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What madness is this? What madness has taken me to this darkest of nightmares! I am tormented and I do not know how I shall sleep!

What does it mean? Dear God, in heaven above, what does it mean?

Later-

I am quite mad. I know it. After my last entry I finally fell into a deep, yet restless sleep. Once more, I had a nightmare. This one torments me even more.

In my dream, I could see myself sprawled across the bed, one hand thrown casually over my head. My chest rose and fell with the rhythm of my breathing as I sank further into the depths of unconsciousness.

Across the room, the curtains danced a little jig on the night breeze. Softly, in the distance, a night bird called out into the serene darkness of the night.

I sighed languorously.

The curtains slowly calmed their dance until they were slowly billowing in and out to match my breathing. Slowly, silently, a mist began to pour over the window ledge, wispy tongues licking at the wall and floor. The mist rose up and swirled with sensual, exotic movements, twisting about as if to some unheard music of the night.

I whimpered slightly.

The curtains suddenly fell flat as the mist began to rise up, slowly blossoming into a pillar of swirling blue. With dramatic flair, the curtains suddenly unfurled as the mist parted and a woman moved into the room.

The long black dress trailed slightly behind her and a long cloak slipped from her pale shoulders and fell to the floor. Silently, stealthily she moved across the room until she stood over the bed. With fierce blue eyes, she stared down at my sleeping form.

In my dream, my nightmare, I hovered like a spirit in the corner of the room watching all that was occurring.

“Andrew,” the woman whispered.

I saw myself stir slightly, then lapse back into the world of dreams.

The mist flowed around the bed, undulating with dark power.

“Andrew, open your eyes,” the woman repeated, then I recognized the voice of my sister.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, I opened my eyes in the dream. Abruptly, I was in my own body staring up at my sister. The room was strangely transformed, the atmosphere languid and heavy against me. I had to fight to keep my eyes open to see my sister standing at the end of the bed.

“Glynis?” I queried in confusion.

The creature before me was incredibly beautiful. The skin of the woman was so pale and translucent it almost seemed to glow with unearthly light. Her eyes were glittering like aquamarine jewels and there was a certain determination in them that made my hair rise on end. Her lips were red as blood and drawn into a somber line. As she stared down at me, I could see my sister’s features clearly, but yet, I was confused, for this creature oozed a sensuality my sister had never possessed.

“Andrew, it is I, your sister,” she said softly.

“Your face, Glynis, it is whole,” I answered. I tried to sit up, but I felt as though I was restrained by the wisps of mist flowing over me.

“Andrew, listen to me. This is a dream. A strange, exotic dream in a strange exotic land. But every word in this dream is truth and you must listen carefully,” Glynis said in a low voice.

I nodded slowly, unsure of what was happening, but I knew I must listen to the apparition of my sister.

“Andrew, your instincts were correct. Something is wrong here. Vlad is evil. He will destroy you and your family should he ever reach England. He already killed our parents and our beloved May. Do not fret over me, my darling brother. I am more powerful than you realize. It is important for you to move very slowly to assist Vlad. He cannot reach England. You must not help him move. Delay him, make excuses, but give me time to escape. ”

“But Glynis you said you loved him,” I protested.

“Oh, Andrew, I loathe him. He holds me in his power and I cannot escape. At least, not yet. I need you to do as I say. This dream will haunt you, but you will not speak of it to another. You will do as I say but you will not give voice to your reason. I need time, Andrew. Time to escape. And when I do, I will come to you in England. Do you understand?”

This woman who was my sister, yet something more than human, terrified me. “I want my sister to come home. ”

“I will. When I can. But not with Vlad. If I go with him to England it will mean death for you, Angeline and your child. ”

I felt a pressure against my head, and I fell back on the pillows breathing heavily.

“Do you understand? Please, Andrew, tell me you understand. ”