Alfred supposed it was a bit of a joke, really. The way he ended up working for eccentric, aged men seemed now like it was becoming a trend for him. First he had got the job as Professor Abronsius' assistant, now he was working as a reader for a vampire count in the middle of wildest Transylvania. Truly, it couldn't get more weird than this.

Logically thinking, he probably shouldn't even be alive anymore. Why hadn't the vampire killed him the first chance he got? Moreover, one would assume the Count would at least take his life the moment he declared out loud that he knew the truth. But here he was, still very much alive.

What held Krolock's hand? Alfred could tell the man had contemplated taking his life last night, perhaps been minutes away from doing it. He still wasn't sure what it had been about his words that had made the Count reject the option. Whatever the case, he was not dead and that was a major accomplishment in his situation.

But it also meant something else: things couldn't go as they had until now. Something would have to change. Or, at least Alfred expected so when he was reading over the questions he had drafted for the night following their confrontation. They had to do with the folk tales, but though this subject would normally have interested him greatly, now he could hardly focus. He was thinking of very different set of questions he'd like to make, but wasn't sure how the Count would react.

How did you become a vampire? Does it hurt to be turned? Did you change Herbert? How long have you been like this? What is it like to be a vampire?

Howdoes it feel like to drink blood?

What did you feel when you drank mine?

Alfred leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face. He wondered if the Count would mind it much if he asked at least few of these questions... surely he would understand Alfred's curiosity? Here he was, staying as a guest to a genuine vampire, and there was some kind of an agreement he wouldn't be killed! It had to mean the Count would not be opposed to sharing at least something.

Of course, he would have to be careful not to overstep. He was curious but not rude, and he didn't want Krolock to regret letting him live.

So, when he approached the sitting room that night, he had their current book and his official questions ready, but he was also thinking of how he might introduce this other topic to his host/employer.

The Count stood by the fire with a poker in his hand, his silhouette dark against the roaring flames. He almost looked like he was wielding some sort of a blade in his hand. For a second, Alfred thought he appeared as though some kind of a dark, vengeful figure from a strange fairy tale. The human shook his head then, berating himself for such fanciful thoughts, and approached His Excellency with greetings.

When they were seated and Alfred was shuffling with his papers and the book, he could suddenly feel a pair of discerning eyes staring at him.

"Is there something on your mind?" asked the Count, like he had known from the moment Alfred had stepped inside that there was something he would like to ask.

"I was just wondering... well, about you, sir. You and your kind", said the human after a moment's hesitation. "And I wanted to ask if you... you'd be willing to tell me about what it's like."

Krolock's eyes narrowed and in them appeared something cool and unfriendly.

"Did you not say you were not going to study vampires?" he asked Alfred. Why was he suddenly hostile, when previously this idea seemed to have entertained him in some way? But whatever the reason, Alfred knew it was not wise to let him think Alfred was reconsidering the idea of taking up Professor Abronsius' research.

"And I'm not! I promise. I'm not asking as a scientist. And I'm not writing any of it down. It's just... I'd like to know more about you, sir. About your world. I never thought I would get to talk with one of your kind", Alfred replied quickly, speaking in earnest.

The Count's face softened a little and he seemed to grow less tense. He crossed his feet and regarded Alfred with something like gentle amusement.

"I suppose it makes sense you would be curious. I rarely interact very long with humans, and even less usual it is with them knowing what I am", he said and amusement became melancholy. Alfred could well see why that was. Suddenly he wondered if this man was very lonely.

His Excellency shook his head and looked at Alfred again, his eyes sharp and collected once more. He asked, "Well, what do you want to know?"

The human smiled brightly. Who would have thought? Here he was, sitting comfortably with a vampire who was actually friendly to him, and he was allowed to ask questions few if any mortals had got to propose! He decided he probably shouldn't start with the personal questions, even if they were the ones that most fascinated him.

So Alfred put aside the book and papers and crossed his hands in his lap. He looked at the Count, who was regarding him expectantly, and made his first question: "What is it like, being turned?"

