The curtains are drawn, but he needs only think about them opening, and sure enough the heavy cloth obeys, sliding down the gold curtain rod revealling a frost covered window of cloudy glass. It doesn't make the room any brighter. He looks over to the pile of logs next to the fireplace and wills one over to the glowing coals. With a clatter, it falls to the ground, heavier than he had imagined. He gives it another go and it gently lands, quickly igniting and casting a warm glow to the white stone room. Heli settles into the pillow, and a smile crosses his face as a singular thought crosses his mind.

He can do anything he wants without getting up. He doesn't even have to move. He may never have to leave his bed ever again. A hint of laughter rises in his throat. As long as no one comes in to bother him, he can just stay here with his eyes closed, as long as he wants…

"So lazy," a voice whispers in his ear. "Should I really allow you to waste time this way?"

A hand wraps around his throat. He holds his breath. Was he dreaming already? There's no way she could be here, and he definitely felt awake.

Her thumb slides up his skin and tips his chin to the side.

"Your nights belong to me," she says. "I told you I would never leave you…"

His eyes fly open. There's no one beside him and the sensation of her hand on his face vanishes.

He lets out the breath he's been holding.

"You did leave though," he whispers to the empty space.

Why did you abandon me?

"Of course I left, I wasn't just going to sit in here all day. Did you miss me?"

Heli's startled by Viken's voice. He can feel his presence standing by the bed behind him, but he doesn't turn around.

"No, you can go away. I'm not getting up."

"I guess that's alright since we're not going anywhere any time soon. Or, not tonight at least. Eugene may not last here very long." Viken sits down and leans into Heli's back. "No hot water, no electricity."

"Is he awake yet? I'm bored." Jakah's voice rings through the room as he enters.

"He said he's not getting up," replies Viken.

"I guess we could hang out in here for a while."

Heli feels the bed shift as Jakah sits near his feet.

"Don't misunderstand," Heli grumbles. "I'm just staying here forever."

A few moments of silence pass. Viken shakes Heli's shoulder.

"You can't stay here, what am I going to do?"

"Take up painting or something."

"Wasn't sixty-five years long enough?" Jakah adds.

Heli opens his eyes just enough to glare down at him.

"That was different, I couldn't move."

Jakah raises his eyebrows. "You're being silly. Were you dreaming about her again, is that it? Do you think someone's going to feed you and clean the sheets?"

"You do this every evening," Viken interjects. "I know you're cold, but I was only joking about being cold-blooded."

Jakah snaps his fingers. "You may be onto something though. Maybe he's inherited some of Lamia's more reptilian traits."

"So…you think he's trying to hibernate?"

Heli doesn't protest as Viken pushes him up by the shoulders. He sits blinking while Viken presses a hand to his forehead.

"Are you sure you're awake? How's your arm?"

"What's wrong with his arm?" Jakah asks.

Heli looks down at his gauze wrapped arm. Large spots of reddish brown seep through the material.

"It still hurts," he says.

"Can I see?" Jakah says. Heli nods and Jakah takes his hand and begins gently unwrapping the bandaging. He stops after exposing Heli's hand. The skin is bright red, blisters still spread across his palm. His fingers feel stiff.

"It looks better than this morning, but the worst of it was on his forearm," Viken says.

"I should have healed by now," Heli says. "Why am I still burnt?"

"Hm," Jakah hums as Viken grabs fresh gauze. "This is a sunburn?"

"Solon healed completely in just a couple hours and he wasn't even fully…" Heli continues.

"Maybe that's why," Jakah offers. "Solon was also a sun-worshipper, he could just be special."

As he finishes re-wrapping Heli's arm there's a knock on the door. Eugene stands in the doorway, a look somewhere between anger and annoyance on his face.

"If you want a bath, I suggest having it now," he glowers. "I am not filling the tub again."

There was a task Heli didn't miss, though the closer he got to Lamia, the less of the everyday chores he had to handle. With the conveniences of everything in the modern world, the amount of effort it had taken to do even simple tasks like heating water for a bath had slipped his mind.

This structure, though old, is of a different era than the one Lamia had inhabited. Clearly this castle was constructed more for opulence than fortification. Though most of the rooms are neglected by M. L- and his companion, an air of extravagance still exists in the dirt gilded walls. Even the bathroom which consists of a white tub under a peeling painting of cherubs. A curved tap hangs over the tub. Though it may have brought in warm water at one time, the utilities serving the estate are surely long unusable. An herby smell permeates the air.

