Zurich.

If there had been snow, it’d already melted and left the streets glistening. Wide puddles formed across gap-toothed cobblestones. Gutters carried a steady flow of water into drains which eventually poured into the lake.

Tall apartment buildings and townhouses stood to attention, their colorful facades doing nothing to warm the late evening chill. Dimiti kept his coat firmly buttoned around his body. Two sets of woolen gloves on his hands. A scarf muffled his neck and lower face. Wide-brim hat tied on his head.

He urged the horses onward. He’d switched the oxen for them to get a bit more speed.

Beside him, Vasilja held an umbrella against the rain.

Not that it was doing much good. They were both wet.

“I should’ve stayed in my coffin, Dimiti,” she said sourly. “At least it’s dry in there.”

People trotted through the streets, heads down. Passing a factory, Vasilja winced at the stink. A few children rushed across the street in front of the horses, eager to get into the factory’s gates before they were closed.

An older man bellowed at them to hurry.

Gas lamps, delicate and sometimes frosted with yellow glass, glowed with warmth they couldn’t deliver. Out front of restaurants, extra gaslights were attached to the walls and made the surrounding area gleam.

Reflected in puddles, the glittering colours were too vivid for Vasilja, but the effect had Senka reeling on the wagon behind her.

The young vampire had her coat and hat. Thrilled by the sights, she darted from one side of the wagon to the other. Her owlish eyes were drunk on exotic splendor.

“Oh, Vasilja. Look at it! Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Will you sit down, Senka? People are beginning to stare.”

“No, they’re not. They’re more worried about the rain.” Sighed. “They can’t see the beauty that surrounds them.”

“Yes, well. I don’t blame them. The weather is dreadful.”

“What’s that over there? It doesn’t look like a carriage.”

“It’s a tram, Miss,” Dimiti said, steering the horses to one side. Out of the tram’s passage.

“A tram?”

“That’s right.” He pointed to the rails running down the middle of the street. “Like a train, I suppose. But as you can see, it’s pulled by a horse.”

Senka leapt from the wagon and flashed toward the tram.

“Senka! Come back!” Vasilja clicked her tongue. “Honestly, Dimiti. It’s like bringing a child to a sweets store. How can you control such a thing?”

He shrugged. “I never knew, Lady.”

“You didn’t have children?”

“No, Lady.” He looked about to say something more, but changed his mind.

“Well, I think you’re lucky.”

“Thank you, Lady, I think.”

Senka danced around the tram, amusing the driver. He waved at her and some of the passengers let out a laugh as she whirled around with a look of wonder in her eyes. She let out a few delighted squeals as it passed the wagon.

“Look, Vasilja! Look how many of them are inside! It’s like a can of sardines. Look!”

“It’s unnatural,” Vasilja called back. “No one should travel like that. It’s not civilized at all. Don’t you think, Dimiti?”

“Wouldn’t catch me riding in one, Lady.”

“See, Senka? Dimiti agrees. Now, come back before you make more of a fool of yourself. We don’t need the whole city talking about us.”

Senka watched the tram continue up the road.

Waved back at one of the young men doing his best to get her attention.

Sighed.

Then jumped back onto the wagon and dropped down. Pressed her back against Vasilja’s. Pulled her hat down so the rain couldn’t hit her face. Couldn’t hide her grin. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it, Vasilja. It’s just so amazing.”

“I know. And when we come back, I promise we’ll run in the streets like mad things together. I won’t care what anyone thinks. But tonight, I’d rather we weren’t forced to fight any vampire hunters. I’m sure Dimiti would like some sleep, too. Wouldn’t you, Dimiti?”

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“I wouldn’t mind, Lady. If it’s convenient.”

The vampire gave a snort. “Don’t talk like that. Of course it’s inconvenient. But we make do, don’t we?”

“Don’t listen to her, Dimiti,” Senka called. “She’s just annoyed because she has to make the decisions now.”

“You’re right I’m annoyed. I’m positively livid. I don’t like making decisions. I liked it better when Hailwic was here.” She tightened her jaw. “But she’s not. So, I’m doing my very best and you could help by actually being polite enough to listen to what I say.”

“I’ll try.”

Vasilja sighed. “Good enough for now, I suppose.”

The hotel overlooked the lake, and Vasilja booked two rooms. One for Dimiti, and one for her and Senka.

“I don’t want to be disturbed,” she told the clerk. “Not at all. I don’t want my bed made. I can make it myself. I’m not an invalid. I shan’t need a maid. My sister here is good enough for that. Not good for much else, of course. Are you even listening to me, you wretched little man?”

The clerk blinked, finding it difficult to focus. “Of course, Lady. Everything will be as you ask, I assure you.”

“I want a hot bath for Dimiti, too. It will do his cramps some good. And he’s beginning to stink.”

Dimiti nodded, hat in hand. “Thank you, Lady.”

“I shall also want to know where we can sell our wagons. We wish to take a train to Paris and we don’t want to be burdened by such trivialities as wagons and horses.” Vasilja closed her eyes and let out an exasperated grunt. “You’re not even listening, are you?”