Krolock grimaced, his elegant features twisting into a sneer momentarily.

"It's quite horrible, to tell you the truth. Your sire drinks your blood to the point of death, and then he or she makes the choice of either killing you, or letting you come back. But either way, you die", he answered in a tone that chilled Alfred to his bone. Krolock sighed and went on, "And then you come back again. It's not rebirth; being born implies being alive. Many of us go mad when they return, and never become like their human selves again. So you could say that new vampires often are insane both with hunger and death."

"And then?" Alfred asked in a breathless little voice. He was now leaning forward in his chair, eager to hear more. He made a silent side note in his mind: Krolock did not seem like he was out of his mind, so that was a good thing. Right?

"You just know you are not the same anymore. You see and feel things you never imagined before, and you are impossibly hungry. It can make you lose your mind all over again. It never really goes away... there's an emptiness inside of you and no matter how hard or long you try, you cannot truly sate it", said the Count. He was looking away now, but Alfred saw the sadness on his features. His own heart ached, too, though he didn't know why.

"But you learn to control it, don't you?" Alfred asked carefully. It seemed like a reasonable assumption. Otherwise, he didn't think he would even be alive right now.

"To an extent, yes. But there is always danger of slipping. And most of us don't even bother to try", the vampire said with a dark smile on his features.

"Why do you try, then?" Alfred dared to inquire, though he wasn't sure it was a safe question to ask. Not that he wasn't glad the Count held on to some resemblance of humanity and he surely appreciated all efforts against beastly actions, but he did wonder what motivated his employer.

"Because the reward is relative clarity. And that is highly preferable to becoming an animal", Krolock answered. Something severe passed across his face momentarily, and the human wondered what he was thinking of then. He could only guess at the musings of an undead. Krolock sighed and continued to speak, "I had to learn to control it when I was newly turned. For my son was very young and his mother was gone, and if I had simply succumbed, he would have been all alone. And so I tried, for his sake. I still do. Without him, I would have given up long ago."

Alfred looked at the man with wide eyes. This was something he had not expected. This, if anything, was proof of emotions. Proposition A: vampires could love. Or, at least Count von Krolock did.

He would have liked to pursue that idea more, but then he noted the expression on the man's face: grief and pain were clear for him to see. A twinge of guilt slashed in his breast and Alfred decided not to prod at the topic any more than this. He did not want to make his employer feel like it was a mistake to answer his questions.

He shifted on his seat and tapped his lower lip thoughtfully. It was obviously time for new line of questions.

"Can you tell me why you're never around during daytime? Is sunlight harmful for you?" he asked at length.

The Count lifted his eyebrows.

"Are you hoping to find out my weaknesses so that you can use them against me?" he asked back.

"What could I do to you, even if I wanted to?" Alfred answered and shook his head. Truth be told, if he had a stake in his hand and Krolock could not stop him, he wasn't sure he could actually go through with it. Even when he had sneaked into the crypt and seen the vampire sleeping helpless in his sarcophagus, Alfred had only felt fascinated.

His Excellency considered him for a minute, until he spoke once more.

"Sun is not harmful to a vampire, if you cover yourself properly", he said at length, still studying Alfred with keen eyes, "but it does weaken us, make us more vulnerable. And if one is exposed to direct sunlight for too long, it will make one's skin burn and blister. It's rather unpleasant. I once even went blind in light."

Alfred looked at him in surprise.

"You used to go out in sunlight?" he asked in wonder.

Krolock smiled darkly again.

"Indeed. But it was a long time ago, when I still thought I could simply will myself to become more human again", he said in a quiet, grim voice. "I learned better soon enough. Night is... more natural for my kind. And it is a time when you are more vulnerable against us."

Alfred couldn't help but shudder. Yes, he was quite vulnerable if the Count decided he had outlived his usefulness. And yet... maybe this conversation meant the master of the castle was becoming more agreeable to the idea of sparing him.

"Do you... do you always kill your prey?" Alfred asked. His voice was barely more than a whisper.

