Third POV

The residents of the mansion were not the only ones who counted the passage of time through the shadow-cleft moon. A humming echoed in tune with the soft sound of boots with plated heels traversing through the light that spilled into the church through open windows. The creature, with snow white skin that lay cloaked in black, seemed like an illusion cast by the tracery more than a living being. This being of such contrasts looked out at the crescent moon, reflected in his softly lucent smile.

"..Though it is doomed to the ugliness of utter obliteration, it remains such a beautiful world." came a mumble accompanied by the creature's smile. The man, should we even refer to him as such, crossed under the nave, where two shadows stood on either side, waiting. "Have you seen it? The crescent moon is so beautiful tonight. Let us look at it together. Faust. Charles." he spoke. "..Hmph. All the time at your disposal and you waste it in idleness, Lord Vlad? We should make the church an almshouse, if it's host to the senile." Faust spoke, his tone harsh.

"Docteur, le Voïvode wasn't idle, you know that. He was doing his job as a florist. I'd love a job like that! So many pretty living flowers that all smell so nice and everyone loves you for what you do." Charles spoke, continuing- "I want to be loved like that! I want everyone to love me more and more.." Faust narrowed his sharp green gaze at the other man, "You do the word 'love' no favors, muttering it constantly like a curse. Then again, you do the very concept no favors, you mercurial nagetier."

"We humans need love. We crave it. It's one of our most moral desires." Charles explained. "Did I hear you say 'we'- and 'human?'" Faust's expression tightened. A laughter began to echo from Vlad's lips. "Euer Hochgeboren?" "..Did something I say make you laugh?" Charles stared at him in confusion. "I simply remember how easy it is to forget my troubles around you two. ..Then I remember how even the good times are destined to come to an end and I become sad." Vlad explained.

"You feel sadness?" Faust commented. "I do. I feel sadness for the moon in the sky, the flowers in the soil, and the humans who walk between them in ignorance. I want to protect them all so they don't ever have to feel that way." Vlad explained. Charles smiled, "You love humans more than anything, don't you, Voïvode?" Vlad's smile seemed to widen, "Of course I love them."

He who felt nothing but love, looked out the window and up into the night sky. It was not the moon his depthless crimson eyes spotted, but something beyond sight. More than even a mortal's eyes could capture. "I'm in love with this world. That's why- ..As the unwilting flower called a vampire, I must bear this garden into eternity." The vampire's words were stolen by the darkness, fading into it. His beloved subjects completely unaware of their lord's tender promise..

Maki's POV

Finally, I was alone. I fell onto the bed in what was to be my room during my stay. Alone with Mousette and my own thoughts, it was easy to imagine that this was all just a dream. And that I was back in my hotel. "If only it was a dream." I mumbled. I'm willing to believe I traveled back in time. But I don't think I can believe I had dinner with a bunch of time-traveling artists and scientists and musicians and-! I tried to recount everyone I had met.

Vincent van Gogh, and his younger brother Theodorus. One paints masterpieces, the other sells them. One is nice, the other.. It's hard to tell. But they seem close. The two authors. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes, and Osamu Dazai, who wrote 'No Longer Human.' The class flirt and the class clown? They both seemed to want my attention. Was Sir Isaac Newton really that shy? He wouldn't even dare to look me in the eye. I can't even begin to picture Jean d'Arc. I wonder what she.. I mean, he's really like?

"Heh.. Your words, they match the look on your face. That's rare."

How on Earth did I lose myself so easily around Leonardo da Vinci? And what exactly was he even thinking?

"..As if the banquet wasn't bad enough."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His music sounds so lively and fun. Yet he seemed so cold and empty within. And of course, I can't forget-

"I'll answer your questions later. You need to escape before the others find you."

Napoleon Bonaparte. It seemed like he was trying to rescue me, I'm sure of that. But from what?

I couldn't even begin to picture all of them lying about who they are. And my instincts told me that they were telling the truth. Besides, what would le Comte and Sebastian even gain from lying to me? I'm not rich nor influential. I'm just an average girl, there's no benefit to it. Then, it's all real? As real as this place is..

