Vlad's POV

It is the year 2014; it feels just like yesterday that it was 1442. Many things have changed in the world since then; things like buildings, travel methods and technology. How I long for things to be the same as it was in the earlier centuries. There were several ways of life that were a bit easier but things seem better for the people of the world now.

We use to boil everything for food but it is looks so much better by the look of it. The clothes are far different because women are allowed to wear jeans instead of gowns all the time. I'll admit that it suits some women. Although some other women wear those crazy skinny jeans and they appear like they're about to bust like a balloon.

I normally would not care about such things however I cannot help but chuckle whenever I see one walk by me. I would prefer the boot cut jeans or a nice dress on a woman but I am old in my ways of thinking in the 21st century clothing.

I continue walking through the streets in the cloudy gray sky and the small crisp of autumn in the air. I begin to think about the history of the world. The written history is somewhat mixed up, just depends on the tale, myth, legend and subject. How I wish I could tell them all about the history I have seen in my long years. The look on their faces would make me smile or chuckle at the thought of it.

I do give credit to all of the new things that are in the world; the discoveries within the world of animals, plants, and some knowledge that the world can use in medicine. Even in vehicles, power lines, and much more. But I still prefer riding a horse any day and night over a vehicle or a roaring bonfire, a winter cloak over an AC, machine heater in a house like most of this generation does.

I take my mind off these things when I cross the street over to the market stands close by. It is nice to walk out among the streets with others walking to work, running errands or going home. Many people going about their day like it is any other day; all of the time in the world even with their mortal life.

I see all kinds of people in age, race and culture in Bucharest. I see humanity as a whole walking among them instead of being above them like other vampires in the world. A great deal of vampires see humans as nothing but food, livestock however I see them as beautiful, frailty men and women because of their short years.

They are what I once was before becoming Dracula, Son of the Devil. I walk by a few market stands selling local jewelry, magazines, newspapers, food and drinks. I suddenly stop and my entire world changes when I hear her...

My eyes look to see I am next to a market stand filled with fresh flowers, especially roses. I see one of the people among the stand is a beautiful woman. I could not believe it with my own eyes of who this woman looks like. She looks exactly like Mirena.

This gorgeous woman is the same in every way of Mirena; her lips, nose, all except for long golden blonde hair. She has short blonde hair, fair white skin with red lipstick that brought out her hazel eyes with a hint of green to them.

I gaze at her while she is talking to the saleswoman at the flower stand. I walk behind her to go to the right side of her. I must be dreaming but her perfume smell of vanilla bean mixed with the blush pink roses in her hands mixed in the air around her shows I am not dreaming this. She is real.

When I am to the other side of her, she briefly looks at the spot I was just standing at. I could not help but smile in remembrance of that same warmth and nice feeling I once had for the love of my life, Mirena when I first laid eyes on her.

The woman looks back to the blush pink roses in her hands until I say, "Beautiful."

She lifts her head then looks at me; full of life and spirit in her eyes that made me smile a bit more. She gazes at me for a moment when I say, "The flowers, my lady."

"My lady? Where are you from?" She smiles to me, asking in curiosity.

"A long way from here." I tell her in shyness while gazing directly into those marvelous eyes of hers. She looks right back at my eyes and pierces right through me in a way I have not felt in centuries.

She does her best to keep herself from smiling back at me when she tells me, "Well, good night."

She walks right past me and starts to walk away. My mind races, thinking of what could happen if I speak to her the one thing I have not spoken since Mirena. I decided to take a chance. A chance for me to possibly have true happiness again in my life.

'Why think separately of this life than the next, when one is born from the last.'

I say these words to her in such a way I only spoke to Mirena and no one else. She stops walking after I say the poem. I can sense her heart beat raising a bit when she turns around smiling a heavenly smile to me.

She tells me, "That is my favorite poem."

I walk over, taking in her full beauty again when I come face to face with her. We stare into each other's eyes when I tell her, "It speaks to you of yearning, of one soul pleading for another."

She stares at me like she knows me from somewhere but she does not remember. Maybe in time, she will know who I am. She extends her right hand out to shake hands with me while saying, "I'm Mina."

Instead of shaking her hand, I softly grab her right hand, bringing it close to my lips. I softly say to her, "Vlad."

I kiss the top of her hand for a moment after speaking my name. She continues to smile at me while I return a warming smile back to her. She captivates me while our eyes remain locked to each other. And just as we have in a past life, in this life our souls come together once more.