Who will fly into your window?

…A flash of something black outside the window… A rather strong impact on the glass… And when you frowned and looked out the window, deciding to find out what caused the noise, you saw…

That a bat had crashed into your window… A poor creature. Despite all your disgust for this type of animal, you felt sorry for the winged creature, and, picking it up, carried it straight to your bed. You examined the creature: an ordinary, repulsive bat… Deep black, disgusting leathery wings, clawed paws, a fang-filled, snub-nosed face. They say that when a bat flies into a window, it's not a good omen… You became wary. And then you realized that something was wrong with the creature… Just in case, you stepped aside, and… You were stunned with horror and amazement; you couldn't even scream: something was happening to the bat; it was growing before your eyes, changing shape… But finally, curiosity overcame fear – you realized that the bat was turning into a human… And that was indeed the case. After a few moments, a young man was already sitting on your bed – completely naked. This, strangely enough, embarrassed you. For now, you could only see him from behind – short-cropped, black-haired, very pale and thin… He sat hunched over in an embryonic pose, and for some reason, his body was constantly shaking, as if in convulsions. "Are you afraid of me? Please, don't be afraid of me, come closer, I know you're behind me…" The young man's voice was also trembling. You approached him with unsteady steps and timidly sat down next to him on the bed – it's not every day that you have to talk to someone who is turning from an animal into a human… You managed to get a better look at him. He was very, very handsome: perfect facial features and figure… He looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, no more… An ordinary young man, if it weren't for his bluish-black lips, like a corpse, and ruby-red, glowing eyes. "You've probably already guessed that I'm a vampire?" he asked, his voice still trembling. You nodded. He turned his beautiful face to you, and you were even more amazed… A vampire, an unholy creature, a spawn of hell, a nocturnal beast… He was crying. Tears flowed profusely from his crimson eyes, and his face was contorted with pain. It seemed as if a heart-wrenching cry would burst from the young man's chest at any moment. You clearly felt an unexpected compassion within yourself – it was strong, as never before… But it's hard to believe… You felt compassion for someone… Who drinks human blood? You had no words. But he understood everything from your questioning look. "Please, forgive me… I must have scared you very much… I didn't mean to disturb your peace… It was an accident… I just completely lost my mind. You see… I have a terrible grief. I have been a vampire since the beginning of the twentieth century. All my undead life, I was considered one of the most bloodthirsty and skilled bloodsuckers in the city. And I didn't know what love was… But… A week ago, I fell in love. With a mortal girl." He interrupted his story and burst into tears again. "For the first time in my life. At first, I didn't understand how I could love, because everyone says that a vampire has a dead heart… And no soul… But it's true… I love. Even with a dead heart… But I don't know what to do… Mortals shouldn't see us, and it's impossible to be with her all the time… And to make her like me… To kill her… I can't. I just can't make this beautiful creature of life dead!" And tears flowed anew from his sad eyes. I, not understanding what I was doing, hugged him. And a sad smile appeared on his face. He sobbed. "Forgive me again… I didn't mean to… But you are an extraordinary person… Someone else wouldn't have listened to me, let alone taken a bat into their house… Thank you. I want to give you a gift." In his elegant fingers, suddenly, out of nowhere, a medallion appeared in the form of a small heart on a long silver chain. "Yes, the fact that you mortals have everything simpler is true. But I know that you often suffer because of love… and now, I myself have learned what unrequited love means… May this amulet save you from trouble. It looks like a trinket, but I ask you not to doubt its magical power. After all, you probably doubted the existence of vampires before, right?" And he put it around your neck. "Farewell…" And your guest, turning into a swift bat, disappeared out the window. And you were overcome with sleep… Waking up, you lay in bed for a long time, intensely remembering your dream… And when you got out of bed, you felt that something cool was slightly weighing down your neck… You felt for the heart-shaped medallion and squeezed it in your palm… So, it wasn't just a dream?

... Bella, Queen of the Second Royam-Sorsellier Kingdom...

…For a moment, a flash of white light illuminated the room, almost blinding you. And after the flash… She was right next to you. It was impossible to say how old she was at first glance. Her face was perfect, but too pale. Long, waist-length, wavy, light-light hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. Her eyes, bright blue like topazes, shone beneath long black eyelashes. She had something of both the ancient Venus and the Christian Madonna… She was beautiful, in a word. A classic black crinoline dress without a bodice looked even somewhat unremarkable compared to its owner. A diadem of black pearls adorned the girl's forehead. She was a charming Queen. She extended her hand to you… You had to kiss it; she bewitched you so much. "My name is Bella. Bella De'Clair…" Every word she spoke touched your heart. "Queen of the Second Royam-Sorsellier Kingdom. You don't need to introduce yourself. I know who you are. Otherwise, I wouldn't have called you for so long… I've been waiting for you for so long… What surrounds you every day takes over you and steals from you what Fate has given you. This is something that not everyone gets. And you will make a great mistake if you allow it to be taken away from you. You may not believe my words, but this… is your ability to love. Your love, which you give to those around you, which you waste on trifles… Although, that's how it should be. It doesn't need to be regretted. And besides, everyone disposes of it as they want, and no one can tell you what to do… But the reward… It is expensive, but you deserve it. You came to save a miserable creature. Yes, the fate of this hero is such that he was destined to be dead from birth… Hardly anyone suspected that a dead man could love a living one… But that's what happened. A vampire fell in love with a mortal girl. And he cannot be with her. He suffers as few have suffered… But today, I am ready to change everything. YOUR ability to love saves him…" A dark silhouette detached itself from the stone wall of the room. A young man stood before you. Handsome, thin, black-haired, with red, unhuman eyes, in which human suffering and human faith in a miracle were visible… He took your hand and squeezed it in his icy palms; tears dripped from his eyes, and the drops steamed when they touched the stone floor. "Come on. She's already waiting for you there…" Bella put her hand on the vampire's shoulder. "The Second Royam-Sorsellier Kingdom is waiting for you too," she added, addressing you. Queen Bella De'Clair made a curtsy, and the vampire bowed to you… A flash of white light suddenly blinded you again… Morning… The cold freshness of morning fills your room. The clock reads 05:34. A fresh rose with strange black and white petals lies on your desk. And next to it is an envelope, on which someone's quick handwriting says: "N'aie pas peur d'aimer."