Count Vladimir Dracula silently made his way to the Van Helsing manor. It was a cool autumn night in London, and he could see his breath in the air. Even so, the vampire inhaled the fresh, country air, the cold air sending a shock to his lungs as he breathed in, telling him this was indeed real and not a dream.
He reached the Van Helsing manor and, keeping hidden in the shadows, made his way around to where Jessica's room was. He picked up a pebble and threw it at the window, hitting it.
The window opened, and Jessica stuck her head out.
"You're early."
Dracula smiled, carefully climbed the large tree beside the house, and went in through her window.
"That just means we can spend a little more time together than usual."
Jessica smiled, and they embraced for a moment.
This was a typical night for them. Dracula would come, sneak in, they send a few hours together, and Dracula would leave so Jessica could sleep.
Jessica's grandparents, Lorrimar and Sarah Van Helsing, knew nothing of them, and she planned to keep it that way for as long as she could, knowing her grandfather would seek to destroy Dracula.
After a couple hours, Dracula prepared to leave. He climbed out the window, gave her a quick kiss, dropped to the ground, landing impossibly light, and disappeared into the night.
Jessica turned off her light, got in bed, and quickly fell asleep.
***************
"I'm worried about her, Lorrimar. She's never stayed up like this," Sarah said.
They had noticed that Jessica had been staying up later than usual the past several weeks.
"I'm sure it's nothing, dear. She'd tell us if something was wrong," Lorrimar assured his wife.
That seemed to help, and Sarah was soon asleep in her husband's arms.
Lorrimar Van Helsing wished he could believe his own words, but he knew he couldn't. He had sensed something different, unholy, during the time Jessica stayed up. He didn't know what it was or what to do about it, and that made him even more worried.
With a quiet sigh, he fell asleep.