As I entered the barn, I saw a leg moving up into the attic space, just as they were done climbing the ladder and just as my candle filled the place with light. Without much thought, I walked up to the ladder and kicked it to the side, trapping the intruder upstairs.

"Who's there?" I called out, trying to sound stern. "Come out!"

"Please..." A voice responded. "Please let me stay here, just for tonight..."

"Who are you?" I said. "Show yourself!"

What came out of the darkness was a girl, no older than maybe 20. I had never seen her before in my life. Her hair was dark and wild, like a storm cloud around her head. She was pretty, but terribly gaunt, cheeks sunken and pale skin like a ghost. I remember her eyes were so strange. They looked like the flame of my candle. The bottom of her face, still covered in darkness, looked like a gaping maw. I couldn't tell what was wrong, but it still gave me goosebumps.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Maria..." She said. She sounded out of breath, like she ran for miles. "Please let me stay, I won't give you any trouble! I'll leave in a couple hours, I promise!"

"What happened to you? Are you alright?"

"No..." She sobbed.

"Well, come on down. You can stay with us until morning."

"I-I can't...! I have to leave."

"We can try to help you."

"Y-You can't! I have to leave before morning- I- It's complicated! People, uh, people are after me. I don't want them to bother you too."

I paused and narrowed my eyes. "What are they after you for? You a criminal?"

"Well, uh, no. but-"

I turned to the door of the barn and called out to my husband. "Ilie! Get the gun!"

"No no no! Please!" She pleaded, clasping skinny hands together. "I'll leave! I promise! I'll leave right now!"

"What's the matter?" My husband came up to my side. He was taller, so he took the candle and lifted it higher than I could.

Maria's teeth jutted out, sharp and too long, pushing against her lips and cheeks and forcing her mouth open. I remember they shone yellow in the candle light.

My husband yelped and nearly dropped the candle. He didn't bring his gun with him, because of course he didn't, but he snatched up a pitchfork.

"Get out of here! Get out!!" He screamed.

Maria scrambled to her feet and ran deeper into the attic. She jumped out the small window and I heard her fall on the grass outside, at least 5 meters. My husband and I ran around the barn, but she was already gone. It took a long time for poor Ilie to quell his panic enough to fall asleep.

The next morning, while he was still resting, I was outside filling a bucket of water. Our house is close to the edge of the woods and I looked around out of curiosity.

Sure enough, there she was. She was hiding in the shade of an oak, spying on me. Indeed, the trees over there grow so thick, underneath it may as well be night. I marched towards her, bucket still in hand. She was startled and hid further behind a tree, but didn't run away. She wore a plain, dirty and tattered dress, belt long gone, and her socks were caked with dirt.

"Why are you still here?" I asked.

She didn't answer at first, looking down. "I don't know where to go..."

"I'm sorry, but you can't stay here." I told her. "My husband's old man was murdered by a vampire. He'll kill you on sight."

"I'm sorry..."

"You'll figure something out..." I said, looking back over my shoulder. "Haven't you people been around a long time?"

"I don't know..."

"How old are you? 100? 200?"

"19."

"...Only 19?"

"Yes..."

"W-When did you become a vampire?"

"A week ago, I think...?"

...I felt so horrible.

"L-Look... I hear there is a town nearby where a vampire lives. It's on the other side of this forest. You can't miss it. Maybe he can help you out, I don't know."

Maria slowly looked up at me, hope growing on her pale face. "Thank you...!" She said, awkwardly smiling around her new fangs. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Sorry about scaring you last night. Get going now." I said and went home.

Following her funeral, I admit I was overcome with curiosity about the vampire Maria. How did she become a vampire? Indeed, where was she now? These were the thoughts that followed me as I returned to the school's boarding house.

Not to brag too much, but through my own efforts I landed in one of the best schools in the region. I did not need to bribe anybody, unlike many upperclassmen from big name families. But still, I tended to stick around boys of my own kind. Not all rich boys were pricks, of course not, but I'd sit like a mute, unable to tell stories of visiting France or Germany or Greece, unable to say I've seen the latest play at the theater. I was among the cream of society, its future doctors and lawyers and politicians, yet I was more aware of my low status than ever...

Sorry for rambling.

Any excuse to leave the school premises was welcomed, even if it was grandmother's funeral. My next excuse was going to the library. Researching about vampires was my new favourite pastime. They are a folk who keep to themselves, not many people can say they had a chance encounter with one like grandmother did! I would drag my friends, Laurențiu Gheorghiu and Stelian Rădulescu, with me.

"Ionică, let's go do something fun!" Stelian would say, balancing a pencil between his nose and upper lip.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Let's go out! I'm tired of books!"

"Where?" I huffed. "With what money?"

"I got money!" He pulled a wad out of his breast pocket.

"Where the hell do you have that from?" Laurențiu demanded.

"Poker with the upperclassmen."

"Please don't get expelled..." I sighed.

