rituals that his beloved former king deserves, along with the rest of us. And now he will see what happens when I, your princess, get upset when someone dares to not obey my orders.
  He didn’t have time to blink because I threw him into a small oak tree with a slap of my right hand. I was amazed of my strength as the rest. When he stood up, he had a red mark shaped as my palm and a flow of blood was streaming from his forehead. He bowed at my feet and said ashamed:
  -Please, forgive me, my princess!
  -For your lack of respect towards my dead father, I should kill you right now! I said to him with an angry tone in my voice.
  -Princess Valentina Dracula! Antoine said looking disappointed at the chubby vampire. He is my cousin, Henry and he is a little silly by nature, so I beg you to punish me instead!
  -Your loyalty towards your family is noble, therefore I forgive him. But ... If he disobeys me one more time ...
  -I won’t, I promise. Henry said trembling with fear.
  -Thank you, princess Valentina! Antoine said helping Henry get up on his feet. For God’s sake, Henry, use your brain more often!
  Grandpa’s coffin was buried in the cemetery near the town, next to aunt Linda’s grave. This way they will easily meet in the afterlife and rest in peace together.
  My next order for the vampires was too murder any living creature in that town. After all the horrible things they’ve done to my poor innocent Linda, none of them was aloud to walk alive on this earth, ever again. Before departing from the castle, we took with us all the empty wooden barrels from the basement. Usually they are filled with wine, but since in that castle lived only one human being, they were all empty for years. This idea belonged to Miranda:
  -After you satisfy your thirst for blood, fill these barrels with those mortals blood. Our princess will began her battle training as soon as we done around here and those mortals blood will be her menu until the duel.
  The clock tower told us it was midnight. Cornelius, Antoine and others made a simple plan to attack the town. Since it is midnight, everybody will be sleeping so all they had to do is bust inside their houses and take them by surprise.
  The clock tower beat four times when the massacre was over. I and few female vampires filled the barrels with blood, while the males done the dirty part of the plan. While they broke down the doors and windows and try to kill their prays, the people were screaming terrified, begging for mercy. No one was left alive. From the youngest to the oldest, from the richest to the poorest; they all have been killed without mercy.
  I only killed two persons: Amen’s parents. Before doing so, I informed them that their son is waiting for them and then ... may they rest in peace.
  -Fellow vampires, gather around and let us get back to the castle. It is four in the morning, meaning that the sun rise is close. Tomorrow night you will do whatever you want to this town. You can choose to either destroy it ... or better! Make it into your own new place to live.
  Saying so, the vampires, after few minutes of debating, decided to settle in this town and make it into their new homes. Only ten or twenty came with me and my four companions to help us carry the barrels back. After that they returned to the town.
  The basement door closed with a noise and Cornelius said that he was tired and went to his bedroom. Scarlet and Rose took the bedroom near mine.
  Miranda stayed a little longer to tell me my new schedule until the duel with Dragomir:
  -I will personal wake you early, when the sun is setting, every day. You will drink only the blood from those barrels and you will train hard until you drop dead tired. My daughters will be your opponents during your training battles. They will show you no mercy and neither should you. After you finished learning all my lessons, you will have to pass a special test. It is too hard for you?
  -No, I was hopping for you to make my training a living Hell. Dragomir has more experience than me, therefore he has an unfair advantage. I would endure all the pain to prove myself in front of everyone. If I want to take father’s place as ruler of the vampires, I must be strong and feared.
  -Excellent! Remember the words you said now when I will not be pitiful with you.
  Miranda went two rooms ahead mine and entered the bedroom. The castle’s places were known by me perfectly. The room Miranda entered belonged to grandpa. Between her bedroom and mine was Scarlet and Rose’s bedroom. Cornelius decided to sleep at the end of the corridor, letting us ladies sleep near one another.
  I entered my bedroom, changed into my night dress and got into my soft bed. The sun began to rise, but the covered glass doors kept the sun beams outside my room. I close my eyes trying to get some sleep, thinking of the last events that took place since I saw Dragomir committed father and grandpa’s murder.
  Even now I can’t believe that he was able to do such a thing. Luckily Cornelius turned out to be a kind and careful person. Amen surprised me when he confessed he liked me because he thought I was wealthy and he can live a good life by becoming my husband.
  I guess I’m not good at judging people. Everyone that I met so far turned out to be the opposite of what I thought they were, except grandpa Daniel, aunt Linda and ... FATHER.
  Even Miranda and her daughters seemed to hate me when I first met them, but to my surprise they turned out to be Cornelius’s aunt and cousins; and the three of them behaved nicely towards me, as if I was a part of their family.
  Soon my tired eyes closed and I went to sleep, asking my self how hard Miranda’s training will be. To my surprise, I wasn’t scared of the unknown.
  I hate to admit it, but since I became a vampire, my personality changed as well. I was no longer the naive and shy little princess that faints every time she sees blood or gets embarrassed easily in front of everyone; I became a cold blooded ruler who doesn’t hesitate when it comes to fight someone or to kill them.
  Like the rest, I was shocked after I realized what I’ve done to Henry. Seeing him all injured, it made me want to cry and apologize, but I didn’t, my vampire instincts told me to have no mercy.
  Thinking of it, Dragomir was right at one point: a strong vampire does what he has to do. And that is to merciless murder everyone who dares to stand in your way. Still, is it right to do so just to obtain respect and power?! I am not sure.

