Elizabeth struts along the Halls of Alana’s Manor. Seeing the middle, she then turns to the central wing and walks to her room and closes the door all the while, drinking a bottomless amount of blood from a Chalice.

“Ah finally, some peace.”

She then removes her clothes as she stands in place and dives to her Queen sized bed. As she leaned up quietly, the woman then stood up once again and placed the Time Stone Bahamut gave her just a few minutes ago beside her arm and opened her box of clothes and started mixing and matching them. After doing so, the blonde woman then sits down in front of a dresser with a mirror and starts checking and fixing her hair.

Soon after, the woman peeks at the hall and notices that far on the end of it. Her Lord’s armor stand is empty which made her tilt her head in curiosity. After a second, she smiles devilishly and walks back to her dresser to drink more of her Lord's blood once again.

“Hmph. He might be prepared, but I’m not dumb. I know how to remove that armor. Ehehehehe.”

Down below, Alana and Bahamut are still talking amongst themselves.

“Since it's Christmas, my gift to you will be… an all night’s pass to my beef storage. Just don’t overwork my Chef.”

“OOOOHHHH! YEEEESSS!” The sudden cry of the Dragon God shook the manor and rattled the upper floors violently and Elizabeth had to catch the Time Stone as the fragile looking object seemingly will shatter with even the smallest of pokes. “Fear not! I-”

“What?”

“I felt a disturbance in the spatial area… meh. Lead me to the storage! I shall eat it raw!”

“Eh? What do you mean by that?”

“I shall deal with it later. Meat now!”

All the while inside Elizabeth’s room. She has disappeared from existence with the Chalice.

Awakening from her slumber, the woman scratches the back of her head as she raises it from a pile of snow.

“Heavens… urgh…”

Standing up, she’s met with a seemingly well lit road and a sidewalk chalk full of humans in winter clothes. Wearing long overcoats and yellow taxis stopping on the side to drop people as city buses roll through the cold shiny road that’s lightly coated with snow. Seeing the extremely high numbers of humans, she quickly makes the Chalice dematerialize and changes into her Bat form.

Taking off to the top of the building, her jaw drops at the metropolis that had nothing but humans in modern clothing. Not a singular Elf or Beastmen and all just humans. The Cave Bat with Crimson Red Membranes on her wings takes to the dark snowy sky to bask in the light of the city that’s located in the middle of an island with a large park in the middle. The woman is dumbfounded as in all directions to where she’d zoom her eyesight into, there is a human but nothing else.

The massive tall buildings caught her off guard with how sprawling the massive metropolis was. The player built cities could only wish to replicate the hundreds of years of growth and expansion it took to build everything from the ground up. She then dives into a random part of the massive city and ends up landing on top of a gated Church, she looks at the stoplight and the green box next to it prints out the name Eidson.

She takes a breather first, calming herself immediately as she starts looking around the foreign world she’s been thrown into. Flying around the entire city, she stops at a strange place full of screens called Time Square, the woman couldn’t be anymore appalled by the sight. No one seemingly showed who they are and every human is seemingly hiding under the veneer. The screens would always change and shift, her attention always being stolen by something being shown and the noise of the bustling city, from the street performers to the cars, trucks, vans, and buses.

“Is this… the world you lived in, My Lord? How does a human cope with such an existence…?”

Having enough, the woman flies far from the city and into the countryside. Flying alongside the long distance trucks traveling on the lonesome forest roads, heading to their destination to the miles long freight trains delivering containers, cars, and fuel to the next hub. But there, she could hear nature and the rustling of the leaves. Bringing her some sort of calm but in the back, the shine of the massive city could still be seen poking from the hills as she hits a sign saying “Macopin Road, New Jersey”. The loud bang made a black silverado with its bed full of tools stop and a man immediately hopped out of the driver seat to check what it was.

Walking to the green sign he notices a Cave Bat that seemingly planted itself into. On the back, a UPS van honks his horn at the man.

“C’MON ALREADY!”

“WAIT! A bat hit the sign! Poor thing!”

The man wearing a plaid shirt with baggy denim pants who is evidently overweight takes the initiative and peels the strange red bat off the sign. He takes a glance at the Bat's face and a smile and a chuckle followed, humored by the strange humanlike expression of a creature who is in a state of confusion and pain. He brings in the bat and drives off, his old 90s Silverado still having a lot of life even through the years.

“Expected are heavier snowfall in the coming hours, potential road closures are to follow as the State Police is currently tending to a pile up on-” “Urgh…” a sudden voice then seeps out of the cab, the man’s eyes widened as if he heard a ghost. Lowering the volume on the radio, he starts to look at his mirrors and the objects in his interior and sees that nothing could’ve made the sound.

“O-O-ow… my head…”

The cave bat rises up and starts patting its small head. Placing its back on the seat while sitting down like a human. Looking at the driver, Elizabeth is met with a man who is absolutely dumbfounded at what he hears.

“Have I… have I finally lost it?”

“Uhm… no, mortal you have not. Nice vehicle though.”

He takes the rosary in the rear view mirror and starts to pray frantically. “Hail Mary Full of Grace, Thy Art be with you.” Elizabeth on the other hand just facepalms as she flapped her wing to the dash, looking at the sight of the busy countryside road and quiet snowy night. Finding peace in the passing forest which silence brings her a moment of togetherness from the sudden occurrence.

“Soooo… uhm… who’re you exactly?”

“Hmmmmm… well, I have been dubbed Carmilla by your kin modern man.”

“C-C-C-Carmilla?!”

Hitting the brakes and veering into the side of the road, the UPS van behind him stops and slides open his passenger doors.

“ASSHOLE!”

The driver jumps back into his seat and gives him the middle anger as he sets his GPS to another route and drives off into the snowy night where even ten feet in front of you is hardly seen.

“What? Is that name bad?”

“You don’t drink the blood of young pretty women right?”

“Huh?! Well, I did back then but that was only when the Night was young and Vampires roamed free without a Kingdom to hail from.”

“VAMPIRE?!”

Grabbing his rosary, he puts it on the neck of Elizabeth and the heavy pearls weigh her cave bat form, plopping her to the dash like a plushie.

“IT WORKED! GOD BE WITH ME!”

“Uhm… exactly what is this? I oddly remember seeing this Cross on My Lord’s sword and armor.”

