There was a merry atmosphere in Lulu’s house that night. She was still enthusiastic about the kiss she shared with Raf the previous night and, BIG NEWS, her friends knew everything about her double life and they didn’t care. Now she could finally live her life without hiding anything from her best friends. She laughed when she thought about that same morning, when the boy, Evan, asked her to go on a date with him. Obviously she gave him a flat refusal since there was only Raf on her mind. However, that merry atmosphere was interrupted by Scarlett who knocked on Lulu,’s door. “Scarlett, what happened to you?” Lulu asked when her friend burst into tears. Scarlett had a letter in her hands and even if Lulu couldn’t read much of it she was able to read Robert’s name on it. “He’s disappeared.” “You mean Robert?” Lulu asked. “Yeah. I couldn’t find him anywhere,”. Scarlett sniffed and dabbed at the corner of her eyes pretending to be distraught. “Maybe he doesn’t want to be found.” “I thought so too. He just used me,” Scarlett replied still wiping away her tears. Her performance could rival a Hollywood actress. “No. I mean, maybe he just wants to be alone for some time.” “Yeah right. Maybe he needs to reflect on what happened,” Scarlett said. She had stopped crying but she could still see the pain in his face. At least one might think it was pain. “Exactly,” Lulu stated. She had totally missed the fact that her friend was acting as if she really missed Robert. “Please, don’t say this is bullshit,” Scarlett said as she started crying again. “But I think I want go away. I can’t stay here anymore… it’s not me acting like this.” “Where’s the problem? You’re a vampire- hunter; you can’t allow a vampire to make you leave.” “No, it’s not that. It’s that I fell in love,” she lied. “Please don’t say that. He’s a vampire, don’t forget it.” “Yeah right. What about you? You have a crush for Raf Tizner.” “Wait a moment. Raf Tizner is different from Robert.” “Why? Because he denied his own race? Wake up Lulu, a vampire is always a vampire.” “That’s not true. Don’t forget he saved your life.” “You know what? I don’t think I’m the only one in love with a vampire.” ****************************************** Robert’s disappearance didn’t worry just Scarlett but also Andy. Robert was missing since the day before and Andy thought it was strange. He never stayed away from him for so long. Actually Robert was lost without him. The vampire still remembered that night, sixty years ago, when he saved a young and inexperienced Robert from a vampire – hunter who killed his family. Since then he became his little brother, somebody to take care of. Andy really cared about him, almost as much as he once cared about – no, he didn’t want to go there. Robert had never betrayed him, but Raf did. Yeah, Robert was different from Raf Tizner. Suddenly Andy’s train of thoughts were interrupted by something in his mind… a vision. He saw everything very clearly. He saw how Robert had told Scarlett he loved her and he saw the girl’s answer. He could see perfectly the stake right in Robert’s chest. “Nooo!” ******************* “Tell me why we have to go out with your friends.” “I’ve already told you, because they’re my friends.” “Lulu I’m too old for these things.” “Raf did you hear yourself?” Lulu mocked the vampire. “Yeah I heard myself and it’s true. I’m 420 don’t forget it.” “How can I forget it if you remind me all the time?” “I’m sorry but it’s important you understand I’m not an eighteen year old boy. I’m way older.” “Yeah I understand.” “Good. However, I’m a bit curious to meet your friends.” “If you’re hoping they tell you some embarrassing things about me you’re wasting your time. They’re learning to know me just now.” “It couldn’t have been easy.” “No it wasn’t. Many times I wanted tell them everything, but I thought I couldn’t.” “You must have felt very lonely. I think I know how you felt.” “Yeah. You’re the vampire who denied his own race, after all.” “Right. I never had a friend.” “Never had a friend? Why?” “Just think of it, vampires wanted me dead. Vampire – hunters wanted me dead. I wasn’t anyone’s favourite person.” “That’s sad. You must have felt very bad.” “Yeah, I did. Then I met Mary. She’s good, and I work for her.” “Mary? Who is she? I’ve never heard of her.” “She’s a superior being. I don’t know that much about her, I just know she works for the supreme good.” “Well, that’s good isn’t it? So if I collaborate with you I collaborate with her too?” Raf nodded and he took her hand. She seemed embarrassed. They arrived at the restaurant, where Manola, Rita and Nick were waiting for them. “Lulu, finally. You’re late.” “Sorry,” Lulu answered as she made the introductions. The dinner went well, they talked pretty much about everything; their lives, especially Lulu’s, but they also talked about the vampires’ world. Her friends, especially Nick, was very curious to learn about the world that people wanted to hide so much. Rita and Manola were really charmed by Raf even if they knew that they didn’t stand a chance. He only had eyes for Lulu and the same went for her as well. “There aren’t any doubts, they adored you,” Lulu said once they arrived home. She invited him in for a coffee, but what she had on her mind wasn’t exactly coffee. “Maybe Rita and Manola, but I don’t think Nick exactly adored me.” “You have to understand he’s very protective when it comes us.” “Yeah, maybe you’re right. But I’m not here to talk about Nick.” Lulu’s reply was a tender kiss on the lips that grew more passionate. Soon one thing led to another and the two found themselves naked on her bed, where they made love for hours.