Blue, fathomless eyes met his own and held him captive. He didn't know what he felt more: nervous or mesmerized.

"Not always", came the soft answer. The way Krolock was looking at him then, it was as though the man was wordlessly asking whether he really wanted to know this. It was a very good question. But then, he was the one who had asked to interview a vampire.

"What is feeding like?" Alfred inquired then, pushing other thoughts from his mind.

The vampire thought about the question for a while, perhaps to find words to describe it.

"It is... more than just sustenance. When you are feeding, for that precious moment you don't feel the hunger. And it is a pleasure where you easily lose yourself, if you are not careful", he said slowly, looking away with a faraway expression on his features. He let out a small sigh, "Hungry vampires are vicious creatures. It can be monstrous when they come across a mortal. It's easier to stay in control when you feed regularly."

The human sat silent for a minute, wondering if he should make his next question, or leave it untouched. But the Count lifted one eyebrow and made him feel like he already knew what was on his mind.

"Why didn't you turn or kill me when you drank from me?" Alfred asked at last, knowing he could not dismiss it now.

A slight smile curved Krolock's mouth. And his eyes glimmered in a very strange way.

"Because it would have been a terrible waste", he merely said. Was that the whole truth? Alfred could only guess. The Count would not tell him anything he did not want to share.

He was still thinking of this when Krolock suddenly shifted on his seat, and his expression became the usual collected one.

"I believe that is enough for now. One shouldn't reveal all one's secrets at once", he said smoothly, yanking Alfred back to the present. He would surely have liked to ask some more questions, but like he had figured out from the start, a measure of compliance was always a good idea with His Excellency. And he wasn't sure of how the man would react to cheeky attitude.

"Of course, sir", Alfred said readily and lifted up the book in his lap again, preparing to read out loud for his employer.

As he leafed through pages, he wondered if they would ever get to a point where he could comfortably ask the questions that truly intrigued him. But then, as Alfred thought of it, a notion rose to him: what would it take to get to such openness with this man?

And secondly, did he dare to find out?


Since his coming to the Castle von Krolock, Alfred felt like the dynamics of his relationship with the Count were constantly shifting.

First, Krolock had appeared to him in the darkness as saviour, pulling him from snow and carrying him to safety. Then some threads of menace had appeared when Alfred had realized just what this man was. These remained even as they made their business deal, and nights passed with Alfred either reading or interviewing the master of the castle.

He knew the menace had nearly actualized the night he had confronted the Count about blood-drinking. But something had held his hand, and so Alfred still lived. Somehow, he now felt, that moment of honesty had changed things yet again. There was something... well, he wouldn't call it friendship per say, but he felt like the Count regarded him more positively now, and vice versa. At least he wasn't so afraid he would be killed some time soon.

What Alfred did know was the way he looked forward to evenings, and to the moment His Excellency joined him. The Count would appear from the shadows and he would not appear so threatening; instead, often it was with that faint smile and a soft greeting. Perhaps he too waited for the time spent together and appreciated the company of his reader? Moments came Alfred even forgot what his employer was, and his own manner became bolder than he had ever thought possible.

He didn't realize it then, but the lines were already blurring.

And there were actual conversations, not just talk related to Alfred's job or research. On an occasion, His Excellency might even make a comment that could be regarded as a joke. His sense of humour could sometimes be dark and a little disturbing, but more often it was of a wry brand that Alfred could accept and found amusing. Soon enough he found himself wondering if he was able to make the Count laugh; it didn't seem like an easy thing to do, for the man was always so calm and collected, and his true emotions could only be guessed at most of the time. Even making him smile seemed like an unusual accomplishment.

Then, one night, this relationship took yet another unexpected turn. For that night His Excellency did something Alfred hadn't known he was capable of or interested in: he was there for him.

It was halfway through his third week in the castle. Alfred had felt a little down for a couple of nights. His mind was not so much in the things he did and his dreams were troubled, even though the nightmare from before had not haunted him ever since the night he had confronted the Count about the vampire problem.