“E-Eh?”

After a few seconds the Crimson Cave Bat looks down to check on the Rosary and tilts her head at it.

“This seems quite expensive. Where did you get this?”

“I-Italy… I can’t believe this… a Vampire in bat form… Oh God, what am I going to do?!”

“Nothing. Bring me to your house and give me access to the information I wish for.”

With a brief silence, he lunges at Elizabeth. The bushy bearded middle aged man attempted his best to catch the immensely quick Bat that had a speed of something far beyond a nocturnal mammalia. After a few tries, he was out of breath and needed to relax.

“Are you done, modern man?”

“W-Why’re you here Carmilla?! My daughter, I won’t let you drink her blood!”

“Preposterous! I have no need for Peasant blood. I already have access to all the blood I need from My Lord.”

“Your Lord? Dracula? Who is it?!”

“It? Oy modern man. Have respect for one of your kind.”

Taking out his smartphone, he takes a photo of the strangely beautiful cave bat with crimson red membranes.

“Did you just take a photo of me without thou’est permission?”

He immediately sends it to a person in his Messenger named “Wifey” and a reply quickly comes. “Don’t you dare bring that home. Sally will freak out and have you bought the Milk I asked?”

“I-i-i can’t believe this. This is real.”

“I AM REAL. Now, drive off to your house… And get this thing off me! It’s heavy!”

“O-Oh, I apologize.”

He takes the Rosary off the Cave Bat and puts his Chevy into drive. With the toolboxes and equipment in the bed rattling. The drive was hard and cold with the snow coating most of the road and little to no lights, the only sign of civilization, the road and the guardrails with the electric pole leading to the town.

“Have you calmed?”

“N-Not really. But why’re you here? What does a Vampire want? I can’t believe this… oh shit so does this mean Werewolves are also real?!”

“Of course they're real! Well, in my world they are. Nonetheless, I am here due to a mishap. I require a dwelling to properly attune myself to My Lord’s world and think about my next step.”

“Your Lord… you mean is it human?”

“I already told you. He is one of YOU.”

“An American?”

“No, he said he came from Asia but he does oddly look like you… Americans… a bit taller and muscular.”

“How can he be Asian then? I might be just a dumb countryside guy but I don’t think Asians tend to look like that. Does he have squinted eyes?”

“No. Hmmm… then what is he? Oh! He said it's his Avatar or Character of sorts.”

“Avatar? Like in a video game?!”

“I think? Nonetheless, calm down mortal, just bring me to your home. I assure you on behalf of the Ancient Vampire Nobles that I shall not lay a singular finger on your daughter or family.”

“This is crazy, this is absolutely batshit insanity right now. How the fuck is this actually real?!”

They pass a sign on a yard near the road with the letters “1895”.

“Is that the year?”

“Year?”

“Forgive my English as it's not my first language, but what’s the date currently?”

“It's January Ten, Twenty Twenty Eight.”

“Twenty eight? Hmmm… that’s a few years in the past of My Lord's current time. Nonetheless, tell me where we are right now.”

“Your in the United States of America, State of New Jersey… we-we’re uhm on Macopin Road heading to Milford.. Uhm West Milford.”

“Now I know. How far are we from your house?”

“Twenty minutes or so.”

“Alright then, I shall be here if thou needeth me.”

She lands on the passenger seat and sits down politely, as if she’s a guest to a house. Occasionally looking around at the sight of the sparse houses they’d pass.

“I.. uhm… I’m the town mechanic at Forest Repairs.”

“Ah, a man of machines. Just my type, I presume you do a lot of menial tasks and manual labour then?”

“Hm, I do. I am also a Plumber when someone calls from the town.”

“And those stickers then?”

She looks at the sticker on his glove box, “Boeing” and a 747 Jumbo Jet with a transparent one from Georgia Tech College.

“Just my past.”

“I see.”

Passing through the quiet countryside town, he drives into the gas station and waved his hand at a man wearing winter clothes with pockets full of wrenches and screwdrivers.

“Hey John, got the Alternator?”

“Yeah, it's in the back.”

“Al- wait what’s that?”

The man in thick winter clothes looks at the pretty cave bat sitting down like a person on his passenger seat.

“Later, just get it so that I can go home.”

“It looks cute though. Let me pet it.”

He reaches in even with the protest of John and starts lightly patting the head of the Crimson Cave Bat.

“Awwwww… What a cutie. I got your milk inside, want me to just bring it out?”

“If you can, snow’s really piling today.”

“Yup, I’ll get it for you then.”

Taking the Alternator from the bed of his old Silverado. The man then heads back inside and after seconds, comes out with a bag of milk for him.

“Tell Jackie if he wants to come work here again. Your little trooper helped a lot last week.”

“Hahahaha, good to know he's also into stuff like this.”

“Like Father, like Son. Is your daughter also in this?”

“Nah, Wife has more influence on her.”

“Right. Well have a safe trip and you too little bat.”

They drive off and he makes lots of right turns through small roads. The small amount of cars on the road due to the snow made it easy for him to navigate through the slippery roads without much of a hassle.

“I live here, next to Pinecliff Lake.”

Driving into the middle of the stretch of road that skims the side of the lake is a large two storey house with a huge garage and a dock behind. In the driveway, a metallic black Mercedes Benz 530i.

“Ah, she’s already home. That’s good to know.”

“Your Wife I presume?”

“Yup. Don’t talk alright? I don’t want them to panic.”

“Fine. Just get me to a closed space so that I may turn back into my normal form.”

Hopping out, he lets the door stay open for the Bat to fly out. Elizabeth immediately turns and lands on his right shoulder as he takes the milk and a heavy red toolbox on the back. He then opens the garage door revealing a Mazda inside and an empty space. He takes the tarp and puts it over the bed of his truck. Reaching for his pocket, he takes the key out and unlocks the front door.

Elizabeth is met with a busy household. With two kids, one a girl and one a boy running amok on the floor as a mature blonde woman with a laptop on her lap and the TV tuned to the news is sitting on the sofa while drinking Coke Zero.

“Oh, you're here. Got the milk?”

“Yup.”

“Good, what’s for dinner?”

“I’ll check what we have Love.”

“Hm.”

Walking to the kitchen, he washes his hands first and removes his vest. Letting Elizabeth land on the counter as she flapped. “Who was that blonde woman?”

