When Caroline opened her eyes, it was still dark. A hint of pink in the sky outside the window made her suspect that sunrise was near. Without moving, she looked around slowly. She was alone. The large bed she was lying in was soft and warm, the blanket fluffy. How had she gotten here?

In a fast motion, she lifted the blanket and looked down at herself examiningly. A nightgown. Nothing special, just plain white linen, a little more than knee length, and if she felt correctly she was actually wearing underpants.

The memories came back slowly.

How Damien had carried her the last part of the way and set her down on the armchair next to the bed. How he had talked to her in a low voice and stayed with her until she calmed down. How Rebekka had come back with a big bag of clothes and they had waited until she had showered and put on the nightgown, and a bathrobe that was a little too big.

It felt so good to wear underwear! She was sure it was pure calculation to provide just a jumpsuit and shoes for the process. It was probably intended to make the accused feel uncomfortable, naked and defenceless, as she had been.

The two vampires hadn't left until she'd eaten some of the stew waiting on the small coffee table after her shower, and Rebekka had applied some balm to her wrists.

Caroline had felt the need to use her presence to ask questions. There was so much she wanted to know! So much that was unsettling her, but the thoughts just hadn't wanted to come together into meaningful words.

"Did I make the right decision?" Was the only thing she finally managed to get out when Rebekka had opened the door.

"You'll figure that out all right. Get some rest now!" Rebekka had replied in her typically gruff manner. Just as she had stepped over the threshold she had turned around again.

"Tell me, you didn't mean us when you implied in the trial that there were vampires you could trust, but who wouldn't be considered taking you in as a ward." She had looked grim at Carolines weak smile. "You do realize I'd make your life a living hell, don't you?"

"Oh, we both know you like me!" Caroline had been unable to stifle a wry grin, despite her utter exhaustion. "Deep down. Very deep"

Rebekka had shaken her head in resignation.

"But I'll give you this," she had hesitated, a smile appearing on her lips "that was one hell of a show!" With that, she had finally left the room.

Damien had looked a little like he had a toothache during the brief conversation. Did vampires even get toothaches? Seriously, Caroline, that's the kind of question you can think of?" she had scolded herself in her mind.

"To answer your original question," he had hesitantly put in. "Yes, I think you did. Thomas is a good king and a kind man. If you can manage to control your temper, you can have a comfortable life here."

"That's a big if!" it had slipped out of her.

Damien had rubbed his hand over his eyes and sighed deeply. "Rest now, the next few days sure will be exhausting. You have a lot to learn." With those words, he was gone, too.

Caroline flipped the covers completely back and jumped out of bed. She indeed felt rested and re-energized. The trial had been over around lunchtime and she had lain down in the early afternoon, shortly after Damien and Rebekka had left. There had been a clock around here somewhere yesterday? Aha! On the ledge above the fireplace stood an ancient-looking wind-up clock. She had been asleep for over fourteen hours!

Eagerly she walked to the window and looked out. The sight was overwhelmingly beautiful. For the first time, she glimpsed the island without being terrified. The waves regularly beat with a mighty roar against the cliffs that dropped steeply below the window. Just above the surface of the sea, perhaps two hundred meters from the cliffs, she saw the wall of light rising from the platforms. She wondered when they had been built and who had developed this kind of technology.

The balance between old-fashioned views, nostalgic-looking construction methods and, on the other hand, state-of-the-art technology and medical advances were remarkable. She looked at her fully healed wrists. The thin, smooth pink strip did not suggest that she had been bleeding here just a few hours ago. Rebekka had said that the balm would help, but the effect was more than surprising. Which led her again to the question of what exactly vampires actually were, where their origins lay, and exactly what abilities they had.

She would find out once she had inquired about Isy. She worried about the girl again and hoped that there was some way to see her or send her a message.

