DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except my characters.

Vlad stood at a newspaper box, staring at the year and date in mild disbelief.

"I've slept for nearly two decades!" he hissed, frowning "I must see to it that everything is in order. I need a new wardrobe and I need to update my modes of communication!"

In the midst of it all, he also realized that he needed a new assistant. Cecilia was long dead by his hand – good riddance – and he was now more inclined to hire a male assistant to avoid another debacle.

Turning back into bat form, he flew in the direction of his manor, his mind running through a list of things needed to be done.

He knew he would have to go out in daylight the next day, but he had nothing to worry about in regards to public suspicion of his true nature and identity.

He also had means of travel – his chauffeur was also put into a powerful hibernation which didn't affect his aging. The chauffeur was in his control as well…a thrall willing to serve him. Reaching into his mind to waken Frank, he also made a mental note to go clothes shopping the next day. By now, all of his expensive clothing would be moth-eaten and unfit to wear in public…

… Amara awoke the next morning, feeling tired. She had tossed and turned all night in a seemingly endless state of dreaming.

She dreamt of walking down a stone corridor, illuminated entirely by candlelight. Wearing a flowing red silk spaghetti strap dress, she found herself moving towards what looked like a massive bed chamber. Slowly walking into the chamber, she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the fire illuminating the room in the stone fireplace.

She sensed a presence in the room and opened her eyes to see who was there with her.

"Amara" she heard a British-accented voice call her in a near whisper. "Sit on the bed and close your eyes."

She did as he requested, anticipating eagerly what was to come. Soon, she felt a cool pair of lips brush against her collarbone and she shivered with pleasure. Eyes still closed, she reached out to bury her fingers in his hair. It was silky smooth and was nearly the same length as hers. It brushed against the top of her chest as he kissed a burning, icy trail from her collarbone to the curve of her jaw.

He smelled of incense and sandalwood, with a hint of something spicy. Amara had smelled nothing like it before. His scent aroused her deeply, as well as his ministrations.

"I want to open my eyes and see you" Amara pleaded as he began to nuzzle her neck lovingly.

"Soon, my love" he whispered against her ear as he continued to nuzzle her. "Soon you will see me."

That's when she awoke, panting and feeling the pooling of desire between her legs.

"Talk about realistic!" she sighed, as she grabbed her pillow and hugged it tightly. Her phone then rang, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Hello?"

"Hey! It's Miranda!"

Miranda Chang had been her friend since they both attended High School in Edmonton. Both of them took the same International Commerce program at the University of Alberta and moved to Los Angeles to pursue careers in the realm of finance. Although both started out in mergers and acquisitions, Miranda branched out into Pan-Pacific commerce successfully with her knowledge of Tagalog and Chinese.

"What's up?" Amara asked, stretching out in bed.

"I am on my way over!" Miranda replied breathlessly "I have some news to share with you. Can I bring you the usual from Starbucks?"

"Absolutely!" Amara exclaimed, bounding out of bed quickly. "Buzz me when you get here!"

"Will do"…