The Crimson Project

-11-

We were flying over Annapolis for about ten minutes, the night lights made me remember New York City, when we reached the rooftop of a modern building, made of steel and glass.

Marco landed, and a bat which was flying by our side the whole way converted into a cloud of fog and into Vlad.

The angel lifted me down, and I felt dizzy while stepping on the concrete for the first time in about an hour.

-Where are we? - I asked but I had a feeling I knew.

-My new home-Vlad answered and the three of us got into the elevator, going down for just one floor, to the penthouse.

The silver door opened up to show a tidy and impeccable apartment, full of dark wood and silver painted decorations. The whole place was one big space, like a loft, on the left I saw the kitchen and next to it, divided by an island the table of the dining room. Beyond the chairs, the sofa and armchairs that divided the living room. On the right a red wall, and in the middle, the corridor.

-I could have never guess that this could be Dracula's new apartment-Marco said bitterly and moved forward, collapsing in one of the armchairs, his wings retracted so it could fit right behind his back.

Vlad looked at me and pointed with his head towards the corridor.

I just followed him.

I could see the door of the bathroom and his bedroom right next to it.

-Enter please- He requested and I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

-Are you being serious?-I asked and he took me by my forearm, leading me inside

-Is it too hard to follow one simple order, Irina? - Vlad replied and I sighed. Following him inside the bedroom.

All the walls were dark grey, only a bed in the middle of the room, and while I was walking inside, the wood under my feet creaked, making me feel some kind of déjà.

Next to his bed was a small cup of crystal, full with dirt.

-Is It from Transylvania?-I asked and moved towards it, hypnotized, freeing myself from his hands.

I extended my finger and touched the dirt, cold and wet, feeling like something inside of me refreshed, like I never had rested in the last few years.

You know that feeling? When you're sleeping with brand new bed sheets?

Just like it.

-I need to talk to you... and it would be proper to leave Marcos with his grieve alone for a few minutes, wouldn't it?

I nodded, agreeing to this talk that I was really afraid to have.

-Do you remember anything? From...us?-Vlad asked and I could see into his eyes a desperation that wasn't there before.

-NO... -I lied and his grey eyes turned darker.

-You did... you remembered, when you were in the facility... I read it in your mind...in your eyes, you recognized me...

I shook my head as the memories of someone I wasn't now came back, stronger, like a wave ready to drown everything I had been living.

-I saw myself... as...Mina and I remember Jonathan...-I kept on lying... it was pointless.

-What else?-he said leaning towards me.

I swallowed, in the end, he was Dracula himself...although I was also a vampire, and he was clearly stronger than I was.

-The... the wedding- I replied and his eyes sparkled.

He knew what wedding I was talking about.