"So What is your Story, Miss Bliss?

What brings you all this way from London?"

"I came here as your attorney as you know, I was quite surprised that you requested me to be your lawyer.

I mean I wasn't even aware that my work was that that well known especially in such a isolated place like this.

I was intrigued by your request because well I don't often get requests from Romania.

I've dealt with Germany, Ireland, Wales and even France and Spain but never from Romania.

So I booked my tickets immediately and I took the next plane out of London, that was how intrigued I was by the prospect of coming all way to Romania.

I've always wanted to visit Romania anyway.

It's a very rich culture, the history is fascinating to me".

"It is very rich in culture, It is refreshing to see someone so young take a interest in the history of other people's culture.

I hope you do not take offense but may I ask you a personal question?".

"Yes of course."

"Have you ever been married, Miss Bliss?"

"No, I've never had the privilege sir".

"So you've never been engaged or courted by anyone that you fancied?"

"Well I was engaged once but that was a long time ago.

We had a conflict of interest to speak".

She huffungly laughed at this.

"Really? How so?"

"He wanted me give up my career so I could stay at home and be a good wife, I wasn't willing to give up my career for domestic life, so I refused and I very soon after I broke off the engagement".

"That was quite a selfish request yet I admire you for your strength. It takes a lot of courage to choose one's happiness and freedom over the wishes and desires of others."

"Yes I suppose I called it all off because I didn't want to be held down by anyone else which at the time I thought was rather selfish of me but It is better to be hated than loved for what you're not."

"That definitely is true.

I'd very much like to say that You are remarkably wise for someone so young".

"I'm not as young as I look sir.

I've been told I have a old soul".

"Indeed you do yet your heart is young and pure is it not?"

"I suppose it is Sir.

Any other personal questions you'd like to ask?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

Mona did not quite like the wickedness that was in his lips as he asked this of her.

"Well...I suppose there have been a few in the past but nothing ever came of it."

"Why is that I wonder?"

"I can't really say why.

I suppose it wasn't really true love and any suitors I've had in the past never really interested me.

So just mere infatuations and undesirable men, I think was mostly the problem with me".

Mona felt her lips go dry, her throat tightened and her words became forcefully reluctant.

"I apologize, I see I've made you uncomfortable. It was not my intention to bring you any discomfort."

"No, there's no need to apologize, my life is an open book to most people. Honesty is important in a professional relationship,so I have no problem in telling you of my past."

"I could not help but notice your accent does not sound as if it comes from the streets of London."

"Oh you noticed that?

Well I was educated in America, I lived there for most of my life but England has always been my home so naturally I simply had to return to it.

I've noticed your accent too.

It doesn't seem very Romanian to me but then again what do I know about Romanian Culture?"

"You're quite right and I'm so glad that has come to your attention and I will gladly explain to you exactly why that is.

You see when I was a boy my father sent me to London to be educated, I was there for most of my boyhood so naturally London made quite an impression on me. I then returned to the Castle when I was of age so I could inherit the Castle in my father's absence.

He had of course moved on from this place but as usual what is often expected of you is usually never what the heart wants."

"So you have been to London before. It's funny that you never mentioned that. What's even funnier is the absence of the staff. You see when I first arrived to the castle you told me that the servants had either retired to their beds or they have simply returned home, you also told me they would return at first light but so far I haven't seen even a single soul around this Castle.

So where is the staff again?"

"The Staff is highly superstitious, I can hardly control their actions at least not any longer and they insist on working at odd hours during the night and sometimes occasionally during the day.

I'm afraid that my Staff has abandoned me.

You see they know I won't be here for much longer so perhaps they vacated the premises to find other work.

They may Return but I doubt it, I do however apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to you".

"Oh no, it's no inconvenience I assure you. I was just curious that's all.".

"A inquisitive mind is a treasure meant to be praised and protected. Tell me do you believe in the existence of the afterlife?"

"Yes I suppose I do."

"That is excellent news I must say so does this mean that you do not in fact fear death?"

His voice was morbid, menacing and rather thin and breathy

"I do not fear death sir.

I never have and I never will.

Fear drives people to do horrible things and so I choose not to live by fear.

I decided that when I was nothing more than a small child, I chose to fear nothing that couldn't take my very soul from me.

I fear nothing sir.

Fear is a waste of my breath.

Death on the other hand is merely another adventure".

"You have a very unique perspective, Miss Bliss.

If you look to the townsfolk below, you'll see what fear can do to the soul, it tears it to pieces like rabid wolves in the night.

Don't be torn by fear, fear has claws that tear and jaws that bite, fear is merciless and it answers to no one but hate.

You are wise not to allow fear to overcome you.

There are those in this world that cannot live without fear and there are even those that spend a lifetime trying to drive that fear right out of their hearts!".

His voice was crazed and raving very unlike the calm forever unimpressed tone as before.

There was something strangely heavy that came over her, it felt like the weight of a blanket or a cloak had fallen upon her shoulders.

She began to feel giddy and she began giggling profusely at his words as if she were taken in by too much wine.

"Are you quite alright?

Your skin has gone the purest white.

You seem to be quite giddy, are you sure you are not ill?".

"I am quite giddy. A little too giddy. You know come to think of it. I really don't feel well, I think it may be the jet lag or something.

I feel rather crowded, stifled even, I feel rather out of breath, perhaps I just need some air".

