Following the discussion with the Duke, which was initially to be a simple purchase of a new shipment of wines, Lady Dimitrescu had decided to postpone the commercial agreement, to which the Duke had very understood well and accepted to wait, knowing the stake of such a reflection.

More than confused, the mistress of the castle had preferred to isolate herself and went back to shut herself up in her private apartments, in the north tower. At least here, no one would disturb her.

After locking herself in and placing it on the small hook hanging on the wall, Lady Dimitrescu stood for a moment in front of the window, offering an unobstructed and magnificent view of the pine forests and snow-capped mountains in the distance, forming the borders of this wild and isolated valley. But Dimitrescu didn't care about the scenery, her mind being far too preoccupied with more important thoughts. The Duke's words kept repeating in her head ... she thought about Mathias too ... what did he really represent? A simple prisoner was the most obvious answer ... but ... was she really sure now? She wasn't sure of anything anymore. An increasingly insidious doubt settled.

Assailed by doubt, the countess sat down on her chair, facing the large chest of drawers where her large mirror was, where she used to do her hair. But this time, she only looked at her reflection, looking herself in the eye, and seeing that doubt that was eating her inside.

After a very long hesitation, Lady Dimitrescu decided to pick up her phone, an old model from the 1950s, and dialed a number, bringing the receiver to her ear. She had to wait a few moments before an answer was heard on the other end of the phone.

_ "Mother Miranda ..." said the countess respectfully, trying to hide as much as possible the doubt that could be felt in her voice. "I'm calling to tell you that the young mortal, Mathias Derune, recently told me about a nightmare he had. In this nightmare, he said he saw our ceremony's temple, although he has never seen it ... he also has his late mother, as well as the coat of arms of the dragon, engraved on the central pillar..."

As she described what Mathias himself had told her, Lady Dimitrescu paused, then listening to what Mother Miranda could say to her.

_ "Yes, I am sure of it, Mother Miranda ..." affirmed Lady Dimitrescu. "But, I wanted to tell you... maybe it's still too early? I mean, shouldn't we wait a little longer... no, of course I understand the importance of this ceremony. I ... yes ... very well, Mother Miranda ... it will be done according to your desire. You can count on me."

With these words, Lady Dimitrescu hung up the phone. But suddenly the countess cracked completely. She grabbed the edges of her dresser in her hands, and with her superhuman strength, tossed it with ease across the room. The dresser snapped in two in shock, and the mirror shattered into hundreds of pieces of debris that spilled onto the floor. Breathing heavily, teeth clenched, Lady Dimitrescu had to pull herself together quickly, breathing normally and huffing hard. She ran her hands over her face, even more confused than she had been before, and seated herself on the floor with her back against the wall.

_ "What do I really have to do? ... I don't know anymore ..." she sighed sadly, as if asking for help from higher forces remaining silent to her requests.

*************

Not being aware of the discussion between Lady Dimitrescu and the Duke, because not having dared to play the eavesdropper at the doors, Mathias had chosen to go get some fresh air. To do this, he went through the large living room, empty, then through the dining room, just as empty of any presence, and opened the doors that led to where he thought: the central courtyard of the castle.

The courtyard was made of marble, perfectly shaped and square, surrounded on all sides by the buildings of the castle. Towards the end, Mathias saw the door which led to the north tower, and therefore, the access which was strictly forbidden to him. He would remember it, in case he got lost by mistake. The courtyard was decorated with trees and hedges, perfectly trimmed and covered by a thin layer of powdery snow. And in the center of the courtyard was this black iron structure, which Mathias recognized as being a gazebo, a kind of small pavilion very in vogue during the Renaissance, which allowed people to meet in the parks to be able to discuss between them in a calm location. Another old element which added a little touch of charm to this increasingly surprising castle.

Wearing his winter coat on him, Mathias walked over the thin layer of snow that covered the marble floor, descending the few steps to the center of the courtyard. As he walked, he could see that some of the bushes asleep in the cold still had roses, black as night. Closing his eyes for a moment, he could feel the cool winter air on his face, which made him feel good. You might as well take advantage of the outside air before having to return to the cell at nightfall.

Raising his eyes to look at the sky of a light gray and slightly covered by a few clouds, Mathias could admire the vertiginous towers of the castle, whose points almost gave the impression of touching the sky. The young man then saw other creatures, similar to a mixture of human and gargoyle, hovering between the towers and watchtowers, as if they were on patrol. So Lady Dimitrescu also had sky guards? Impressive, thought Mathias to himself.

Taking advantage of the fresh but pleasant air and protecting from the wind thanks to the walls of the castle, Mathias went to sit on a small stone bench under the gazebo. He took out of his pocket a small notebook and a pencil, which he had been able to ask to have in his cell. Since yesterday, Mathias had started to write as a kind of personal diary in which he described what was happening here and how he felt about this situation. Opening and putting the little notebook on his lap, he began to write on a new page.

