Midnight. The night's breeze enters the room by the half-open balcony door and brushes Sergei's cheeks softly. He takes a deep breath and opens his eyes. He turns to find his companion's naked body lying beside him, partially wrapped in the wine linen sheets. The moonlight gave a soft glow on her beautiful pale skin, flattering every line of her perfect body. She was sleeping so peacefully, her face expression was calm and he could just stare at her until the morning comes.

He gently caressed her beautiful deep red lips and carefully got out of bed. He walked towards the balcony and stood behind it, looking through the glass. He remained like this for a while, gazing at the full moon. The breeze was cool and delightful. He thought of all the beautiful moments he had in his life so far, and the fact that this room was the place he felt safest and happiest. There was nothing else he wanted. At some point, a pair of naked arms wrapped him from behind. He had not heard her footsteps but he wasn't startled. Her unwarned touch felt so natural. She kissed him under his left ear and whispered:

"Up already?"
He turned and wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her body onto his.
"I'm learning."

She smiled warmly, letting her fangs sparkle in the moonlight. She gave him a deep kiss and he hungrily accepted it, running his hands passionately from her waist to her shoulders and back. She tightened her grip around his neck. After quite some seconds of kissing and intense breathing, she held his head in her hands and her lips gently left his, brushing lightly over them after the kiss. She spoke in a low tone with a deep voice that Sergei found limitlessly sexy.

"Let us make the most of it, then."

She started planting small kisses on his lips, slowly heading to his ear, then his neck. He remained still, passively accepting all of it as he closed his eyes, drunk in the sensations she gave him. Then, he felt a gentle sucking on his neck. He knew what she was about to do and he gladly accepted it. She held him close and carefully planted her fangs on his skin. The bite was gentle but deep. The sensation had stunned him, he was unable to react but he accepted it anyway. His hands held her tighter and tighter as she proceeded. A dark pleasure seemed to fill her, as an insatiable motivation led her to drink in a slow and steady pace, while she held him tightly, her grip holding him in that place with remarkable force. He felt his blood running on his skin and the more she drank the more it flowed. The last image of that case was his blood flowling like a river, reaching the room's floor and a weakening sensation taking over him.

The image faded. He felt the sunlight on his eyes, as if it was attempting to wake him up so he wouldn't miss one more minute of that beautiful day. He unwillingly opened his eyes, taking a deep breath and turning over the other side. His gaze fell on the digital clock on his bedside table. 9:03 am. He rubbed his face, brought himself on a sitting position on the bed and stretched up. He took some moments to think about what the hell he was dreaming about. What a dark and intense dream. The sensation of the bite was still on his neck. He lightly rubbed the spot.

He headed to the bathroom, running his fingers through his hair. It seemed he had been sweating during his sleep, yet he felt perfectly rested and not stressed at all. He took a shower, then he shaved and changed. He got to the kitchen and noticed that Logan was still asleep. He made some breakfast and coffee, and set his laptop on the table. Quite some time passed as he checked his e-mails and other stuff. He found an apartment not too far from his friend's home and not too far from Eugi's. It also had an affordable rent. The owner indicated in the description that it wasn't available yet but he would move with his family to their house on the other side of the city, so the preparations would soon be made. Sergei smiled.

After some time, Logan's dragging steps could be heard as the blond slowly opened his room's door. He yawned deeply as he headed to the kitchen. As his eyes met up with Sergei's, the raven-haired greeted him with a grin.

"What?" asked Logan, bearing a puzzled expression.
"Sleeping beauty's up, I see..." responded Sergei with his eyes fixed on his laptop's screen.

Logan responded with a mockingly immitation of that phrase, then poured himself some coffee. He pleasantly inhaled the refreshing smell of warm coffee and took a sip, as he turned his gaze to the still steaming breakfast that Sergei had made.

"PANCAKES!" He grabbed the whole plate of the remaining pancakes and hurryingly took a sit on the dining table, next to his friend. After he settled, he pinned a fork on one pancake and froze still as he brought it right before his mouth. He whispered.

"These are for me, right?"
"Yup."

Logan then continued his comical moves, happily ravaging his food. Sergei smiled as he carried on looking at the screen.

"Tonight we play. We should rehearse a bit." Logan responded between chewing and taking more food.
"Okay. Don't think it's necessary, though. We're gonna rock this thing just like the last time."
"That was for fun. We are getting paid now," he winked. "After all, Elvira's going to be there. I would hate to embarass myself at her presence."

Logan giggled, jogging Sergei's elbow with his own.

"You're really getting into her, eh? Do you think she likes you too?"
"Well... I don't know. It's too early to tell. She's coming to listen to us, though. I think that's a good sign," said Sergei with a low gaze.
"Just chill and see, man. That chick is a hard-to-get after all. I mean, you're interested in her and all, it's a good thing... but don't get your hopes too high, just in case."

