The magnificent grandfather clock sounded the resonant "bong, bong," indicating the half hour. The library had been closed for a half hour, the heat had automatically set back and the chill of the dark winter night was beginning to seep into the room. High arched windows revealed a full moon that shed little light, it's face mostly occluded by scuttling clouds that held a promise of snow and biting cold.

Eliza pulled her sweater tighter and pushed the book cart faster. She loved the library, but so late at night, so alone, one could begin to imagine things. She turned into the 100 aisle (this library still used the Dewey Decimal System) and walked down to the 131 area. She held the thin book in her hand before putting in on the shelf, wondering who was reading the Olcott-Koski treatise on vampirism and lycanthropy. She shuddered, with cold she told herself, as he put in on the shelf. It made the possibility seem so real. "Impossible," she told herself, but she shivered anyway.

Standing at the top of the steps, she pulled the heavy doors shut and tried them to make sure that they had locked firmly. This was not a bad area, but even good areas could be subject to vandalism, not to mention that the computers would make a tempting target for more enterprising type of person. She turned and looked down the 23 magnificent marble steps. It was a thrill to be part of this, to be closing the biggest and best library in the city, to be part of the history and the continuation of knowledge that spanned centuries.

Her footsteps echoed hollowly in the empty street. A random snow flake stung her cheek as she glanced at her watch. Nine thirty, Friday evening and what was she going to do? She sighed and pulled her coat collar up higher and increased her speed. Such a night would "spook" anyone and getting home and making a nice warm cup of tea was an idea that was appealing to her right now. She ducked her head to protect her face from the biting wind and made the last turn to her apartment and slammed into an immovable object. She staggered back and looked up into the eyes of... of... The face was in shadow cause by a large wide brimmed, black, leather, hat. His attire - disturbing - was the her impression. She felt, although she could not see, that his eyes were boring into being. She controlled the urge to turn and run. "Oh, excuse me," she said is as firm of a voice she could muster. The figure made no sound, no response, no movement. A statue would have been as communicative. "Well, I'm sorry. I really am," she stammered. "Excuse me." She tried to walk around him but she found that he was in front of her again.  She stepped to the side, but with no seeming movement, he was blocking her way again.

Eliza felt fear rising within her. His menacing presence radiated a sense of danger and foreboding. She slowly backed away, reaching into her purse for the mace she kept there. The figure made neither move nor sound and her confidence increased a little. She turned to hasten in the opposite direction but realized that she was in grave danger when the ominous figure was blocking her way again. She jerked the mace from her purse and sprayed in his direction. The wind whipped some of the noxious compound back at her and she felt her nostrils burn and her eyes sting but the figure made no move or sound. She turned and ran, crashing into his body.

She felt iron hard arms encircle her body and could smell the peppery aroma of the mace on him. She was lifted easily and realized that she was being carried into the alley. Opening her mouth to scream she found his mouth covering hers and he seemed to be sucking the breath from her body. She struggled but could not free herself in any way. She kicked and flailed to no avail. Lowered to the ground, his mouth left hers but a hard hand covered her mouth and a sharp pain in her neck paralyzed her. She could feel her life's blood well up but a sense of unreality and peace suffused her being. His lips were so soft on her neck and the hand was no longer on her mouth. She threw her head back, offering him her life. Wrapping her arms around him, she hugged him tightly, feeling her spirit merge with ancient strength and being. She strained her body, pressing tightly against him. A warmth suffused her body and the delicious feelings radiated through her body and she realized that she was...........

SO VERY COLD!

She groaned and wondered what was wrong. Her body hurt. Her throat hurt. She felt as if every bone in her body was broken and every inch of her flesh, bruised. She forced open one eye and saw white. As her eye focused, she realized that she was seeing snow. She was lying in an alley, covered with snow. She pushed her self to a sitting position. Her clothing was torn. She struggle to cover exposed flesh from both the cold and to preserver her dignity. Her clothing was stiff and brown with her own blood. She knew it was hers. So weak, so weak, all she needed was to lie down and sleep forever. Forever! No! She wanted to live. "I'm not going to die," Eliza thought to herself. "I refuse to die."

Staggering to her feet, she slowly made her way through the foot deep snow to her apartment. It was a basement apartment and she lost her balance and fell down the steps. For forty five minutes she lie, a being of pure pain, not really caring, not really knowing anything but pain. The dawning sun was her wake up call. The blazing orb, that could only be dimly seen, shone a sick light on her and that sick light brought all of the pain she was feeling to a screaming, excruciating experience that galvanized her and sent her tearing into the safety of her apartment to collapse into a deep, deep troubled sleep.

Tossing and turning, she dreamed wild and weird dreams.  They were so real, that she woke with a start, feeling all over again the moment when he bent over her and slowly sank his teeth into her neck.  Shaking from the onslaught of feelings, she shakily rose from her bed and went into the bathroom.  Afraid, yet knowing she had to, she looked into the mirror at her neck.  There to her horrified eyes, were to very small puncture marks.  Pinching her arm, she thought, "I must wake up, this is only a dream, only a dream.  WAKE UP!!!!! Eliza".