"Are you unwell, Alfred? I promise, I haven't been drinking from you", he noted in dry tones that actually made Alfred snort softly in laughter. But his amusement was shortly lived.

"I was just... thinking of my family. I miss them", he answered quietly and lowered his eyes to stare at his lap.

"Why don't you tell me about them?" asked the Count suddenly. He closed the book in his hands and regarded Alfred with something that could almost be called sympathetic.

Alfred hesitated for a moment before he began to speak. Of what consequence could his little life be to someone who had lived centuries? But the man seemed genuinely interested.

"My mother is a sweet, kind woman. She's just lovely. She was a daughter of a wealthy old family and they didn't like it when she married my father... she hasn't spoken with them ever since. I think it still pains her, though she rarely says anything to us. She's a wonderful singer and I think she could have performed on all the European stages, if her family and faith had allowed."

"Really? She would let that prevent her?" Krolock asked. It was clear from his tone which reason he disapproved of more, and Alfred put that observation carefully away for further examination.

"Well, it's not for the reason you might think. She loves music and our house was always full of it when I was a child. It's just she thinks it would be prideful and greedy to use her voice to win earthly riches and fame. She's what you would call a true Christian", Alfred explained quickly. Krolock seemed unconvinced, but he did not pursue that topic for more.

"What about your father?" he asked instead.

"He's a stern, ambitious man. I suppose he never forgave how my mother's family treated him. He's a merchant, you see, and he has been struggling for years to truly get his business to flourish. It's been only a few years that it has really started to grow. But he has always expected much from us – his children, I mean. And if we came home with poor grades or a teacher's scolding... well, it was always the surest way to get a whipping. What affection he has is fully for our mother", Alfred said and bit the inside of his lip. Behind his eyes, tears of old shame and failure burned. And he recalled the cold, keen glances of his father and how clear it was he could never be enough in the man's eyes no matter how hard he tried.

But then a soft voice spoke interrupted his painful musings pulling him back again.

"The thought of your father troubles you. Why is that? Did he do more than just give you a good whipping?" asked the Count slowly. His eyes were firmly fixed on Alfred's face, unblinking and strange. Abruptly Alfred felt like there was something very dangerous about the man's countenance, though not necessarily towards him. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

"No, it wasn't like that. He's just very good at making you feel like your'e not good enough", he answered quickly and wiped a hand across his eyes. To start to cry would just be proving whatever his father thought of him.

"Would you then say you are your mother's child?" Krolock asked after a brief silence. Alfred blinked – he had not expected such a question.

"... I suppose. At least, I look more like than I look like my father. And it's always been easier to talk to her than to him", he admitted.

Krolock was quiet for a bit, until he asked, "Do you have siblings?"

"Yes, I do. Matthias is the eldest. Father trains him to run the business – he's the heir and will take over when the time comes. He's much like Father... they both are, really. My sister Frieda, you see, she's got his ambition and our mother's talent. Her teachers say she'll soon be the star of the opera in Königsberg", he answered, smiling a bit when speaking of his brother and sister. Though they were much like their father, they had some of Mother's gentleness to soften their moods.

He fell silent for a moment before he went on again.

"I'm the youngest. I had enough success in school that Father put me through university. I don't suppose I ever had any other prospects... I know he expects nothing less than a professor's office from me. He's always asking why haven't I got my doctorate yet", Alfred said and frowned slightly. He let out a sigh, "That's partly the reason I came here, you see. I wanted to show him that I could do this. That I was braver and more capable than he thought me. And you see, it's hard to shine in the academia. It takes a little bit of madness to rise above the norm. I thought maybe Professor Abronsius was just that. But even he was... well, sometimes it felt like he simply forgot that I exist. I don't suppose I really meant to him much beyond what I could do for him"

"You are above the norm, Alfred", said the Count sternly. "And you are braver than you even understand. Do you not see the nerve it takes to sit opposite a vampire and remain so calm? To turn the wheel of your own fate as you have?"

