Thanks for the review! Here´s the next chapter. I hope you like it!

5. Good or bad?

The whole day I had to spend inside his house. Van Helsing asked more than once if something wrong was.

But the night had to come and I really wished for it. As soon as the sun was down I left my room and went to the window. I opened it quitely and jumped. I landed safely on my feet. It didn´t matter how to return there.

I took the knife out of my pocket and walked away from the house. Van Helsing wasn´t allowed to know my secret. Noone was.

Suddenly I heared footsteps. I hided in the shadow of a house and watched a man walking through the village. Exactly as I wanted to kill him I saw a black shadow flying over me.

It landed in front of the man. Violently the figure pulled the man towards him and bit into his neck. I couldn´t believe that someone could do that when I had to do it. I ran to the figures and pushed the black one aside. I felt my teeth grow and sank them into the small puncture wounds.

To my own surprise the black man let me drink all the remaining blood in the lifeless body. I pulled my teeth out again and threw the man into the arms of the black one.

I saw the man stare at me and looked instinctively into his face. It was the same handsome face the Count had but it was impossible. He couldn´t be like me. A few moment we only stared at each other before he spoke a word: "I see we have more things in cammon than I thought." He dropped the dead body.

"You are right and I´m proud to be like this. I´m afraid death hadn´t given me a chance to choose but I will learn to live with it."

Another silence got between us. Now the situation was like between two children, who were unable to speak.

"Does anyone know about it?", I asked him. He shook his head. "No, only you and me. And if someone should find something out we´ll kill him", said the Count, "By the way, from now on my name is Count Dracula."

"Son of the devil", I translated, "Did you make a deal with the devil?" - "Yes. A good friend was so kind and murdered me", explained Dracula.

After the next silence I asked: "Do you know now who I am?" - "I´m afraid not." But I really wanted him to remember me. He had to feel shame. "Then I will give you three tips. Firstly: You met me before you died. Secondly: I pleaded for my life, and thirdly: I´m innocent!"

After a while I said: "When you don´t know it, I can´t tell you more. I told you everything I could still remember." With these words I turned and walked away. A last time he called to me: "I promise that I will think about it. Tomorrow at the same time I will be waiting for you right here."

I wasn´t sure if I should see him again. Of course I hadn´t anything to lose. I wasn´t invulnerable but immortal. Anyway I had enough time to make my decision.

As I arrived at my new home I assured myself that nobody did see me and then I climbed back through the window. Van Helsing was still asleep. So I used the time to make breakfast for him.

I really hoped that he did not notice that I wasn´t at home this night. I put some bread and tea on the table. He wasn´t poor but not rich. So I looked for some more food.

As I heared footsteps from the room next to the kitchen I quickly sat down on the chair and pretended to drink from an empty cup of tea. "Did you make all that?", asked Van Helsing and sat down on the other chair. I only looked waiting at him. "Oh, good morning", he added quickly and smiled.

"Good morning. Dig in. I have eaten yet", I said and pointed at the table.

He could not imagine how to eat that fast like he did. "Thank you. That was good. I´ll clean the dishes. Please go into my room. I bought a new dress for you. And ...you can take it on in your room. I hope you like it."

I nodded and went into his room. A beautiful dark blue dress lay on his bed. I took it in my hands and ran my fingers through the velvet it was made of. Then I held it with outstretched arms and looked if it fits. I twirled around and felt like a queen.

"I see you like it", said Van Helsing who was standing in the doorway and seemed to be pleased. "Thanks", I said and ran into my room to take it on.

The velvet was soft to my skin and fitted perfectly. I heared a knocking on the door. "Come in!", I called and looked to the door. "You look like a princess!", said Van Helsing.

My smile ceased. I remembered the one who said it before. "What´s the matter? Why do you look sad?", he asked.

"My brother said this to me one day before he died." - "May I ask you how he died?" - "Of course. Someone murdered him. Someone rammed a knife into his heart. I found him in front of the Count´s palace", I said. Now everything seemed so clear. I could remember my brother! But Van Helsing´s reaction seemed strange to me. "Oh, I see", he said simply and quitly. It seemed to me as if he knew John´s death.

You know: review(s) next chapter :)