Normally, I always start with the date and the day, but to tell the truth, I don't remember exactly, even if I think I'm still in 2021. I have only been here for a few days, and yet I have the feel like to be here for months. Here, I lose track of time, as if it was completely stopped. This place ... is surreal, and goes beyond anything logic has taught us. It is literally another world within the world. But in this world, it's not the humans who dominate ... it's the monsters.

And among them is Lady Dimitrescu, a vampire countess and also the tallest woman that can exist. The beginnings with her were more than difficult, but little by little, I began to find the semblance of confidence that she wanted to grant me. I still don't know what she really wants from me. She remains very closed on the subject. The answer must certainly be in the North Tower, but she doesn't want me to go. And what to think of her? Well, even though she is very often cold, distant, and sometimes really terrifying, I feel that deep down she is capable of loving. I had proof of that with his daughters. I didn't think I would ever think that, but I truly believe that she has a heart, and that there is still good in her.

Mathias stopped here for today, rather satisfied with this little text and gently closed the notebook which he carefully put back in his pocket. Looking up at the sky again, he must have suspected that it must be near the end of the afternoon. Being in the winter season, night fell much earlier and would surely not be long. Soon he would have to report to the undead guards to be brought back to his cell as agreed.

But as he was about to return to the main castle building, where the large living room was, Mathias stopped and listened intently ... from behind the door to the left of the courtyard, he heard .. . yes, music ... piano ...

Letting curiosity prevail, Mathias walked to the door leading into this other part of the castle he did not know, and opened the door. Immediately, the melody on the piano became a little louder, and came from the end of a small, slightly dark corridor. At the bend of this same corridor, Mathias could see light, and also heard voices that he recognized ... the three Dimitrescu daughters.

Crossing the corridor with a light and discreet step, Mathias came to the corner of the corridor and glanced.

He then discovered a new room, rectangular and high in the ceiling, which could almost resemble a mix between a living room and a ballroom. Lit by two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the room contained a few green leather armchairs, green plants as decoration, as well as small round tables where people can meet and discuss. An old clock was in one corner, and at the back was a staircase that led to the upper floor of this room, visible from the large balconies that dominated from above.

And in the middle of this room was the origin of the music. A grand piano, old style, brown and decorated with gold patterns. Bela, the oldest of the three sisters, sat behind the piano and played this melody, with a certain talent. Cassandra and Daniela were sitting on the leather armchairs and chatting a bit, listening to the music their big sister was playing.

Mathias remained silent, half hidden by the darkness of the corridor and listened to the melody, without her seeming to have noticed his presence. He almost smiled at the sight. The three girls looked so at peace.

But suddenly, Bela stopped playing, alerted by her senses, and looked up at the entrance to the hallway. Discovered, Mathias knew that there was no point in hiding anymore and revealed himself in the light of the chandeliers, a little embarrassed to disturb them.

_ "You ... what are you doing here?" Cassandra asked, with a hint of hostility in her voice.

_ "I... excuse me, I didn't mean to disturb you, but I heard the music and... I wanted to say that you play very well. It was Mozart, right?" Mathias said, embarrassed and scratching the back of his head.

_ "Hmmm, yes, Mozart. I see you know the classics." Bela replied, a little coldly but still showing herself flattered by the compliment.

_ "Well, I might just be a guy from the French countryside, but I have a minimum of culture." Mathias chuckled softly, trying to ease the mood a bit. "But, it was awkward of me to enter without permission. I'll let you ..."

_ "No, wait. Stay, and come sit here." then said Daniela, the youngest of the sisters, who for once spoke without sounding hysterical.

She got up from her green chair and pointed to him, motioning for Mathias to come and sit down. At first hesitant, knowing their unpredictable character and loving to set traps, Mathias nevertheless decided to obey them and came to sit down. Very soon, the three witches gathered around him to talk to him, hooking him with their gazes.

Mathias looked at them one by one, shy, and wondering what to say or do.

_ "Listen ... we know about the poisoning attempt on our mother ..." Bela began.

_ "Hey, I swear to you, it was not me!" Mathias panicked and wanted to defend himself, and causing chuckles from the three sisters. Mathias fell silent, raising an eyebrow, confused.

_ "Shut up and listen, idiot ..." Bela said with a smile "... we just wanted to tell you that we know what you did for our mother, and for that we wanted to thank you."

_ "Mother is everything for us. It is she who created us and gives us eternal life. Without her, we do not know what we could do." Cassandra added, with great sincerity.

Daniela didn't say anything, but also showed her gratitude by her expression. She even went further, and to Mathias's surprise, leaned over him and placed a quick little kiss on his cheek. Mathias felt his heart leap and even more embarrassed, blushed slightly, which made the three sisters giggle again.

_ "Oooh, Daniela, look how you put him. It blushes like a rose." Cassandra chuckled.

_ "He's so cute. I couldn't resist." Daniela replied also, laughing teasingly.

Bela also shared a laugh with her two sisters when she saw Mathias' shyness, but remained more serious, such was her character.

_ "But ... I ... and what happened with the window the other day ..." Mathias stammered, but Bela motioned for him to be silent.

