At dinner the next evening, von Krolock was gentle and deferent with Sarah but yawning, although he had slept deeply through the day. Her beloved needed another good feed, she could now easily tell when he was particularly hungry.

Her dinner consumed, Sarah rose without waiting for him to assist her. He crossed to her side and she embraced him, her head against his chest.

"Take all the time you need to feed, my love. Even if you require all night." She looked up at him and her brow furrowed. "You do take care when you hunt, do you not? You don't take risks?"

Von Krolock laughed softly and stroked her chin. "No human or animal is any match for my strength, never fear."

Her face fell. "So you still hunt humans."

He hesitated and avoided her gaze. "Sarah…"

"I forgive you, you know…If you do." Her voice was small.

"I do what I must," he whispered and bent to kiss her forehead. "Until tonight, my sweet."

Sarah watched him retreat, his cape flowing behind him, and felt a love overflowing her heart that defied measurement. Von Krolock had lost some of his mystery for her, for his innate goodness had not been tarnished by his affliction, this curse that had been forced upon him. If he must feed on human blood, which by now she understood gave him more energy and nutrition than that of animals or his rations, she knew he would choose with discretion. When her time came, she would follow his lead in this. He would teach her, just as he had taught her the pleasures of love in his bed.

His bed…There was nowhere else she would rather be. But for now, a lonely night lay ahead, for something told her von Krolock would be a long time in returning.

Sarah stretched out in the library in front of the fire, taking up the book she was close to finishing and settled in, eventually falling asleep, before waking up to Maria's gentle pat on her shoulder. She helped her mistress upstairs and saw to it that her bath was prepared. The fire in von Krolock's bedchamber had been lit and Sarah warmed herself in front of it, rubbing her hair dry. She had brought a new book from the library upstairs with her, and it proved so diverting as she sat before the fire, that she scarcely realized that hours had passed. It was now close to three in the morning.

She was tired and knew she should climb into bed, but she felt compelled to open the door to the balcony and slip outside, something she could never do during the day while von Krolock slept. She pulled her cloak tightly around herself as the cold air hit her. The torches from the drawbridge and battlements gave some feeble light but otherwise it was oppressively dark.

This, then, was the world in which von Krolock lived. For Sarah, the night was something only experienced from within her cottage, once she had grown into a woman. The village's fear of von Krolock caused most parents to lock their daughters of marriageable age inside after sunset. It was liberating to step out into the night alone. She gazed at the vast blackness far below her and knew that this was where her village lay. He must be down there somewhere. She tried not to picture too clearly what he was undoubtedly doing. She told herself that once transformed it wouldn't seem as horrific.

At this thought she noticed a dark form appear in the sky, framed from behind by the full moon. It was winged….shaped like a large bat. She gasped as the shape swooped down out of view. Then von Krolock's unmistakable caped figure was seen at the drawbridge and the gate was raised.

Sarah put a hand to her mouth. Had he…What had she just witnessed?

She dashed inside, shutting the door behind her, panting. He would join her soon. She rushed across the bedchamber and into bed, her heart pounding.

Moments later, von Krolock entered as quietly as he could. The only light emanated from the fireplace. Sarah didn't stir. Doubtless at this hour he assumed she was asleep. He came to the bedside and watched her as she lay still. Satisfied, he turned and began removing his bloody clothes.

Once he had crawled into bed, clean again and naked, she pretended to awaken.

"Sweetest girl," von Krolock murmured, nuzzling her throat, his fangs brushing harmlessly against the soft skin. He pushed her nightdress up to her hips and caressed her thighs. "Do you wish for the touch of my hand on you tonight? Or my mouth?" He didn't wait for her to respond and lowered his head between her legs, his mouth wide, his tongue probing.

Sarah writhed restlessly at his touch. "I wish to know…ah…" She shuddered as he gripped her thighs, pulling them closer to taste her more fully.

"Know what, my love?" Von Krolock's voice was low and heavy with lust against her flesh.

"My lord…do you have wings?"

Von Krolock's tongue froze. He wiped his mouth and raised his head to meet her gaze, his scowl terrifying, fangs bared.

"Sarah…Has Maria been telling you stories?"

"…No."

"Have you ever observed wings on my back?"

"No…" Sarah's voice was barely a whisper.

"Well then," he shrugged and gave her a smile combined with his deep scowl that chilled her.

"You haven't told me everything. What happens…after transformation. Please don't be angry with me, my lord. I saw you tonight. I was on the balcony and I saw…your wings."

Von Krolock moved up from between Sarah's legs and held her gently in his arms. "I am not angry, dearest. So you weren't asleep when I came in."

"Will you tell me? Everything? What powers you possess? What powers I might gain myself?"

Von Krolock sighed. He had a raging erection, but that would have to wait.

"I will tell you, child, if you promise not to be frightened."

"Nothing frightens me with you at my side."

Von Krolock felt a pang of guilt. He had not told her everything, not at all. The less obvious physical changes, the despair that eternity brought, the constant need to feed. But all that was for another night. He would concentrate on the positive aspects for now.

She settled onto his shoulder as if ready to hear a fairy tale. Von Krolock kissed her before speaking.

"My love, when you undergo transformation, you will gain certain powers that mortals do not possess. What powers exactly is anyone's guess. It is different for every vampire. Do you remember when I first came to you…I moved through the wall of your cottage into your bedroom?"

Sarah nodded against his shoulder.

"That is a power I used countless times to watch over you while you slept."

"You watched me sleep?"

"Not every night. But as much as I was able, I would visit you." Von Krolock thought it prudent not to mention that there were nights after feeding when he was otherwise occupied.

"I never saw you once."

"You wouldn't have. I was invisible. Another of the powers I possess."

"How long would you stay?"

"Sometimes an hour. Sometimes all night. I never tired of seeing your sweet face. But it was only when you grew into a true woman that I desired you so fiercely." He squeezed her breast.

"But I never heard you."

"Oh, you heard me. Remember, I would sing to you. Softly into your ear. And other times outside your window. You always heard me. You would smile in your sleep and turn your head in my direction."

"And yet I never awakened. My parents never…"

Von Krolock smiled into her hair. "Evidence of further powers that I possess."

"But…what of your wings, my lord?"

He paused. "Those came to me later. I had to wait almost a hundred years to acquire them. Some vampires never do. But it freed me from having to own and maintain horses. I no longer have need of them although I keep a few donkeys and mules for my servants. My wings appear at will and disappear when I am on my feet once more. This is the most potent of all my powers and the most useful. It enables me to travel to distant towns if needed to hunt my prey. I hunt in the village if I spot any outsiders but otherwise, on the nights I feed, I am often fifty leagues or more away."

Sarah shivered, imagining him feeding on some poor soul, so far away from her.

"So you see why you need never fear for me when I leave you."

"You are invincible."

"Nearly." Von Krolock maneuvered Sarah so he was on top of her, his erection insistent against her thigh. "But I may die tonight if I don't have you now." He began pulling off her nightdress.

"Is there more to tell me, my lord?" Sarah gasped between his fervent kisses.

"Mmmmm…" Von Krolock moaned and silenced her with a hard thrust.