“Is there any more news?” The woman's expression is concerned, worried even.

“The portal led to another plane,” says the jackal, his own expression serious. “And it's one where it's hard to track things. But I think I have a faint trace of him. He left there again, I'm not sure how. I'm trying to get a sense of where he's gone.”

“You can find him then?”

“Yes, my dear, I can find him. He doesn't quite radiate the unique energy of Aretha as strongly as the shards did, but he still is part of this world. I can find him. It will just take a little time.”

The woman smiles. “Time is something we both have. I'm just glad that he's alive.”

The jackal smiles back. “As am I.”

Over the next several weeks Aidan escorted Lucy everywhere she went after sunset. He followed her on minor errands, braving the publicity of places like Wal-Mart and 7-11, and he went with her to interview her modern vampires. She'd bought him a few spare shirts, which he altered to fit his wings. His sewing skills were decent enough, and he'd altered shirts for his wings before. She also loaned him a trench coat that at least made his wings less obvious, though he looked rather oddly hunchbacked with it on over them.

Somewhat to his surprise there was no trouble from Janus. Maybe he did write us off. He knows that I, at least, can’t afford to go to the police or the papers. But somehow Aidan couldn’t believe that Janus would let them go that easily. Still, as night after night passed without incident Aidan gradually relaxed a little.

Spending that much time together it was inevitable that Aidan and Lucy got to know each other very well. Lucy did get Aidan’s life story, and agreed that he probably wasn’t the kind of vampire she wanted for her book.

“I’m writing about the modern American vampire, people who choose the vampire lifestyle. But you’re more like something out of an old vampire story. One of Count Dracula’s unwilling victims or something.”

Aidan laughed. “Indeed. I have always wondered if there was any truth behind the Dracula story. I know that Dracula himself was a real man, but was he really a vampire? There are literally hundreds of stories and myths that have sprung up around the original book. Do any of them have any truth?”

“Are there any real vampires, I mean ones like you, in this world?” asked Lucy

“I honestly don’t know,” was Aidan’s reply. “It’s possible. Even if there weren’t to begin with, all it would take is one vampire from Aretha or somewhere like it coming here. But travel between the worlds isn't actually that common, as far as I know. I’ve never heard of a vampire from here. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” He shrugged. “How is the book coming anyway?”

“I’ve got some good material. But I’ve got a long way to go. I mean my work here in Utah is only the beginning. The vampire community here is really quite small. Small but interesting.” She looked at Aidan and smiled. “And you’re probably the most interesting person in it. Maybe I’ll write another book about you. I’d have to publish it as a fictional account, but it could be quite a hit. You’ve had a pretty amazing life.” Aidan shrugged, a bit embarrassed and not quite sure what to say. “You’re a pretty amazing person, really,” said Lucy.

Aidan gave Lucy a penetrating look. There was something in the tone of her voice that was setting off warning alarms in his head. Then the sirens really started sounding as Lucy moved a bit closer to him on the couch where they sat and put her hand on his arm, saying, “You’re very lonely, I can see it. But you don’t need to be alone if you don’t want to.”

He gently moved her hand off of his arm. “I know where this is going, and I’m afraid I have to say no, Lucy.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I’m married. I can’t betray my wife.”

“She’s in another world. You said yourself that you may never see her again.”

Aidan shook his head. “There are moments when I despair and I think that, but when I’m in my right mind I know better. She’ll come for me. I don’t doubt it. She always has before, through obstacles just as great. She’s never let me down, and I can’t let her down. Even if it takes years, eventually she’ll find me.”

“I admire your faith,” said Lucy softly. “I’m a little bit disappointed too, I’ll admit. But commitment like yours is rare in this world, rare and precious. It’s good that you’re strong enough to stick to it.” She got up and went into her bedroom. Before she closed the door she turned back and said, “I hope this won’t ruin our friendship.”

Aidan smiled. “No. Don’t worry about that. A true friendship is also a rare and precious thing. It would take a lot more than this to ruin it.”