“My wife.”

“That’s your wife…?”

“Y-Yes, is anything wrong?”

“No kiss? Hug?”

“Ah no. She’s really busy, Margaret usually has professor stuff to do.”

“And the kids? How come there running like little greenbeasts hunting for a village to feast on inside your house?”

“They’re old enough ya’ know?”

Opening the fridge, he sees that there’s some chicken left and starts unpacking the needed stuff to cook them.

“Goodness me. How come you are the one cooking when she was already here? Looking at the clock, it’s already eight.”

“It’s the twenty-first century lady. Women don't need to cook only.”

“Hah? I mean how come she isn’t helping? Is she that busy?”

“Oh, ahh… yea.”

“Really? Seemed to be that she was merely trained on that device. Typing away like a Necromancer in its book about the next Undead machination to bring forth to the world.”

“Lady, you are talking crazy. Just how old are you?”

“Do not call me lady, Call me Your Highness!”

“Sure sure Your Highness Carmilla.”

“What in the Heavens did Carmilla do in your world for it to be connected to me?”

“Wait, what’s your name then?”

“It’s Elizabeth.”

Margaret sets down her laptop with a Microsoft Word document having multiple chapters and parts with all sorts of graphs and statistics written on it. Walking to the kitchen, she hears an oddly amorous and extremely sexy voice of a woman. “Elizabeth Bartley! The Ancient Queen of the Vampire Kingdom! Heed to me mortal man from the age of technology!” “Yeah, and I’m John Rugard Ford, pleased to meet you.” She then hears John chuckle as their two kids run past behind her. With the boy pointing a toy nerf gun at their daughter who is holding a doll.

Quickly jumping to the kitchen, the pretty blonde woman who was far too good even at her age looked around in absolute confusion. Finding a Crimson Cave Bat with leaf shaped nose.

“Didn’t I tell you not to bring that thing home?”

“Ah well, look! She’s a calm Bat!”

“She? Since when did you become an expert on Bats? How’re you even going to feed it?”

There two kids then run into the kitchen to see the tension between their parents and the Cave Bat in the middle of it all.

“OHHHH! A VAMPIRE BAT! SO COOOL!”

Their son immediately ran up to Elizabeth and hugged the Bat without care. The Vampire Queen had no words and just kept still at the kids as the daughter started poking her tummy with the doll’s hand.

“A Vampire Bat? Do you turn into a handsome man?”

“Oh ahhhh kids! I got milk!”

“YAY!”

The two little rascals ran to the fridge, still holding onto Elizabeth as they took out the Gallon of milk and took a pair of glass cups that their Father just recently washed from all the leftover dishes from lunch and quickly drank like it was a sailor with a bottle of moonshine. Being so busy with the drinking, the Bat slips out from the child's grip and flies to the ceiling and sits there upside down.

“John.”

“I know Love. See? She’s completely safe though.”

“Haaaaaa, if that thing even dares to poop on my papers. I’ll have your head on a platter.”

“Alright alright.”

There Son who is already finished with the drink sprints past their Mom as he tries to jump to fetch the Vampire Bat quietly minding its own business on the ceiling. Elizabeth looks down and teases the boy with her tongue. Mocking the kid for trying to reach her. Their Dad soon comes and scoops them up and puts them to the Living Room with their Mother as he goes back into washing the dishes and prepping dinner.

“Do you need help?”

“No, I can do it.”

“Are you sure? The little ones are already returning.”

“Aaaaaaa… my back.” He once again runs to the hallway to the entrance and just in time, meets with his Son and Daughter. Trying to sneak back up to the kitchen to look at the Cave Bat. “Back.” With his threatening aura, the two kids swallowed their saliva and crawled back beside their Mother who is trained at her laptop as she did calculations with her Scientific Calculator and Smartphone.

Finishing the dishes, he then looks at the cabinets and gets the ingredients and as he grabs the Paprika, a long slender finger of a gloved hand of a person taller than him takes it first. He slowly turns around and is instantly awestruck by the gorgeous blonde woman behind her. Whose long flowing golden hair reached there sparkly tiles and a magnificent purple grown that only reaches to the top of her breast.

“What?”

“W-Wow. Are you an Angel?”

Ignoring her sharp pointy ear and the sharp fangs that’d occasionally be revealed when she’d speak, the man's eyes are seemingly trained on her face and on her makeup and supple red lips.

“Thank you. Now, what else do you need? And is eight cuts enough for this family? The two kids seem to need their own portion.”

“Ah no, it should… wow. You are absolutely beautiful.”

“I appreciate the compliment. Now, scootch over.”

Using her hips, she scooted the man to the grill as she took the cutting board and stainless steel bowl.

“Uhm. I just need the Paprika for extra taste. We’ll be using a packed marinade for this.”

“Packed? Ehhhh, is that even safe? Does it taste the same?”

“It is… my wow. I just can’t help but continue to compliment your looks. I apologize, this isn’t usually how I am.”

“It’s fine mortal. I’m used to it. Even fellow Vampires aren’t safe from my looks. Now, that cuts the time to only forty minutes… right?”

“Fifty best.”

“Alright. Let’s get to work then.”

The two then cooked for the family, helping each other and in record time, they finished cooking everything in under forty five minutes and Elizabeth turning back into her Bat form as the man laid a plate of fried chicken and rice on the Dining table and like a pack of Wolves that just smelled their prey for the day, the Wife and two Sons came running to the table and grabbed their utensils without care.

“Uhm… prayer before meal?”

Everyone ignored him as they dug in. Elizabeth on the ceiling just oddly watching the family eat. With the kids tired and just left looking at their tablet and phone and the Father, praying in his place as the entire family ate first. Leaving him with one chicken.

“Hm, did your cooking get better John?”

“Did it? Ahahahha, I had some fantastical help tonight. What about you kids?”

“Pops! You have to cook this tomorrow!”

“No, tomorrow is veggies for you. And Al actually told me he wants to see you again at the shop. Seems that you impressed the old man.”

“Yeah! I love working with cars, Uncle Al really helped me a lot with stuff!”

“Daddyyyy! Can I have more?”

“Do you want your Mother to go ham on you again? You cried for two hours when she scolded you so just eat and do your prayer.”