The pain and red mark from the pinch, made her realize she was awake.  She leaned over and looked again at her neck.  Staring hard, she saw that the skin was as smooth as it ever was.

Sighing aloud, she thought, "see I was only dreaming".

Walking back to her bedroom, Eliza still felt so very tired and yawned almost incessantly.  Feeling weak and tired she climbed back into bed and lay there wondering why she had those very odd dreams.  "It must have been the books I was putting away.  Yes that's what it was," she thought.  "There are no such things as," almost afraid to say the word aloud, she whispered "vampires.  They're only in stories."

Drifting back to sleep, she slept dreamlessly this time and awoke several hours later feeling much better.  As she rose, she happened to look down and realized her skin was very, very pale.  There were the blue veins running along her arms.  So much more pronounced than ever before.  It must be that I have been unable to get outside, with the storm and it being winter and all.

Slowly making her bed, she looked and saw rusty stains on the sheets.  Eliza stared for a moment and then quickly grabbed them off the bed and rolled them up.  She looked down at the clothes she had forgotten she was still wearing.  Pulling her tattered shirt over her head, she saw that it was badly torn and full of the rusty brown that also stained her sheets.  Eliza changed her clothes and took the sheets and clothing to the incinerator access that was in the hallway.  Throwing the clothes and bedding down into the chute that would take them to the incinerator, she stood there shaking and watched them disappear.

Hearing a door close farther down the hall, Eliza looked up and saw her neighbor, Dan Blackman, walking toward her.  "Morning Eliza", Dan said.  He stopped a few paces in front of her.  "Are you alright", he asked.  "You look awfully pale".

Nodding at Dan, she replied that she was fine only very tired.  "I must be coming down with the flu, Dan" she said.  I feel very weak and oh so tired.

"Well you get a good nights rest Eliza, and I'll see you tomorrow".  Dan turned and walked to the door.  Night.....but.......how can it be night, she wondered.  It was just morning a little bit ago.

Hurrying down the stairs to her apartment, she looked at her clock. Eight o'clock, but how can it be?  She realized she had nothing to eat all day and wondered why she was not hungry.  How could she have slept so long? But it was daylight when she woke.

"What is happening to me", she thought.  Going again to her bedroom, she looked into the large mirror on her bureau.  Always pale skinned, she saw she was now "dead white".  There was a small reddish stain at the corner of her mouth.  She thought she must have bitten her lip when she fought with that stranger.  Shuddering, she thought of how strong he had been.  He could have really hurt her if he'd wanted to.  Shivering again, she undressed and climbed into bed.  Pulling the sheets and blanket up high under her chin, she slept.

"Eliza,............. Eliza"................sitting up with a start, she thought she had heard someone calling her name.  Silly me, she thought, it must have been a dream.  Slipping back under the covers, she slowly drifted to sleep again.  "Eliza, come to me.............. Eliza................. come to me".  Softly the soothing, seductive voice called her. Deep, slow, warm, he called her and she rose to open the door of her apartment.  There, standing just outside the door was the same man she had seen........when, when did she see him?  It was there.....almost she could remember.

There was a burning in her neck, the same spot that she had thought she had seen the two small punctures.  Come Eliza, here is the drink I promised you last night.  So saying he handed her what looked like a jeweled chalice.  "Drink, Eliza.  Drink.  You will see and you will be all that I promised".

Raising the chalice to her lips, Eliza started to drink and smelled the coppery smell of blood.  Moaning low in her throat, she started to hand the chalice back.  "Why love, don't you want the wine I promised"? he said.  Looking down, Eliza saw that the chalice held a deep ruby red wine, with a heady bouquet.  Smiling up at him, she slowly sipped the wine.  "That's right love, enjoy it he said".  As he murmured to her,  reaching for the chalice she had drained, his sleeve slid back exposing his wrist.

"You're hurt," she exclaimed.

"No, no, love I'm fine."   Smiling at her he slowly moved to the couch and sat down. "How do you feel Eliza?" He asked.

"Why I feel marvelous," she exclaimed.  All the weakness is gone.  Suddenly doubling over in pain she screamed. "What's happening, oh my lord, what is happening!"

"Why nothing bad love, you are just joining me.  I have chosen you to be my partner in 'life' such as it is.  The pain will leave you and then you will be as I am, and we will journey together for the rest of our lives or eternity."

"What, What do you mean?  Oh my eyes!  How everything has changed.  So clear!  Oh what is that smell?"  So many things happening at one time she couldn't keep up.  Becoming dizzy, she grabbed for his arm to steady herself.

"Slowly,  slowly, you will become used to this shortly.  Once the change is complete" he said.  Raising his hand, he placed it across her face.  "Sleep now, sleep"...........................and she slept.