'Dear Prentiss,

I realized this will come as a great shock to you, and I pray you will forgive me in time. The truth is, I cannot marry you. My heart will not allow it. Truthfully, if I carried through with our plans, my life would become misery. I am sorry, Prentiss. I cannot go through with it.'

I gazed through the open window onto the churchyard below. A shadow figure appeared beside Papa's grave. Night after night, I crept outside to meet Ranulf. We sat beside my beloved father's last resting place, making our plans.

In the back of my mind, I felt I betrayed Prentiss. He rescued me from von Helfin castle and had every right to expect I would marry him. When Ranulf reappeared, I knew I could not follow through with the wedding.

And so, on this last night in my old home, I sat at my desk in the opened window. The letter spread before me, I gazed down upon my anxious lover. For a moment, I pressed the pen against my lips and considered my next words.

'On the day you arrived at the vicarage, Mama and Papa began planning our lives together. They both liked and trusted you, Prentiss, as I did. Circumstances drew us apart along with distance. I am forever grateful for your appearance in Romania and for rescuing me. I will never forget all you did.

'I am a different person now than I was when we first met. Papa brought me up in the church, and I believe in his teachings with all my heart. Papa was a good man; he devoted his life to his profession. However, he was also kind, loving and forgiving. Life is give and take, Prentiss. I appreciate your concern and your care for me. Nevertheless, I feel stifled by your plans; you plan but do not include my opinions.

'I have met someone else who shares my viewpoints and who longs to make me the center of my life. I find we have a lot in common and, oh, I do love him ever so much. As much as I hate to break this to you on this night—our wedding eve—I feel I must. By the time you find this, we will have disappeared.

'All my best to you, Prentiss.

'Norah.'

Sealing the letter in an envelope, I propped it against the lamp and prepared to depart. Ranulf awaited me, and we had much to do before we left. Hastening downstairs, I left my childhood home forever. Beneath my arm, I carried the book that would set my lover free.

"I thought you would never arrived," Ranulf stated grasping my hands. He smiled, the tips of his canines appearing at his lower lip.

"I had a last minute task to complete," I responded, dragging him toward the church.

Ranulf hesitated at the church door. I tugged on his hand, urging him inside. Still, he faltered, not wanting to step over the holy threshold. I felt his resistance and turned to him.

"It's the only way," I implored, yanking on his arm. "You said you wanted your freedom. We have to go inside."

For weeks, I had perused Papa's extensive library. Finally, I discovered what I sought. Hidden behind a stack of Bibles, I found a slim volume concerning the occult. The information I required appeared under the heading 'Vampires.'

"Perhaps this is not such a good idea," my companion stated, his feet rooted to the ground. "What if it doesn't work? What if you can't bring me back?"

"We have to try," I stubbornly responded. "Ranulf!" I fiercely tugged on his arm again.

"If it doesn't, are you going to marry him?" He roughly jerked his thumb toward the vicarage.

"I'd rather die," I hissed in return.

"Just like Juliet," Ranulf remarked, his red eyes glowing serenely.

"Yes, like Juliet who couldn't live without her Romeo."

Could I really do it? I wondered. Could I take my own life if I could not save my one true love? Or would I falter at the altar of love? I had not considered the thought until that moment at the church door.

I pictured myself returning to my bedchamber and tearing up the goodbye letter to Prentiss. If Ranulf did not recover from the ceremony described in the occult book, I shuddered to think of life without him. Sadness over took me. Holding back my tears, I pushed open the door and stepped into the church. I willed Ranulf to follow me.

Alone, I approached the altar. The scent of lilies filled the air. All about the church, they stood in vases awaiting the following day. The soft full moon shone through the stained glass windows creating a path upon the ancient aisle. I knelt in the chancel and prayed. Ranulf knelt beside me, his head bowed.

He lay on the floor; his head at the altar, his feet facing the door. I knelt beside him and said one last prayer. Caressing his open chest with my palm, I willed it to become warm. Nevertheless, it remained stone cold. Ranulf closed his eyes. A serene expression crossing his ashen face.

Time stood still. I garnered my strength, then plunged the wooden stake into my beloved's heart. For a moment, I faltered before driving it home with a mallet. Ranulf made an 'oof' sound, his lips parting slightly. Then, he lay unmoving before me.

Rising to my knees, I muttered another pray asking God to spare his cherished life. Swiftly, I gathered holy water from the baptismal font. Falling to my knees, I used it to recreate the ancient, Catholic sign of the cross.

"In the Nomine Patris." Tenderly, I touched his forehead. "In the Name of the Father."

My hand shook as it moved downward toward his chest.

"et Filli—and of the Son."

During the past few days, I memorized the unfamiliar Catholic ritual. Although it was against my Father's teachings and my belief, I wished to perform the ascribed ceremony as authentically as possible.

Gaining confidence, I lightly drew my finger across Ranulf's shoulders.

"et Spiritus Sancti—and of the Holy Ghost."

My vampire lover remained in his prone position. He did not stir or flinch. Hour after hour, I remained at my vigil. Tears welled in my eyes, and I sobbed. Sorrow overwhelmed me. The ritual failed, and I destroyed the only man I could ever love.

I had to leave the church. I visualized myself returning to the vicarage and tearing up the letter I wrote to Prentiss. My marriage to him would take place as scheduled the following morning. I could not face it.

"Oh my Romeo," I muttered, mournfully. Gently, I brushed Ranulf's straggly hair from his forehead. Then, I bent and, for the first time, brought my lips to his sanguine ones.

In fairy tales, a kiss awoke the Sleeping Beauty. Perhaps, just perhaps, it could awaken a dead vampire too. I knelt and prayed again—still nothing happened.

The sun began to peek over the horizon, lighting the nave. Slowly, it crept toward the chancel. Soon, the day would begin. Prentiss always came into the church during the early morning to pray. He would find us still there unless something happened soon.

"Ranulf!" I screamed, desperately shaking his shoulders. "Oh please wake up. Please, Ranulf."

On my hands and knees, I crawled to the altar and lay prostrate before it, sobbing. My heart breaking, I sought a way to end my misery. Life could not continue for me without Ranulf. As though in a dream I rose, entered my father's office and returned with the only sharp instrument I could find.

I held the paper knife against my throbbing heart. Willing the strength to plunge it into my breast, I plighted my troth to Ranulf. If we could not live together in life, we would die together. My lips muttered a silent prayer, and I pushed the letter opener into my naked chest.

"Norah."

At the sound of my name, I dropped the letter opener. It clattered noisily upon the flagstone floor and echoed against the stained glass windows.

"Don't do it, Norah," Ranulf gasped, his lank form rising from the floor. Awkwardly, he stood to shaking feet.

I spun and rushed into his arms. Joyously, I gazed into his restored face. A slight peach color tinted his pale complexion. The blood drained from his sanguine lips, leaving them a soft pink. His red, bloodshot eyes morphed into a golden hawk-eye. He bent his head toward mine and kissed me. My arms flew around his neck, and I pulled him closer, deepening our love's first embrace.