"I'll only get expelled if I'm caught." Stelian stuck out his tongue, hiding the money back.

I eventually gave in and the three of us made our way downtown. Don't ask me how, but we ended up at a tavern called La Lune. It is still the most suspicious place I have ever stepped in. You could not pay me to go again, not even as a grown man.

"Let's go meet her!" He said, his eyes sparkling.

"What?!"

"Let's go!" Laurențiu enthusiastically said.

They stalked the staff to see which doors and corridors they walked through. I followed along, terrified to be caught but even more terrified to leave these two idiots by themselves.

Unlike the main area, the back of the tavern looked nearly abandoned, with dark hallways and chipping paint.

"What?!" An offended female voice rang out from somewhere.

"Oh, come on!" The songstress joined in. It was her voice, but so much harsher and vulgar than before. It took me aback. "Don't you have a whole damn squadron of servants to open the door for you?" She continued.

"Serena, hush!" A man said condescendingly. "One night won't kill you. It's not like you have anything better to do."

"Wha- I'm going out with Serge!"

"And? Do it another time."

"This is some bullshit!" She stomped towards the door, opened it and slammed it closed. To her surprise, three boys were in the hallway with her. She stared at us, we stared at her, then she turned away to walk further down the corridor.

"Wait!" Stelian said, stepping forward.

She looked at us over her bare shoulder, her hair bouncing. Her eyes were light amber, almost glowing in the dark. Like candlelight. My heart seized.

"What?" She asked. Her lips were always pursed, in an exaggerated bratty pout. Her teeth, my mind screamed, her teeth!!

"I, uhh, I..." Stelian frantically searched his pocket, producing the last of his poker money. "I, well, uh, we wanted to give you a tip! For how beautiful your singing was!"

Laurențiu stared at him with incredulous eyes. I wanted to vanish!!!

Serena, as that man called her, stared at Stelian for a moment, then smiled slyly. She sauntered closer to him. My heart was beating so fast. Stelian stood frozen in place, face red like a cherry. She smiled with her lips closed as she took the money, visibly avoiding his fingers.

"Close your eyes." She said.

Stelian gasped and closed his eyes.

She raised her other hand to his forehead and flicked it.

Stelian cried out, clutching his own head and staggering backwards. Laurențiu and I rushed to his side, confused by his reaction.

"It's past your bed time, ain't it?" She said as she glided away. "Go home."

Stelian removed his hands and his forehead was bleeding! The skin was broken! How hard did she hit him?

The three of us snuck out immediately. Serena was a vampire, I was sure of it, grandmother's vampire! Did she change her name to Serena? Oh, better yet, it's a stage name. One of the singers at the tavern was a vampire! She looked in her early twenties, but was almost 80 years old!

I was about to go back, defeated, when I heard the sound of a door from somewhere behind the building, so loud in the silence of the night. I ran around like a rat until I found a squat wooden fence leading to a cramped inner yard. There she was!! Looking up at the sky while deep in thought. Her eyes turned to me and she jumped a little, of course not expecting to see anybody in that dark alley.

She was about to say something, when she paused, narrowed her eyes and slowly brought a finger up to her chin. "...Do I know you?" She asked.

"I, uh, I came to your show a while ago." I stammered. "M-My friend, uh, he... tried... to give you money... yeah..."

She snapped her fingers and nodded. "I remember now!"

"S-Sorry..."

"What brings you here?" She casually asked, crossing her legs and resting her cheek in her palm. "The joint is closed."

"I-I saw... Are you leaving?"

"In about a week. My boss sold it and bought a new place in a town called Ferești."

"W-Where is that?"

"I don't know either. Some muddy commune in the middle of nowhere." She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I am leaving altogether." She huffed. "I'm going to a different cov- I mean troupe."

"What?"

"Nothing, ignore me. I'm tired."

"Oh, so... you're quitting?"

"Yes. I've had quite enough of this idiot."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's just..." She exhaled through her nose. "He thinks he can do whatever he wants and drag us left and right, and we have to go along because he gives us this mediocre housing with ONE bathroom for 7 people, mind you, and I can't say anything because 'I'm the youngest'. As if his seniority means anything! He's a bumbling drunkard that got lucky with some reliable servants! They're the ones who really do everything! Hell, I am a better boss than him!"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Sorry, I'm rambling. You don't even know what I'm talking about." She laughed softly.

"I-It's fine! It's better you let it out!"

"Yeah... I don't know, kid... I suppose things didn't go how I imagined. Coming here, working like a normal person,... So far, it sucked."

"..."

"Hopefully, this new place I found is better. I'll turn a new leaf!"

"I hope it goes well for you!" I smiled.

"Thank you, dear!" She smiled back. She was really pretty when she smiled. "I'll go all out! I'll change my name again, maybe get a haircut too! I'll be a new woman!"

"Do you have to change your name?"

"It's, uhhh, sort of a tradition. For singers, yes."

"What name will you go for?"

