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«You're not evil, William” Simple words Honest words He could see the sincerity on her face, hear it in her voice
Those simple words pierced hiree with you,” he said, his jaw clenching Sometimes, when he slept, he could still hear the whispers of the villagers He could still see the fear and revulsion that filled their gazes “They called me the Devil's bastard” The words slipped out without violation
She gasped, her face paling “Who said that?»
He remembered the little boy, notThe blacksmith “Everyone said it They whispered it each tiht I was cursed And they hated me»
«I don't understand” Savannah shook her head in confusion “Why? Why would they say that about you? Why would they hate you?»
He sighed “Because I was aze “That's crazy! Your father wasn't—»
He held up his hand, halting her speech “Their stories rong, of course My father wasn't the Devil Although at times he certainly acted the part” His father, Baron Guy de Montfort, had been a cruel, sadistic warrior He'd had no place in his life for weakness or sentinored Geoffrey And he'd despised Henry
«My father was obsessed with power,” William told her “He wanted control, absolute control of everyone and everything He was a strong rip No one could go against ers said that he'd traded his soul to the Devil in order to get his power»
«Had he?” Savannah asked
«My father never had a soul” Cold, harsh words “He never cared about anyone, certainly not rown to be a ry only for blood and power
Savannah sat quietly, her gaze fixed upon hihtly He wasn't even aware of the gesture “By the tith had started to wane, and he hated it” He could still hear the sound of his father's angry screaed by his body's betrayal, by the onset of the weakness in his lian to shake To have spasms He couldn't lead his armies any only the past “He couldn't stand as happening to hian to … seek out the counsel of others Doctors” He paused, and then he said, “Witches Seers»
«What did he find out?” she whispered
«He found out that he could live forever” Willialee “He found out that he could transfor An immortal»
«Your father became a vampire?” Her shock was clear
William shook his head “No You see, he wasn't sure the ritual would work He wanted soe first, just in case so»
«Dear God,” she whispered “He made you do it, didn't he?»