Part 2

After the encounter with the three guards, Svetlana opted to take the rivers the rest of the way, but resisted the urge to eat any humans she came across, as they were the property of her Prince. She was pleased to find that the Manor was adjacent to a large lake, and quietly entered onto the Manor grounds, briefly acknowledging the guard who merely saluted her when she entered. Finally some respect, she thought.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the scene in front of her, two young human children playing, being watched intently by a crying ghost. She knew humans were incapable of seeing ghosts, so after looking around and seeing nobody coming toward her, she decided to make her way over to the ghost.

"I loved them. Why did I hurt them? I knew what would happen." The ghost said, between sobs.

"Was it them?" Svetlana asked, gesturing at the two children. The ghost jumped several feet in response to her question, and looked shocked.

"You can see me?" The ghost asked, slowly fluttering back down.

"The rusalki can see all spirits, ghost. Was it those two children?" Svetlana asked again, with a gentle smile.

"Yes." The ghost said after a long silence. "I loved them both. They were so perfect, so beautiful. My urges were getting better. Why did I make such a mistake?"

"Tell me the whole story, ghost. From the beginning." Svetlana said. "I have time."

"Call me Victoria. That's who I once was." The ghost said.

"Okay, Victoria. Please, the story."

As Victoria told Svetlana the story, all the way from her childhood, teenage years, her urges, her boyfriend and later husband, Svetlana's face remained passive. She decided a long time ago to not judge the dead, for the ultimate price had been paid by them already. Victoria told her of her eloping with Serge, their chance encounter with Rebecca at the Hissing Lobster, her descent into evil and depravity as a vampire, her urges consuming her, up until her execution on the front lawn of the manor just over 2 years ago.

"You probably think I'm a monster, don't you?" Victoria asked quietly. "Everybody did. In the end, I died surrounded by enemies because of something I couldn't control. Even the children I loved so much, they watched me burn to death with hatred in their hearts."

Svetlana thought about her next words carefully, before speaking. "I do not think you were a monster. You were not a good person, this much is true. Neither were you a bad person, Victoria. You were a product of the circumstances of life, magnified by a lust you couldn't control, something that gripped your heart worse than any curse."

Victoria hugged Svetlana tightly, gasping slightly when she realized she could actually touch her. Svetlana patted her on the back, and returned the hug.

"My Prince has not been kind to you. But look at your grave. While they do not mark it, neither do they neglect it. That bed of flowers is suspiciously well tended." Svetlana said, gesturing at the place where Eigengrau buried Victoria's soul.

"It's Hamlin. He comes to the flowers every day. Sometimes he sits in silence for hours next to my grave." Victoria said. "I think... I think he wishes he could have saved me from myself."

"What will you do when the children are grown, Victoria?" Svetlana asked.

"This manor is my home now, Svetlana. Maybe one day Heather will stop pretending he can't see me, so that I can apologize to him. I catch him looking my direction all the time. I know Rebecca can't, but he can."

"Why do you know that?"

"I've caught Rebecca in many compromising positions, just to see if she would react. She never notices me. Would it be alright if I walked around with you, while you visit?"

"Do what you wish. There is nobody you could tell of any secrets." Svetlana said.