XXIII/23

The next morning, Miranda kept her word and woke me up when the sun was about to set. Her unusual way of waking someone up did bother me a little. She came into my bedroom, slamming the door against the wall and poured a bucket of cold water on me. After I jumped out of bed, she threw a red dress from my wardrobe at my feet and said to get down in the hallway in less than five minutes. I did as she said. If I wanted to learn quickly the art of fighting with vampires, I must obey Miranda’s orders. She is my teacher now and I am her student, which means that I must not doubt her methods no matter how hard or strange they seem to me.
  She must have lived over a hundred years and her rough training will be a piece of cake comparing to the fight with Dragomir that awaits me. This is the reason why I trust her and let her give me orders, at least until the duel is over. After that, she will have to obey me again like the rest of the vampire community.
  When I arrived in the hallway, Miranda was talking to Cornelius. She saw me coming, without any hesitation and ignoring Cornelius’s question, she ordered me again:
  -Your first lesson will be hunting animals. Since you are a newbie in the vampire world, Cornelius will help you with some tips. Your assignment for today is to hunt a rabbit. Tomorrow we’ll move on with bigger and stronger animals.
  -Come, my princess! Let us go into The Black Forest to see if any rabbits are there! Cornelius said and run away.
  -Run after him! Miranda shouted.
  To my surprise, my legs felt as light as feathers and I catch up with Cornelius in a few seconds. My father told me that vampires run ten times faster than horses, but until now I didn’t believe it. Who needs a carriage or a horse when you have fast legs? So far, my new powers delighted me and I was curious to see what else I am able to do.
  Cornelius saw my amazed face and said:
  -Maybe we should practice your new physical conditions before hunting. Your body is different now and so is your stronghold, although you could not notice it. You need to get used with the new you!
  -The new me! I said in a whisper, approving his idea.
  Half of the night me and Cornelius run around The Black Forest many times and stop when he thought I got used to the vampire speed running. Then he helped me practice my strength by making me throwing big rocks, first the size of a human, then the size of a house, almost. After that, I had to jump from a tree to another like a squirrel without too much effort and less noise as possible.
  I had to use my agility and flexibility to climb fast on the top branches of the trees. From there I tried to levitate few seconds in the air, above the tree’s crowns. Cornelius showed me a trick in how to land on the ground without a sound and graceful like a swan. When I was almost near the ground, I had to land on the tip of my toes, not on my entire feet bottoms. For doing so, he gave me an advice to take off my shoes.
  The shoes I choose to wear didn’t have any heels, but I must admit I felt comfortable doing levitation skills without them. After that, I had to put them back on because my feet got cold and dirty. Heeled shoes were not made to be used in the wild, therefore I must make some time to obtain better ones, without heels. Some lighter boots maybe.
  In the end, Cornelius decided to take a break. I took the opportunity to ask him about my progress so far:
  -How am I doing?
  -Fine. Why do you ask?
  -Because morning is almost here and I didn’t catch a rabbit yet! It is April, which means summer is near and the nights are going to be shorter.
  -A good reason why my ‘so-called-dad’ choose to duel you at the end of May. If the nights are getting smaller, you will have less time for training, leaving him another huge advantage.
  Without any more time to lose, I went to search in the forest for a rabbit. Using my fast running skills, I manage to catch a white little rabbit. The poor thing was trembling while I was holding him by his big ears in my right hand. He had red eyes like mine. But as a vampire, I must learn to have no mercy, no matter how cute and innocent my victims were.
  -Sorry, little one! I must do this to become stronger. Trust me, if it was my decision to follow, I would let you go. But my teacher won’t be pleased by it.
  The rabbit stop trembling as if he understood me and I, without hesitation I broke his neck. Warm blood started streaming on my hand. The rabbit’s sweet odor tickled my nostrils in a pleasant way and my eyes felt hot, as if I had two burning coals in my eye holes. I licked my dry lips. The desire of satisfying my thirst for fresh blood was huge.
  Just when I wanted to take a little sip from my dead pray, Miranda’s words appeared in my mind, telling me that I must hurry back and to leave the rabbit alone because I did what I had to do.
  Cornelius took me back at the castle without asking me what I had in mind to do with the rabbit, where Miranda was waiting for us. From the look on her face, she seemed upset.
  -Where have you two been? How much time do you need to catch a rabbit?
  -Miranda, let Valentina have some blood from the basement and go to bed. Tomorrow she will be all yours. Meanwhile, I will tell you what we’ve done this entire time.
  -You better have a good reason, you know is April and ...
  -Sorry, Miranda, I know that. Now can I please go get some rest? Cornelius made me do a lot of exhausting physical exercises for one night. I made a perfect eye contact with her, to let her see the truth reflected in my eyes. This worked well with mother and grandpa Daniel, when I was excusing my mistakes in front of them. I hope Miranda, being a mother herself, will fall for it.
  She looked at me with understanding eyes and let me do what ever I wanted. Seeing that I have a dead, bleeding white rabbit in my right hand, made her understood that I managed to make some time to obey her order too.
  -You may do what you want now. Tomorrow, you’ll have to deal with me until the last moment.
  -Understood. Good day! I said noticing that the sunbeams appeared on the sky.
  The rest of the week Miranda thought me how to hunt different animals as wolves, foxes, deer, birds and even bears. The small ones such as foxes or wolves were an easy pray for me. And my mercy began to fade away. The more animals I killed, the less pitiful I was. Still, a part of my soul was crying and pitied the poor creatures, but I kept everything inside of me. Miranda mustn’t know that I have some mercy left inside of my heart.