“Ehhhhhhhh… Haaaa…. Ehhhhhhhhh…”

In her head, the Ancient Vampire Queen can’t help but laugh at the sight. Completely out of her element but seeing the pain of the Father. Just as fast as the conversation started, it ended. With everyone leaving and to their rooms. Leaving the man to go and pick up everything and clean it. Elizabeth once again turns into her normal form and helps him with the dishes and taking out the trash to the garage.

“Well, that’s done. Now, do you have any books I could use?”

“Books? I actually have a laptop and a PC if you want.”

“A PC? I’ll have a look then.”

He takes her to his Hobby room in what was a storage room in the back of the Garage and opens his PC for her to take a browse on the internet. At first, the woman typed like an old lady, completely taking her time pressing each key on the keyboard and not using the mouse in tandem with her typing which John had to teach her. The two spent two hours, all teaching the Vampire how a Computer works and as soon as she understood the basics, the woman went on a rampage.

She started typing everything into Google Search. “Are vampires real?” “Are werewolves real?” “Carmilla” “Dracula” “Asia” “Full Dive VR” “Current News” “America” “Russia” “China” “Military tensions” and a lot more. Before she knew it, John was already gone and went upstairs to have a bath and then go to sleep.

With the Sun rising, the bearded man goes inside his Hobby room and sees that the beautiful woman was still there, in her Gothic Purple Gown with its pretty white frills still browsing with multiple tabs opened and even PDFs and Word files.

“Uhm… are you good?”

“I seem to have gotten myself into a peculiar situation. Tell me Mister Ford.”

“Hm?”

“Am I the first Vampire you’ve met?”

“Absolutely yes. The entire world doesn’t even know your kind exists.”

“Are there beastmen, Elves, Goblins, Orcs, or Dragons in this world?”

“Nope, those are all fantasy.”

She opens her palm and reveals the Time Stone, the extremely smooth alien-like rock that looked so out of place even though it has the hue of an everyday rock.

“Because the Time Stone is gaining Mana albeit slowly, I might have to sleep for a thousand or two years and wait for it to refill.”

“Mana? Lady, that stuff is only in video games and movies.”

“Then what does this mean? How come I can exist here as a Vampire? That does not make sense. A nonexisting living concept does not have a place in a world where said concept is merely a fiction.”

“Ahhhh.. What?”

“You see.” Elizabeth stands up, her hands tied together as she elegantly walks around his figurines and model planes. “A thing cannot exist in a world if it has no actual living concept to begin with. You say I am just a fabrication, a piece of fiction. Yet I can function fully and even drink the blood of My Lord without trouble. I’m a tried and true Vampire in this world where you say I am not real.” She then materializes the shiny Golden Chalice adorned with jewelry and starts to drink the blood it's infinitely producing.

“Explain that then.”

“Sorry Carmilla. Like, I have no idea what you're saying.”

“Haaaaahhhh… this is a waste time. I must find a way to get home immediately. And that Carmilla name the Outworlders dubbed me with… it’s a misnomer.”

“Really? Then how come they call you that?”

“I have no idea. As if I am anywhere near the deviant in that novel. And what is it with Irish authors writing about Vampires in Romania?”

“No idea lady, I actually thought you’d know.”

“I didn’t come from this world. I’m privy to the information your World Wide Web could give.”

“So, what can I help you with then?”

“That place where I awakened from. New York city, Manhattan Island. I must return there and seek my kin. For such a concentration of humans, there must be a Vampire or two there. Its not impossible. My existence already proves that we are real here.”

“I actually have a trip to Hewitt as the Grays called me to fix their Sink and before that, I have to take the kids to school and also make breakfast. You might have to go with my wife. She often leaves at Seven in the morning to do business things in the city proper.”

“I see, and breakfast?”

“Bacon and Eggs. Would you like some toast?”

“Ohhhhh! I do! I shall help thee.”

The two then went on to cook for everyone’s breakfast. With Elizabeth donning an Apron over her expensive royal gown.

“Do you wish for your family to stay like this? I find it odd that this could even function the way it is right now.”

“Where did this come from? I never knew a vampire would care much for a mortal man like me.”

“I am not kidding. I have been traveling with a human for a good year now and I never knew the weight of his mortal life in the modern world that he hailed from. Just how overwhelming it is. Even for a soldier like him, he must’ve been pampered so much by modernity.”

“I love them, you know? It might not seem much but I hope we can bring back the old times.”

He then goes to the hallway and beside his Certification by the FAA and a degree in AE is a family picture ten miles away from what he has right now. Even he himself was slim and a made man with a well groomed face and a toned body.

“I was still working with Boeing at that time. Was in Everett in the state of Portland, I was making big bucks making and designing planes but I wanted to be there for Sally and Jackie. They were still so small and my wife was busy with her Masters. I took the dive and came back here and left everything behind for the kids.”

“So you left all of that to take care of your family?”

“Hm. Now, I do work at the local Mechanics and plumbing. It’s not much, but I’d rather be here than there. To be with the kids and see them everyday and watch them grow is more than enough to make me continue daily.”

A hand then lands on top of his head. Lightly stroking it.

“What a good and humble man. I pray for your success and betterment.”

“Thank you. Now, let's get back to the bacon as it might be fried by now.”

“Oh goodness me!”

The first one to awaken was Sally, the little blonde girl dragging with her a toy doll. Not long after was Jackie. The kid with his toy gun. John was busy cleaning them and even tying up Sally’s hair as it was messy and down. Soon after, he had to oversee them in taking a bath and putting on their backpacks and checking if they had everything for the day.

Like a well oiled machine, the man did everything in a rhythm and quickly got them to his pick up. Checking on his wife one last time before going and the lights of all the rooms together with the kitchen and if anything is left one.

“Alright then. So, are you going to leave already?”

“Hm. I actually want to learn more about this modern world. The Internet is one part, but I must see how the daily life of humans is.”

“No problem Elizabeth. Just stay in your bat form. Don’t want the neighbors to say anything or the kids.”

“Alright. But later on when we leave this area, I’d like to be in my normal form.”

“Can you hide your fangs and ears?”

“Of course. It’s one of the most basic magic one must learn as a Vampire.”

“I still can’t grasp the fact that magic actually exists.”

“Well, there is magic here. But the Mana in the air is actually pretty low. Doesn’t surprise me that it would take hundreds of years to conjure one large spell.”