Sergei was clearly displeased with that statement, as his expression changed completely.

"What do you mean? What are you implying? Is she too good for me?"

Logan paused for a moment and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Dude... I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying that you should always keep in your mind that things may not always turn out as you want them to. You know what I mean."
"No, I don't. Do explain, please." Sergei's tone was now growing colder. Logan looked surprised and confused.
"Well, I... You know, with what you've been through, and her being like..." his speaking pace slowed down as Sergei's eyes pierced him.

"You know what? Forget it," said the blond with an irritated expression and got up, taking his plate and mug. Sergei looked confused and more upset.
"Don't just walk away. What is wrong with her?"
"I never said something's wrong with her. I'm just your friend and I saw what you've been through back in Bucharest with that chick, Sheila. You've been like depressed ever since. Now that you just cheered up a bit, the moment you set your eyes on that Elvira chick you get mindblown, and suddenly the world is spinning around her! I'm not implying stuff, man, I'm just saying that you should take it easy, that's all."

Sergei remained silent for a minute or two. Logan quietly cleaned up and stood facing his friend, leaning backwards on the counter.
Sergei finally spoke, raising his gaze to meet Logan's embittered eyes.

"You're right. I have been a real mess since then. Meeting Elvira is the first thing that made me feel like I can leave those moments behind, and I know that it's early to cheer up but... I'm just glad I can be excited again. I guess I still haven't completely healed myself yet, bursting out on you like this.. I know you meant good. You were there, after all."

Logan slightly smiled, dropping his gaze low. Then he spoke calmly.

"Hm.. I'm still here, man. I'll gladly introduce you to chicks again, while you're too busy pissing your pants and stuff." Sergei laughed. Logan smiled, then continued.
"You do know how to pick them, though, I'll give you that. But, why her? She's... you know. She's hot as hell and stuff but... she's classy and stuff. With her doctor career and her expensive car and stuff..." Sergei looked at the blond with surprise and amusement, as "and stuff" seemed to be Logan's best argument. Logan realized it and chuckled shortly, then vividly spoke.

"AND, she's older than you! She's probably looking for some moneyed dude with some lawyer job and a big house or something. OH! She's probably looking for the father of her future children!" he exclaimed, bearing a funny shocked face while staring at Sergei with wide-open eyes. Sergei laughed again.
"You took it too far. She's just my type," he said, smiling. "Now, shall we get to rehearsing? I don't want us to play like losers back at Eugi's."

The day passed by smoothly and the two friends completed their rehearsal, which let to a finely satisfying result. They were talented after all. The official starting hour for their performance was on 9:00 pm. They went there earlier to get ready and adjust their instruments, make preparations etc. The bar was soon crowded and they began playing. At first, there were light and cheerful pieces. Occasionally, Logan sang. They both played in a neat and easy way. Time was passing by and Elvira had not showed up yet. Sergei began to worry. Fourty minutes after the event's beginning, Logan closed in the microphone and spoke, smiling.

"Thank you all for your support, we hope you're having a good time! Be with you right after our 10 minute break!"

Logan placed the guitar to it's case and joined Sergei, who was sitting at a small table near the stage. He had a troubled look on his face as his eyes were fixed on his small bottle of water. Logan placed a beer mug in front of him. Sergei got distracted from whatever overthinking that seemed to have taken him. He looked at Logan with a half smile and politely pushed the mug further.

"Thanks but it's bad for my playing."
"Come on, man. We came here to work after all. It's our first paid performance, you should be cheering up."

Sergei's gaze met warm sky-blue eyes. Logan placed his hand on Sergei's shoulder and his grip tightened.

"Have some. It's gonna help you relax a bit. Let's have our fun anyway. You're not gonna let some chick ruin this evening of our new musical career, right?"
Sergei responded with an encouraged smile. "Right."

They enjoyed their beers and the break passed by quickly. They continued their musical programme with a cheerful crowd at their feet. The hours passed and Sergei was now convinced that Elvira wouldn't come. At some point, he even had his mind distracted from the whole case, as he and his friend enjoyed the night's flow. About an hour after midnight, the crowd began to lessen in number. The music style switched to slower songs, and some tracks were lyricless. There was a couple or two that danced slowly on the small dance floor and Sergei couldn't help but feel those sad emotions being revived in him. Logan indicated that he would take a small break to regain some energy for the last of their songs. Sergei remembered that track he had been saving especially for Elvira. It was just plain piano music, without lyrics. It was slow and emotional. Just perfect to get him deeper in that darkening mood, in which he had already been sinking since their first break. "What the hell," he thought, "I'm gonna play the damn thing." He was a drama king after all.

