Oriana Roldoff lay in her bed exhausted. The birth of her child had left her feeling drained and very weak. She knew her body was dying and nothing could stop it, but she had succeeded in letting her daughter live. "I want to see my baby," she whispered to the nurse at her side.

"Yes, miss, here she is," she said as she returned with the baby wrapped in a blanket. The nurse left the room and allowed the mother to have time with her baby.

"My sweet girl," Oriana said looking at the child. The little girl opened her eyes and looked up at her mother; she had blue eyes with a hint of grey in them. "You have your father’s eyes, my child." She kissed her baby and began to cry softly. "I wish I could live to see you grow, but I know I can’t. Remember that your mother loved you very much." She rose from her bed and placed the baby in the wooden crib next to her bed.

Oriana made it slowly back to her bed and looked towards the window. "Alexander," she called out to the night. "Alexander, please come quickly, I need you to hurry," she said before passing out on the bed.

Alexander Lucard was walking down a hallway in his castle when he heard a voice calling out to him. He recognized Oriana’s voice. He didn’t wait a minute before transforming into a bat and flying out the closest window.

As Alexander flew out into the night, he remembered Oriana’s face the last time he had seen her. It was about seven months ago, when she told him that their love affair had to end. Because she was a gypsy, she had known he was a vampire, but it didn’t stop her from loving him. It was only when she told him she was dying that he had to leave her. "I can save you," he had told her.

"No, I must die, as it is with my people. I can’t be a part of your world, Alexander. Please, go now before this is any harder."

Alexander flew to her house and wondered if she had changed her mind. He felt she was dying, but wondered if she had decided not to accept death. He flew into her window and saw he lying in bed. He returned to his human form and walked over to her, brushing his hand across her cheek. "Oriana?" he whispered.

Oriana opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Alexander, you came; I’m so glad you came. I can’t live much longer, but there is something you must know. Very few of my people have had the power to-"

She stopped when a baby began to cry from the crib lying next to her bed. He walked over to the crib and looked at the child. "She’s your baby, isn’t she?" he asked.

"Yes, you can hold her, if you wish. She has her father’s eyes."

Alexander held the child and saw her eyes. "She’s beautiful."

"She is your daughter," she said before screaming from the pain that was ripping through her body.

"Oriana?" he said walking over to her with the baby.

Oriana’s body was covered with sweat. "Some gypsies have been known to have a vampire’s child. Normally, the mother and child both die before birth, but she is strong, and survived. I, however, will not. I want you to raise her, Alexander. Promise me that."

"My daughter? My baby girl. Yes, Oriana, I will raise her."

Oriana screamed out again before lying back against her pillow. "Tell her that I loved her," she said before closing her eyes.

Alexander put his hand on her neck; she was dead. "Good-night, my sweet gypsy, you surved your purpose well." He held the child as he began to dance around the room. "My daughter, my baby girl; I have waited so long for you. I’ve seduced many gypsies, and finally I have you to raise as my own. Now I need a name for you."

Alexander looked down at her eyes and she smiled at him; it was his smile. "The daughter of Dracula, the Princess of Darkness; I’ve got it...Cassandra. Yes, Cassandra Alexis Lucard." The baby let out a small laugh. "You approve," he said as he picked up her blanket and walked out the room.