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“But Santiago, atching with his hands behind his back, intervened ‘Crime!’ he said ‘Yes, there is a crime A crime for which ould hunt another vauess what that is?’ He glanced froain to her masklike face ‘You should knoho are so secretive about the vampire that made you’

“ ‘And why is that?’ she asked, her eyes widening ever so slightly, her hands resting still in her lap

“A hush fell over the rooradually then coo as he stood there, one foot forward, his hands clasped behind his back, towering over Claudia His eyes gleamed as he saw he had the floor And then he broke away and crept up behind uess what that crime is? Didn’t your vampire master tell you?’

“And drawingfahtly in ti pace

“ ‘It is the crime that means death to any vampire anywhere who commits it It is to kill your own kind!’

“ ‘Aaaaah!’ Claudia cried out, and lapsed into peals of laughter She alking across the floor noith swirling lavender silk and crisp resounding steps Taking my hand, she said, ‘I was so afraid it was to be born like Venus out of the foao!’ she beckoned, as she pulled me away

“Aro was still And it was Armand who rose e reached the door ‘You’re welcoht after’

“I don’t think I caught my breath until I’d reached the street The rain was still falling, and all of the street seemed sodden and desolate in the rain, but beautiful A few scattered bits of paper blowing in the wind, a glea sloith the thick, rhythmic clop of the horse The sky was pale violet I sped fast, with Claudia beside th ofin my arms

“ ‘I don’t like them,’ she said to me with a steel fury as we neared the Hotel Saint-Gabriel Even its ihtly lit lobby was still in the pre-dawn hour I spirited past the sleepy clerks, the long faces at the desk ‘I’ve searched for them the world over, and I despise them!’ She threw off her cape and walked into the center of the room A volley of rain hit the French s I foundthe candelabruas fla the puce velvet chair I’d envisioned in that cellar, I slipped down into it, exhausted It seemed for the ilt-fra of pastel trees and serene waters, the vampire spell was broken They couldn’t touch us here, and yet I knew this to be a lie, a foolish lie

“ ‘I a wrath

“ ‘But how can they knoe did to hier! Do you think for a uilt! And if you were the only one…’ I reached out for her now as she drew near, but her fierce eyes settled on me and I let my hands drop back lier?’

“She was s For a moment I didn’t believe er holds you to me…’

“ ‘Love holds me to you,’ I said softly

“ ‘Love?’ she mused ‘What do you mean by love?’ And then, as if she could see the pain in my face, she came close and put her hands on my cheek She was cold, unsatisfied, as I was cold and unsatisfied, teased by that mortal boy but unsatisfied

“ ‘That you take ranted always,’ I said to her ‘That we are wed…’ But even as I said these words I felt ht when she had taunted me about mortal passion I turned away from her