He began playing and Logan looked at him surprised. Then, he laid back on his chair and enjoyed the musical piece, as did the rest of the people there. That music was so deep it was as if time slowed down for a while. When he finished it, a warm applause filled the bar. Sergei held a reserved smile on his face as he gave his thanks to the people. Logan came smiling and picked up the guitar as he jokingly said, "you just couldn't help it." He patted his friend on the shoulder cheerfully, then they played the musical programme to its end.

They walked home as Logan cheered for the evening's success and their generous payment. It wasn't much but it was satisfying, for a first performance. Sergei followed his friend's exciteful mood as best as he could, given the fact that all he wanted now was to crash on his bed, savagely bury his face in his pillow and forget about his problems. The minutes passed by slowly as he struggled to get comfortable in his bed. The emotions of that disapointment just wouldn't leave him be. Why did he make such a big deal about this? Did his mind torment him with problems that didn't exist in the first place? Logan was right. He needed to pull himself together. He wouldn't be able to enjoy anything in his life unless he let go of the pain of the past. It's not like every woman he would meet from now on would be like that damn heart-breaker. Right?

Time passed by. He had calmed down but still couldn't sleep. At some point he checked the clock. 3:37 am. He decided there was no point to stress himself any more. Maybe a walk in the cool breeze on the roads of a quiet city would help him relax. He got up and dressed.

It was kind of chilly outside. He buried his hands in his coat's pockets as he walked. Winter was near. Despite of all his bad memories that were bound to that season, he was still enchanted by it. He got to spend more time indoors. He loved reading in his warm living room, in absolute silence. The view of a brutal cold weather storming outside the windows was better than TV. The nights lasted longer. The pale snow made everything seem purer in his eyes. His cold colours matched that season as well as his deeply introverted yet powerful character did. He was born in winter. It felt like home.

Now he felt like visiting a place of the city that was imprinted on him since the first time he visited it. It was a large park, named Butterfly Esplanade. It was a true beauty. It was a large area of green with beautifully designed paved trails, a fountain, several well-designed white benches, flowers that formed the shape of a butterfly on the green and two beautiful structures. The smallest structure was a small white polygonal building that led to an underground hall. That hall connected it with the second building, which was much larger and contained the park's best part. It was a wide-range circular structure that was covered with a huge glass cupola, making it a sight to marvel at. Still, the best part was inside. The place inside that structure was the park's core, even more finely designed. There was the green area, the paved trails and the benches, but there were far more beautiful additions. Numbers of flowers filled the place's green areas, between the paved trails and around some palm trees on its centre. There were well-placed street lams of vintage style and white colour. There was also a beautiful small lake on one side of the structure. Finally, that indoors park was full of butterflies, which justified the huge cupola and the underground hallway. That was the perfectly peaceful place that Sergei needed to relax.

He took the subway. There were barely any people in it at this time of the night, but he wasn't afraid. He leaned on the window next to his seat as he got lost in his thoughts.

After some time, he arrived. He had to walk some distance as the subway wasn't just outside the park. The air felt clearer there and he enjoyed the sounds of nature as he approached the park more and more. Some lamps were on, giving a romantic and peaceful feeling to that place. The fountain was not working and the main park would probably be closed to the public at that time but he didn't mind.

He walked a bit and sat on a bench. The breeze brushed his hair and cheeks. He looked at the full moon and remembered his dream. Then he thought about Elvira again. He tried to think of all the sensible reasons that she didn't come. Maybe something else came up and she didn't make it in time. Maybe she had to work unexpectedly. She was a doctor after all. Maybe if he had asked for her number, she would be able to call him and inform him that she wouldn't make it. Or maybe she just didn't like him and changed her mind. Maybe it was not about him and he just exaggerated, as always. His mind raced in all these thoughts. Then it drifted in his grievous concerns. He couldn't tell if he was depressed or just insecure. Maybe he had not handled his issues from that past relationship well, and now it was all taking its toll on him, destroying his chances for any possible happiness.

At some point he got bored. He stood up and started walking in the park, randomly following the trails. He ended up in front of the flowery butterfly shape. He spotted a deep red rose amongst the flowers. It caught his eye as it seemed to be the only one in that range. He kneeled down and bent over to smell it, as he caressed its soft petals.

"A hopeless romantic. Interesting."

Sergei jumped as Elvira's unexpected voice broke the silence. He turned to face her awe-generating figure, surprised gray-blue eyes meeting intensive glowing red ones. He fixed his coat, clearing his voice.

"I didn't see you there."

Elvira chuckled at the obvious statement and walked towards him.

"Can't sleep?"

