Clara heard her feet dragging against the plush carpet. It was odd how the actual sensation was entirely absent from the equation.

She opened her eyes, and through the blurry field of vision Clara spotted tell-tale details. The plush carpeting, the art deco style, and four hundred series room numbers.

When she passed by room four-one-four, Clara knew exactly where she was. While it made sense considering Evelyn was a vampire, the thought of being an unlisted wing at The Grand, where she died, did not sit well with her.

“…southern wing…” Clara mumbled.

There came the squeeze of a soft hand. A part of her could not help it felt more like an absent friend than a partner.

“Shhhhh,” Evelyn said. “I have you, ma chère. Now close your eyes…”

The musical elements of that voice were soft, reminiscent of her mother singing a lullaby. Without even realising it, Clara compiled without protest.

There came a long pause, where the world appeared to come to a halt. While nothing more than perception, when the world became moving normally, Evelyn’s hands were at her side. The chaos outside of their conversation was not helping Clara consolidate her thoughts…

“Viens,” Evelyn said. “Our… my room is nearby.”

Clara tried to stand, but her body reacted as though it was not hers. For one she moved quick as a flash, but without being mentally prepared to move that fast the world began to swirl and lost all sense of balance.

“I got you,” Evelyn said, those words echoing in her mind before the lights went out.

What started as a soft whisper grew louder and louder until they were both faced with the answer.

“You’re not my Evelyn.”

“You’re not Clara.”

They said this at the same time, but neither were done just yet.

“No… an earlier version of Evelyn.”

“Something that never was…”

“Those two have been at it for a while,” Evelyn said. “I’m not into men normally, but you have to admire his stamina.”

“That’s creepy,” Clara said upon realising that Evelyn had an uncanny ability to follow her thoughts… Unless I’m so out of it that I don’t remember mentioning it?

That signature smile faded from Evelyn’s face which in turn made Clara’s heart sink. Clara reached out and intertwined her fingers with the vampire’s… while it didn’t the sting subside…

They both stiffened visibly as a thought took root in their minds. Who had the initial though Clara had no way of knowing, but it was like an echo in reverse. What started as a soft whisper grew louder and louder until they were both faced with the answer.

Clara was sure that statement was not literal. The vampire wore a black loose-fitting gown that managed to show plenty of leg. The headband, pearl accoutrements, and use of feathers were all tied to an era.

To confirm her conjecture, Clara quickly scanned the room. Men and women were having the time of their lives on the dance floor. There was even a twenty-man band complete with a sultry signer crooning into a microphone.

She was about to return her gaze to Evelyn but noticed that she could peer into the shadows. While she could not see colour or composition, the outlines of a couple were clear… They are doing a lot more than petting…

“Those two have been at it for a while,” Evelyn said. “I’m not into men normally, but you have to admire his stamina.”

“What’s with the off-time jive?” Evelyn asked.

That was a distinct piece of slang. Unlike Clara, the vampire was always careful to use language that applied to the era… I’m the only one who speaks like that…

“…off-time jive?” Clara questioned to give herself more time.

The background music fit in with the era, as was the acrid cigarette smoke. It was so thick and blue that Clara could taste it in the air. She grimaced and tried to scrape the taste from her mouth with her teeth, but the flavour was not going anywhere… just ducky…

“We were out hoofing it on the dance floor, and you started fading,” Evelyn said.

Clara had the distinct impression that those emotions were being transferred directly to her instead of being inferred… You’d think the world was coming to an end…

While peculiar, what concerned her more was a distinct lack of a heartbeat. Sure, there were plenty of hearts nearby, including one right before her, but her chest was still…

“Exactly, Mon Amour,” Evelyn said.

The vampire made no attempt to hide her emotions as she had done before. This time Evelyn wiped her eyes dry even while lower lip trembled. She then kissed Clara on the cheek tenderly… She’s not cool to the touch…

“What’s with the off-time jive?” Evelyn asked.

“Mon amour?” Evelyn said. (My love.)

The effect that voice had on her psyche was the equivalent of dropping an anchor while running the engines at full steam. It arrested her momentum even as her body and mind actively fought against it. Clara found herself hating the speaker for taking away from this quiet place.

What makes the world go round?

“Nothing but love,” Clara whispered in sync with the music.

She opened her eyes in a flutter and focused on those emerald, green eyes. There was water welling at the edges of the eyelids, as though something had gone wrong… wait…

Clara had the distinct impression that those emotions were being transferred directly to her instead of being inferred… You’d think the world was coming to an end…

Day is ending, birds are wending…

The lyrics from a song reached through the depths of her mind. With it came many memories of nights spent hoofing the night away, breaking the hearts of men who wanted to make her their latest conquest.

Those memories set a dreamy smile on her face, appearing as though she had far too much giggle juice. Without realising it, Clara was humming along to the music.

Back to the shelter of each little nest they love…

Clara had no idea what was going on, but she enjoyed being this state. She was comfortably numb, free to dive into her memories of a time that was never more apropos for her… the scent of vanilla makes me think of...

Nightshades falling, love birds calling…

The sensory disconnect between her senses and what her cognitive expectations threw her for a loop. Clara slowed down, falling out of sync with loud rhythmic thumping in the washed-out audio.

Just ahead a black-haired blur got bigger for reasons she could not yet grasp. After two more thumps, Clara experienced the feeling of being totally weightless while her heart tried to escape through her throat.

A pair of hands grabbed onto her arms, and while completely unaware of it she was whisked away.