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“Why did you let hio then?” asked the boy

“I don’t know,” said the vampire, but it did not have the tone of truly I don’t know, but rather, let it be “You look tired,” said the vampire “You look cold”

“It doesn’t matter,” said the boy quickly “The room’s a little cold; I don’t care about that You’re not cold, are you?”

“No” The vahter

Aand the boy to be studying the vampire’s face The vampire’s eyes moved to the boy’s watch

“She didn’t succeed, did she?” the boy asked softly

“What do you honestly think?” asked the vampire He had settled back in his chair He looked at the boy intently

“That she was… a

s you said, destroyed,” said the boy; and he seemed to feel the words, so that he sed after he’d said the word destroyed “Was she?” he asked

“Don’t you think that she could do it?” asked the vampire

“But he was so powerful You said yourself you never knehat powers he had, what secrets he kne could she even be sure how to kill him? How did she try?”

The va time, his expression unreadable to the boy, who found hi lights “Why don’t you drink from that bottle in your pocket?” asked the vampire “It will make you warm”

“Oh, that…” said the boy “I was going to I just…”

The vahed “You didn’t think it was polite!” he said, and he suddenly slapped his thigh

“That’s true,” the boy shrugged, s now; and he took the sold cap, and took a sip He held the bottle, now looking at the vampire