_ "Let's forget about it." she said to reassure him. "With what you have done, we consider that you have redeemed yourself, this time. But we prefer to warn you: the next time you do that, we hang you by the feet and tear your skin with the teeth."

She had spoken in a soft voice, but Mathias understood the message very well and swallowed a little. There was no risk that he would forget not to make that mistake again.

Suddenly, Mathias noticed that Daniela had gone to the small drawer unit which was against the wall, and where there was a record player. In one of the drawers, the young witch rummaged and took out what Mathias could not believe. A vinyl record, from a group that Mathias knew and sometimes listened to. The album And Justice For None, by American groove metal band Five Finger Death Punch.

_ "Do you ... do you listen to Five Finger Death Punch?" Mathias asked, dumbfounded.

_"Of course." Daniela answered, starting to install the disc. "Mother is a bit more into classical music, but my sisters and I, well ... let's say that thanks to the merchandise the Duke sells, we have learned to discover and love other styles of music."

_ "Come on, girls, it's time to relax a bit. Dance and have fun!" Cassandra said enthusiastically.

Once the vinyl was in place, Daniela switched on the record player, which began to play. A guitar began to resonate in the hall, in a slow, dark melody, similar to a dark country tune. Bela, Cassandra and Daniela, closing their eyes, as if going into a trance listening to the music, gathered in the middle of the room and slowly began to headbang and move their bodies to the rhythm of the melody. Still seated on the armchair, eyes wide and mouth open, Mathias observed this completely improbable scene. The singer's voice, accompanied by the drums, was then heard in turn:

Night falls and I'm alone

Skin, yeah, chilled me to the bone

You turned and you ran, oh yeah

Oh oh, slipped right from my hand

Yeah

The chorus came then, the music doubling in power and speed, becoming much more rock. Bela, Cassandra and Daniela began to dance and move with more energy, their black lips smiling and their hands slamming to the beat of the drums.

Blue on black

Tears on a river

Push on a shove

It don't mean much

Joker on jack

Match on a fire

Cold on ice

A dead man's touch

Whisper on a scream

Never change a thing

Doesn't bring you back

It's like blue on black

From the start of the song which now resonated with power in the hall, Mathias had remained frozen in the armchair, watching the dance of the three witches to a song by a band he himself listened to sometimes when he was on the bus. or on the train. And now he was there, in a medieval castle somewhere in Transylvania, with vampires, listening to that same song ... he could never have imagined that they had a metalhead soul, even if their dress style made them look gothic. Mathias couldn't help a nervous smile from forming, and the urge to laugh seized him, but he restrained himself.

While dancing, Bela then came to see him.

_ "Come on, pretty boy, come dance with us." she said, teasing.

_ "Oh, I ... no, don't bother with me ..." Mathias stammered shyly.

_ "You have no choice, come on, come on!" laughed Cassandra who arrived in her turn, and with the help of her sister, took Mathias by the arms, pulling him to force him to come with them to dance. Taken by surprise and unable to resist the monstrous strength of these girls, Mathias was brought to the middle of the room and was now standing, very shy and red face, surrounded by these three beautiful young vampire women, in their black coats and hoods, dancing and moving around him, and even coming sometimes, lightly touching him with their bodies. Mathias blushed as he felt their hips and buttocks brush against him.

_ "Relax, and enjoy ..." Daniela told him, whispering in his ear with a certain touch of lust.

Mathias blushed even more, feeling a little overwhelmed by the situation and not sure how to react. But that didn't stop the three sisters who still insisted and continued to dance with the same enthusiasm. The young man wanted to pinch himself to see if he was in a weird dream, but no, he was awake.

But in front of the smiles and the encouraging looks of the Dimitrescu sisters, Mathias, second by second, managed to smile and relax a little and at first shyly, he too began to dance and shake his head to the rhythm of the song Blue on Black.

_ "Ha ha! Look at this, sisters! Pretty boy is finally joining us!" Cassandra commented with a smile.

_ "Woohoo!" Daniela cried in turn, bursting with energy.

Cassandra and Daniela then took each other's hands, both dancing to the music. Bela, now having a dance partner, offered her hand to Mathias, who at first a little hesitant, happily agreed to dance with the big sister of the three.

_ "Wooooh, Bela ..." Cassandra and Daniela commented in unison to tease their sister by seeing her dance with Mathias.

_ "Oh, shut up girls ..." Bela laughed heartily to answer them.

Mathias for his part, chose not to say anything, but finally managed to smile and feel a little better.

But what he and the three sisters didn't know was that they were being watched. Standing in the shadow of the hallway, near the entrance to the ballroom, Lady Dimitrescu watched. Hearing this music that her daughters used to listen to, she had come to see what was happening. At first surprised to see Mathias with them, the countess still decided to let it go. Seeing him like this, smiling and dancing, what is more with her three daughters who also seemed to be having fun with him.

Faced with this vision, Lady Dimitrescu cannot help but a small smile forming on the corner of her lips, and decides to leave without being heard, to return to her apartments and let Mathias stay a little longer than expected outside his cell, despite the fact that it has been dark outside for several minutes.