  Bears were the perfect opponents in battle. Miranda advised me to imagine that Dragomir is the bear I’m fighting and this way I had a motivation to kill it fast. Easier said then done. Being tall and heavy, the bear had an unfair advantage. To be able to break his neck, I had to exhaust him so badly, that he couldn’t move a muscle no more.
  In the end, after endless hours of running around, throwing blocks and rocks at him and even hit him with my fists and feet countless times, the bear was finally defeated. But my fight with him didn’t leave me untouched. I had bleeding claw scratches on my arms and legs, but the bigger and painfully ones were on my back.
  Being so injured, Scarlet and Rose had the duty of washing me before bed time. Unfortunately for me, this time of day was the most painful one, worse than Miranda’s training itself. Every time they tried to wash my injured places, I either screamed with all my power, either hit them hard, with no intention of course.
  My apologies were useless for them, when they saw the purple bruises caused by my hits. And that made me feel bad. I hope they will forgive me eventually.
  The second week, I had to stop hunting animals and start killing people instead. A vampire from the town, which now was the vampires new place to settle, told Miranda that the town’s doctor returned from a journey. When he saw his home invaded by vampires, he run into The Black Forest.
  My guess was that it was doctor Ion, the one aunt Linda mentioned on my date with Amen. It only meant that he departed from town before aunt Linda’s cruel death and now when he returned, he found out that he’s the only human alive in this area. What a wonderful coincidence! Now he will join his dead family. Finding him in the forest wasn’t hard because I sensed his fear and smelled his sweating body. All my five senses increased, so he had no where to hide from me.
  I found him trembling near a tree. When I appeared suddenly in his sight, he asked with fear:
  -What do you want from me?!
  -Nothing. You are part of my training now. I said grabbing him by the neck, before he could run away and throw him to the ground.
  Miranda appeared behind me and told how to suck his blood:
  -You must find the blood vessel on his neck that carries air into his heart. Use your hearing sense to detect its teaming noise.
  -No, please! HAVE MERCY! Doctor Ion shouted, although he was grounded by my vampire strength, he was still able to talk. Talking made the main blood vessel on his neck to increase its pumping speed and my hand felt it. I knew exactly where to stick my sharp fangs.
  -But doctor Ion, I am sending you to your love ones. I answered him with a grin and found the blood vessel in time, because he wanted to make a move. I opened my mouth and poked my fans into the right spot. I felt the blood vessel broke under the pressure of my fangs and sweet warm blood began to flow down into my mouth. As the blood flowing down my trout was getting warmer, the doctor’s body got colder by the second.
  -You learn fast, princess! Next time I want to see how you fight with your own kind.
  My first experience in sucking a human being’s blood while he’s still alive wasn’t too bad. It is true that I felt a little guilty, but at least now doctor Ion is in a better place. To console myself, I thought that if I wouldn’t have killed him, surely another vampire would have done it instead of me. And maybe he/she wouldn’t have been as quick as me, letting him suffer for hours instead of killing him immediately.
  Oh, why do I have such a nagging conscience?! Why it has to always make me feel bad every time I kill someone?!
  On the third week, I spent the nights in the back yard of the castle, fighting with Scarlet and Rose. At first I fought only one of them at a time. Seeing how fast I learn, Miranda told their daughters to fight together against me.
  -You will see that my daughters are stronger when they fight together. Miranda said when I defeated Scarlet alone in the last fight.
  -I will not lose again, if my sister assists me! Scarlet said with a disappointed face, seeking for her revenge.
  At first, the fights were won by them, but soon I learned all their moves and weak points. Scarlet is the temperamental type, which means that she easily loses her concentration and Rose is calm, she doesn’t put much effort into her moves.
I tried to make them fight one another, but it didn’t work, so I tried the element of surprise. I act in front of them as if I was torn out and when they let their guard down, I strike them with all my strength. After I finished giving them the final blow, they were thrown hard into the castle’s wall. I approach them quickly and asked concerned:
  -I hope I didn’t hurt you too bad!
  -By tomorrow, we’ll be as new! Rose answered with a friendly smile. Although she was defeated, from her smile I guessed she was glad that it ended this way.
  Too bad I couldn’t say the same about her twin sister. Scarlet was always whispering curses towards me every time I defeated her. Rose assured me that Scarlet will get over it, eventually. But I didn’t blame her for hating me. I also cursed Scarlet every time she or her sister defeated me, therefore we were even.
  Personally, I liked Rose better. She was cheerful and friendly, while her sister Scarlet was a perfect copy of her mother, except for the hair.
  -I want a rematch! Scarlet said when she stood up.
  -That’s enough for now! Miranda shouted at us. Look at your bruised bodies, girls! Isn’t it enough for you?
  -Not for me! Scarlet smiled.
  -For me it is! Rose replied, she looked at me as if she was begging me to support her.
  -Go and clean yourselves up. Scarlet, Rose, you two finished your part in the training. Tomorrow I will fight Valentina, it is my turn now! Miranda said looking at me with an anxious face and I didn’t like it.
  She was staring at me as a cat stares at a little, defenseless mouse.
  If the twins let big purple bruises on my body, I can’t imagine what harm their mother will do to me. But I didn’t object. If I will survive fighting Miranda, then I will be fully prepared to face Dragomir.
  With this being said, I wish she won’t be soft on me. She must give all she’s got best, if she truly wants to teach me something.
  ”Father God, keep me alive after my fight with Miranda. If her fighting skills are as good and powerful as her sharp words, then I’m going to need all Your blessing to remain alive!”

