PROLOGUE

A BIG PLAN

The vampire stood at the railing, gazing out into the night. The sky was obscured by clouds. Not a single star was visible. Only the foaming spray stood out against the black expanses of water stretching in all directions, constantly reshaping into new landscapes, separating hills and valleys. Though the storm had abated somewhat, the waves still tossed the ship from one crest to the next.

The vampire's long, slender fingers clenched tightly around the railing as the ship seemed to plummet into the abyss once again without warning. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the horizon, where Ireland's coast must eventually appear, but her thoughts were busy in a hidden chamber of her mind, working on the grand plan. She would not disappoint the Master again. This time, she would return as a radiant victor and surprise him. His gaze would first be filled with astonishment and then with pride as it rested on her. And then he would reach out his hand and take her with him.

She did not allow herself to indulge in this wonderful vision. There was still too much to do, threads to spin and weave until the net was dense enough to draw it closed around the struggling prey, tighter and tighter until its resistance waned and it was in her power. She smiled dreamily, a beautiful smile that illuminated her flawless face.

She had had two months to acquire the necessary knowledge. It hadn't been easy, and she had had to undertake two journeys to find in old records what she was looking for. But then her plan began to take shape. The Master himself had unwittingly set her on the decisive trail. She was proud of herself. In her mind, the solution to his problem had been born. She had found the sword with which to cut the knot – and she was ready to wield the blade when the time came!

But until then, she had to confuse spirits and poison souls. She had no doubt that she would soon find the right tool. It was so easy for men to succumb to her charm! And once she had found the right one, he would lay the snares for her. She just had to wait and strike at the right moment! The vampire felt a laugh rising in her throat. Just a few more weeks, and she would be at the end of her desires, and the past defeat would be nothing more than a shadowy nightmare that had once tormented her and now dissolved into mist.