"I'm resistant to the impossible," I cried. "The unreal."

At this low point, Dad returned with a mildewed scroll cradled in his hands. "Historically, a lot of people are resistant to the idea of the undead," Dad noted, carefully placing the document on the table. "And the late 1980s were an especially lousy time for vampires in Romania. Big purges every few months. Lots of very nice vampires eliminated."

"Your birth parents-who were quite powerful within their subculture- realized that they were likely marked destruction and entrusted you to us before they were killed, hoping we could keep you safe in the United States," Mom added.

"People don't drink blood," I repeated. "They don't. You didn't see my parents act like vampires, did you," I challenged. "You never saw them grow fangs and bite necks? I know you didn't. Because it didn't happen."

"No," mom admitted, taking my hands again. "We were not allowed that kind of access."

"Because it didn't happen," I repeated.
"No," Sasuke interjected. "Because biting is very private, very intimate. You don't just invite people to watch. Vampires are a sensual race but not given to exhibitionism, for god's sake. We're discreet."

"But we have no reason to believe anyone lied to us about drinking blood," Mom in added. "And it's nothing to be upset about, Saku. It was quite normal to them. Had you grown up Romania in that subculture, it would have seemed ordinary to you too."

I yanked my hands away. "I really don't think so."

With a deep sigh, Sasuke resumed pacing. "Honestly, I can't stand this going around anymore. The story is quite simple. You, Sakura, are the last of a long line of powerful vampires. The Haruno's. Vampire royalty."

Now that made me laugh a squeaky, kind of hysterical laugh. "Vampire royalty. Right."

"Yes. Royalty. And that is the last part of the story, which your parents still seem reluctant to relate." Sasuke leaned over the table across from me, bracing his arms, staring down me down. "You are a vampire princess-the heir to the Haruno leadership. I am a vampire prince. The heir to an equally powerful clan, the Uchiha. More powerful, I would say, but that's not the point. We were pledged to each other in an engagement ceremony shortly after our births."

I looked to my mom for help, but all she said was, "The ceremony was quite dramatic, very elaborate."

"In an enormous cave in Carpathians," Dad added. "With candles everywhere." He gazed at my mom with loving admiration. "No other outsider ever had such access."

I glared at them. "You were there? At this ceremony?"

"Oh, we met lots of vampires on that trip and saw so many interesting cultural events." Mom smiled a little, remembering. "You should read my search summary in the Journal of Eastern European Folk Culture. It was rather landmark insider work, if I do say so myself."

"Let me finish, please," Sasuke grumbled.

"Easy there," Dad chided gently. "In this little democracy, everybody gets a chance to speak."

From the disdainful look on Sasuke shot my dad, I could tell he didn't care much for democracy. The delusional Dracula wannabe resumed pacing. "The betrothal ceremony sealed our destines, Sakura. We are to be married soon after you come of age. Our bloodlines united, consolidating our clans' strength and ending years of rivalry and warfare." His black eyes gleamed, and his gaze drifted far away. "It shall be a glorious moment in our history, when we ascend to power. Five million vampires –your family, my family combined- all under our rule." My so-called betrothed snapped back to reality and glanced at me, sniffing, and "I'll do all the 'heavy lifting,' of course, leadership-wise

"You're all insane," I declared, staring from one face to the next. "This is crazy."

Moving closer to me, Sasuke crouched so we were face to face. For the first time, I saw curiosity, not disdain or mockery, or raw power, in his dark eyes. "Would it be so repugnant, really, Sakura? To be with me?"

I wasn't sure what he meant, but I though he was talking about… the two of us together, not in a bid for political power, but in a romantic way.