XXIV/24

The fourth and last week of training came at last.
  -Since you finally found a way to defeat my girls, it is time for me to fight with you. Be warned, I am Dragomir’s sister-in-law, which means I know him better than you. Our battle won’t be fair for you because I will use dirty tricks and evil schemes to obtain the victory. I will do so because Dragomir will probably do the same.
  -Father told me once that the vampires have some sort of a code of honor.
  -Yes, he was right. But it doesn’t mean that everyone follows it. Dragomir is one of those who don’t follow the code, but our community does not tolerate them for this. Listen to my advice: If you want to gain respect from your people, you must follow the code as it says, despite what others say or do. If you don’t, then you are no better than Dragomir and others like him.
  -I understand, Miranda. Thank you!
  -Do not thank me yet! Thank me after you will be crowned as queen.
  Without any more to say, we took our positions in the back yard. We were standing in the center of the yard, only one meter between us. We took off our shoes to be more freely in movements and attacks, plus if we destroy them, it will be a pity.
  Miranda took me by surprise and attacked with a move, quicker than a lightning. She threw me into the castle’s wall, making a medium sized hole into the bricked wall, some of the bricks turned into dust. The pain wasn’t big, but my pride was hurt. I got up quick before she could hit me again. I dodged her every strike for almost half an hour, when Miranda said bored:
  -Are you going to fight back or do you want to continue like this until daylight?
  -I can’t, you’re too fast.
  -Thank you for noticing, now attack me or surrender!
  I let her grab my left arm and when she was about to beat me to the ground, I stood strong on my feet and hit her on the cheek, making her to crush on the ground instead of me.
  -Finally, you attacked me princess, but it wasn’t enough. If you want to make your opponent stay on the ground for longer, you must hit him/her with all your strength.
  This time, I was the one being thrown to the dusty ground. My dress was full of dry soil and pieces of grass. My hair was also a mess and I could taste the thin blood bits in my mouth. My bones and muscles hurt so bad that if they had a mouth, they would have said nothing but curses towards me for letting them get beat up this badly. And I don’t hold a grudge on them.
  What was I saying?! I guess my mind is beat up as well if I came to talk about my bones and muscles as if they were human beings.
  -What do you intend to do? Are you going to continue the fight or do you give up? Miranda asked me, seeing how heavy I was breathing.
  -Let us continue tomorrow. I need my energy at full capacity.
  -If you say so.
  -I want to know something before we go: How did I do in our first fight?
  -For a beginner, not bad, but you could have done better. I know some useful moves for you, for a woman!
  Miranda pronounced the word ‘woman’ loudly than the other words.
  -What do you mean ‘for a woman’?
  -Let me show you. Cornelius come over here!
  Cornelius was standing near the back door, watching my training. He wanted to help me when Miranda had thrown me into the wall, but he managed to stay there, knowing that if he occurs, Miranda will get upset.
  -Yes, my lady?
  -Let us show the princess how a man’s moves are different from a woman’s in a battle.
  -As you wish, if it is for the princess’s sake. He added looking at me with a smirk and full of himself.
  Was it bad that in my mind I wished that Miranda would ‘cure’ his arrogance with a strong kick or some other powerful move? I think not!
  At first, Miranda and Cornelius had the same moves, but as I watched them, I noticed something different. Miranda was attacking hard and merciless, but her moves were graceful and so light that I thought she was a ballerina or even a swan.
  Cornelius, on the other hand, had calculated and very precise moves, like a true soldier. I used my imagination to picture in my head a ballerina fighting with a soldier. This thought almost made me laugh, but I control myself and tried to learn Miranda’s moves.
  The fight finished with a tie, because the sun was about to rise any minute now and judging by their performances, Miranda and Cornelius were both equally strong and agile.
  Night came the next day, and this time I managed to reproduce some of Miranda’s fighting moves, some better, some not so good. She defeated me again, of course. After that she helped me practice the moves I was good at, to improve them and adjust them by my personality. The last few days flew like seconds. A day before the duel, a vampire from town came to the castle. It was Henry.
  -Princess Valentina, you must come into town quick! He said with a paler skin.
  -What is it? I asked worried.
  -Dragomir Ivanov is in the town’s center, he wants to say something to you before the duel.
  I looked at Miranda and Cornelius and they both agreed to come with me. The town changed completely in the last month. The colorful houses were now all painted in black or dark colors, in a gothic style. The rooftops had ugly statues representing mythical creatures such as dragons, snakes or even devils. The devils had the creepier appearance of them all. The church and the school were the only buildings left unchanged.
  That was a sign that even if I’m not the ruler yet, the vampires followed my order. Dragomir was talking to some of his faithful companions, when we arrived in the town’s center. Henry stayed at the castle to rest and Scarlet and Rose were his care givers. I bet he feels like in Heaven right now.
  -Dragomir Ivanov, you wanted to see me? I asked looking suspiciously at him.
  -Ah, the princess has arrived, followed by my son and sister-in-law! How nice! Do you see that, my good friends? Valentina Dracula is stealing my family since she’s a vampire now. Dragomir said with an evil smile, looking at his friends while pointing towards me.
  -I didn’t steal them from you, you lost their trust and respect when you murdered your best friend, my father and their king! I responded, feeling my eyes hot as flames, guessing that they are, most likely, glowing stronger than the sun.
  -She is right! Cornelius added and came near me. He then put his right arm around my shoulders.
  -As for me, I never liked the idea of having you as part of my family. Miranda said standing next to me.
  Now I was between the two of them. They said that they would be my bodyguards in case Dragomir tries to hurt me before the duel.
  -I see you two made your choice about who’s side you are on. Very well! See you tomorrow, princess Valentina Dracula!
  After this, Dragomir and his friends disappeared.
  -Why on earth did he want to see me? I don’t understand! I was really confused right now.
  -Maybe he wanted to see if we changed our minds about helping you; Miranda responded bored. Let us return, we wasted precious time here.
  Cornelius kissed me slowly on the cheek and said:
  -Don’t worry love, I believe you could win!
  It was an hour before the sunrise, after that the duel was near. Henry and Cornelius were sleeping in the same bedroom. Miranda, Scarlet and Rose went to bed early as well. Only I wasn’t tired at all. In hope to get sleepy, I start thinking about my outfit for tomorrow. My wardrobe was full of dresses that weren’t fit on the battlefield.
  I decided to go see my father’s bedroom at the end of the corridor. Come to think of it, since I came at the castle, I never went to see father’s bedroom. Now I had the occasion. When I opened the door, the room was exactly like the one mother described it in her dairy pages. I went to the wardrobe and checked father’s clothes.
  To my surprise, they were nearly my size. I guessed his diet on animal blood made him this thin. I took a pair of black pants and a red blouse with loose sleeves and tried them on. They fit me perfectly, like a glove. I went to my room and checked my new outfit in the mirror. My curved body parts looked beautiful in those men pants and blouse.
  My hair was too long though. The clothes and hair were the only things seen in the mirror, but I was pleased. I took a pair of scissors out from a drawer and began to cut my hair. After I have done cutting, my hair was short, it reached my neck.
  With my father’s clothes and hair cut short, I felt like a man. This sensation gave me courage and self confidence. My feet got cold so I had to search in my wardrobe again for the perfect pair of shoes. A pair of black summer shoes, with no heels matched perfectly my new clothing.
  Now I was prepared, physically and mentally, for the duel with Dragomir Ivanov.
  ”Do not worry father, I rather die than letting that traitor to take away your crown and throne. By law, they belong to me, since I am your only inheritor! And if someone tries to take them away from me, they have to kill me first!
  Father, where ever you are now, I hope you’ll be with me tomorrow on the battlefield, helping and protecting me. I love you, daddy!”