"Haven't decided yet."

"How about... Maria?"

She giggled for longer than necessary. "I already used that one once."

I smiled too. It was like a secret between us, even if she didn't know what I knew.

"You got any other suggestions?" She asked.

"I-I don't know... Elisaveta?"

"Mmmh, that's a little too fancy."

"Isabella?"

"That's cute..."

"Or just Bella for short?"

"Yeah... Yeah! I like Bella!"

I couldn't stop myself from grinning.

However, I heard somebody coming from inside the tavern. I blabbered that I needed to leave at the same time she motioned me with a hand to go.

"Take care!" She said and winked so quickly I almost missed it.

I wished I could have attended his funeral, but there was no time to wander around, as my mother would say. My wedding was to take place that year and there was much to do. The Balint family prided itself in extravagance, and the union of their eldest daughter to a promising young politician was the best occasion to show off. I felt like a purebred dog being washed and coiffed before a big show, but not more than I usually was for other such events.

She was a short woman, shorter even than me, and the first thing that caught my eye was her curly hair. It wasn't neat ringlets like Garoafa's, but big, chaotic, twisting this way and that like a blur. She laughed out loud, a sharp and audacious sound like a magpie, and I felt my heart jump in my chest! What I thought to be too much makeup was actually the natural pallor of her skin and the dark circles around eyes. Her eyes were golden like honey.

My fiancé whispered to us that her and her group were vampires, a coven of them! They were living under the wing of a Turkish vampiress named Lady Ilknur and they rotated between her many manors across Europe. Looks like they arrived back in Romania, he said, eyeing them with suspicion. I had never seen a vampire in person up until that point. They looked so... normal. They looked like us, just pale-skinned and bright-eyed. I wanted to take another look at the curly vampiress, but, to my annoyance, she sat with her back to me. She slid off her coat and she wore a deeply inappropriate dress for the season.

I pried my eyes away, shame rising in my cheeks.

"I heard rumors that they own the whole town, not just one manor." Garoafa whispered, giggling as she did whenever she had the chance to gossip.

"Entirely possible." My fiancé scoffed. "They're like that damn werewolf family across town, getting into whatever gets them money. Swear, they're worse than-"

"Can we please change the subject?" I frowned.

"Yes, of course, dear." He said. I hated it when he called me 'dear'. It felt so fake compared to when Garoafa said it, for instance. He said it because he had to, not because I was actually dear to him. It was only a marriage of convenience.

No matter what we talked about, my eyes kept wandering back to her. It was magnetic. I was too curious for my own good. I saw her hand reach into her purse and take out a small pocket mirror with an oriental design. It snapped open with a crystalline click and I could see she was holding it at her eye level. It confused me. Don't vampires have no reflection? Blood rose to my face when I realised, without her own head in the way, she had a direct line to see me looking at her!

As if reading my mind, she turned to look over her shoulder and we locked eyes, then she grinned, showing jagged teeth that tilted sideways under rose-red lips. My eyes shot down, embarrassed, and her giggle made my whole chest burn. Garoafa and my fiancé were having too animated a discussion over rental properties to notice me, thank God.

The next time I met her was in the town square. I was walking out of the theatre with my brother and my sisters after watching A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the main lobby I happened to turn my head to the side and I saw her again, walking out. We had been in the same room and I had no idea! She recognised me too and she smiled. My sisters dragged my brother to go fetch some refreshments before they ran out and I was momentarily alone, in a quieter corner next to a marble column. In vain I told my heart to stop beating so fast as I watched her come over.

"Good evening!" She said, standing by my side and watching the crowd with me.

"Good evening!" I returned.

"Did you enjoy tonight's show?"

"I really did. It was quite charming. You?"

"It was alright. A little silly for my taste. You see a lot of shows?"

"Oh, not that often. Once a month, if that."

"Hmmm. So where may I be able to see you more often?" She asked, leaning over as if to whisper.

"I-I don't know." I stammered. I was so taken aback, but... I liked it. She wore heels, yet was still shorter than me. Her curly hair was brushing against my shoulder. It smelled like violets. "I live here in the center... Perhaps, around..." I clumsily said, words tumbled out of my mouth before I could halt them with reason.

"Good to know." She snickered again.

"Mira!" A voice called from the crowd, and both of our heads turned. It was another vampiress, statuesque and with ginger-red hair.

"Bela!" The one next to me corrected her. "If you're going to shorten it, at least do it right."

"Stop running off." The tall one said, expression severe. "Let's leave already."

She (Bela?) huffed and walked over to her. "You're no fun, Bălașa."

Bălașa reached over a hand and grabbed her by the face! Her long fingers dug into cheeks and raised her chin upwards! "You're insufferable." Bălașa told her, low and cold. All the while Bela smiled, eyes crinkled.

I could barely breathe!!

Just as quickly she let her go and headed towards the front entrance. Bela turned to look at me again and waved. "See you around!" She giggled.

"S-See you!" I said.