"It is quite stuffy in here, so perhaps I can open a window for you, would you like that?"

"Yes that would be nice thank you".

The Count opened a long window that was almost as tall as he was.

"Now is that better?"

The Count had a tender nurturing look of concern for her.

"Better yes but I still don't feel so good. It's rather odd but ever since I arrived here, I've just felt rather out of sorts...out of place...and my mind has been rather fuzzy.

Oh dear I feel ever so dizzy right now. This is most unusual.

I've never felt this way ever before in my life".

"Perhaps you contracted something abroad. You do travel quite a lot so perhaps it merely a temporary illness."

"Yes I'm sure that's it. It is the most logical explanation Anyway.

Yet the strange thing is in all my travels I've never returned to London with anything worse than a common cold."

"Perhaps you're overworking yourself. Living a life abroad may be too much excitement for you.

Perhaps you ought to lie down, rest and recover."

"Yes Perhaps I should.

I am a little tired.

Oh dear I feel very faint.

This is most odd."

"I know perhaps it is the Mountain air, it is quite thin at times, the elevation alone can take it's toll.

Do you think you can manage to stand or will you need a hand going to your room?"

"I could use your assistance I suppose, although I really don't mean to be a bother to you".

"Oh it's no bother at all, I assure you Miss Bliss. it's the least I can do especially after all your kind effort to help me with my estate."

Mona teetered slightly but the count with unnatural swiftness arrived to her side so as to steady her, he then proceeded to guide her by his strength alone all the way up the stairs to her room.

It was a gentle strength, constant and ever steady.

She almost didn't feel her feet move beneath her, she felt as she was floating through the hallways and the halls seemed to be particularly endless this evening but she didn't seem to care much just as long as she felt his touch and could hear his voice.

"You know it's funny, the locals seem to think you're some kind of monster. Of course I know better than to believe idle superstitions.

However they never would tell me what was so terrible about this place.

All my friends back home didn't seem too keen on me coming here either only no one would tell me why.

I'm not one to give into empty fears so naturally I came against everybody's wishes.

It astounds me that people still think they have any say on how I live my life.

Its my life and I should do what I want and I should be able to go anywhere I want without anybody putting their 5 cents in".

Her words were slurring considerably.

"Oh the towns people are foolish and as for your friends they are no better, they presume you are ill prepared for the world and they expect you to live in fear as they do. You deserve to be free".

"Yes I do, I do deserve that.

Anyhow, Why are the townsfolk so terrified of you anyways?"

"Oh it's really quite amusing.

I'm afraid you'd laugh if I told you".

"I'll try not to laugh then".

"Oh there's really no need to contain yourself, my dear.

It's just the townsfolk are under the impression that I'm some sort of blood thirsty vampire".

"A Vampire? I suppose this place fits that scenario but you... you're different.

You don't even look a day over 40, so you can't be a vampire and you are far too- far too- far too handsome to be a creature of the night. I'm sorry forget I said that. That was very informal of me, just ignore me I'm obviously delirious right now".

"You seem to be doing quite well for some who has a such a furious fever. Your words are clear, concise and eloquent."

The touch of his hand on her forehead felt like the cool taste of spring water amongst the relentless heat of a desert.

"I'm running a fever? Oh man, I don't want to be running a fever right now, the only thing I want to be running, is running these papers back to London.

I'm sorry I'm NOT making any sense right now but somehow I just keep talking and talking.

I'll be quiet now. Shutting up!"

Finally after a eternity of hallway they arrived to the door of her room.

The Count walked her to the bed and she collapsed onto to the bed itself which made the Count smile.

"What? Did I do something to amuse you?"

She had Indeed noticed his sudden smile.

"No... it's just... you are just very childlike. I admire you for your innocence and your purity. I especially like it when you smile.

Forgive my forwardness again but it has been so long since I've seen any kind of tenderness in my life.

It warms my heart to see you smile, that is all".

Mona gave him a even bigger smile.

"You know it is strange but it seems ever since you arrived here, the skies have cleared, the fog has lifted, the wolves have gone silent and the very chill from the air has become lively and warm, much like you.

You are very much alive. I like that and even the warmth of your fever is soothing to me".

"You can be as forward as you want to be especially if you're going to be that nice about it."

"Thank you that means a lot to me. Now do you need anything at the moment? Any food or drink?"

"No surprisingly I'm not hungry or thirsty right now. I'm far too nauseous for that anyhow".

"I have just the thing. Wait here, I shall be right back".

The Count arrived shortly with a old fashioned basin and a damp wash clothe which he dabbed upon her brow to hopefully draw the fever out of her skin.

"How is that? Better?"

"Yes much better thank you. You are very kind. I feel sort of bad though since I don't want to be a burden to you".

"Now you must be delirious because that is pure nonsense. You are not a burden to me nor will you ever be. I enjoy your company and I find our conversations to be intriguing and highly stimulating.

Place your head back, child".

"Why?"

"So I can draw the sickness out from your neck as well".

"The sickness don't you mean fever?"

"Yes of course that's what I meant. Now hold still, close your eyes and rest".

"I'm not really tired come to think of it."

"You need to relax, you are far too uptight. Relax, breath, close your eyes and drift away".

Mona's vision was so fuzzy she could barely make out his face, she merely saw a blurred out outline of him.

"Become one with the Night, Mona. You know you want to. Just embrace the darkness and join me on...the other side".