She transforms into a small vampire bat once again and lands on John’s broad shoulders as he held the hands of his kids and made sure they were tight and secure on their seats. He starts his old but trusty pick up and the Silverado responds by starting up without a problem even with the dropping temperatures.

Driving to the school, the little boy grabs Elizabeth from the back and hugs the bat. Squishing her.

“Hey Jackson Ford young boy! Let the bat go!”

“Ehhhhhhh… but Dad!”

“No buts! Can’t you see it's uncomfortable?”

Following his fathers order. The kid lets go of the Bat and it flies to the right shoulder of John. Making sure the little bugger won’t be able to squish her again. Elizabeth just pants as if her life was almost cut short from how intense it was. He drops off the children at school with Sally leaving her doll on the passenger seat.

“Look at them go. Bahahaha, I’m so happy.”

“It would’ve been nice if your kid hadn’t almost choked me to death.”

“Aren’t you a Vampire? Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Dramatic? Oy, I haven’t been in this form for a long time and I keep forgetting how squishy a Bat’s body is.”

“Well, sit tight. We’ll be heading to Hewitt.”

Elizabeth just sits tight on the dash as the Chevy rolls through the beautiful snowy countryside. There, she spots a Surplus Shop with modern clothes and John notices this. He makes a quick U-Turn and stops in the parking lot.

“Just be quick.”

“I shall.”

He opens the door for the Vampire and it flies out into the open winter Sun and then inside where she sneakily changes form. Back to her normal self but with the ears and fangs changed into that of a human. Even with this change, her beauty was still far too perfect and she stood out of the small shop like a golden goose in a pond full of white ones.

Outside, John looks around and walks in. Handing the woman ten dollars to use while the other store goers stared at the tall blonde woman with envious eyes.

“I think you have to hurry up a bit.”

“As if. They can stare all they want.”

“Hoooo I’m telling you. Countryside gals can have a mouth that will run you to the Moon.”

“And the fat ones?”

“Don’t say that. Say plus sized.”

“Does it matter? Fat is fat. I presume they're rich like you?”

“Me? Rich? Ha. I’m only living like this thanks to my savings. This isn’t the Medieval era anymore. Fat people don't mean they are rich or powerful. Just glutton. Everyone can buy the food they need and want… hence I also became like this.”

“I see. Industrialization has really done a number on you humans. Neutered you to such an extent.”

“I love eating, don’t at me.”

“Bwahahahahaha! Of course of course. Now, to find me something that fits.”

Going around the shop, the men couldn’t help but quietly stare at her in the corners while the women kept giving her laser eyes. Staring at her with great envy as her height stood out even from the shelves. She soon picks her clothes and nonchalantly walks into the opposing street with John closely following the woman. Touting her expensive and now, a noteworthy museum piece of a Victorian Era Royal Gown.

Through the front windshield of a car, she seemed like a Victoria Secret Supermodel. Having no trouble walking with 4 inch heels in the cold and slippery asphalt road and into the Sit n’ Chat Diner to change into modern clothes. Going inside, the woman quickly spots the Restroom while John pays for some coffee. All the while, a man wearing a white Clerical collar stands up and goes to him.

“John?”

“Oh, Father Matthew.”

The two share a firm handshake with big warm smiles even in the cold temperature.

“Who was that blonde woman?”

“She’s a Foreigner. Just showing her around the place.”

“Foreigner?”

“Yeah, she came from a place far far away.”

“What’s with the gown she was wearing though?”

“Oh, she just likes wearing those.”

“Ah, very conservative of her. So, have you heard? The Browns will be selling their house soon.”

“What? Why? I was actually heading to their place later on.”

“Seems that Henry is unable to find a new job.”

“Hadn’t they fully paid for the house yet?”

“Last I heard, it was on its last month but Henry and his wife are unable to get enough funds for it even after looking for a new job.”

“Dang. I guess the Neighborhood wants to do something about it?”

“Hm. This weekend, the community wanted to have a meeting in the Church. You coming?”

“Mmmm… sure. I’ll see if I can bring the wife and children along.”

“Margaret should really come to confession. I was actually surprised when you came to my Church years ago. I never figured you to be a religious man John.”

“Yeah well… having kids now. I kinda want them to get into religion a bit more than I did.”

“Hm.”

The restroom door opened and Elizabeth was wearing a thin crop top with slim fit denim pants with her high heels. Looking straight out of the 90s with the Aviators she wore. Completely removing the fact that everyone in the town and all the people were in winter clothes and with as many layers as they could fit into their daily outfits.

“Uhhhhh… Elizabeth, what about the jacket you bought?”

“It was too baggy for my style. But I do like this.”

Father Matthew on the other hand is completely taken aback by her astonishing beauty, a figure that’s slim and curvy yet she had a big bust and her breast almost bursting out to break free of the sky blue crop top she’s wearing.

“Missus Elizabeth… I think that size is a bit too small for you.”

“Hm? And who’re you?”

“Oh uhm. Father Matthew Hernandez. I’m the local Catholic Priest. If you want, you can visit the town church since you're a Foreigner and all.”

“A town church? Hmmmm… John, do we have time?”

“I mean yeah. I kinda woke up early just to deliver the kids and buy breakfast.”

“Nice! It’s down the Union Valley Road. It’s called Our Lady Queen of Peace. Stop by if you’d want. I’m guessing your French or Italian Missus Elizabeth?”

“Just call me Elizabeth and I’d rather not disclose it.”

“Really? Your American is good though but I can hear a bit of an accent spilling through, my Dad came from Canada and he knew how to speak French. Your accent sounded a bit like his but with your Ans and Uns.”

“Really? My original language of Romanz do have a lot of nasal sounds and also rolling letters. I do find it hard to leave its ways with this American English.”

“Romanz?” the Priest puts his hand up his chin, but just shakes his head. Not hearing the language in his entire life. “I’ve never heard of that before.”

“Bouseavezou-a?”

“Yeah, no. Doesn’t ring a bell. But an interesting way of speaking though. I get it might be a hard language to speak?”

“Depends. It is only spoken by one country.”

“And that sentence you spoke? What did it mean?”

“Who had thou seen.”

“Oh wow! Old English too! That’s so interesting, that means your language does not translate to Modern English then?”

“None.”

