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He nods, and he was right when he said music was one of his passions, because he's playing the piece with such a beautiful and expert touch that I know it is hispassion.
"Why does this break yourheart?"
"I remember when I was seventeen and my heart wasbroken."
"Danielle?' I say. "But you chose the priesthood over her. You probably broke herheart."
"I know," he says. "But mine was broken aswell."
I listen while he plays, the piece beautiful, his touch sodeft.
"You play verywell."
"I've had several centuries to learn. You, in contrast, are trulygifted."
The melancholy melody makes my throat close up and tears bite at the corners of my eyes. I watch him play and he's so beautiful, my fallen priest vampire-hunting vampire. When he finishes he turns to me and sees my tears, which I try to blink away, butcan't.
"Oh, Eve," he whispers and pulls me into his arms. "What will I do without you?" He lifts my face up, kissing my tears, and I slip my arms around hisneck.
"You won't be gone too long, willyou?"
"I don't know how long," he says, kissing my neck. "Any time is toolong."
Then he sighs and takes my hand, pulling me away from the piano. "I have to get ready. My plane leavessoon."
He takes me on a quick tour of the rest of the house, but now I'm in no mood for it, and take a perfunctory look in each room, the main living room, a smaller sitting room, and he opens a door and lets me peer into an industrialkitchen.
He motions to the dark haired vampire, who follows us backupstairs.
"Sleep now," he says, patting the bed. "I'll think of you lying in my bed all nice and warm and sleepy and I'll be able to relax. I'll let Raymond take you to your flat later this evening and you can gather up your things. Put them in the bathroom. I don't have any female servants, so you'll have to put up with Raymond," he says and points to the servant. "Do what he says because he's very exacting about things and keeps me in line. I'm taking Vasily withme."
"How many servants do youhave?"
Michel turns to Raymond. "How many on staff,Raymond?"
"Fifteen, myLord."
"You make your staff call you my Lord?" I turn to Michel and then look back at Raymond, who clears his throat. Oh, oh, Michel mouths, all wide-eyed faux-panic, his back toRaymond.
"My Lord de Cernay is a Vicomte from a very old and noble family and he was once the Bishop ofCarcassonne."
"Yes," I say, "but there are no titles in France any longer. You know, Liberty, Equality,Fraternity?"
Raymond makes a sound in his throat and turns away, pulling back the covers to the bed, which I see have a wet spot on them. Michel finally smiles at me, shaking his headslowly.
"You'll have my staff up in arms if you talk like that while I'mgone."
"You afraid I'll foment rebellion?" I smile, but it's forced because I know the moment we have to separate is coming quickly and I'm getting all tearyagain.
"Are you sure Lilith isn't your middle name?" he says, taking me in his arms and pulling me against him, kissing me. Raymond makes a face and leaves theroom.
"He doesn't like me being here," I say toMichel.
"To him, I'm a priest and so he's scandalized that I have a woman staying in my bed. Since he's been with me, I've been celibate and very priest-like. Give himtime."
I pull him against me more tightly. "You said you were celibate earlier. For howlong?"
"When I killed my lasthuman."
