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The waitress arrives to ask us how everything is and he thanks her, touching her hand, smiling like he's some kind of celebrity. She's all giggly and leaves, whispering to the other waitress when she goes behind thecounter.
"You were saying?" I don't know why his paying attention to the waitress bothers me, but itdoes.
"Oh, yes," he says, turning back to me. "Your mother wanted to wait until you were a bit older before you met an actual vampire. But I was around, in the background, watching. I met with her quite a lot to discuss the Council. She was having a hard time deciding which side to take and I was trying to influence her as was Michel. Did she support the treaty? Did she support eradication of us all? It was difficult for her because she actually liked some ofus."
"What do yousupport?"
"The Treaty, of course. Anything else would besuicide."
"Michel wants to eradicate allvampires."
"You don't have to tell me that," he says, and for once he's serious. "That's why we're not the best buds any longer. I happen to like existence." He takes a sip of his milkshake. "I like it a lot. Let me tell you something I've learned in the long years of my life. Existence is far preferable to death. Mortality sucks. Dyingsucks."
"You say your 'life', but you’re a vampire. You'redead."
"I'm not really dead," he says. "I'm undead. Undying. There's adifference."
"What do you know about my mother'sdeath?"
He exhales heavily, as if he doesn't want to discussit.
"Not much. She was working late at the office. You were reading in another room when she was attacked. You found her and remained with her for hours until a janitor found you with her body. You were in shock. They took you to the hospital and you were almost catatonic. Your father fell apart in the weeks that followed, and he stopped caring for you. You were supposed to go into a Council-sponsored foster family when you father cracked up and was put in the asylum but somehow, both you and your file were lost and that was it. We lost track of you. It's all there in the files at theSCU."
"What was in the manuscript that you wanted my mother to read? Was there some clue about vampires and how to destroy themall?"
"I don't know why your mother wanted it so badly. I think she wanted to understand what we faced when we became vampires. What it was like. She was surprised that not all of us weremonsters."
"So it's not important to herresearch?"
"She seemed to think so – that there might be hints somewhere that she could use. I'm not up on the science side of things but I do know they were looking at gene therapy to alter vampire DNA. Also human. There's also lots of good info at the SCU, if you do become a Blood Witness and of course, your mother'sfiles."
I finish my omelet and check mywatch.
"Speaking of which, I have to go. I have to meet Michel at the SCU." I motion to the waitress for thecheck.
"Let me get this," Julien says. "I think I'll stay and listen to some earlyMotown."
"Thanks," I say and place a ten-dollar bill on the table. "But I'm able to pay formyself."
"Eve," he says and pushes the money away. "Really. I may not look it but I'm a viscount with a huge inheritance. Let me getthis."
I relent and take the money back. "Verywell."
He stands and watches while I get my things together then extends his hand once more. I take it and he leans down once more and kissesit.
"It was really nice to meet you, and see that you're doing well. Good luck tonight," he says. "I hope you won't needit."
I force a smile. I don't know if I'm doing well. I seem to have found myself right in the middle of a very dangerous turn of events. Finally, he lets go of myhand.
"Good night," Isay.
When I close the door to the diner, he's still standing there, looking beautiful, watching me through thewindow.
* * *
Chapter 5
"Love isthe only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of humanexistence."
