Page 21

"In the beginning, during those first years. Were you happy?"

"Yes," she said. "And, I know that I will be happy again. Life is a gift. Immortality is a precious gift. It shouldn't be called the Dark Gift. That's not fair."

"I want to see Maharet in person," said David. "I want to go with you home."

Jesse shook her head. "She won't allow it, David. She knew what I meant to say when I found you. She allowed this. But she will not receive anyone now at home."

"Do you still trust in her?" asked David.

"In Maharet?" Jesse asked. "Always. Yes, in Maharet."

That was significant. She didn't trust the other two.

She was backing away from us towards the double doors to the hallway.

"I've given you what I have to give for now," she said.

"And what if I want to find that vampire in Geneva?" I asked.

"That would be your decision. He's in love with you. I can't imagine him hurting you. Does anyone ever try to hurt you?"

"Are you joking?" I asked bitterly. Then I shrugged again. "No, I don't guess anyone ever does anymore."

"You're the one they look to ...," she said.

"So Benji says!" I muttered under my breath. "Well, there's no reason for them to look to me. I may have started it but I sure as Hell can't finish it."

She didn't answer.

David sprang up suddenly and went to her and took her in his arms. They held each other silently for a moment and then he went with her to the doors.

I knew she was as good at the Cloud Gift as I was, what with all that ancient blood. She'd leave the hotel by the roof so fast she might as well have been invisible.

David closed the doors behind her.

"I want to go walking," I said. My voice was thick, and suddenly I realized I was weeping. "I want to see that old district where the markets used to be, and the old church. Haven't been there since ... Will you come with me?" I had half a mind to flee now, just go. But I didn't.

He nodded. He knew what I wanted. I wanted to see the area of Paris where once les Innocents, the ancient cemetery, had existed--beneath which, in torch-lit catacombs, Armand and his Children of Satan coven had held court. It was there that, orphaned by my maker, I'd discovered with shock the others of our kind.

He embraced me and kissed me. This was David whom I knew intimately in this body. This was David's powerful heart against me. His skin was silken and fragrant with some subtle male perfume, and his fingers were thrilling me vaguely as he took my hand. Blood of my Blood.

"Why do people want me to do something about all this?" I asked. "I don't know what to do?"

"You're a star in our world," he said. "You made yourself that. And before you say anything rash or angry, remember. That's what you wanted to be."

We spent hours together.

We moved over the rooftops far too fast for the fledglings below to track us.

We drifted through the streets of les Halles, and through the darkened interior of the great old church of Saint-Eustache with its paintings by Rubens. We sought out the little Fontaine des Innocents in the Rue Saint-Denis--a tiny relic of the olden times--which had once stood beside the wall of the vanished cemetery.

This made my heart both glad and anguished. And I let the memories come back to me of my battles with Armand and his followers who believed so fervently we were anointed servants of the Devil. Such superstition. Such rot.

Eventually some of the paparazzi vampires found us. They were persistent. But they kept their distance. We didn't have much time.

Pain, pain, and more pain.

No trace remained of the old Theatre des Vampires or where it had once stood. Of course I'd known that but had to visit the old geography anyway, confirm that the old filthy world of my time had been paved over.