Next job over was in a small village. The victims were the mayor's daughter – a sweet, little, carefree thing of about ten years – and the doctor's fiancée. Mayerling did not know the vampire – he was young, stupid, barbarous, made after the days when the great houses had started disappearing out of their own ennui – Mayerling did not mind killing the disgusting creature.

Charlotte insisted on following him on hearing that the vampire was an easy target. He was surprised but decided to grant her wish, as he could then teach her some defense skills. They left Dmitri with the mayor and his wife, the village schoolteacher who played with him on her lap as if he was her own. Mayerling glanced back at the boy to see him leaning against the woman's chest, playing with her graying curls, an expression on his face that showed he could tell she was upset and wanted to cheer her up. More than anything, however, the expression said he felt safe.

A blip too vague to even be a thought ran across Mayerling's mind. "Charlotte," he leaned over to her as the two rode on their cyborg horses towards the doctor's house where the two victims resided. She brought her horse up beside his. "Charlotte, look at him back there."

She did, and her expression softened. "He looks so… happy."

The two of them stood watching their son until Mayerling said, "Come. We have a job to do."

"Always stab through the heart or cut off your opponent's head. Anything else doesn't count."

She nodded to show she understood, touching the next knife over. "And this one?"

"The poison on it will do a number on any vampire except the most powerful ones. On made ones – ones like this one – it should slow them down enough so that even a child could pierce their heart…" He left off, deciding something then. "I will stick him with it. Then, you can use my sword to pierce his heart, if you want to."

She stared at him, unblinking for such a long time that he found it unnerving, having gotten use to her blinks.

"It is your choice. I will not force you either way." He began to put on the knife belt.

"No. I want to learn. That is what this is about, isn't it?"

He took the sword he had acquired in his fight against Yaneth and held it out to her. "Only if you want it," he repeated.

She placed her hand over his and took the sword and its belt, nodding, wide-eyed and determined at the same time. He looked at her expression and felt a chill run down his spine.

She did as he had told her when the vampire came to feed on his victims again, and he sighed with relief that it went so smoothly. She sat on the bed, staring off into space as they listened to the joyful thanks the doctor gave as he hugged his fiancée then tended to the little girl. Mayerling went over and sat beside her, pulling his wife close beside him. "How are you?" he asked the human phrase.

She turned to him, smiling at his effort to use the strange words. "I'm fine, Mayerling."

The following evening, they were surprised when the mayor paid them, eying Mayerling with no small desire that the family head off as soon as possible. Mayerling nodded at him and hinted that they were ready to leave. The mayor looked relieved at this. Now it, was time to get their son. The little girl they had saved was playing tag with her friends and Dmitri. "Look at him, Mayerling," Charlotte pointed him out.

"I see what you see, Charlotte." Even after they had collected him to set out for their next job, neither of them brought up the question running through their minds: What should be done about it?