He emerges from his bath and dresses feeling clean and refreshed. He starts back down the hall. Jakah is waiting for him, leaning into the wall. A grin spreads across his face as he spots Heli.

"Have you changed your mind about lying in bed forever?"

"Yes."

"Good, now you can empty the bath as well," a third voice says behind him.

Heli turns to see the white-haired woman. Her expression is no less sour than the last time they'd seen her. "You may have noticed there is not a carnival of people here to help you. M. L-'s generosity is not free."

"No, but he burned my arm," Heli mutters.

Jakah takes him by the elbow and pulls him back towards the bathroom.

"When you're done he would like to see you in the library," the woman calls after them.

"I know Lamia didn't make you do things like this, and I'd rather not argue," Jakah says.

"I'm not contesting that," Heli sighs. "I can see why the others would be frustrated. They're not exactly used to living without things like electricity."

Jakah nods. "I've gotten quite used to having it myself."

They meet M. L- in the library as instructed. He sits by the fire. This time a pitcher rests on the little table beside him. He motions for Heli and Jakah to help themselves as he fills three goblets with thick red blood.

"You may find we have more in common than you think," he says.

Heli takes a sip of the blood. There's a familiar taste, reminiscent of dirt.

"I received something today that may interest you," M. L- says, raising his goblet in one hand, and holding a pure white envelope in the other. "An invitation."

Jakah takes the envelope. His face lights up as he glances at the card inside.

"A masquerade ball!"

"We were just talking about masquerades," Heli mumbles.

Jakah nods. "Vampires love masquerades."

Heli stares, waiting for a laugh to follow.

"Oh, you're serious."

"I am entitled to bring whatever accompaniment I wish. If you desire to join me, I expect you will keep in mind all the usual rules of etiquette. You have until the solstice to decide," M. L- says.

"Of course we'll go," Jakah says.

M. L- returns his smile. "Naturally. Everyone of import will be there."

"Wouldn't that also mean Lamia?" Heli looks to Jakah.

"She will not," M. L- replies.

"How do you know?"

"Because she is not invited."

Jakah is skipping as he takes the invitation back to show the others.

"You knew about this," Heli says as he follows behind. "That's why we came here."

"How could I have? Unlike some people, I don't have super special thinking powers." Jakah shoots back a dark look. "This is nothing more than extraordinarily good luck."

Eugene is sitting by the fire with a book in hand, while Taho and Viken play a card game on the bed. They look up in unison as Jakah enters.

"A vampire masquerade feels like a cliche," Taho says, looking the card over.

"Vampires love masquerades," Heli repeats, his deadpan tone earning a quizzical look from Viken. "Even though Jakah said they were boring."

"Whether Jaan shows up or not, this is an opportunity to ask around. Someone ought to know where we can find him," Jakah plops down onto the end of a bed. "It's not necessarily that the event is dull, but everyone is so old-fashioned and they have a tonne of rules."

"Such as?" enquires Taho. "Now that it matters for us, I can't imagine mortals are allowed."

"Oh, they are," Jakah says. "Mortals are usually brought along for um, reasons. Anyway, unless you want to be passed around, you should have a dedicated dance partner."

"That's easy." Eugene doesn't look up from his book. "Viken and Heli, I'll go with Jakah. Sorry Taho, you're the odd man out."

"I will definitely pass on this one, thanks," Taho says.

"Wait," Heli and Viken both blurt out in unison.

"What if I don't want to go to a vampire ball either?" Viken adds.

"We're not going to another disco," says Heli. "You heard the part about them being old-fashioned, right?"

"Then we'll put Viken in a dress. I don't really see the problem, and I want to go."

"Why?"

"To ask around." Eugene finally looks up with an exaggerated smile.

"You still have no idea what you're dealing with," Heli snaps.

"We have a while to think about it," Eugene's gaze returns to the yellowed pages in his hand.

Heli glares and turns on his heel back out into the hall. Still just rushing ahead into his vampire slaying with no plan, no clue what to expect. Heli didn't even know what to expect. He had no memory at all of the ball Lamia had held. Social events for ancient immortals certainly wouldn't be anything like a night at the discotheque.

He meanders down the hall lost in thought.

"A meagre attempt to hold on to the ways of the past. You are correct in that regard."

M. L- stands at the end of the hall, his long robe dragging behind him. Heli had been letting his thoughts leak out without realising it, he'd been so annoyed.

"Do you not enjoy dancing?" M. L- continues.