XXV/25

The night of the decisive duel has finally arrived. After a month of hard training, many nights when I never stood in one place for even a second and many days of heavy sleep, all made my muscles stronger and harder. My being also changed, my pitiful personality vanished a little, I felt my heart as cold as a winter night.
  As I arrived in the library, the others were there drinking the last drops of blood from the basement. At my view, they stood speechless seeing my new outfit and hair.
  -You are wearing your father’s clothes? Scarlet asked, looking more impressed than surprised.
  -And you cut your hair? Rose asked, looking as if I had cut an important part of my body.
  -My wardrobe is full of dresses and they are useless on the battlefield. But my father’s clothes fit me nice, don’t they?! As for my hair, it was too long. This short, it makes me look like a serious and brave fighter.
  -You are right, princess. A dress would have been an impediment for you. You thought well. Miranda approved me.
  -Cornelius? Don’t you have anything to say? I asked looking curious at him.
  The moment I set foot in the library, Cornelius has been staring at me with his eyes wide open, and a half opened mouth. After I asked him, he shut it. Only when Henry hit him with his elbow in the arm, he managed to say some words:
  -I ... you ... you look ... a-amazing.
  -Forgive him, princess Valentina. He is surprised by your new appearance like the rest of us. Henry said, trying to be as polite as he could.
  -Henry, just call me Valentina. I already forgave you when I threw you into that tree.
  -Thank you prin... I mean Valentina.
  He blushed when I reminded him of how he got punished in front of everyone for not being polite regarding to father’s funeral. Rose giggled looking at his blushing cheeks and Scarlet just rolled her eyes in the other direction.
  When we arrived in town, it looked deserted. Everyone had gathered in one place: in the town’s center. It was a huge round empty place, perfect for an arena. Besides it, there where put many benches and between them and the arena, a high fence wire was placed. Here and there, tall torches were placed with blue flames burning on top of them, making light all over the place, because the moon was too small to make enough light by itself.
  The vampires were sitting on the benches, some climbed on the rooftops and some were levitating above those sitting. Miranda, Scarlet, Rose, Cornelius and Henry took their places on a bench near the fence, so they could see everything in the arena and encourage me during the fight. Antoine set next to them after wishing me all the luck in the world.
An old looking male vampire approached me and introduced himself:
  -It is my honor to meet you at last, princess Valentina Dracula! My name is judge John. I am the one who crowned your father, Vladimir Dracula, to be our king. I hope to also have the honor to be the one who will crown you as queen.
  -Thank you judge John, may you have this chance.
  He grabbed my right arm gently and took me on the arena, where everybody began to clap and cheer for me.
  -I also will be the arbitrator of this duel. You know the code of honor do you?
  -My teacher, Miranda, taught me how to fight fair. Are there any specific rules I should follow?
  -Do not use dirty tricks to have advantage above your opponent, fight fair and be respectful and honorable until the end, either if you lose or win.
  -Thank you.
  Judge John then levitated one or two meters above the ground and made a sign with his arms towards the crowd to make silence. Everyone was quiet and eager to see what will happen.
  -FELLOW VAMPIRES, MALES AND FEMALES OF ALL AGES. I PRESENT TO YOU PRINCESS VALENTINA DRACULA. He pointed at me and the crowd cheered noisily. I looked at my trusted friends and they were cheering for me as well, especially Cornelius and his twin cousins.
  The crowd stopped cheering when Dragomir Ivanov made his appearance on the other side of the arena, facing me. Most of the vampires hissed at him, ten or twelve were on his side, but didn’t make a sound, because they were out numbered.
  -AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, IS DRAGOMIR IVANOV, THE ONE THAT CHALLENGED THE PRINCESS TO THIS DUEL! AND NOW, WITHOUT ANY MORE TO SAY, THE BATTLE CAN BEGIN!
  The crowd was noisy again, but my eyes and ears were focused on my opponent. Dragomir came closer and said:
  -I see you took you father’s clothes. How nice, I will try not to destroy them, so you can be buried in them.
  I didn’t say a word, but I looked at him with an angry face, maintaining my concentration in the same time. Seeing that I was silent, he attacked first. Miranda was right, he doesn’t fight fair. He threw into my face some mud from the ground, making me blind just as long to kick me to the ground. While I was getting my eyes cleaned, the crowd was hissing and cursing him. Judge John told Dragomir that he will be disqualified if he does anything like that again.
  My eyes were cleaned and I saw that Dragomir was shouting at judge John and at the crowd. I took this advantage and began to hit him with my fists very quick as Miranda did to me once. My last hit, threw him into the fence and then he landed on the ground very noisy, making big dust clouds around him. He got up very angry and fought back. At first I was dodging his every hit and kick, hoping that he will get tired. But he didn’t, so I jumped into the air and tried to land on him. Unfortunately, he got away just in time, avoiding my attack.
  After he got away, he took a big part of the fence and threw it towards me. The piece of fence flew with such speed, that I didn’t manage to avoid it on time. It was twice my height and also very heavy. I manage to take it off me before Dragomir attacked again. He took the piece of fence that I let on the ground and hit me on the back with it, making me to fall. I was so dizzy by the hit that I couldn’t see his next strike. He punched my chest, on the left side, where my heart beats, with a piece of metal torn apart from the fence. Warm blood began to stream from that injured spot.
  The crown all cried with sadness. I could hear Cornelius and the others crying so loud at the sight of my bleeding chest.
  -You are dead now, princess! There is no way you could survive with this metal through your heart.
  -Are you sure it this my heart bleeding? I said releasing two buttons from my blouse and revealing what Dragomir really hit with the metal piece instead of my chest. It was a dead white mouse. Miranda told me you wouldn’t fight fair, so I sacrificed this little animal to protect my life. His sacrifice wasn’t in vain. I said to him with an evil cocky grin on my face and getting rid of the dead little creature without a care, as if it was a piece of trash.
  Everybody stood speechless, even judge John and Dragomir were surprised that I had a mouse inside my blouse to protect my chest from the beginning.
  -THIS IS CHEATING! To use an animal to protect your body, isn’t right arbitrator?
  -The code does not say anything about using animals as shields, so it is aloud to do so! Judge John said with calm, but I saw his little smile when he found out my little secret shield.
  The crowd cheered with joy about the arbitrator’s decision of letting me to continue the fight. They were clapping their hands, stamping their feet (the ones with their feet on the ground, that is) and shouting of joy encouragements such as:

*
  ”-You can do it, princess!
  -Win this battle for us and your father!
  -We are with you until the end, go get him!
  -Heil, princess Dracula!”

*
  Dragomir was about to face me, but I scratched his face, leaving bleeding marks on his eyes and cheeks.
  -Scarlet, Rose, thank you for doing my nails! I shouted to them. It is right to scratch your opponent, judge John?
  -Yes, it is. The nails are a part of your body, you are not allowed with weapons. He said pointing to Dragomir that was screaming.
  -YOU HORRIBLE GIRL! I WILL KILL YOU JUST AS I DID WITH YOUR FATHER!
  Now I got really angry that he reminded how he murdered my father, and I beat him all black and blue with the moves that I learned and improved from Miranda and her daughters. Between my punches and kicks, he managed to dodge some and to strike back, but in the end I gave him the final blow.
  He collapsed with his body full of red scratches and dark purple bruises, facing the sky full of shining stars. His chest was increasing and decreasing very fast, his heart was the only thing still moving from his entire beat up body. His clothes were also destroyed and dirty from the dust and his bleeding injuries.
  And don’t get me started about his hair. It was all messed up, with some strands missing in some places. I have to admit that I was the one to blame for it. In order to punch him in the face more efficient, I drag him by his hair and some of his strands remained in my grip. I didn’t felt sorry at all because he wouldn’t need any hair where I’m about to send him.
  Dragomir was incapable to make any moves now. I approached him until we made eye contact. From the ground he looked exactly like the defenseless animal I once killed during my training.
  -Any last words, before you die, Dragomir Ivanov?
  -Go to Hell! He whispered with his purple lips, spiting drops of blood.
  Without a sound and any regrets, I opened my right grip and stroke my nails deep into his left part of the chest, feeling his heart beating its last beats between my fingers. The warm blood streaming from the inside made my hand all dirty. I pulled out my hand only when I couldn’t feel his heart beats any more.
  Judge John came near and checked Dragomir’s pulse. He then came to me, took my bleeding right hand and raise it above my head saying with joy:
  -WE HAVE A WINNER! VALENTINA DRACULA, QUEEN OF VAMPIRES!
  And the crowd all cheered as loud and happy as they could. Cornelius jumped over the fence and hugged me strongly and lovingly in the same time. He then looked at me with a big smile on his face and said:
  -I knew you would win, my love! He then kissed me with passion in front of everybody.
  -Hey, we want to congratulate our new queen as well! Miranda said getting Cornelius off of me and hugging me strongly as well. Then she kissed me on both cheeks.
  -You got style and courage when you fight. You’re not bad after all! Scarlet said, hugging me too. Antoine congratulated me from afar and then he put his arm around Scarlet’s shoulders.
  -You made it! Now you are QUEEN! Rose jumped up and down holding my hands and kissed me on both cheeks. Henry wants to say how happy he is, but he’s too shy!
  -It’s nothing. I said smiling at Henry while Rose was hugging him too.
  Now I realized that Cornelius and I weren’t the only vampire couple around. Antoine and Scarlet, I didn’t though these two could get along because of Scarlet’s bad temper. Looks like she has met her tamer at last. And Rose with Henry were so cute together.
  -Queen Valentina, what are your orders regarding Dragomir Ivanov’s corpse? A male vampire asked me. He and other three vampires were holding Dragomir like he was a trash bag.
  -As punishment, he will be buried in the mortals cemetery that lived in this town.
  -As you wish, my queen! He said as they all bowed their heads in front of me and obeyed my order.
  -Now that you won, what do you intend to do? Judge John asked me.
  -You will have the honor to crown me officially and then you will marry me with the man I love! I said looking towards Cornelius.
  Hearing this, Cornelius came near me and said with a cunning smile:
  -I accept if you will let me change my last name into Dracula!
  -Are you sure? Judge John asked. Usually the women take their husbands last name, not the other way around!
  -But I am the queen now, which means that it is fine, is it?
  -Yes it is, if you put it this way!
  We didn’t say any more words because all the vampires came into the arena and shouted with joy:
  -LONG LIVE QUEEN VALENTINA DRACULA! THE FORMER KING VLADIMIR DRACULA HAS BEEN RETALIATED!

