Marie sat down with her simple dinner of Chef Boyardee ravioli in front of her TV, turning it on to Court TV and one of her favorite shows, Forensic Files. She loved these shows about murder and forensic investigations, they were exciting. Marie was an intelligent, artistic young woman, focused on extending her knowledge and getting a good job. She had never had sex or anything like that; the risks were too great for her to want to take any. Being as lovely a sight as she was didn't help any; she gathered more lustful glances than she wanted. Ever since middle school, all boys wanted from her was sex, they didn't seem to have any respect for her as a person. Most girls who looked as good as she did would welcome the attention but not her. She wanted a good education, a good career, and eventually a good husband and home. Not in the very near future, but in the future somewhere, but not until she was independently secure.

Marie was thin, though she'd always been picked on for being so slim, and she wondered if being so was good. She was petite, but with a generous bust and wide hips, possessing that ideal hour-glass shape. So, ever since that age that girls and boys starting noticing each other, she was a target for jealous torment from other girls and unwelcome remarks and flirtations from boys. As she got into high school, the remarks and flirtations mounted to sexual harassment. She always told the teachers and it would cease for a time, but it would continue eventually. So in time, she just stopped telling the teachers and simply ignored her peers, even if they gave her a smack on or grabbed her ass. All her life, though they lived modestly, her family was well-off having come from nobility they had a tidy fortune. But she was taught to be independent, to depend on herself and make her own way in life.

Her family paid for her college and the apartment she now lived in, helping her financially whenever she needed it. They made sure she was comfortable, and she was, but she now had a taste for living her own life and using her own money to do so. She seldom used the money her family gave her, putting it away in a separate account for her rent and emergencies. Her parents had also given her the fine furniture, TV, DVD/Video player and her surround sound system as well as cable. She had her own collection of DVDs, most of which she paid for and a few videos her parents had let her take that no one else watched. Her parents didn't mind paying for cable; Marie watched cartoons, but also watched a good deal of educational shows and channels. Now she sat watching TV, eating her micro-raviolis with a cup of iced tea by her side, unaware that she was being watched. Dracula watched her, finding it hard to will himself away from her; she was so beautiful and he had taken a quick peek inside her mind. She was perfect: intelligent, beautiful, talented, and lonely for a man who loved her and respected her for herself.

It was the next day at work, Marie was looking around after hours when she was approached by one the paleontologists who worked there. At the museum, they made cast moldings and replicas of prehistoric fossils, and that was an area that Marie wanted so much to study.

"Hey, Marie," the paleontologist, a young woman called, "Would you like to help me with something?"

Marie had been looking at the dinosaur fossils, one of her favorite exhibits and the young woman knew of Marie's interest.

"Sure, Susan!" she exclaimed going to the lab with her.

There was no way Marie was going to pass up an opportunity to actually help a paleontologist. It was twilight when Marie got out, so the streets were emptier than usual, kind of like her stomach, as she walked home. There were still some people dotting the streets, not many, but some. As she walked by a man smoking a cigarette, a habit she loathed, she held her breath so she wouldn't smell the damn thing. She saw him grin at her, heard him whistle, accompanied by a cat call, but she thought nothing of it.

That was a mistake Marie came to regret when she felt the man grab her and drag her into an alley.

"Hey, beautiful," he said, "How about you and me…?"

"I'm not doing anything with you!" she growled, "Now let me go!"

"Not so fast, pretty," he replied, "My buddies haven't shown up yet. We're gonna take you for a little ride."

"I don't think she likes that idea," a voice growled.

Marie's attacker was lifted high off the ground, and slammed into the wall, his face showing pure terror. She looked at her rescuer, but he had his back to her, though she could make out long, straight black hair and a flowing black cloak. The hand around the man's throat was pale, almost white, then, the dark figure turned to her. His handsome features were distorted with disgust and anger against his captive.

"Go!" he commanded, "I will finish with him."

She didn't wait a second and quickly ran the rest of the way to her apartment, collapsing on the couch, as her breathing and heartbeat slowed. Who was that that saved her? Whoever he was, his face was clear in her mind and not likely to be forgotten any time soon.

The man who had saved her, his face handsome face burned in her mind, his black eyebrows low over his eyes that were filled with hate. His hair met above his brow in a widow's peak, that ever classic vampire hairline, and cascaded past his shoulders. It was thick and raven in color, shining in the moonlight against his black cape. His narrow eyes had seemed red and she swore she had seen prominent canines in his mouth as he had spoken.