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I am shivering with fear as I struggle to grasp the event that has just occurred. Ignatius slumbers beside me as I write these words, and I wish not to disturb him until I have regained my senses.

I am still trembling. . .

It all began when I had the most peculiar dream…

I saw Vlad Dracula walking through the gardens of the Dosza Palace. He was dressed elegantly in a gray suit with a tall hat on his head and shaded glasses upon his nose. Striding through our gardens, he inspected the flowers with significant attentiveness.

What is truly odd about the dream was that Vlad was walking in daylight. I could see the red glints of his dark auburn hair illuminated in the bright sunlight. I would suppose it was near noon for the sun was high in the sky.

Glancing at Ignatius’s pocket watch on the bed stand, I now surmise that would have been just a short while ago.

In my dream he found a beautiful, pure white bloom that appeared to suit his purpose and sliced it from the bush with a silver dagger. Satisfied, he strolled purposefully toward the palace.

As you often do in dreams, I floated along behind him as he entered through the French doors off the patio and wound his way through the house while deftly avoiding all our servants.

At last, he climbed up the grand staircase holding the white rose aloft.

Now, my dear diary, this is the horrifying part of the dream. He entered the room where I lay asleep in Ignatius’s arms. With a wicked smile, Vlad approached our bed as we slept. Gently, he disengaged me from Ignatius’s embrace, turning me so I lay upon my back. Leaning over, he kissed me tenderly upon the mouth.

“We shall be reunited, my love. You and I shall rule all vampires and watch the world smolder at our feet. You are mine,” he whispered against my lips.

Setting the rose upon my bed stand, he kissed the petals, then slipped out of the room.

I awoke with a start when I heard the bedroom door close. Snatching up my robe, I ran to the door and wrenched it open. Though my sitting room was empty, I heard footsteps in the hall beyond. My heart beating rapidly within my chest, I hurried out into the hallway. Per my edict, all the windows are covered so that the palace is plunged into a perpetual dusk during the hours of the day.

The sound of steps retreating down the staircase echoed through the long corridor. With inhuman speed, I rushed to the banister and leaned over it.

Below Vlad Dracula strode across the foyer to the front doors of my home. I gasped in horror and he heard me. Lifting his head, he lightly touched the brim of his top hat, smiled, and opened the door.

Sunlight flooded the foyer and washed over him. I crouched in the shadows of a pillar in terror as he stood in the blazing light of the day staring up at me. Adjusting his glasses, he smiled once more, and departed.

The door shut behind him, plunging the foyer into shadows.

Terrified, I fled to my room where I now sit, huddled in my bed trembling for I realize that what I experienced was no mere dream or mirage. For you see, dearest diary. . . . . . how it terrifies me to write this. . . . . . when I returned to my bed a white rose sat upon my bed stand with a single drop of blood resting upon its perfect petals. . .