When I awake, Barnabas's side of our bed is empty. Our servant, Willie, is passing our open door, and I call to him.

"Yes, Mrs. Collins."

"Please Willie, call me Roslyn."

"Alright, Roslyn then. Have a good day?"

"Wonderful. Where is Barnabas?"

"Mr. Collins is feeding. He asked me to tell you not to worry. He also said he had some business to take care of at the offices. He should be back soon though, he left almost two hours ago."

"Thank you Willie."

"Mam."

I open our window and look towards the ocean. The view from Collinwood never ceases to amaze me. Our large, near two hundred room palace does get quite lonely, with only three of us. I once thought of filling our mansion with children, but I believe that to be impossible. If Barnabas's heart doesn't beat, how could his emissions produce offspring? Before marrying a vampire, I wanted to be a teacher. In Collinsport, all the schools offer a high-quality education. After I met Barnabas, however, I realized I'd never have to work a day in my life. Even without the family fishing business, we'd be flushed with wealth. A breeze wanders in through the window, and I see that Barnabas has returned.

"My darling, you're awake," he take my hands and kisses them.

"Barnabas," I start, "you…me….sex…that was….amazing."

"Did I hurt you, my love?"

"No, but you didn't bite me either." I feel the stinging hot tears fall down my face, and I look down. Barnabas tilts my head back to look at him and kisses the tears away.

"I didn't know you expected…"

"It does not matter," I say as I walk through our bedroom door into the living room. Pulling my feet under me, I wish desperately I had not said anything.

"My sweet Roslyn," he says, and I smile, the way I do every time Barnabas uses my name. "I could never dream of biting you. I would curse you."

"Don't you want me to share in everything that is yours? Don't you want me to be just like you, so we can be equals? I want to be everything and everywhere you are, and if you change me, I could be."

"Maybe, someday."

"Now Barnabas! I cannot see myself growing old while you stay young, and live forever."

"And you're sure that taking another's life, which you will undoubtedly be compelled by this curse to do will not scar your soul forever?"

"Perhaps, but it is worth the price as long as I spend forever with you."

"Then perhaps, my love, I just got an idea for your anniversary present."

I sigh, and go to my office of the third floor of our mansion, to make arrangements for our third vacation since our honeymoon. We'd been to Paris, Hawaii, and Rome. Funnily enough, we'd never been to England, the place where Barnabas was born, more than 200 years ago. Online I buy two tickets for an evening departure, and email my assistant at Collins Canning Company, the family business, letting him know that I will be gone for six months. Markus responds quickly, assuring me that the business will be just find, and he will handle everything while Barnabas and I are gone. Finally, I can relax. I smile as I think to myself, I am going to be a vampire.

I never dreamed we'd be gifted with a new wonder.