“Oh look at that. It spilled a bit there. Ahahahaha.”

“Oops.”

Father Matthew then looks at his watch and sees it's already 7:30 in the morning “Keep showing her around John. I gotta go. I hope to see you later in Church, Miss Elizabeth.” John then gives her coffee which she elegantly drinks. Taking small and quick sips while people in the restaurant are all seemingly charmed by her still but manages to ignore her presence by using their phones or watching the TV that was showing the morning news.

“The people here are good.”

“Yeah, that’s why I left Everett and stayed here. Quaint town where everyone knows everyone and is willing to help each other if the need arises. It's a bit hard leaving city life for this but I prefer it way more.”

“Do you have service right now?”

“Yeah. Mostly just Bible Readings but if it's fine by you. We’ll attend one.”

“Sure, this is the religion of My Lord. I’d like to see what type of God he believes in. Though its openness is kind of unnerving for me.”

“That’s what makes it the biggest religion on Earth, you know? You can be baptized and become a member by just walking in and showing your faith to Jesus Christ, the Lord.”

“A foolish religion if you ask me. The Holy See is strict with who may be Baptized and it lived to be one of the longest and most powerful religions with its own army of Knights. The Religion of my Kingdom does not allow any foolhardy peasant to become a member before proving their truly devout through tribute and sacrifice.”

“I don’t think I’d go through the process of being in a religion if it was that hard.”

“And yet millions flock to those religions. It also makes it easier to weaponize in times of need, the followers are all willing to die for what they believe in, even better than professional grunts and Knights as their devotion is not to me but to one of the Gods.”

“Weaponize? Elizabeth, just what do you believe in?”

“I believe in myself and in my beauty. The Gods are far too complex for me to understand. I’d rather not mix myself up with them and live on my own. Nonetheless, finish up now. We must reach the Browns, correct?”

“Oh yeah. Better finish this early if you're going to Mass then. But if you only believe in yourself, what do you have for your Lord?”

“My utmost love.”

“Huh. Pretty understandable I guess.”

He then takes a sip while Elizabeth turns the stool around and places her elbows on the counter. Looking up at the TV playing while openly showing her well endowed body to everyone. Her crop top is not hiding her stomach at all. John would occasionally sneak peeks at her figure, still amazed by it as the news played in the background about a UN meeting.

“Oh, so that’s where they got that from. The UN… oy, if you're going to stare. You might as well touch them.”

“PFFFTTT… I’m a married man Elizabeth!”

“Bwahahahahaha! Oh how so fun. To tease modern men.”

She then starts poking at the area around her navel where you could clearly see her well built body. Her finger wasn’t even sinking and her skin was rock solid.

“Margaret used to have a body like that too, you know.”

“She’s still slim though. Pretty even at her age.”

“Yeah but back then, she’d actively go to the gym as much as I did.”

Finishing up, the two went back to the pick up and drove to the residential area where the Browns were located. The driveways were full of snow and some still had Christmas decorations up on their porch while others had Lawn Signs of the politician there supporting and every front yard. It’d vary from two people running for President in the current year all the while kids were playing on the snow and teenagers were riding around in bikes.

Even before she knew it, she was at peace and was solemnly enjoying the sight she was beholden to. The white coated neighborhood was like a courtly man made forest of wood and concrete that gave off a strange vibe to her.

“Seems that I am still not used to peace.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing.”

After a few minutes, they arrive at the house of the Browns. They were instantly greeted by a pale woman with red hair.

“Hey Alex.”

“John, that stupid sink on the back is doing it again and… whose her?”

“That’s Elizabeth. She’s a foreigner I know, be kind to her will ya’?”

“John, you know I don’t know how to deal with her kind.”

“Then have her sit on the sofa or something and give her drinks.”

“Ugh. Also, how long will this take?”

“I gotta check it first. If it's as bad as you told me on Messenger. Half the day at most.”

“Arrgghhh! I have to do the dishes still!”

The trio head in. The big red toolbox of John rattled as he opened the cabinet underneath the sink and could see it clearly leaking water. “Oh, it might be just the coupling nut. This should be a quick fix.” Alex then leads Elizabeth to the living room where the Browns young teenage daughter in her pink pajamas was watching a movie on the wall mounted flatscreen TV.

“Fiona, we have a guest here.”

The short haired teenage girl looks up and sees the beautiful blonde woman with her hand on her hip and a warm smile and wave.

“Woah… gosh you're hot.”

“Thank you.”

“FIONA! Oh my, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. I do thank you for your compliment.”

“Why do you speak like that even though you're wearing a skimpy top with a spaghetti strap?”

“It’s of habit.”

Elizabeth then sits down next to her while Alex brings them water and some snacks.

“Are those real?”

“Hm?”

“Your boobs. Are they real?”

“Yes, yes they are.”

“FIONA! Honey!”

“What Mom? I’m curious, okay?”

“Gosh.” a phone then rings and the mother quickly rushed to pick it up. Leaving the two alone.

“How could they be real? Are you a supermodel or something? What exercise do you do?”

“Uhm…” the kid didn’t well up and continued a barrage of questions to the Vampire Queen. “I’ve only seen it on TV. Women with petite and well built bodies and big boobs and all of them had it done through surgery.”

“Surgery?”

“Hm. They have it done in Korea or something.”

“How about this? Where did you get your name from?”

“My family is Irish. Fiona is like… a normal thing there.”

“Ah, and the Ford family? How long have they been here?”

“Since I was little. I think their name had Rugard on it, so I’m guessing they're Germanic or something.”

“W-Wow. For a youngin’. You seem well knowledgeable on topics I wouldn’t even know at your age and you speak very mature already.”

“Really?What country did you come from? Doesn’t it have a school?”

“In the place where I came from. Education is only for those of Noble descent.”

“Ehhhhh…” just as quickly as it started, the young girl loses attention and plays the movie on the TV which Elizabeth curiously watches alongside. “Edward!” After a few minutes of watching the Vampire Romance, the woman already had enough and instead looked at the magazines underneath the table as she took some snacks and ate them without care.

Trying hard not to critique the depiction of their kin on modern entertainment as the teenager bumped up the volume as the couple ran across the forest. Caressing her blonde hair, she just smelled it and tried reading the latest fashion trends.

“Excuse me Fiona. Would you please turn down the volume?”