"I don't think I actually have tried," Heli frowns. "I learned for some reason though. Jakah said he saw you at-"

"Yes, I do now recall your faces," M. L- says. "The expression you wore that time troubled me. Much different than the worried one you have now. Rather, it was quite empty, like a doll."

Heli doesn't say anything and M. L- motions for him to follow. Heli hesitates.

"I will not throw you back into the sun. Come."

He walks behind M. L- but keeps a couple paces behind.

"A ball for vampires functions much the same as they did for mortals. A show of wealth. A display of power. For us, that is even more important. The balance of power is the only law in this world."

"You're positive Lamia won't be at this masquerade?" Heli asks.

"Quite," M. L- replies. "For you see, none of us know where she is."

Heli's arm heals, albeit slowly. After a few days his hand has returned to mostly normal and he's able to fully move his fingers. He heads straight to the ballroom and lights a few of the candles set around the piano. Light shines across the gold-painted relief, full of dust and dull with age. The ceiling rises high above and he can barely make out clouds painted across the length of the room. He lifts the cover over the keys. To his absolute delight, it's tuned and he runs up a couple scales. It's been such a long time, he doesn't actually remember how to play any songs.

A small stack of paper spreads across the dusty top of the instrument. Pages of music are scattered here and there. He collects the loose pieces and tries to put together enough of a song that's both legible and complete. He tries out the first few measures. It's by far more complicated than the children's songs stuffed in the bench of the orphanage piano. He goes through the notes slowly, trying just to put together the melody of the piece.

"I thought you said you played a little," Viken walks over and leans into the piano before realising his mistake. He grimaces as he lifts his now brown dust-covered sleeve.

"This is a little," Heli replies, confused.

"Sounds good to me. Who taught you?"

"Someone at the orphanage."

"Just someone?"

Heli nods. He finishes a couple more lines before continuing.

"It was important to the owner that it looked like we were happy and well-rounded."

"Just looked like, huh?"

"For donations."

Viken nods and watches Heli stumble through the music for a while. When Heli starts the same line for the third time, his head turns as he takes in the grand room and stares into a dark corner.

"This isn't baroque," he exclaims. He picks up one of the candlesticks and heads over to something near the wall. He opens the bottom set of doors on what looks like a small wooden cabinet. Heli watches his back as he examines the contents. He stands fully and flips open the top of the cabinet as well.

"You might even know how to work this thing," Viken says,

Heli rises from the piano bench and joins Viken to inspect the strange cabinet. Behind the smaller top doors are wooden slats, and in the larger compartment below are shelves stacked with discs that greatly resemble the vinyl records in Viken's room. On top is a round plate and folded metal arm.

"This is a gramophone," Heli says. "It ought to work pretty much like your record player, but you have to wind it up."

"Hmm," Viken hums as he inspects the switches around the inside of the top. "Everything looks like it's in pretty good shape. Should we give it a go? I'm absolutely dying without music."

The gramophone may be the newest piece of technology in the castle, and possibly the best cared for as well. They flip through the records, looking for something interesting to listen to.

"What's this say? The label is worn." Viken hands him a disc.

Heli holds it under the candlelight to make out the words.

"Chaconne," he reads. There's other text, but it's too faded to make out.

"What does that sound like?"

Heli shrugs. Viken places the record on the player and gives the handle on the side a few spins. Heli watches as he adjusts a switch, unfolds the metal arm and replaces the little needle.

"So far not too different from my record player, but how do you start it?" Viken asks.

"Is there another switch somewhere?"

Viken looks around the round plate, and gives another metal switch a click. The disc starts to spin, and he moves the arm with the needle down over it.

Low drones of an organ start quietly then build until the bright tone of a violin sounds out over it. In a word, the piece is dramatic. Each note rings out with a feeling Heli can only imagine as a deep longing. They listen in silence for a while.

"It's in triple metre," Heli says. "Similar to a waltz."

"I can't imagine dancing to this though," Viken replies. "Not that I know how to waltz in the first place. Do you have to dance at a masquerade thing?"

"Probably. You'll have to learn."

The record finishes. Viken lifts the needle and puts the record back on a lower shelf.

"Could you show me then?" he asks.

"What?"

"How to waltz. There are bound to be some in here we can use for practice."

He finds a new record and resets everything to play.

"I wouldn't say I'm good or anything," Heli says. "I'm not sure-"

"Just the basics then." Viken turns so they're facing each other. "Is there a specific stance? Where do your arms go?"

He raises both arms straight into the air.

"Obviously not there," Heli laughs.