XXVI/26

Boris traveled two nights from Bulgaria to Transylvania by foot. His wife Miranda and daughters, Scarlet and Rose, didn’t returned home after my party and their absence for a month made him worried. He was waiting outside the castle, near the front door, when we returned from the duel.
  -Miranda, my dear, you and the girls are fine! Boris said with a big smile, happily to see his family unharmed.
  -Of course we are, darling. Miranda respond while hugging her husband and kissing him lovingly. We are big girls, aren’t we? She asked looking at her daughters and pointing to them to come welcome their father.
  At first, the twins looked worried at me and hugged Boris only after I assured them that it is fine with me. When I saw them in their father’s arms, I gather all my courage to not cry in front of everyone. Luckily, Cornelius hugged me, leaning my head on his shoulder and tried to chase any thoughts about my father using sweet words. Somehow he managed to cheer me up a bit.
  -Cornelius, aren’t you welcoming your uncle? Boris asked him, keeping his arms wide open for his nephew.
  -Sorry, uncle Boris! Cornelius said and hugged him back. I want you to meet our new queen, Valentina Dracula!
  -It is a pleasure, your majesty! He said making a bow in front of me.
  -Please, sir, call me Valentina.
  -Alright, if you promise to call me uncle Boris then. He said laughing and hugging me as well. But where is your father … and Dragomir?
  It was clear that he had no idea what happened in the last month. Miranda and Cornelius told Boris that they will tell him everything. After we entered the castle before daylight; Cornelius, Henry and Antoine began telling Boris the whole story, with every detail perfectly explained. While the men were talking in the library, I and the twin sisters were in the bath room in front of my bed room, trying to get myself cleaned. Taking a bath after a battle was more painful than I imagined.
  My wounds were either dark purple, or red with bleeding openings and when the soup and water touched them, it was too painful to keep my mouth closed. Scarlet and Rose were doing their best to make it less painful and I appreciate their carefulness.
  -You’ve got bad looking marks on your soft skin, your majesty! Rose said worried.
  -”Your majesty”? I asked confused.
  -You are our queen now! Scarlet responded for her sister.
  -Scarlet, Rose! Although I am the queen of vampires now, you two, your parents and cousin, Cornelius, will be my new family after I will get married with Cornelius. So please, call me Valentina! I would feel awkward if my family addresses me with this title.
  Rose didn’t said anything else, she just nodded and hugged me and to our surprise, Scarlet did the same. She is cold and calculated like her mother, but now Scarlet let us see her good side.
  Come to think about it, I felt so alone after father, grandpa Daniel and aunt Linda died, because they were my family and I’ve lost them too soon. Now I will have another family and I made a promise to myself to protect them from any danger. I will not allow to lose this family as well.
  -Girls, is our queen clean now? I brought my secret lotion to help her injuries heal faster. Miranda said entering the bathroom with a small jar in her right hand.
  Scarlet and Rose left us alone and went in the library to join the men.
  -Now, your highness! I must worn you, it will hurt a little but it will do it’s job. Miranda said taking some lotion into her left hand and rubbing it on my wounds.
  -Miranda, I will tell you what I’ve told your daughters. Call me Valentina. I will be Cornelius’s wife soon, which means that his family, you, Boris, Scarlet and Rose will be my family as well.
  -Fine, Valentina. You already proved to us that you are a strong female vampire. You are more than perfect for my dear nephew.
  She helped me get dressed in a white and dark blue lace dress and we both went in the library. After I opened the doors, Boris came to my welcoming and hugged me, this time stronger than I thought, as if he wanted to break all my bones. When he released me, I saw something strange in his eyes:
  -I am sorry for your father Valentina, but do not worry. Cornelius said that you two will get married soon and I want you to know that I will be honored to walk you to the altar.
  -Thank you, Boris! I responded.
  -Uncle Boris! He corrected me.
  Before the wedding, we start cleaning the whole castle, to make it look as new as possible. It took us almost all summer, as the nights were shorter, but it was worth it. The outside walls have been repainted with white paint and the wooden parts of the castle were polished with a special paint to look shinny. The windows were washed and all the rooms and the objects and furniture in them were cleaned, repaired; or some really old or broken were replaced.
  When I was cleaning father’s bedroom with Cornelius, we found my parents wedding clothes. Father had black silk tails, with shinny polished black shoes, a white scarf with a red ruby on an end and a beautiful cape; black on the outside and light red on the inside with very fancy strings with a rectangular collar with sharp corners. Mother’s white bride dress was also beautiful, full of sparkling little golden rocks, laces with red flowers and a long veil, caught on one of it’s sides on a golden head band.
  We both gazed at them in silence. My trembling hands were holding both wedding clothes of my parents and their touch and smell made my eyes to cry. My tears were streaming down my cheeks and chin, making few wet spots on my parents wedding clothes. Seeing this, Cornelius took them away and came back to comfort me. He tried to calm me down with hugs and kisses, but the thought of not having my parents near me on my wedding day, made me sadder than ever.
  In the end I calmed down to Cornelius’s relief. I realized that my crying will make him feel bad for me and I didn’t want that.
  -Sorry you had to witness my moment of weakness! I apologized to him.
  -Don’t say that, love! You have every right to be sad, but I promise you that you’ll be the most beautiful and happiest woman in the world. I will make sure to be that way.
  His voice was so soft and worm, he changed a lot since I first met him and I was proud of him. He finally changed into a mature man. As a reward for his success, I gave him the biggest and the passionate kiss I could give.
  -What was this for? He asked giving me his usually sarcastic grin.
  -My wedding gift for you. I responded using my sarcasm as well.
  -We sure make a wonderful couple, don’t we?
  -Yes, we do!
  Who would’ve guessed that Cornelius will be the man I will marry?! When I first met him, he was rebellious, full of himself, selfish and the list can go on. At first, his words were irritating and all I wanted was to see him gone. But now, after all he’s done for me, since his father murdered mine, the love and care that he offered me during Miranda’s hard training and his change of behavior made me realize that he was perfect for me after all.
  Cornelius, my future husband. Life sure isn’t always black or white!