The whole way home I kicked myself for not getting her name properly, or telling her my own either. Why would I want to do that anyway? Why would I want to see her again? My head swam and I could barely sleep. Only later as I was thinking over these events did I really make the connection with Mr Ioan's Bella Serena.

The next morning I was woken up by Garoafa banging a tune against my bedroom door. My brother let her in, of course. Garoafa was an only child and orphaned young, taken in by her uncle, and spending so much time with me made it so my brother was pretty much her older brother too.

The three of us and my sisters had breakfast in the sun room, as it was a lovely morning. Father was on a business trip, due to arrive back in time for my wedding, and mother slept in as usual. I liked it best like this. Garoafa, my siblings and I wouldn't have been chatting as relaxed as we were had they been present. In a way I was glad to get married, if only that I would be out of that house. I wished I could somehow do it without getting married. You kids these days have it much easier.

My sisters immediately let Garoafa know they saw the vampire coven at the theatre.

"I hear the short, curly one is named Mirabela." Garoafa said.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense, I thought.

"They're all so pretty!" One of my sisters said.

"I think they're creepy." Another said.

"Especially the tall redhead."

My face started burning at the memory.

"I've seen them around town too." My brother said, shrugging non-chalantly. "You'd think they're glued at the hip."

"Maybe they are a couple." Garoafa quietly added.

"W-What?" I blabbered.

"Some women like women, no?" Garoafa giggled like a kid, a slight blush on her cheeks. I felt her expectant eyes on mine and my face burnt harder. I had to be imagining things. She just happened to be looking in my direction.

"Ugh." One of my sisters reacted, sticking out her tongue.

"They're both feminine, though." Another said.

"What do you mean?" My brother raised an eyebrow.

"Don't they date women who dress in suits and stuff? You know, one is the woman and the other is the 'man'?"

"How should I know?" My brother laughed.

"Either way, ugh."

I stayed quiet.

After breakfast, we went about our day. Most days were much the same. I think that's what I liked about her, Bela, at the time. She was something new, something exciting, in my otherwise monotonous life.

All of it was boring me to tears, but then I spotted Mirabela at another table. She was with the tall one, Bălașa, in that revealing black dress again. They were holding hands, Mirabela presenting a ring with a big jewel and Bălașa twisting it left and right with her thumb. Their boldness both shocked and entranced me.

I excused myself to go to the powder room. Catching Mirabela standing up with the corner of my eye, just as I turned the corner, did not quell my trepidation. The powder room was thankfully empty and I could mentally yell at myself to get it together as much as I needed.

I heard the door open and close. I turned around to see Mirabela, her bejewelled hand still on the handle. Never before had I been so terrified and elated at the same time, a combination of feelings that made me dizzy.

"Hello!" She said, amusement in her tone.

"H-Hello!" I said.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes! Yes! I'm alright... just... a bit tired."

"Alright." She smiled, something knowing and sneaky behind it.

She stood in front of the mirrors. It was a bizarre sight: her reflection was not visible, except for her clothes. It was like I was alone in the room with an outfit suspended in the air. It reminded me of what-... of who really was next to me. But it felt so magical too.

"Isn't it odd?" I awkwardly asked, watching her fix the lace and fabric flowers over her chest.

"Eh, you get used to it." She replied.

I nodded, fidgeting with my hands. "You, uhm... Your name is Mirabela? Right?"

"Yup!" She turned to look at me over her shoulder, aware of its effect, the devil.

"My name is Elisaveta." I said.

She supressed a giggle.

"W-What?"

"Nothing. I got reminded of something."

She turned to face me fully and I became nervous again. I almost wanted to back away, but my spine would have hit the wall. "A-Are you alright, Miss?"

"Please don't 'Miss' me." She chuckled. "Just Bela is fine."

"Alright. You can call me Veta too!"

She grinned. "How about Betty?"

"If you want to, hehe."

She stepped closer, took my hand and looked at my engagement ring. Her cold skin and the reminder of it brought me back to unpleasant reality.

"It's very pretty." She said.

"I suppose so..."

"Are you marrying into the Balint family? I saw you at the table with them."

"No, I already am a Balint." I said. I was about to say my fiancé's family, when I saw Bela's shocked face.

"Y-You're from the Balint family?"

"Y-Yes?"

Bela huffed out an incredulous laugh, then smiled wider, showing pointed teeth. "No way! I had no idea these shmucks had such a pretty girl among them."

I damn near fainted.

Just then, the door opened and Bălașa appeared. My hand escaped Bela's and hid behind myself like a criminal. I caught a flash of surprise on Bălașa's face, then her features returned to their usual impenetrable coldness.

"Is everything alright?" She asked, dryly.

"All is well!" Bela smirked. "Just having a chat."

"Y-Yes." I tried to collaborate, then looked down when Bălașa shot me a glare that reminded me too much of my mother.

"Victor has arrived. Let's go." She told Bela.