He leaned forward in his seat, blue eyes flaming, and against Alfred's expectations his long and slender fingers brushed against his palm in a gesture that was both comforting and unusual. The vampire's voice grew a little louder and fiercer when he continued, "As for your father and this professor – if they did not see you for the bright young man that you are, then I can only assume they are either blind or fools. Perhaps both."

Warmth spread over Alfred's cheeks and he looked down once more. But it was not for any other reason except the fact that he wasn't used to being praised so, and so the pleasure he felt at it took him unawares. The palm Krolock's fingers had just brushed felt very warm. He stared at it and flexed his fingers; the sensation of touch lingered.

"Thank you", he whispered, glancing at the face of the Count a little shyly. If he expected to see the man smile, he was wrong. For now His Excellency regarded him with a slight frown.

"People don't treat you very well, do they, Alfred?" he asked at length.

The young man shrugged in an attempt to seem unconcerned. But there was a twinge in his chest that betrayed what he truly felt.

"For them to treat me in any way would first require they know that I exist and pay attention to me", he said with some difficulty. Well, his mother had always been loving, but his siblings, though they were generally in good terms, were too preoccupied with their own careers. And the quiet, shy Alfred, younger than them by several years, had never found an easy way to get their attention.

Blue, keen eyes held his own. No one had ever regarded him like that, straight and focused and fully present. It was almost like spotlight was aimed at him, but it was not the kind of bright and glaring light that left one embarrassed and uncomfortable. Rather, he felt like for once he was seen and accepted just as he was. It was disarming and Alfred felt like had Krolock just asked, he would probably have revealed any and all secrets right there. He wondered how the Count saw him then, what things he could read in the young man's face and eyes.

"I know that you exist, Alfred", said His Excellency, "and I can assure you I'm not going to forget it."

To be continued.


A/N: Well well. Things are going places, or are they? In any case, I very much enjoyed exploring the insides of Alfred's head for this chapter. In the end he's such a fascinating character in many ways, and I sometimes feel he doesn't get due praise for that. But I imagine Krolock is finding him very interesting, at least!

Considering vampire lore and rules are treated so vaguely in the musical, I decided to have my own take at the nature of their kind. I admit I always liked that about Tanz der Vampire, the way it doesn't set down the rules too firmly but lets you think about what they can or can't do.

The bit about Alfred's family is, of course, purely my own invention. I think being youngest of three children would at least partly mean that he gets overlooked a lot, which in turn would explain his insecurities about always being forgotten. In this story, I imagine his older brother and sister are both quite talented in what they do, but they are much more open about it. Alfred definitely has his own gift, but he's the quiet one, so he doesn't get much into the spotlight.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! If you got time, let me know what you think! :)


Calimera - Thank you very much! I am glad to hear my Tanz stories keep you hooked like that. :)

There's definitely a lot of pushing and pulling going on between Alfred and Krolock! I don't think either of them really knows what's going on and what to do. Alfie may be young and naive but he's not blind to the way this relationship is changing, and in fact he may be more open for it than the Count is.

Personally, I never bought the idea that Herbert is in love with Alfred in the musical. I believe he is there to try and keep Alfred from getting his goal: finding Sarah and getting her to flee with him. Herbert may definitely think that Alfred is cute and all the better for him if he gets to drink his blood on the side, but to tell you the truth, I really can't see Herbert as this committing to a serious relationship kind of character. I think Herbert's motive is much the same as his father's is for Sarah. Meanwhile, between Alfred and Krolock, there's actual real chemistry (textual and sometimes physical, depending on actors) that could become something more. Anyway, we'll see how this all turns out for them!

And you are correct to assume that the ball has been over for some time now, but I couldn't think of any good way to include it in the story and then I kind of forgot about it! I guess I have been too wrapped up with Alfred's POV here.

ghostwritten2 - I'm glad you liked it! It really is very fascinating to write conversations between them here, because it's so different from both the musical and my previous stories!

Also it's fun to imagine Alfred's reaction if he knew that Krolock thought him charming! :D