“Yes, Lady. I’m listening.” The clerk waved his hands. Too flustered to know where to put them. “Sell the wagons. I can find someone. I’m sure I can.”

“You’d better. Or I’ll let Senka bite you.”

Senka grinned at him.

“Umm, that won’t be necessary,” he said. “Would there be anything else?”

“Train tickets, of course! We will require privacy. A cabin of our own, if they have such things. And we have luggage. And two coffins. Dimiti will advise you on how we want those handled.”

“Coffins?” He winced.

“Yes.” Her lips curled as she let out a waspish growl. “Have you got a problem with your hearing? I wish to have tickets arranged immediately and would like to leave Zurich without delay.”

“Yes, Lady.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“Your rooms,” he stuttered. “I can show you to your rooms?”

“Don’t bother. But if you want to be helpful, you could have someone assist Dimiti with our luggage.”

“What about yourselves?”

“We’ve been travelling through mountains, forests, and ghastly little towns with no name. We’ve seen restaurants and wine bars, and we wish to visit some of them to rid our mouths of the taste or rural blandness.”

“I could recommend one, Lady?”

“We can find our own way, thank you. We’re not as useless as Senka looks. Dimiti?”

“Aye, Lady?”

“Do wash thoroughly, won’t you? Take a long soak.”

“Aye, Lady.” He ducked his head and looked around at the fine surroundings. He blinked slowly, running his fingers through his thin hair. “Never thought I’d find myself in a place like this.”

Vasilja held out her arm, which Senka took. “Come, Senka. Let’s go out for a bite to eat.”

The clerk watched them leave.

“Beautiful,” he muttered. “I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.”

“And, if you live to be as old as me, son, you’ll never see one as such again. I promise you that.”

“Both of them.” The clerk looked to Dimiti, eyes desperate to convey feelings he couldn’t bear to repress any longer. Blurted; “How would a man choose between them?”

“I can’t rightly say.” The old man looked down at the battered ammunition box cradled in his arms and shook his head. “But, though you’d never believe me, it used to be even harder.”

Outside, Vasilja shivered as a curtain of rain rode the wind from one end of the street to the other. Under cover of the overhanging roof, she watched water spatter the lower hem of her dress and shook her head. “This is why you should never travel this far into Winter, Senka. It’s much too miserable outside to really enjoy yourself.”

“I don’t think it’s that bad. Imagine if we were still at the castle. We’d be sitting in the library looking at each other and going crazy. Don’t you remember the blizzards a few years ago? We were stuck inside for weeks. I was so hungry.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“You know I am. I don’t know why you’re complaining, though. You’re the one who wanted to travel in the first place, remember?”

“I am, aren’t I? I think I just feel terrible because of Hailwic.”

“Don’t worry,” Senka said. Firm. “I promise I can bring her back.”

“How?”

“I don’t know.” Smile. “Yet. But I will soon. Trust me, Vasilja.”

Vasilja pulled the other vampire closer. “You know, I think the reason I never hated you as much as I wanted to was because you are always so horribly cheerful. You’re like a little cat looking at a hole in the wall. And you know there’s a mouse inside, even though you haven’t seen him yet. So, you sit there. And sit there. And you wait for the mouse to show its face.”

“And then I bite it?”

“I don’t know, Senka. We’ve yet to see the mouse, are we? It’s possible you’ll starve to death looking at the hole. Either way, I’m amused by your optimism, and that’s a positive.”

“I can see a mouse, Vasilja. In fact, I can see two.”

“Oh, yes. We do have their attention. But I think they’re not sure if you’re a man.”

Senka took off the hat and let her hair fall down around her face. “Is that better?”

“Yes, I think that did it. Shall we go and introduce ourselves?”

“Only if you’re going to let me bite them.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because Hailwic would have said we had to be careful.”

“Yes, well. I’m not Hailwic, am I? And I’m very thirsty right now.” She closed her eyes for a moment. Then smiled wide. “All the same, a little prudence wouldn’t go astray.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, bite them carefully. Let’s not make too much noise.”

“I’ll try if you will.”

“Then this will be a learning experience for both of us, won’t it?” She lifted her head suddenly and aimed her gaze at the two young men who’d hesitated in lamplight. “Excuse me, gentlemen? Would you by chance know of a nice quiet place one might engage in conversation? Preferably with musical accompaniment. But not peasant music. I don’t wish to hear any accordions. Or mouth harps. I want something sophisticated.”

The two men looked at each other for a moment, unsure of their luck.

Then, while one looked shyly down at his feet, the other stated boldly; “I think I know just the place. Would you like us to show you there, ladies?”

Senka nodded; “Yes, please!”

“Then, follow us! Onward to adventure, I say.” He made a small bow. “My name is Karl. And this is my friend, Wilhelm. Are you Swiss, by chance?”

“No, silly,” Vasilja laughed. “No, we’re from much further away. I am Vasilja. And this is my sister, Senka.”

“Fellow travelers, then?”

“Something like that.”

“Are you travelling alone?”

“Of course,” she said. Waggled her finger under his nose. “But don’t get any indiscreet ideas. My sister here has a terrible bite. As I’m sure one of you will find out.”