"Don't tell me what to do." Bela replied, meant to be playful but coming out equally harsh. I was beyond uncomfortable. "See you later!" She told me, face softening for a moment.

"See you..."

The next day I received a letter signed "B.". I thought it was from my fiancé, whose first name started with B as well. My heart jumped out of my chest when I realised it was from Bela, the crazy woman! She apologised on Bălașa's behalf, then asked we become penpals. She may leave the country sooner or later, with her coven, and she would have loved to keep in contact. The paper smelled like her violets perfume and I found myself constantly picking it up to sniff it, all day and night and for the rest of the week.

Thus our correspondence began. It was easier than meeting up in person, and, honestly, safer. And I could take all the time I needed to put down my thoughts and not stutter like a fool. I still did, internally. Bela was a sweet-talker. As soon as I received a note from her in the mail, I felt myself excited in advance, before I even opened it.

I found myself just rambling about all the things I didn't dare burden Garoafa or my brother with, shameful things, doubts, dreams of an ideal future. She'd allow me, and then she'd ramble herself about convoluted drama within the coven I never fully understood.

I can clearly remember how my hand trembled when I wrote down "I think I'm in love with Garoafa", tears bubbling in my eyes, of fear but also of release. Bela wrote back swiftly as always, but there was something off in her tone. I told myself I was just overthinking it, but she felt so much more impersonal than before. She didn't even acknowledge what I said about Garoafa.

I eventually asked that we meet at a clothing store. Perhaps stupidly, I asked Garoafa to come as well, as an excuse to be out in town so close to sunset. The two of us running into Bela looked like a total coincidence. I instantly saw her expression darken when she saw Garoafa and I felt awful. My dear Garoafa thankfully didn't notice and busied herself with a display of hats.

Bela and I ducked into a far corner of the changing rooms.

"Bela, I-I'm sorry."

"What for?" She asked, so calm it unnerved me.

"I-I... I'm sorry if I upset you in any way with my letter. I didn't mean it! I just,... I don't know..."

She looked at me for a moment, then sighed. "Veta, what are we?"

"What...?" I asked, breathless.

"What are we?" She repeated, a little irritated.

"We... we are friends, no?"

"Friends talk to each-other like that?"

I closed my lips tight.

"Sorry." She squeezed her eyes tight. "I guess I'm just confused."

"I am too..."

She sat down on the small chair in the changing booth. "Do you like me?"

"I do...!"

"Are you sure?"

"I..."

She nodded. "Thought so."

"N-No! I do like you, it's just... It's complicated."

"You like Garoafa more?"

I choked. "Please keep your voice down..." is what I eventually manage to get out.

She huffed out a laugh. "You know, I was wondering if there was something between you two. Either that or you're both painfully oblivious."

My face must have been red like a lobster. "Please don't make fun of me."

"I'm not. I'm telling it how it is."

I started feeling tears well up in my eyes again, my hands unconsciously reaching for my engagement ring. "I don't know what to do..."

"You can leave."

"I can't..."

"Sure you can." She said. "We'll help you run away. I'll, uh, I'll convince the others somehow."

"No, I can't..."

"Bălașa will be a bitch to convince, but-"

"Mirabela, please!"

She went quiet, looking younger somehow.

"I just can't..." I continued. "I-I'm not like you... I'm not brave... I can't leave everyone behind..."

"Such as Garoafa?" She asked, a tinge of bitterness in her tone.

"Such as my brother." I replied. "And Garoafa too, yes."

She smiled with one side of her mouth. "As you wish."

I frowned. "You are being cruel."

"I'm not. I'm giving you a chance."

"... You really think it would all be fine if I... left?"

"...I admit I don't know." She said, quieter, her usual confidence faltering. She took both of my hands into hers. "But I do think it would be better than being married to a man you don't want... doing things you don't want to do..."

"What about my family?"

She grimaced. "Who cares about them?"

"Wh-I do!!"

"Do they care about you?"

"Of course they do!" I snatched my hands away. "This-This whole marriage is for my own benefit!"

"Alright, great, so you'll just let them decide everything for you?"

"A-As opposed to what? Letting you decide instead?"

Bela sat up suddenly, but I stayed tall too, hoping my shaking wasn't noticeable.

I took a deep breath before speaking. "...I just can't, Bela. You... I... It's all too fast. I don't know what to think, what I'm feeling, what I... ... Please don't make me make such a big choice. Not yet, at least."

"...alright." She said, pushing aside the booth's curtain. "Do what you want."

As I watched her leave I had the urge to follow, but I stayed put.

"What's up with her?" Garoafa asked me, unaware of the turmoil inside me.

"N-Nothing... Let's go home."

"Are you alright?" She asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. Like a healing balm, I felt my pounding heart ease up.

"I'll be fine." I said and smiled, but not with a lot of conviction. I wanted to tell her everything, but it sounded so bad and foolish... a vampire I corresponded with for barely a few months asked me to run away with her. Garoafa would have thought I hit my head.