“Shhhhh! I never knew I’d like something that my Mom used to watch.”

“U-Uhhh, could you please maybe not increase the volume further on?”

“It's getting better though! Don’t you like vampire romance movies? I thought someone of your age would love this type of stuff. I know my Mom does.”

“It’s… far from what I know.”

“Are you some kind of a vampire expert lady?”

“Of sorts… yes. That movie is wrong in depicting them. Vampires though naturally scared of light, the moment they become powerful enough. They’d become immune to it, and lowly Vampires will never go outside no matter what. Even sometimes at night, as the Moon bounces the light of the Sun. It could still be fatal to even to lowly uninitiated vampires.”

“... … What?”

“N-Nothing.” she soon had to endure three more hours of it. Constantly checking on John and the more she visited, the pipes and tools littered on the tiles of the kitchen increased only and soon, she gave up. Facepalming at the sight of a shirtless Werewolf. “Joohhhnnn! How long are you going to be here?” All he could hear was the man grunting as he put back the pipe with new Nut fittings. “Just ten more minutes!” She then crosses her arms and legs. Looking bored and wanting to get out.

“...”

“Yes, my thighs are also real.”

“... Nice.”

The teenage girl then goes into her phone and takes a quick photo of her and shoves the smartphone up her face. “Which filter would you like?” confused, the Vampire Queen takes the device and starts shuffling through the filters. “Don’t put any. These filters do not even grasp my full beauty and merely hide it.” Fiona then posts it on her Instagram with a caption “Pretty Guest Today”.

Elizabeth then swipes up, surprised at the suggestive photos the teenage girl has been taking in her varsity uniform.

“Is that… acceptable within human society?”

“Hm? Oh those, I look sexy right? Buuut… I want a body like yours. Slim but big boobied and still have some meat in the thighs.”

“Goodness, look at the attention you’ve been getting.”

“You should see my DMs. All sizes and girths are there.”

“Heavens, so this is the power of the internet.”

“Lady, just how old are you?”

“Old enough.”

John then appears from the kitchen and dunks down on the glass of water on the table. “Fiona, where is your Mom?” The teenage girl just points to the second floor and the man goes up and soon goes down with money in hand. “Elizabeth, are you done? Let’s go.” without question, the woman goes out and hops inside the pick up while John collects his extra pipes and tools. Packing his toolbox and saying goodbye to Fiona.

“How was it?”

“I might need to use your PC more later.”

“Feel free to use it. So, wanna eat or Church? After this, I gotta head back home and do chores.”

“Church. I’ll just cook for you.”

“Alrighty.”

Putting the pick up into reverse, he then drives to the Church which was a small one storey building. Not anything special apart from the statue of the Lady of Peace in the front yard. Heading inside, Father Matthew was already in the middle of the morning Bible reading with all of the people attending well over their forties. The young and attractive blonde woman stuck out like a sore thumb.

The two then sat down on a pew far in the corner and John kneeled first before sitting down. Seeing it, Elizabeth just elegantly bowed, pretending she’s still wearing her Royal Gown and politely sat down. Enjoying the quiet and therapeutic atmosphere of the Church from the loud and active life of a teenager.

“Haaaaa… I’m indeed old.”

“You can say that again. Do you feel anything at all? No burning sensations right?”

“I feel fine. Vampires from where I came from are created by a God. Holy magic won’t work on me compared to the ones here as it's depicted as a culmination of humanity’s Evils. Vampires in Threa are the supposedly better version of the Humans. Eternally beautiful and youthful with the strength of legends.”

“Oh, Fiona was watching that vampire show. Heh, I recommend Lost Boys. Way better. Now, stay silent and let the Father do his thing. Just follow my lead.”

“Hm.”

The morning Bible reading soon finished and Father Matthew conversed with the Church goers. His young and youthful appearance and well combed black hair stood out from the sea of middle aged and older people.

“Ah, Miss Elizabeth!”

“Good Morning Father Matthew.”

“Oh my, what a young pretty lady. Oh here, take some cookies. My grandsons was supposed to have them but they’d rather stay in the house for the day.”

“Oh why thank you.”

“Miss Janssens. Please calm down with the cookies.”

The old people were accepting of Elizabeth and greeted her respectfully, even giving her food, drinks and even a spare Winter Coat. Seeing that her beautiful appearance was getting a hold of them. He takes her and John to the back while bowing and thanking everyone.

“So… how was my reading?”

“Good. Though I do not understand much, it seems that your teachings have some valuable lessons about life. I could clearly see the moral of the story. But how come there is no one young here except for you?”

“Ah, young kids like me are also doing their own thing now. I don’t blame them, John. About that idea of Live Streaming, what do you think?”

“Personally, that’d be great. But at the same time, with so many other things. I don’t think the kids nowadays would tune it. It’d be more middle aged people like me. Ahahahahaha.”

“Hmmm… nonetheless. I am happy you got the moral of today's reading.”

“So this is what My Lord goes to. He even has the Icon of your Savior. Engraved on his gun.”

“Really? Where did this Lord of yours come from?”

“The continent of Asia.”

“Ah, yeah. People there are far more religious than anything we have here in America. Doesn’t surprise me at all. He must be a good man then.”

“Hmmm… not good. Just a man. He is a soldier and a General who is willing to do things many would not agree with, he is also adversely perverted and horny, curses more than a drunken pirate, and vulgar with his demeanor. Hard to teach with normal court manners nonetheless.”

“O-Oh… You must have a hard time then.”

“And I absolutely love him.”

“I’m guessing underneath all of that. He is someone who would do everything for you?”

“And for two other people. I still remember that face when he rescued me for the first time and then the second time. He was a Hero, though only in a small span of time. He was a courageous Knight saving a Lady from peril.”

“Oh my, what a love story.”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Does he pray a lot?”

“Him? I’d only hear him pray or spout verses from that book when he's in fear or anguish. Though he hasn’t been doing it since. Seems that our presence has made him no longer have to.”

“That’s good. Though I find it sad that he no longer prays, the fact that he no longer does it means you give him security and peace of mind. The same is the love of God, but it looks like your love is just as big.”

“Oh please, enough with the flowery words. This is why I do not like talking to the Clergy even when I was in the High Court.”

“Ahahahaha, but I’m happy you were able to see what your Fiance or Husband has experienced.”