Caroline went to the door and, against all expectations, it opened easily. Like the wainscoting of the guest room, it was made of wood and looked old, but well kept. She looked down the hall, it was empty, and closed the door again. Where was she supposed to go? Someone, hopefully Damien or Rebekka, would surely come soon and explain what would happen next. She should be ready by then.

She paused, shocked at her thoughts.

When exactly had the two vampires who had been directly involved in her and Isy's abduction become people she hoped to see? A brief analysis of her psyche brought no satisfactory answer. Neither Stockholm syndrome nor her support before the trial sufficiently explained her liking them. Perhaps the fact that they were the better choice compared to other vampires did? In contrast to the monsters who wanted to burn her alive, everybody was a friend.

Presumably they had become unwilling allies in a battle that was undoubtedly raging here beneath the civilized surface. Caroline made it a point to pay close attention not only to her own feelings, but also to her surroundings. Now that she no longer had to fear for her existence, this was the obvious task.

Swiftly she got to the bag and rummaged through the clothes Rebekka had brought. When she found underwear, a pair of light cloth pants and a short-sleeved shirt she went to the bathroom and once again enjoyed the hot shower water. Wrapped in a towel, she then searched through drawers and closets and found everything she needed. And more.

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Among other things, there was a hair dryer, brushes and combs, toiletries, creams, makeup, dental care products, a manicure set and a whole bunch of perfume bottles provided. Much of it in its original packaging. Since it was still early, she devoted herself extensively to personal hygiene.

It hadn't bothered her that she hadn't had access to makeup before the trial. Her appearance had been the last thing she had worried about.

Now, however, she enjoyed trying out the various products and subtly accentuating her assets again. When she was done with her body, hair and face, she got dressed, looked at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction and left the bathroom.

She had pushed the door open a little too hard and when it hit the wall, a bright scream and loud clang sounded from the couch. Caroline looked into the startled face of a woman of about fifty. Her dark hair was loosely knotted, she wore a light brown knee-length dress with a white pinny and flat black leather shoes.

"Good morning," Caroline said kindly, looking at the shards of a broken cup. "I'm sorry I startled you, I didn't mean to!"

"Ah, well, broken pieces are known to bring good luck." The woman dropped to her knees and began to pick up the remains of the cup. Automatically, Caroline wanted to help.

"Oh, no, no! There's no need for that. Just sit down, please, and see that you don't cut yourself!"

The woman's voice did not sound as if she would allow any contradiction, and so Caroline sat down. The breakfast on the huge tray looked excellent. It was a colorful mix, like the international buffets in large hotels. Buns, a French croissant and toast, freshly cut fruit and vegetables, various kinds of cold cuts, jam and honey, plus a plate with a hood over it under which she suspected eggs or other hot dishes. Her mouth watered at the smell and sight, and she realized how empty her stomach felt.

When it grumbled the woman looked up and pointed to the tray.

"Help yourself, please!" she had gathered all the broken pieces and stood up. "Would you like coffee or tea?"

"Um, coffee please." Caroline was overwhelmed by the excessive attention after the experience of the last few days. The woman left the room, something clattered, and a few seconds later she was standing in front of her with another tray. There were two filled latte macchiato glasses, two cappuccino cups, a smaller glass cup with a black liquid, probably Americano, and another cup whose contents she couldn't make out on it.

"We have oat, almond, and cow's milk available, so how do you drink your coffee?"

"Okay, what's going on here?" Caroline tried not to sound suspicious, just a little skeptical. "Why this posse? Is this normal?"

"Nothing about this whole thing is normal!" escaped the woman before she could stop herself. She looked startled for a moment, but then began clearing things from the tray onto the table. Caroline just looked at her questioningly.

"It has not, in my lifetime, happened that the king" she pronounced the title almost awestruck "has taken in a human being."

"I suppose that caused great excitement?"

"You could say that." She kneaded her hands. "No, the posse isn't normal, and once we know what your preferences are, we'll take them into account. This," she pointed to the full table. "Is a little welcome from us. Just tell me afterwards what you liked best or what you missed."