I don't know how long I was there. I just slumped against a tree and wept. My life was over, just like that. What do I do now, I kept thinking, what do I do?

Then I heard a voice calling out for me. It was Garoafa.

Without thinking I jumped to my feet and she saw me, and ran to my side beneath the trees.

"Big brother told me!" She asked me, taking hold of my arms. "Are you alright?"

"No..." I tried to say, but it came out as a wail.

"Oh, my dear..." Tears welled in her eyes too and she pulled me into a hug. "It's going to be alright, I promise...!" Sobs shook my entire body and a dozen feelings swam through my head, but as she said that, for a moment, I believed her. Even in the worst moment of my life, she was there to make me feel better. I love her so much.

She went on and on about this house her parents left her in a village nearby, Călimari, how I could hide there for as long as I needed, that she would ask her uncle to help me too. I wished I could have kissed her, but I wouldn't have the courage to do that until almost a year into living together. I know, I know.

Two days after taking refuge in Călimari, there was a knock on our door. I was hiding upstairs while Garoafa answered. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but she sounded more surprised than anything else. After a few minutes that felt like eternity, Garoafa called me downstairs. It was my brother. I started apologising and crying, but he just hugged me. He said he was glad just to see I was safe, which only made me cry more. Rumors marathoned around town that I ran away with the vampires. Maybe it was best we let them think that.

Another knock at the door made the three of us go dead silent. Garoafa took a deep breath and went to answer. My head hurt from how hard I was trying to hear what was said, and, to my shock, it was a woman's voice. I didn't recognise it at first, because I had never heard her distressed.

My brother tried to stop me, but I went to peek around the corner and I saw Bela on the front porch. Garoafa was physically blocking the way and chewing her out, bluffing threats of calling her uncle if she did not leave.

Bela glanced behind her and saw me. We locked eyes. I didn't say anything, I don't think I would have been able to, so I just turned my back to her. Really, I had nothing to say to her, really. She left without another word and I never saw Bela again.

I am even more glad that things have changed since her days. Just let two women sleep with each-other, good Lord! Who cares!

Anyway, I met grand-aunt's vampire when I was in my 30s. She still went by "Mirabela".

She raised her face from behind her arms and clusters of curls. It reminded me of the Lucifer painting. Her eyes were quite glossy, but there was another thing about them: they were yellow, bright yellow. It was rather mesmerising and I found myself stumbling over my words.

"Can I help you?" She raised her head fully.

"I was wondering if I could help you, to be honest."

"Hmmm? Why?"

"Such a beautiful woman alone at a bar, sitting sullen like this... Did someone break your heart?"

She huffed out a laugh. "You could say so."

"Radu." I offered a hand.

"Mirabela." She placed her hand in mine. The name instantly brought back memories of grand-aunt's stories, but I stayed calm and kissed her knuckles. "What brings you here, Radu? On vacation?"

"You could say it's a bachelor trip."

"Mmmh." She nodded and looked at me up and down. "You're in the right place, then."

"Is that why you're here too?"

"For the most part, yes. Kind of don't have a choice, either. I go wherever my people go. I saw you talk with Hajnalka earlier."

"You know her?"

"Yeah, we've been friends for a while now. She's a cunt, but she knows how to have fun."

"You're a vampire too?" I asked, curiosity mounting.

"Yup!" She pulled her curls off her neck. There were two dots like mere birthmarks, dyeing the white skin a faded brown. "Have you met a vampire before?"

"Other than Hajnalka 10 minutes ago..."

That made her giggle. She ordered another drink.

"I didn't know vampires can drink alcohol."

"It mixes well with blood." She said and downed it. "If you drink the blood of somebody who is properly hammered, you get drunk too. It feels amazing."

"You drink blood... from the source, so to speak?" I asked, my eyes lingering on her wetted lips.

"Sometimes." She licked between them. "Call it a dinner and show."

I asked for a drink as well and she smiled.

"Is it true that vampires live in covens?" I asked.

"Yeah, but it's more of a roommate situation." She said. "We congregate together and share expenses. Sometimes there's a leader, sometimes it's to each their own. Hajnalka, for example, travels solo."

"Really? What is your coven like?"

"It sucks." She already finished another glass.

"Why don't you leave then? Can you?"

"I could..." She said. "But I don't want to be alone..."

I saw that as my chance and put my arm around her waist. "I'll only be here for a couple weeks, but... I can keep you company, if you'd like."

She smirked, turning to face me better. I could see those enchanting eyes studying me and she tilted her head. "Have we met before?"

"Have we?"

"I know this face." She said, running a finger with a sharp nail along my cheek. "Perhaps I've met your daddy. Or your mom." She chuckled darkly.

"I mean..." I laughed back. That probably shouldn't have felt as hot as it did.

"What's your name?"

"Radu Balint."

Her hand paused. "Balint, you say?"

"Indeed."

"Like the cryptozoologist?"