XXVII/27

The first of September, eleven o’clock p.m., the town’s church.
  This were the time and place where all the vampires came to witness my wedding and crowning as queen. During summer, when I was busy with my new family and friends to clean the castle, the vampires that took over the small town outside the Black Forest didn’t waste time either. They also worked hard to clean the church and decorate the town for this special occasion.
  The town’s appearance was the same as I saw the first time, only it had lots of blue flaming torches to illuminate the streets, white and red laces with red roses; I came to notice that these flowers were the favorites of the vampire community; and the creepy statues were decorated with candles, to make them even more scarier.
  Judge John was now living in the church and Amen’s old house, which also was redecorated by the new owner’s gothic tastes. He kept all the icons and other religious objects, including the crosses and holly water, which proved that the mortals are wrong if they think that some holly water can harm us. The only change that he made was on the church’s outside. Before, the walls were white, but now they were painted in a dark shade of brown, looking like it was made from dark chocolate, the wooden pieces were also polished and the pictures of the saints on the inside walls were renewed.
  Again, I now realized how little knowledge the mortals have about vampires. They think that we are demons from Hell, that we fear God and all the saints, and again they were so wrong. Just because we are immortals doesn’t mean that we are not people deep inside our souls. It is sad the fact that a vampire is mistreated just because of his supernatural being and unusual behavior.
  Letting these facts asides, the church was full of vampires from the ground benches to the upper levels and even the ceiling.
  Judge John was standing in front of the altar with the bible opened in his hands. To his left was Cornelius dresses in my father’s wedding suit that we found, and near him his men of honor, Henry and Antoine, were looking without patience towards the front doors. They were waiting for my arrival, along with Scarlet and Rose as my bride maids. Miranda was sitting in the front row, facing her nephew and her daughters boyfriends.
  One of judge John’s sons was playing the organ slowly to calm the anxious atmosphere.
  -The place is full and they are excited for you to come! Rose announced happy.
  She and her twin sister were dressed in light green dresses, with pink laces around their lower parts of the dresses. They also had light pink gloves, from their wrists to their elbows, pink and white flowers in their bouquets, and their hair were tied up in two beautiful buns. I gave them two necklaces shaped as silver crosses, with a red ruby in the center, to match their silver ear rings.
  As for me, I wore mother’s wedding dress found near father’s suit in his bedroom, when I was cleaning it with Cornelius. I didn’t change anything of it, only my bouquet was the new article. It was made from red roses that were the symbol of eternal love and lilies to bring me good luck in having many children.
  -Are you ready to go, Valentina? Uncle Boris came near me and grabbed my right arm gently, looking closely at me and his daughters. You are beautiful, Cornelius will be proud. Scarlet, Rose, get Valentina’s veil, we are about to go in.
  The twins did as their father told them. Boris opened the doors and took me straight to the altar, in a slow and elegant walking. The organ began to make a louder song, announcing that the bride, me, had entered along with the maids and her new uncle.
  Everyone’s glance was on us, especially on me, making me feel nervous. I counted every step I made in my head, to be sure that I won’t make a mistake. I am the bride and queen, therefore a lot of pressure was on my shoulders. If I had made just one little mistake, I would made a fool of myself in front of everyone.
  -Are you nervous? You are trembling! Boris whispered to me concerned.
  -Of course I am. It is almost midnight and I will be married and crowned as queen. I am afraid that I might make a fool of myself.
  -Be calm, take a deep breath and whatever will happen, remember that you have a family who supports you. Boris advised me with a quick wink.
  Scarlet and Rose whispered together to me that they have my back, metaphorically and literally speaking.
  When we reached the altar, the organ ceased playing and everyone made silence. Boris took a sit next to Miranda and both of them were watching carefully, while holding hands. Cornelius hold both of my hands into his, looking at me like a hungry dog staring at a delicious bone.
  -You are beautiful, Valentina, even with short hair.
  It was true, although three months ago I cut my hair, it grew only a little, but it didn’t bother me. Miranda made it curly and the golden head band made me feel indeed like a queen.
  The clock tower beat twelve times. It was midnight.
  -Fellow vampires! Judge John began. We gathered here to reunite this young couple with the holy sacrament of marriage. If any one has a reason against this couple’s reunion, please speak now or be silenced forever. Can the godparents approach the bride and groom with the wedding rings?
  From the front row, near Boris and Miranda, a dark skin couple stand up, each holding in their hands a red squared pillow, with gold laces, and on top the golden wedding rings. The male, Lance, came to me and handed the ring destined to Cornelius; while his wife, Olivia who seemed to be pregnant, went near Cornelius and handed him my ring.
  -Cornelius Ivanov, do you take this female vampire to be your wife, to love her, to respect her, to be by her side during health and sickness, wealth and poverty, happiness and sadness; until the end of your lives?
  -I do! Cornelius responded, winking at me with a smile. I guess he didn’t change that much since I first met him.
  -Valentina Dracula, do you take this male vampire to be your husband, to love him, to respect him, to be by his side during health and sickness, wealth and poverty, happiness and sadness, until the end of your lives?
  -I do! I responded, feeling my cheeks burning, guessing that my face is red from the blushing.
  -You may now change the rings.
  Cornelius placed the ring from his hand in my left ring finger and I placed the ring from my hand in his left ring finger.
  -With the power invested in me I pronounce you husband and wife. Cornelius you may now kiss the bride.
Nervously, he took the small piece of veil that covered half of my face and grabbed me by the waist. When our lips touched, everybody cheered and applauded loudly, some throwing at us white petals and rice.
  Judge John told everybody to be silence, because now it was time to crown me at last. Henry brought me an armchair, Cornelius kissed me one more time, then he, Scarlet, Rose, Antoine and Henry set in the front row near Miranda, Boris, Lance and Olivia.
  Everyone made silence and watched me taking off my golden head band with the veil on it and put my right hand on the bible, that judge John handed to me.
  A week before this event, I have learned my oath. Judge John told me that father had to learn it too, when he crowned him as king.
  -Now princess Valentina, please say the oath loud and clear, so your fellow vampires that you are about to lead, can trust, respect and protect you during your reign from this day!
  -I, princess Valentina Dracula, daughter of Count Vladimir Dracula and Lady Maria Dracula, promise to rule among the vampire community with courage, wisdom, justice, respect and love. I will follow the code of honor as any other vampire, without any exception. I will protect my people from the cruelty of man kind and other danger that threatens to destroy their peaceful living. Hope that the all mighty God heard my words and I pray for his protection as long as I live. In the name of Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit … Amen!
  I spoke the last word with a terrible taste in my mouth and I noticed that Cornelius shared my feeling. A male vampire brought father’s crown. It was all made of gold and it had a cross on top of it, with red velvet pieces between the golden bars that were connecting the base of the crown with the cross. On those golden bars, little red, green, yellow and white stones were shinning like stars.
  -And now princess Valentina Dracula, I John Smith, judge and priest of the vampire community, crown you Queen Valentina Dracula! May your reign bring what is best among the vampire kind! LONG LIVE QUEEN VALENTINA DRACULA AND HER HUSBAND CORNELIUS DRACULA!
  The crowd shout the last sentence many times, while Cornelius and I were heading to the doors, followed by Lance and Olivia, Boris and Miranda, Antoine and Scarlet, Henry and Rose. The cheering and applauding continued even after we went outside, where three carriages with black horses were waiting to get us to the castle.
  And three nights later, the wedding finally ended. It was the biggest wedding that took place in Transylvania. Father, mother, grandpa Daniel, aunt Linda, I hope you are proud and happy for me. Please pray for my life, Cornelius’s and all the people that are now my new family. May you all rest in peace now! Your enemies are dead, your unfair deaths have been avenged and now I am living my life as you all wished!

