Night had fallen over the big house as Maria sat alone in her room, watching the moon through her window. The key to the special room y untouched on her small table, where Sarah had left it earlier.

  Maria knelt beside her bed, wooden cross held gently between her palms. "Light guide me," she whispered. "Light show me the true path."

  A soft knock at her door made her rise.

  "Miss Maria?" Sarah's voice called softly. "Can I come in?"

  "Yes, please," Maria replied, tucking her wooden cross carefully beneath her shirt.

  Sarah came in carrying a tray with warm tea and bread. Her eyes noticed the untouched key before looking at Maria's face with a kind smile.

  "The Viscount wanted me to see if you have questions about the room," she said, setting down the tray. "He hopes you'll feel safe there tomorrow night."

  "The room is very pretty," Maria said, her voice soft and thoughtful. "But the Light teaches us that demon gifts always have a hidden price."

  She didn't say this with anger—just the simple certainty of someone stating what they believed to be true, like mentioning that water is wet or night is dark.

  Sarah set the tea cup in front of Maria. "Miss Maria, there's something I should expin about the special room. It's not just for you."

  Maria looked up with curious eyes. "What do you mean?"

  "Your... monthly problem... can be scary for people who don't know about it. The sounds, mostly." Sarah spoke gently, choosing simple words. "The Viscount has many people working here who might be scared if they heard strange noises in the night."

  Maria lowered her eyes, a soft pink coloring her cheeks. "Oh. I didn't think about that."

  "The special room has thick walls," Sarah expined. "It keeps your private things private. And it helps others not be scared."

  Maria nodded slowly, understanding.

  "The Viscount says you can choose," Sarah said after a moment. "If you don't want to use the special room, he can find another pce for you. But it won't have the nice things the special room has."

  Maria sipped her tea thoughtfully. "Father Gabriel knows about this room?"

  "Yes," Sarah nodded. "He helped make it ready for you."

  Maria's expression brightened at the mention of the priest. "Father Gabriel is a servant of the Light. If he thinks the room is good..." She trailed off, reconsidering.

  "He hoped you would find it helpful," Sarah said. "But he said the choice must be yours."

  Maria touched the small wooden cross beneath her shirt. The idea that a servant of the Light had blessed the room changed things. Perhaps it wasn't a trap after all.

  "I will pray about it," she said simply.

  Sarah smiled. "That's all anyone can ask. The key is yours to use or not." She rose to leave. "Is there anything else you need tonight?"

  "No, thank you," Maria said with a gentle smile. "You're very kind."

  After Sarah left, Maria finished her tea and returned to the window. The moon was growing fuller, almost complete. She picked up the key from the table, feeling its weight in her palm.

  "Is this a test?" she whispered to the night sky. "Or a blessing I don't understand?"

  In his study across the estate, Gabriel reviewed the final preparations for the following night. The business of his territory could wait; tonight his concern was for Maria.

  "Morris," he called softly, knowing his household manager would be nearby.

  The door opened immediately. "Yes, Viscount?"

  "Has Maria made a decision about the shifting chamber?"

  Morris stepped into the room, closing the door. "Sarah reports that she is still uncertain, though she seemed comforted to hear that Father Gabriel approved of the arrangements."

  Gabriel nodded, setting aside the book he'd been reading.

  "Have everything prepared as if she will use the chamber," he instructed. "Fresh water in the fountain, soft lighting, comfortable temperature."

  "Already done, Viscount," Morris assured him. "And the privacy measures?"

  "The east wing should be empty from sunset to sunrise," Gabriel confirmed. "Only Sarah may approach, and only if Maria calls for help."

  Morris hesitated. "Sir, if I may... Miss Maria has a unique way of seeing this household. Her beliefs about... demons... may make her hesitant to accept comforts."

  "I know," Gabriel said quietly. "It's why we must be patient. Her faith has sustained her through circumstances we can barely imagine. We must respect that, even if her understanding is incomplete."

  After Morris departed, Gabriel moved to the window, gazing at the nearly-full moon. In his centuries as both priest and vampire, he had witnessed countless expressions of faith. Maria's simple devotion, though built on misunderstanding, shone with a purity that demanded respect.

  He would help her find a more complete understanding, in time. But first, she needed to survive the coming night with her dignity intact.

  The next evening, as moonrise approached, a gentle knock sounded at Maria's door.

  "Come in," she called, her voice calm and clear.

  Sarah entered, surprised to find Maria sitting peacefully on her bed, the key resting in her open palm.

  "Miss Maria? The moon will rise soon. Have you decided?"

  Maria nodded, closing her fingers around the key. "I'll use the special room. I don't want to scare anyone with my problem."

  Relief washed over Sarah's face. "I'm so gd. Shall I show you the way again?"

  "Please," Maria said, rising gracefully. "I'd like to be settled before moonrise."

  They walked together through quiet corridors. Maria noticed how empty the east wing seemed but didn't comment. She understood now that this was for her privacy—and for the comfort of others who might be frightened by her... condition.

  At the chamber door, fresh flowers greeted them with sweet scents.

  "I'll leave you now," Sarah said, stepping back. "Remember the bell if you need anything. No one will disturb you until morning."

  "Thank you, Sarah," Maria said with genuine warmth. "For your kindness."

  Inside the chamber, Maria locked the door and explored the space more carefully than before. The soft moss-green carpet, the cushions arranged in a circle, the gentle sound of water—everything spoke of thoughtful preparation. She didn't understand why demons would provide such comfort, but Father Gabriel's involvement reassured her.

  As the first moonlight touched the window, Maria knelt in the center of the cushions and whispered her prayer:

  "Light keep me safe in the dark. Light help me through my trial. Light bring me back when morning comes."

  In his quarters across the estate, Gabriel spoke his own quiet prayer for Maria's safety. Their words, though different, carried the same hope into the night.