“Hm. Thank you Father Matthew. John, shall we depart?”

“Of course. Tomorrow, let’s brainstorm more, okay? I gotta get the Lady back home.”

Father Matthew then pulls John to the side as Elizabeth nonchalantly walks outside. “John, is Margaret fine with this? You are literally ten or more years older than her. What do you think the people will say when they see you bring her home?” John just scoffs at him. “Don’t worry, she won’t stay the night anyways.'' The Priest just sighs and waves goodbye as the two head back home.

On the way back, she turns into her Vampire Bat form again. Though rumors were already spreading, the fact that there was no one with him on the way back dispelled much of it and arrived back. John quickly instructs her to go and do some basic chores while he goes into his Laptop to check for more Plumbing and Sink repairs on his Facebook.

The two worked for the next five hours, with John leaving to pick up the kids and it was already Seven in the evening when Margaret returned. By that time, Elizabeth was holed up in the storage room and using the computer to search up about the world and current affairs even more.

The next day came quickly, with Elizabeth preparing breakfast and having to occasionally turn into her Bat form to avoid detection as the kids were early that day with it being a Friday and the two wanting to finish the day quickly to be able to rest. She then takes her Bacon and Eggs to the store room after following the instructions from a YouTube video and happily nods at the taste.

John soon wakes up. Checking on his wife and then the children who to his surprise were already awake. Preparing breakfast for the rest of the family, he checks on the Vampire who was back in her purple Royal Gown. Leaning a bit down as her height and the level of the monitor was too far apart.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“I must return to New York. Manhattan, where I awakened. There must be at least one or two Vampires in that place. It’s not impossible with how much humans are concentrated in such a tightly packed area.”

“Then, you’ll have to go with my Wife. She goes there everyday, near Times Square.”

“Good. I shall be with her then.”

“Alrighty. I hope you’ll be able to go back home.”

“No need to hope, for I will go back home. It’s merely a question of when. Be off now and be safe on your travels.”

“I’ll prepare you lunch at least.”

She then elegantly bows like a proper noble to him. “I thank thee for thou’s service.” he just nods, blushing and beet red, still enamored by her beauty which he can clearly see now with the morning Sun showing her face in full.

“I just realized… but you said you are created by a God right?”

“What am I? A lowly Vampire? Hmph. I am far too powerful for Sunlight to affect me. The only reason that we get burned is due to the pale and bloodless skins often seen on fresh Vampires. Even a singular punch will be enough to behead them but the regeneration albeit slow will make it still hard to kill one.”

“Huh, more Vampire info for me then.”

She then turns into a Bat right before his eyes and flies to the driveway. Waiting on the hood of the Mercedes Benz as he chuckled and got in his pick up. His kids are all energetic already and are waiting to go. After an hour, Margaret gets out of the house in office attire and a briefcase full of paper. She sees the Vampire Bat on her hood with its wings out and is seemingly asleep. “HONEY! THAT STUPID DAMN PET OF YOURS IS ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR!” She walks back inside and sees her husband is already gone alongside his tan and white Silverado and the kids.

With her arms crossed, she walks to the driver side and opens the door which the Vampire immediately takes advantage of and swiftly gets inside and sits at the comfy leather seat.

“HUH?!”

The Bat just sat quietly, looking at her with an intense gaze. It made her swallow her saliva at the sudden rush of a seemingly authoritative stare that came from a small creature. A feeling then came of just wanting to get it over with which she does. The long drive to Manhattan then began. With her on the phone the entire time, talking to all sorts of people and speaking big and long scientific words that even Elizabeth doesn’t grasp.

Looking at the Interstate, the Bat is completely taken aback by the speed and the amount of vehicles there were, far more than back in Threa with what the players had. All sorts of cars and trucks and buses were present as helicopters flew in the distance and planes could be seen taking off. The morning rain gave the tall sprawling buildings an incredible shine along with the road which they’d occasionally rock from the potholes.

After an hour and a half of driving, they reach the heart of Manhattan Island where Elizabeth quickly exits out of the car the moment Margaret opens the door. Taking off and flying to the top of the Empire State Building. Astonished by the architecture and now, with more knowledge of modernity. She goes to a nearby transmitter tower and touches it with her finger. Giving her the ability to listen in on all the calls currently going. Finding nothing, she once again flies off. This time, skimming the sides of the buildings and towers.

Observing the people inside and the monotonous fixed like they have. Finding nothing, she lands on top of a city bus to stop and think of a plan. All the while, a man would notice the Vampire Bat quietly minding its business. He quickly does a 180 and follows the pace of the bus as it arrives at a nearby stop. Taking out his phone, he snaps a photo of the Crimson Vampire Bat riding on top of a city bus and immediately goes into an encrypted App. He presses the call button which someone immediately picks up.

“We have a problem.”

“Yeah, I saw. Just what is that?”

“No idea, but that’s certainly a Vampire in its animal form sir.”

“Can you confirm? It might be just a random bat that got away.”

“No sir, no bat exists with a color like that, and its wings are a bit too wide, similar amongst Vampires in bat form.”

As he talked, the Vampire Bat gave him a stare that made him pause for a few seconds and was already long gone and out of his sight like a passing wisp of wind. But the man knew it was trouble far beyond his dreams as his legs trembled in place after the quick glance of the creature/

“Are you suggesting to me that there is possibly a Vampire out there and can walk in the Sun? You're in New York right? It’s a clear sky right now. How is that possible?”

“No idea sir, but you have to get here.”

“Hmmm… Stoker, are you there?”

“I suggest you go, Mister Helsing. This one also concerns me.”

“Alright. I’ll be there tonight. Can anyone get me camera footage of any sorts? Is this the first time?”

A woman then opens her camera, revealing a pretty face inside a police station’s upper floor.

“Already on it. Carl, I’ll be directing you to where it's last seen alright?”

“Got it.”

“Are you… shaking? Your voice is a bit-”

“It looked at me once and my body trembled on itself.”

“Huh?”

“Look, just send me the locations and I’ll be there. Mister Helsing, please.”

“Don’t worry kiddo’. I’ll be there in no time, just cleaning up some stuff here in Norway.”

Closing the App, he starts walking around once again. Blending subtlety with the crowd while on top of a nearby skyscraper. Elizabeth is looking down on the man with peering eyes and a devilish grin.