Viken steps closer so Heli can reposition his arms. Heli glances down and finds his gaze directed right at Viken's neck. He has a slight height advantage. It would be so easy to just lean down and…

He squeezes his eyes closed, trying to shut the image out of his mind, and the searing that accompanies. He sinks to his knees, pressing his face into his hands as he waits for the sensation to subside into needle-pricks creeping up and down his limbs.

"Do you really want my blood that badly?" Viken says over him.

Heli rocks as he takes a deep breath, until finally he feels well enough again to stand.

"I can ask Jakah if he knows how to dance, it's not a big deal," Viken offers.

Heli shakes his head.

"I'll show you the steps, just don't stand close to me."

Viken frowns but he takes instruction well. Heli sits back down on the piano bench and watches Viken twirls alone around the ballroom. The record side stops but Viken seems to be too far away to tell there's no music. Heli puts the record away.

He needs to be more careful. And taking Viken into a whole den full of vampires was the complete opposite of that. How was he supposed to protect Viken if he can barely control himself?

He slips out and finds Eugene in the usual place in the guest bedroom. As he enters, Eugene stands with a stretch.

"I don't like that forlorn expression," Eugene sighs. "What's going on?"

Heli sits by the fire, searching for words that will make him feel slightly less pathetic.

"I can't dance with Viken," he blurts out.

"Wanna dance with me instead?" Eugene smirks.

"No," Heli quickly answers.

"Your choices are pretty limited. If you're embarrassed, just say so."

"I don't think Viken should go at all. I'm not embarrassed, it's…" he trails off burying his head in his hands again. He can't just tell Eugene how much he craves Viken's blood. At this point it's completely humiliating. Or would Eugene finally find him too dangerous to be around? Nevermind the thirst, being dropped by his curse at any crucial moment would be the absolute last thing he wants to happen. He might end up endangering the whole lot of them.

"Blood," he mumbles.

"I might have guessed," Eugene says and kneels down. Gently, he pries Heli's hands away from his face. "Just Viken right? Have you ever wanted my blood?"

"Yes, but I was hungry." Heli doesn't lift his gaze from Eugene's hands wrapped around his wrists. His touch is warm, but it's not the same. No desire to take a bite rises up. "With Viken, it's all the time."

Eugene lets go and leans back, sitting on the deep blue rug. "All the time, huh? I wonder if it's because he's-" He taps his chin and doesn't complete the thought.

"He's what?"

"I'll think of something. I still want someone there who can stick with you and keep you out of trouble. Based on what Jakah said, these are quite the social events. We don't want you being passed around either."

Eugene stares into the fire, his eyebrows furrowing, seemingly deep in thought.

"You also shouldn't go," Heli says.

"I want information. I shouldn't need to explain to you why."

"No, I have a good idea," Heli says. He follows Eugene's gaze into the flames, looking away from him before he continues. "You think someone might know how to find Lamia."

"Right on."

They sit in silence, watching as the burning logs crackle.

"Eugene…"

"Yeah?"

In the periphery of his vision, Heli sees Eugene turn to look at him. He doesn't return the gaze.

"She might…I mean, I think," Heli frowns. "I think she already knows where I am."

Eugene freezes. Heli turns to see him staring with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Since we saw her in the mirror, I've been dreaming," Heli says. "About her."

Eugene's expression relaxes and he puts on a smile. "Having dreams about people you know is normal."

Heli shakes his head. "Not for me, since I don't really sleep. And it's not like normal dreaming, like I can feel her. And the first morning we were here, I heard her."

"I'm not going to pretend I understand how sleep works for you, but it had to have been a dream."

"No, I was awake. She spoke to me."

Eugene's smile fades. "What are you saying, then?"

"You should let me go."

Eugene groans, rolling his eyes as he rises to his feet. "I should have known you were about to say that."

"For everyone's sake," Heli pleads.

"Not a chance. For your own sake, get a grip. I hope this Jaan person is as sensible as Jakah insists."

Heli opens his mouth, but Eugene hasn't finished.

"And since you keep trying to find loopholes in our agreement, I'll say it directly. You are not to leave this castle until I say so."

"You are asking me to break my oath," Heli snaps.

"Maybe so, but I already know that it's weakened. I haven't forgotten what Oma said about the fraying thread."

"What if she's already here? What if the Shadows show up again?"

"If they come back, I guess we'll get to see how powerful your L- friend is after all."

Heli would argue more, but Eugene's giving him such a nonchalant look and he doesn't have the heart. Nothing else he says is going to change Eugene's mind. With a sigh he steps back towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Eugene asks.

"To teach Viken properly how to dance."