"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Who exactly is we and what is your name?" Caroline had so many questions, but it seemed polite for her to start.

"Oh right. My name is Claudia. I run the kitchen and housekeeping at the palace. My team consists of about two hundred people and we are responsible for food, laundry, decoration, cleaning and so on. Gardens, maintenance and everything else is up to Rupert, my husband."

"Wow, and how many people live here in the palace?" Caroline gestured for her to sit down and reached for one of the cappuccinos. It was delicious, certainly from a portafilter machine.

So, the king, of course, some lords, ladies and nobles." At Caroline's questioning look, she explained "Well, some of the superiors don't consider themselves lords or ladies."

"I see, so that's the gender-neutral term?"

"Exactly. Most of the original clans originated in the United Kingdom. The titles have been taken over and given their own colour here."

"Do you and your husband, live here too?"

"Us and all the staff, so three hundred and twenty-six humans in all. Most of them in the east wing. That's also where she has the main kitchen, two dining rooms, and right behind that is an adjacent building where some of the guards live. "

"And where do all the others live?"

"Wherever they want, but most of them in the city. Some of the nobles additionally have estates in the countryside."

"Really? How are the houses and estates distributed then?"

"What do you ..." Claudia looked at her questioningly for a moment, then smiled. "You're making it too complicated for yourself. It doesn't work all that differently from the rest of the world. Everyone contributes a part to the community and is compensated accordingly. Whether you want to spend your money on housing or otherwise is up to each person."

"Understood. Is there a separate currency here?" Caroline just couldn't stop herself. The questions just bubbled out of hers.

"Originally it was pounds, but when the changeover came in Europe we adapted and introduced euros as well. Apparently so as not to make it difficult to import and export."

Caroline looked at her for a moment, speechless. She had not assumed that there was a real connection to the human world. This whole thing had bigger dimensions than she had expected.

"One second, the humans know this island exists?"

"Of course," Claudia nodded in amusement. "Did you assume there was a spell over this magical place?" She was unmistakably mocking, but Caroline was too curious to mind.

"No, I thought with all the technology there would be something to hide it."

"Well, you're partially right about that. Sharp satellite images aren't possible because of the lasers. But to the rest of the world, this island is simply the private property of a wealthy eccentric business family and must be widely avoided. Officially, we belong to the Federated States of Micronesia, even though we are actually a little too far east. And other than huge tax levies, there are no deep political or other ties. I don't think it's known outside how many people actually live here."

"I must confess, until today I didn't even know there was such a thing as the Federated States of Micronesia."

"Don't worry, that's how most people who come here feel," Claudia smiled kindly at her.

"Where did you come from?"

"Oh, I was born here, just like my husband and our children."

"Then how do you know so much about the ..." She interrupted herself, not knowing if the question would offend Claudia.

"I suppose from the same source as you." To her relief, Claudia was still smiling. "We have schools here."

"Only for humans or are there vampire children too?"

"No, vampires can't ..." Claudia's smile faded a little and she rose.

"I've been here far too long, I'm needed in the kitchen." She smoothed her flawless apron.

"Don't be mad at me but, I'm not sure it's my place to explain everything to you. I think someone else will. Please let me know if you need anything else."

At the door, she turned again.

"If you want another coffee or snacks, there's a small kitchen with a stocked refrigerator on the first floor across from the library. We'll hurry to get your chambers ready for occupancy today. It should be ready by tomorrow at the latest."

"Chambers? Are they here in the building?"

"Yes, one floor up."

"I just have one last question, please! Does the king live here, too?"

"Yes." Claudia seemed to think for a moment whether she was allowed to talk about it. "His personal chambers are at the very top."

There were still two floors above them, which meant she would be living directly below her guardian. She had actually hoped for a little more physical distance, as well as freedom and privacy.

She shoved further thoughts about the fact that she was now someone's property aside as best she could. Somehow there would be a way out of this! For now she threw herself into the rich breakfast.