"The one and only."

"I see." She smiled stiffly. "Tell me, do you have a relative named Elisaveta?"

"I do. She was my grand-aunt. Perhaps you met her." I cheekily said.

She froze. "I'm sorry, grand-aunt?"

"Why, yes-"

"How old is she now?"

"Well, this year she would have been 100. She died at 83."

"EIGHTY-?" She gasped, moving away from me.

"Y-Yes... She told me she had a liaison with a vampire in her youth. It's, heh, it's quite some time since you two-"

Mirabela's eyes dashed around the floor, utterly stunned. "Holy shit..." She muttered to herself. "When did 60 years pass...?"

"A-Are you alright?"

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be fine." She suddenly laughed, pulling her glass closer. "Nothing quite like realising you pissed away half a decade, hahah!"

"Yes, I suppose-"

"How was she? Did she and that Garoafa girl work out?"

"They did, they lived together all their lives."

"Worried so much about what her family and Society might think, but did it anyway. Heh, I was right all along. I've been dealing with it for longer than she had been alive, but who cares what I say, right? I'm the idiot, after all."

"Ye-"

"Isn't it crazy? She was fine with flirting with a vampire at first. And that chipmunk started yelling at me in the doorway! Whatever, fuck both of them! Bălașa was right too and I hate that."

"Oh, uh, Bălașa is still around?"

"Pfahah, of course she is. Honestly, I should have killed her, but that would have caused me more trouble than it's worth."

"Well, uh... life has a strange way of taking its course. Who knows what God has in store-"

"Oh, I know God's plan! He wants me to kill myself! That's why He gave me such a fucked up life!"

"Oooooh-kay. I should go see where my friends ran off to."

"Sure, go ahead."

"See you around!" I said and shuffled away.

I recognised Bălașa from a distance. She was the tallest woman I've ever met, ginger-red hair like Hurrem Sultan and with a glare like ice. Emboldened by the drinks I've had with the other one, I changed my strategy.

"Good evening, Bălașa!"

She turned with surprise towards me. You know, if it weren't for the pallor, dark circles and constant grimace, she would have looked quite sweet.

"Do I know you?" She asked, impassive.

"Not me, but you may remember my grand-aunt." I smiled.

"Spit it out." She ordered.

"Elisaveta Balint."

Bălașa made a face like she caught a whiff of a really bad smell. "I would rather not remember." Then she sighed. "What are you here for?"

"Oh, I didn't know you two would be here! It was a coincidence."

"Sure you didn't."

"I've already met Mirabela." I said, fixing my posture. "I admit, she's not how I imagined."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"More... whiny."

"I wonder whose fault that is." Bălașa started walking away, but not too fast, so I accompanied her.

"She must have really liked Elisaveta if it affected her so much." I said.

"Mira has always been like this." She sighed. "Every few years she falls madly in love with some random girl or boy and it destroys her. She never learns."

"Well, the heart wants what the heart wants."

"It's nonsensical. She acts like a freshly-turned vampire even after all these years. What was she going to do when Elisaveta was an elderly woman while she remained young? Or would she put her through becoming a vampire?"

"She can't do that?"

"Of course not!" She looked almost scandalised. "It's extremely serious."

"Got it." I nodded.

"We may have been human once, like you, but we are not anymore. Trying to force it only hurts. I apologise for the distress it may have caused your aunt, but Mirabela needed to get over herself."

"That's a little harsh."

"I'm gentle compared to Lady Ilknur, our coven mother. She made sure to beat those sisyphean hopes out of me and my brother as soon as we came under her wing."

"Oh, you have a brother?"

"Yes, his name is Victor."

"Vampires can have, uh, siblings?"

"Why not?" She shrugged. "I've met entire families who have been turned together."

"I can't imagine dealing with the same people forever!"

"It's not that bad." She said, tone growing wistful. We had reached a balcony that looked over the city's lights. "It's pleasant to have someone you can always go back to, no matter how many centuries pass. To have something so certain in this unpredictable world." She sighed. "If only Mirabela would get it through her thick skull that we want what's good for her."

"Hmmm..." I put my hand against the railing. "I think there's something else too."

She looked at me from the side of her eye.

"I think you only want Mirabela for yourself."

She rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a tiny smile.

"Ehhh, gotcha." I teased.

"I can't deny that I do care about her. But it gets exhausting at times."

"Well, you're in Baden. If you can't relax here, then you're hopeless."

She chuckled. Got her. One of my uncles had a saying: if you can make a woman laugh, you're already half-way between her legs.

For the next few days I'd spend the daylight hours travelling with my buddies, then at night I'd converse and fool around with Bălașa. It was a nice little vacation routine, until one evening we heard Lady Ilknur's voice outside her door. Bălașa flinched as if it was the police. It startled me too, something like an evil crone from a tale of horror.

"Stay here and do not make a sound." She told me, quickly got dressed and rushed outside. She needn't tell me twice.

