Ivan bowed as he entered the room where the vampire he’d faithfully served for over five hundred years stood. “Everything is going as planned, my Lord.”

Good. Have the other guests arrived?

“Yes, we await only her arrival now.”

Dumitri nodded his acknowledgement, turning back to look out the picture window to the darkening sky above. The rains would start soon. He would ensure it. His guests expected to visit an authentic vampiric castle, the home of Vilheim Dracul and he would make sure they received the entire gothic package. In actuality, he couldn’t care less for the humans who even now traipsed about his ancestral home, fingering his paintings, and turning over every candelabra as if they would discover some cheap knockoffs rigged with wires. To him the people were a necessary evil, a means to an end.

What he really wanted was her… Kyra Littleton. And in a matter of a few short hours he would have her with him where she belonged.

She was one of the Worthy, a small group of humans who were descendants of the first vampires. It was said that these human/vampire hybrids rejected their lineage centuries ago, choosing to breed among humans to dilute their beastly ancestry. Many believed that the Worthy were extinct, their vampire heritage being completely cleansed away. It was said that only a true vampiric mate could detect the special pheromone present in the males or females of the Worthy destined for them, and it had been many centuries since a Worthy and vampire joining.

Dumitri carefully devised his plan after sensing her for the first time many months ago. He’d known immediately that she was the one who would share the rest of his immortal existence. Her scent had wafted to him as he exited the limousine to inspect his new acquisition; a United States based newspaper headquartered in Chicago with worldwide distribution and acclaim. Until that moment, he’d never thought that one of the Worthy could exist for him. None had been seen since his grandparents’ time. Like most vamps, he’d been content with living a life of decadence, satisfying himself with human conquest to temporarily assuage his needs. He’d thought that eventually he would choose a mate from amongst the vampire nation, someone with whom he could tolerate an eternity.

But once he’d scented her, his frantic gaze had searched the various humans milling about, catching a glimpse of her dark frame as she entered the downtown building in front of her short companion.

“Kyra, can you slow down? Not everyone is gifted with long legs,” the woman chasing her had complained.

Kyra. He’d repeated the name, knowing it would be one of many times he would say it. She would be his sotie, his wife, of that he was certain.

They’d definitely gone all out, she’d give them that much, Kyra silently acknowledged as her things were transported from the sidewalk into the horse drawn carriage. It had been a short forty-five minute ride from the airport to the quaint town of Moraga. Once there, she’d barely had a chance to sightsee before the darkening sky rumbled with thunder. Ominous clouds drifted in swiftly. Perfect!

She stepped under the awning of what appeared to be a general store. According to her itinerary, she was to wait there for her coach. She hadn’t expected it would literally be a horse drawn carriage coming for her. The driver wore a period black cloak, complete with wide brimmed hat, which he tipped before helping her into the private interior.

The inside of the coach was done in a gaudy crushed velvet material that seemed to envelope her in warmth. Despite its garish interior, she was thankful for the dry enclosure. Outside the rain pelted the carriage in a steady stream. Periodic flashes of lightning and thunder accompanied the relentless onslaught, yet Kyra felt completely secure in the safety of the cocoon. She only hoped the driver fared well under the slightly enclosed shelter that probably didn’t afford much insulation from the elements.

The ride up to the castle took longer than she’d originally expected. From the town, she could see two towers reaching toward the sky and assumed that they were probably a good twenty minutes away via the horse drawn contraption. Almost an hour later, her head lolled on the soft headrest as they pulled up the long drive to the castle’s entrance.

“Mistress, ve are here.”

Kyra came to with a start, embarrassed that she’d finally succumbed to sleep when she’d been unable to do so on her journey over.

“I’m sorry.” Stepping out onto the gravel road, she gasped, struck with the complete magnificence of the castle. She stared up at the large stone walls that seemed to go on for several stories. A raindrop fell in the center of her forehead as she craned her neck to take in the gray exterior. “My God.”

“Ve’d betta be getting inside,” the driver urged from behind her.

He didn’t need to tell her twice. Moisture added to her already skewed hair wouldn’t be a good combination.

The inside proved to be just as impressive. High ceilings, a grand staircase, granite flooring, all added to its old world appearance.

Another man dressed in Renaissance style pants and ruffled top appeared from a side door as if waiting for their arrival. “I hope your flight was a pleasant one, mistress.”

His sudden manifestation startled her dulled senses. She was tired and in dire need of more sleep. “It was fine.” No need sharing with him how close she’d come to shoving her seatmate into the aisle because his bobbing head refused to stay in his designated space, or the man’s loud snoring which was unable to be blocked out by her complimentary headset.

“I am Ivan.” He bowed slightly. His English, although accented, didn’t compare with the driver’s thick brogue. “Please feel free to call on me for any of your needs. All the guests are getting acquainted in the parlor should you wish to join them.”

“If I could be shown to my room, I would like to freshen up first,” she said.

“Certainly, this way,” he said before picking up her bags.

Kyra followed him up the long winding staircase and down a hall that was illuminated by torch-like sconces that cast eerie shadows against the walls.

“Here you are.” He swung open a heavy wooden door which silently gave way to an oversized room.

Kyra felt a chill course through her as she entered the dim chamber.

“I will make sure a fire is lit before you retire. This castle can be quite drafty at night. When you are ready to come down, simply pull this cord.” He indicated a tassel that seemed to drop down from the ceiling near the door. “I will come to get you.”

“I’m sure I can find my way,” Kyra protested, although she didn’t look forward to traversing the dark halls on her own.

“No,” he said abruptly. “It is best if I come for you until you’ve become acquainted with the castle. There are many places to get lost here.”

She didn’t doubt that.