I slipped out of my jacket and kicked off my shoes, then removed my stun earrings and contact lenses. I had done enough thinking for the time being. "It's time for bed.." I mumbled to myself, slipping under the covers and shutting my eyes. Despite my internal clock still reading afternoon, I was able to sleep.

Later that night, I woke to the soft crumple of the thick duvet, followed by the creak of the bed-frame. ..What is that? I felt my body freeze up and quickly go tense. Someone else was in the room with me. And they were on the bed. "Who's there?!" No response came. It isn't safe here like I thought.. I pushed myself out of bed and sprang up to my feet. A pair of arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me back onto the bed with them.

Whoever this was, they were now on top of me. Holding me down. "Stop!" Strong hands held mine pinned to the sheets. My legs trapped beneath theirs. "Don't move." Their breath was against my ear, causing my body to tense even further. Sharp teeth sank into my neck. It stung for just a moment. No, not even that long. What I felt couldn't be described as painful. I felt.. so hot.

I couldn't move my limbs. They weren't under my control any longer. Heat flickered across my vision like that of a desert mirage. Each warm breath billowing over my neck seemed to fill me with an insatiable longing. Someone.. Someone was biting me? No liquor could have ever intoxicated me as quickly. Sheer pleasure spread from my neck and traveled throughout my entire body. I groaned in a voice I had never heard from myself before, completely laden with ecstasy. Did this voice even belong to me?

Except I knew for a fact that it did. Oh, I felt it to my very core, a slowly throbbing pulse that robbed me of all reason. I have to.. I have to snap out of it. My lashes were fluttering as my eyes began to roll back. Suddenly, I caught sight of something. Someone had spilled what looked to be rose petals on the bed's pure white sheets. Except they weren't rose petals and they had come from me. It was blood. My blood. Before I lost grasp of my consciousness and slipped into the dark void, I heard a man's voice.

"I want it all. Your body, your heart.. and your destiny." NO!

I shot awake, scrambling out of bed and clutching my neck. There was no puncture wound nor any blood to be found. I spun, looking around the room. It was completely empty. No trace of the man who had decided to bite me. "..There's no one here." I murmured. I've never had such a realistic dream before. No, that wasn't true. When I had first arrived at the mansion.. That dream felt just as real.

My fingers were cold and my entire body was shaking. My throat felt dry. "I should.. go get some water." Retracing my steps from dinner, I found the kitchen. The electric lamps were lit up and I could see Sebastian was awake, washing dishes. After that nightmare, I felt a bit of relief to see him. "Is something the matter?" Sebastian asked. "..Mmhmm. Could I have some water please?" Sebastian poured me a glass, and he listened patiently as I told him about the waking dream- or rather, the vision- I had when I first arrived.

"..And I had another dream just now.." I muttered. Sebastian's gaze narrowed, "Tell me about the dream." Hesitantly and nervously, I told Sebastian about the man in my room. How he had held me down and bitten into my neck. "..Just like a vampire would." I finished. Talking about it helped. In fact, I felt a bit of laughter in my voice as I finished my silly story. "Dreams can be so realistic, even when they're about the most unbelievable things."

Sebastian had fallen silent now, and I couldn't help but wonder if he'd grown tired of my prattling. "..I appreciate you listening to my silly dream." I muttered, my voice sounding weaker than before as my gaze dropped to the floor. "I apologize if I seem crazy for dreaming about vampires.." Finally, Sebastian spoke- "I don't think you're crazy, nor do I believe it was just a silly dream." "Huh? You don't think it was silly?" Sebastian shook his head, "No. Indeed, it's a good sign."

I felt a pang of unease grow within me. "My bad dream is a good sign?" Sebastian nodded, "I believe you saw that dream because you're here in this mansion." I stared at Sebastian in confusion, "You're not making any sense." "The dream serves as a warning. ..That you are not to give them neither your body nor your heart." "Them?" Sebastian's gaze narrowed once more, "The residents of this mansion. For you see, everyone you've met tonight-"

"They are exactly what you saw in your dream. They are all vampires."