XXVIII/28

Ten years later.
  I managed to complete my collection of dictionaries from all over the world. There are vampires everywhere and I must know at least the most used languages since I’m their queen.
  Although Cornelius is the husband of the queen of vampires, he doesn’t want to be called king nor even prince. He is happy with just being my husband and the father of our two children, our eight year old Cornelia and Valentine. They are twins like their aunts, Scarlet and Rose.
  But if you look closer at them, you wouldn’t believe that they are actually twins because Cornelia has light brown hair and looks more like her father and Valentine has dark hair like mine.
  Speaking of them, Scarlet married Antoine immediately after my wedding with Cornelius; and three months later it was Rose’s turn to marry Henry. Scarlet gave birth to two boys, seven and six year old, Marcus and Allen. Rose gave birth to a girl, Mirabela, named after her deceased aunt, Cornelius’s mother. She and Henry said that after they will get used with Mirabela, they will think about having a second and maybe a third child.
  I forgot to mention that Lance and Olivia, our godparents, were the first ones to become parents. Their ten years old son, Oliver, whom is also my little Valentine’s best friend.
  My children’s birth day is on twenty five December, right on Christmas Eve. This means that they get a double amount of presents. Luckily for me that I have also inherited father’s wealth to keep my children happy and a little spoiled.
  I know it is not right for a parent to spoil its children, but I can’t help myself. I love Cornelia and Valentine oh so much, sometimes even more than Cornelius. I want to see them happy, they mustn’t know how it feels to suffer or cry, as I did in my childhood.
  Cornelia and Valentine are aware of their grandparents past. Cornelius and I told them the long story of how I became to be a vampire and queen, how their grandfather Vladimir was murdered by their other grandfather, Dragomir, how I had to defeat him in a duel to avenge my father’s death and of course our wedding day.
  Being little children, they didn’t get impressed much about my story, although I wrote it down on a small diary. Maybe when they’ll get older, they will understand things my way. Who knows?!
  In the living room, near the old family portrait of father, mother and me; we had other portraits. One was with me and Cornelius in our wedding clothes; another one was with both of us and our twin children; another one with Miranda, Boris, Scarlet and Rose; another one with our godparents Lance and Olivia with baby Oliver; another one with Scarlet and Antoine at their wedding, and another with Rose and Henry’s wedding.
  In other words, the living room walls and halls were full of family paintings, which made the castle a decent place to raise a huge family.
  My life as a wife and mother is piece of cake compared to my duties as queen. All the responsibility of the vampire community is laying on my shoulders. Applying the laws when they are needed, organizing important events and other worries regarding the life of my people depend on my decisions.
  From time to time I’m using father’s suggestions during his reign. As a queen, I have my personal study on the top rooms of the castle. My study was father’s old one which contained several diaries and notes with the decisions he made during his reign.
  The study was a small room, with a library containing History books about the former vampire rulers, the vampire code of honor and other boring documentary I had to learn by heart. It is a lot of paper work, boring if you ask me, but I have no choice.
  During my absence, Cornelius has a rough time taking care of our children. Cornelia and Valentine sure like to give their father a hard time, hiding from him or pulling pranks on every person they meet. When their time will come, I will have the hard mission of picking one of them as future ruler among vampires. Until that time comes, I hope they will be mature, wise and brave enough to take my place.
  When ever I have some time for myself, I just like to take a warm bubble bath and after that, I lay on my warm bed and re-read my diary over and over again. Sometimes Cornelius reads it along with me and asks if I didn’t get bored of it. And of course my response is ”No!”.
  -After all these years we spent together, I still don’t get you, love! He says still teasing me.
  -I would give up this habit if you promise to stop teasing me. We are grown ups for God’s sake and you haven’t changed much since we first met. No wonder our children don’t take you seriously. I said right back to him.
  -Point taken, my queen!
*
  Author’s note:
  I hope you enjoyed reading this book, my dear readers. The following pictures show the characters from this book, that I imagined them in my mind. But I must tell you that these pictures are from google-anime pictures of vampires, with few modifications made by me. Leave a comment with your thoughts and impressions, I must know if I should change, add or delete some things or if I should let it the way it is. Thank you for your support and positive criticism, that helped me write this book. I am more than sure that Valentina is grateful towards all of you, as I am!

 

Valentina (on the left as a half-blood, on the right as the vampire queen):

Vladimir Dracula:

Lady Maria:

Grandpa Daniel:

Aunt Linda:

Amen:

Dragomir Ivanov:

Cornelius:

Judge John Smith:

Miranda & Boris:

Rose & Scarlet:

Henry & Antoine:

Cornelia & Valentine:

Olivia & Lance:

Oliver:

 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.01.2012

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