Sergei awkwardly smiled as he dropped his gaze.

"I... I'm the kind of person that appreciates these places better in night scene."
"That we have in common," responded Elvira with a charming smile.

Sergei eyed her up and down, noticing that her dress left quite some uncovered skin.

"Aren't you cold?"

She did not respond, turning that smile on her face into a mischievous grin. She pierced him with her eyes, indicating that he didn't miss a chance to take a glimpse of her slightly provoking dressing. Sergei smiled shyly, then took off his coat and gently laid it on her shoulders.

"Here."
"Thank you." She fixed the coat on her.
"So, uhm... is everything ok?"
"It is," she answered confidently, with hints of mannerism in her tone.
"I was just wondering why you didn't show up," he said acting as cool as he could, shyly scratching the back of his head with one hand.
"That... something came up earlier in the day. Morrigan's daughter got sick and at that time, there wasn't any way we could take her to the hospital. So, I took care of her."

Sergei's expression got serious. "Oh my god, is she ok?" He suddenly felt guilty about all the assumptions he made for her.
"Yes, she is. I am sorry I let you waiting for me, there was no way to let you know."

She talked pretty calmly. Sergei wondered if that was some excuse, covering the real reason of her absence. Then he remembered she's a doctor and she was probably used to that kind of stuff.

"It's ok. A child's health is more important," he said smiling. She smiled back and placed her hand on his arm.
"Let's take a walk."

They walked together in a slow pace in the park's silence. Sergei's heart raced with every hint of her presence beside him. They reached a bench and sat on it. Elvira noticed a slight shivering on Sergei's arm.

"Are you cold?" He looked surprised and acted cool.
"I'm fine," he responded with a half-smile. Was that tension so obvious? He didn't want her to think poorly of him. He continued:
"I'm surprised to meet you here. Aren't you tired with that schedule of yours?"
"I wouldn't say tired. Just bored. I like my job but one has to take some time to have fun and relax. I find it more interesting during the night-time, so here I am."

Sergei nodded as she talked. Then, he asked again:

"But... why here?"
"As I mentioned, you are not the only one who appreciates a peaceful place in the night's silence. Bars and lounges are fun but this... this holds its own grace. Also, I needed to relax after all the trouble at Hemlocks' place."

Sergei smiled warmly. He felt Elvira's grip slightly tightening.

"After the performance at Eugi's, I'd been wondering how on earth I would ever meet you again. No phone numbers, not any other contact information... and here you are. I get up on four in the morning, I take the subway to this solitary place and here you are. Just what are the odds."
Elvira chuckled. "Why? What's more ordinary than that?" Sergei chuckled too.
"Well... me and 'ordinary' have not been the best buds," he said, being more relaxed now than before.
"Story of my life," responded Elvira, smiling.

Sergei looked at her. They stared at each other for quite some seconds. The moment screamed at Sergei to kiss her. He didn't, though. Again. He just kept looking in her eyes deeply. At some point, she cheerfully said:

"You aren't much of the talkative type, are you?"
"Seems I'm not."

He looked at her arm that was wrapped around his. He placed his hand upon hers. His face expression grew more serious. He raised his gaze and met her eyes, his face completely free of any cheerfulness and uncomfortableness. He spoke in a lower and more reserved tone.

"I feel..." he paused for some seconds. "I feel very lucky to have met you here tonight. I would love to ask you out sometime. Properly." She smiled widely. He continued. "No Logan, no Hemlocks. No awkward situations. I just want to get to know you better."
"That would be nice," she responded.

He stood up as he held her hand, helping her stand too.

"So. Shall I walk you to your car?" he asked with a confident smile.
"Of course," she responded likewise.

As they walked and talked, the tension between them seemed to have been eased. They stopped outside Elvira's car. Sergei just loved that model.

"So," said Elvira with mannerism, stealing back his attention, "here's my number. Call me after 7pm."
"I will," responded Sergei, taking the note. "Excuse my... strange behaviour. I have been going through some phase. I hope you don't think poorly of me."

She smiled and placed her hand on Sergei's face, caressing all the way from his sideburns to his chin.

"Stating the obvious with you never gets old. Call me," she said softly, then she kissed him and pressed his nape with her hand, burying her fingers in the hair on the back of his head. He froze. Her kiss was nor powerful neither soft. Every second passed by like a year and all his senses were extended to their fullest. Her lips had captured his own and slowly loosened their grip while taking some of his taste in.

They finally parted gently and he exhaled softly, with his forehead on hers. He opened his eyes with a stunned look on his face. She smiled at him and shortly after, she handed him his coat, got in her car and left, taking a last glimpse on him through the window.

Sergei was left staring at the car until it completely disappeared from his sight.