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Only the great future would reveal to me that other vampires, in the et ahead of myself

Let me return to that intolerable time, that crucible

Some twenty weeks were passed in this misery

I didn't even believe anyht and fantastical world of Venice had ever existed And I knew my Master was dead I knew it I knew that all I loved was dead

I was dead Sometimes I dreamt I was home in Kiev in the Monastery of the Caves, a saint Then I awoke to anguish

When Santino and the gray-haired Allesandra caentle as ever, and Santino shed tears to see me as I was, and said:

"Come to me, come now, come study with me in earnest, come Not even those as wretched as we should suffer as you suffer Come to me "

I entrusted myself to his arms, I opened my lips to his, I bowed my head to pressheart, I breathed deep, as if the very air had been denied me until that moment

Allesandra laid her cool, soft hands so gently on me

"Poor orphan child," she said "Wandering child, oh, such a long road you've traveled to come to us "

And what a wonder it was that all they had done towe shared, a common and inevitable catastrophe

SANTINO'S CELL

I lay on the floor in the arms of Allesandra, who rocked me and stroked my hair

"I want you to hunt with us tonight," said Santino "You come with us, with Allesandra and with ry You are so very hungry, are you not?"

And so an