Chapter 8

The residents of the mansion were not the only ones who counted the passage of time by the shadow-cleft moon…

???

"…..Hmm hm, hm hm hmm…"

Through the High Gothic windows of the church, moonlight spilled in; soft boots with plated heels traversing the light. The creature, snow white skin cloaked in black, seemed an illusion cast by the tracery more than a living thing. This being of such contrasts looked out at the crescent moon, reflected in his softly lucent smile.

???

"...Though it is doomed to the ugliness of utter obliteration, it remains such a beautiful world."

The man, should we call him that, crossed under the nave, where two shadows on either side stood waiting.

???

"Have you seen it? The crescent moon is so beautiful tonight. Let us look at it together." "Flynn. Carlos."

Flynn

"…..Hmph. All the time at your disposal and you waste it in idleness, Lord Vlad?" "We should make the church an almshouse, if it's host to the senile."

Carlos

"Docteur, le Voivode wasn't idle, you know that. He was doing his job as a florist." 'I'd love a job like that! So many pretty living flowers that all smell so nice and everyone loves you for what you do" "I want to be loved like that! I want everyone to love me more and more…"

Flynn

"You do the word 'love' no favors, muttering it constantly like a curse." "Then again, you do the very concept no favors, you mercurial nagetier."

Carlos

"We humans need love. We crave it. It's one of our most moral desires."

Flynn

"Did I hear you say 'we' - and 'human?'"

Vlad

"Hah...hahaha.."

Flynn

"Euer Hochgeboren?"

Carlos

"…..Did something I say make you laugh?"

Vlad

"I simply remember how easy it is to forget my troubles around you two." "..Then I remember how even the good times are destined to come to an end and I become sad."

Flynn

"You feel sadness?"

Vlad

"I do. I feel sadness for the moon in the sky, the flowers in the soil, and the humans who walk between them in ignorance." "I want to protect them all so they don't have to ever feel that way."

Carlos

"You love humans more than anything, don't you, Voivode?"

Vlad

"Of course I love them."

He who felt nothing but love looked out the window and up at the sky. It was not the moon his depthless crimson eyes saw but something beyond sight. More than our eyes can capture.

Vlad

"I'm in love with this world. That's why" "...As the unwilting flower called a vampire, I must bear this garden into eternity."

The vampire's words were stolen by the darkness, his beloved subjects unaware of their lord's tender promise…

~~~~~

Finally, I'm alone. I sank onto the bed in what was to be my room. Alone with Mousette and my thoughts, it was easy to imagine that this was a dream, and I was back in my hotel.

Kira

"If only it was a dream."

I'm willing to believe I traveled back in time. But I cannot believe I had dinner with a bunch of time-traveling artists and scientists and musicians and-! I tried to recount everyone I'd met. Vincent Vaclavik , and his younger brother Theo. One paints masterpieces, the other sells them. One is nice, the other...I'm not so sure of. They seem close though. The two authors. Sir Arthur Coleman, and Okitomo Dezaki. The class flirt and the class clown? They both seemed to want my attention. (Was Sir Isaac Nakamura really that shy? He wouldn't look me in the eye. I can't even picture Jayme Douglas. I wonder what she...I mean, he's really like?

Flashback

Lennon

"Heh. Your words, they match the look on your face. That's rare."

How did I lose myself around Lennon Vacek? And what exactly was he thinking?

Flashback

Markus

"...As if the banquet wasn't bad enough."

Markus White. His music was so lively and fun. But he seemed cold and empty inside. And of course, I can't forget-

Flashback

Nicholas

"I'll answer your questions later. You need to escape before the others find you."

Nicholas Brooks. He was trying to rescue me, I'm sure of it. From what? I couldn't picture all of them lying about who they were. And my instincts told me they were telling the truth. Besides, what would le Comte and Sebastian gain from lying to me? I'm not rich or influential. There's no benefit to it. Then it's all real? As real as this place is. I slipped off my jacket, kicked off my shoes, and took out my earrings. Enough thinking.

Kira

"It's time for bed."

I slipped under the covers and shut my eyes. Despite my internal clock still reading afternoon, I was somehow able to sleep. I woke to the soft crumple of the thick duvet, followed by the creak of the bed-frame. What. Is. That? I froze. Someone else was in the room with me. They were on the bed.

Kira

"Who's there?!"

???

"…"

It isn't safe here after all! I rolled out of bed and sprang to my feet. A pair of arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me back onto the bed with them. They were on top of me, holding me down.

Kira

"Stop!"

Strong hands pinned mine to the sheets. My legs were trapped under theirs.

???

"Don't move."

Their breath was on my ear. My body tensed. Sharp teeth sank into my neck. It stung only a moment. No, not even that long. What I felt couldn't be described as pain. I feel...so hot… I couldn't move my limbs. They weren't under my power anymore. Heat flickered across my vision like a desert mirage. Each warm breath billowing over my neck filled me with insatiable longing. Someone….bit me...? No liquor could have intoxicated me as quickly. Sheer pleasure. Spreading from my neck. Traveling throughout my body. groaned in a voice laden with ecstasy. Did this voice even belong to me? Except I knew it did. Oh, I felt it to my very core. A slow throbbing pulse, robbing me of reason. I have to. snap out of it...! My lashes fluttered. My eyes were rolling back. Suddenly, I caught sight of something. Someone had spilled rose petals on the bed's white sheets. But they weren't rose petals. And they had come from me. That's blood...my blood! Before I let go of consciousness and slipped into the void, I heard a man's voice.

???

" I want it all. Your body, your heart...and your destiny.

NO! I scrambled out of bed, clutching my neck. There was no puncture wound there. No blood. I spun, looking around the room. Empty. No trace of the man who'd bitten me. "…..There's no one here." I've never had such a real dream. No, that's not true. When I first arrived at the mansion-that dream felt just as real. My fingers were cold. I was shaking. My throat was painfully dry.

Kira

"I should...get some water."

Retracing my steps from dinner, I found the kitchen. It was lit with electric lamps. Sebastian was up, washing dishes. After that nightmare, I sighed in relief to see him.

Sebastian

"Is something the matter?"

Kira

"...Yes. Could I have some water please?"

Sebastian poured me a glass. And he listened patiently as I told him about the waking dream-or vision-I had when I arrived.

Kira

..And I had another dream just now."

Sebastian

"Tell me about the dream."

I told him about the man in my room. How he'd held me down and bitten my neck.

Kira

"...Just like a vampire would."

Talking about it helped. In fact, I was laughing as I finished the story.

Kira

"Dreams can be so realistic, even when they're about the most unbelievable things."

Sebastian was quiet now, and I wondered if he was tired of me prattling on.

Kira

"Thanks for listening to my silly dream." "I hope you don't think I'm crazy for dreaming about vampires."

Sebastian

"I don't think you're crazy, nor do I believe it was just a silly dream."

Kira

"You don't think it was silly?"

Sebastian

"No. Indeed, it's a good sign."

I felt a pang of unease.

Kira

"My bad dream is a good sign?"

Sebastian

"I believe you saw that dream because you're here in this mansion."

Kira

"You're not making sense."

Sebastian

"The dream serves as a warning." "That you are to give them neither your body nor your heart."

Kira

"Them?"

Sebastian

"The residents of this mansion. For you see, everyone you've met tonight." "They are exactly what you saw in your dream. They are all vampires."