This book is something of a patchwork, cobbled together as it is by myself from various sources. I have used my father's notes, and am grateful for the access I was given to the diaries and personal notebooks of various protagonists in this story. I have also, of course, used my own memories of later events, but I have relied most heavily upon the recordings made by my father, all of which I have transcribed verbatim. I have cut nothing from them, and my only regret is that in reading the words instead of listening to them, you are missing out on the wonderful inflections and tones of the melodic vampire voice.

Please be aware that the sections of the book marked in bold are notes made either by my father, Valois, Gunther, or myself. The name will be given below each section. This is the only way in which I am able to clarify points raised by the recordings and diaries.

In this new age of fantasy books and of popular vampire movies, the old myths have become even more ingrained. Please try to clear your head of superstition: of garlic, sunlight, crucifixes, bats and holy water. Some of these do still apply in certain cases, but if you can come to this tale with an open mind, I hope to be able to fill you with a fresh regard for our brilliant, passionate world. Our skin may be cold, but our emotions are not.

My thanks go to Valois, for the many hours that he has spent with me as we tried to shape the various sources of information into a coherent tale. And, of course, as ever, my love and gratitude are given to my beautiful Navarre, without whom I would have been lost long ago.

Lilith Hamilton, May 2001

Daddy, this is for you.