I was alone in the dark room for a while, pulling my pants on as silently as I could, when I heard footsteps. "What do we have here?" A voice softly hummed. It was Mirabela, closing the door behind herself and smiling coily.

"What are you-"

"Shhhh." She put a finger to her lips. "She's still out there."

I tried to stand up, but before I knew it she was next to me, blocking the way to the door.

"So this is what Bălașa has been hiding." She laughed, almost right next to my face. Her curls touched my skin and it made me shudder.

"Mirabela, I-"

"Careful." She put the tips of her fingers on my mouth this time. "If they hear you, it will get reaaally bad for you." She was standing between my legs, a hand on my shoulder urging me to lie down.

"What are you doing?" I asked, coming out more breathless than I wanted.

"Your heart is beating so fast." She giggled. "Are you scared? Of little old me?"

"N-No..."

"Don't be. I confess, I didn't like you at first...but seeing you tremble like this... like her... Indulge me, would you?"

And I did. In hindsight, it was a really bad idea, but it was not as if Bălașa was exclusive with me either. I'd seen her with other men and women too, humans, despite how much she was against it.

One evening, I passed by her room trying to subtly check if she was there, and I caught a glimpse of her together with Mirabela. Bălașa was sitting on a chair and Mirabela on the floor at her feet, both fully clothed. She was hugging Bălașa's legs and lying her head on her knees, as Bălașa's hand was in her curls.

I met Victor too. He was so much more timid than his sister, kind of a doormat. "So what's going on with Bălașa and Mirabela?" I asked on a whim.

"It's a love-hate relationship." He said, unperturbed. "It's not just them, there's a lot of drama in our coven in general. That's group housing, I suppose!"

"Are they together? Am I the other man, I mean?"

He chortled. "Yes and no. They want polar opposite things, but they also can't stay away from each-other, which only riles them up until they explode. It happens every few years."

"I see. Must be a pain."

"Indeed." He sighed. "But... Mirabela is slightly nicer to me, so I endure it."

"Nicer than your own sister?"

"Yes..." He said and looked very much like a wet dog.

As I frantically packed in the middle of the night, I heard a commotion from the wing reserved by the coven. Stupidly, I thought I should probably give Bălașa a heads-up I was leaving.

The drawing room I came into looked as if it had been hit by a hurricane. Victor told me to get out, for my own good. Bălașa came from around a corner and her face was covered in dark blood, so dark it looked black. When she saw me she charged towards me! I had never seen such a beastly expression of rage. Two other servants barely held her and I sprinted away. It all happened so fast and I found myself panting next to my luggage. What had happened?!

My door opened and by the time I turned around it was already closed, and Mirabela was standing there. Her curls were a mess and I could see four distinct claw marks over her cheek.

"Don't be scared!" She said, out of breath. She looked erratic, hands with long nails spastically twitching.

"What's going on?! A-Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine, don't worry." Her eyes landed on my bags and I saw them widen. "What are you doing?"

"I, uhh-"

"Is it because of her?" She demanded.

"No! I was already, uh, preparing to leave when I heard a fight-"

"Then why are you leaving?"

"Look, some... messy things happened with one of my friends and it's best we don't remain in Baden."

"I don't think so." She stepped closer, her blood or Bălașa's or both dripping on the carpet.

"M-Mirabela, please! You're not yourself!"

"What the hell do you know?!" She cackled. "You two-timing son of a bitch!"

"What?! It was you two-!!"

A hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. It was like my skin was just dough and my bone was just a twig. I thrashed and cried out in agony, hearing my own bone splinter, the hand detaching from the arm.

"Oh, hohoh, you're not going anywhere!" She dragged me towards the door.

Somehow, someway, I slipped free. She lunged after me like a cat and I scrambled towards the bathroom. I thanked every God that the key was in the lock on my side. I could hardly breathe, the pain radiating up my whole arm. She was pounding on the door.

"Open the door, Radu dear!!" She yelled. "Come, we'll explain everything together! I'm sure Bălașa will forgive you!"

"Go away, you crazy bitch!"

I looked left and right for some weapon, but there was none.

"Raduuu!"

"I have a gun!!" I bluffed. "I'll shoot you in the head, I swear to God!"

She went quiet, so suddenly that it only scared me more.

Then the door flew off its frame, a flash of her foot kicking it at the hinges. My spine hit the porcelain sink behind me.

A head of dark curls and feral golden eyes peeked through the gap left by the door. Then they crinkled from a wide grin. "I don't see a gun.~"

She suddenly looked into the bedroom, then disappeared. I heard her footsteps running away, then I heard George's voice. "R-Radu? Radu??" He must have thought I died. I thought I died too until my heart calmed down on the train.

The fiasco with the vampires distracted the hotel staff from us. As George and Ovidiu helped me go outside, I blearly caught sight of Mirabela at the end of a corridor. She was looking at me, but not mad or angry anymore. It was like she was a whole different person.