Her foot described absent-minded, lazy circles about her ankles.Her foot described absent-minded, lazy circles about her ankles. She was attractive, but I was not consumed by her as I had been earlier. She was obviously keeping her power and desire for me under a lid. Whatever had passed between Victoria and Marta the previous night was sufficient to keep Marta a respectful distance away from me in Victoria's presence. The phone rang and my wife answered. "Ah! Set the table! We will have three guests arriving soon," she said as she hung up. We all moved to the dining room as the mesmerized waitresses moved quickly around us in response to the command. A few minutes later, the door opened. One of the enthralled guards announced, "Minister Van Helsing, his nephew Benjamin, and Mayor Hunyadi." I thought I saw surprise flash across Victoria's face for a second, but it was gone instantly, if it had ever been there. Suddenly, a stocky middle-aged man appeared in the dining room doorway, wielding a cross. "Begone, foul demon!!!" he commanded, bellowing at the top of his lungs. Marta shrieked and ran to the farthest corner, hissing. She cowered, eyes red, fangs fully extended. Her face elongated slightly, giving her a lupine appearance. I wondered if I could do that. The man advanced, waving a small vial filled with a clear liquid threateningly at Marta. Victoria watched him walk past, more than a trace of amusement on her face. "Simon, _she's_ not the Countess Dracula. _I_ am," my wife sighed, trying not to laugh. Simon??? The man wheeled with impressive quickness, opened the vial and threw its contents on her. "I have already taken a shower, I was already clean. But I am insulted that you fail to recognize me," Victoria said evenly. She wiped her face with a napkin. |