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I saw the light seeping through the doorway to the library Rage gripped me and I burst into the roo a book in English He looked up atup beneath his thick mustache

"Did you enjoy your feast?"

I could not speak for a , I drew closer to him and finally said, "May God dae from a lady even if she is a vampire" Vlad clucked at

I snatched the book out of his hand and flung it away "A child! A child, Vlad! Innocent and pure! You gave us a child"

Leaning back, he stroked his hed "Yes, innocent and pure And his innocent and pure blood right now courses through you I see it in your glowing skin, your sparkling eyes, and your glistening hair So do not coed at hi hi my wrists, he drew me down to him I fell to my knees as he leaned into me The top of his head touched my brow as he whispered, "You are what I am Do you hate yourself? For if I am ato wrench free frorip "No, never! Never!"

He buried his hand ininto my eyes, he smiled at me "But you are,on the floor crying, I gazed up at him "I will never be what you are"

"You are a vampire I am a vampire We are very much alike, dear Glynis"

He sat down in his chair and proceeded to read

Rising toMy tears flowed hot and fierce against my cold cheeks When I wiped theed with blood

"I refuse to be like you"

Vlad sighed and closed his book, one long finger keeping his place "And how shall you accomplish that, my dear Glynis? What shall you do? Refuse to feed?"

"Yes!"

He laughed at my foolish resolve

"Do not , do you not?"

I avertedinto a harsh, bitter line

"You do enjoy feeding, do you not?"

"The hunger co itself, you do enjoy it, do you not? Their blood giving you life You love it as much as I"

"Please stop! Please be silent! It is not true!" I did not want to hear his words They were brutal and they were, unfortunately, true I was loath to admit it to either one of us, especially,to reen eyes upon me and said in a low voice, "Do not lie to me, woman You are a killer the sa er and shaan to howl Angry voices began to shout fro near the s, peering down into the night

"What is it? What is wrong?"

I joined Vlad and gazed down Severaltoward thea large crucifix As I gazed upon it,theaze away fro off the wolves with flaan to chuckle "Once more they try to defeat me"

"Who are they?" I asked, but turned to find myself alone in the room

Curiosity seized hold of reat hall Who was brave enough, nay, foolish enough, to defy Vlad?

When I reached the great hall, Prince Vlad’s heavily ar out the front door Their expressions were fierce and determined as they prepared to defend their Master

"The priest is h the air, disembodied and cold

I rushed toward the open doorway, anxious to see ould happen next As I reached the courtyard, the gypsy guards opened fire on the villagers Several of theone of the gypsy round The sht breeze

The priest began to chant as the gypsy guards approached hiypsy seized the crucifix and began to wrestle it fro the torches and leaping onto one man who had wandered too far from the rest of the attackers They overcame him and ripped him to shreds

The scene was chaotic and brutal I was dazed by the noise, the violence, and the scent of blood I stood in the doorway, ape, unsure of what to do