Fire Nectar 2 by Faleena Hopkins Page B

to maintain the chateau. It was large, private, empty, and safe.
    Ludovico had told William that he had turned a vampire, and tonight he was to meet him. Joshua had been a human composer whose work Ludovico had commissioned for years, sending money from Italy in exchange for first sight. When recently he had heard that the composer had been betrayed by a friend, that his work had been stolen and published without his consent or name, Ludovico had raced up from Italy to see what could be done. And that is when they had met. After little time, Ludovico had revealed to Joshua what he was, and had offered the gift of immortality to him.
    He told William of Joshua’s restraint and moral fiber, of his musical gift and how he would surely create sounds that moved the soul, until the end of time. The new vampire was quiet, he warned, but he was good. A bit gullible perhaps, but eager to learn. And his heart ruled his mind, in that he had a romantic nature, unlike them.
    That was all well and good, but the hour was late, and Joshua had not arrived at his appointed time.
    “Do you know where he may have gone?” William asked, tapping his large fingers on the arm of the chair. “The hour has long since passed.”
    “I know. I know. I don’t like it.”
    William stopped then, his ears alert to a sound outside. “He’s here.”
    “He is? Damned if I’m not jealous of your years. I always feel quite skilled until I spend time with you, and then I realize you excel in your sense of hearing, sight…”
    “Speed, size – ” William added, immodestly.
    “Oh shut it! Here, is he? I cannot hear anything…oh wait! There he is. I am catching up with you, William!”
    “I very much doubt that,” William smiled.
    They waited until the new vampire entered the great foyer downstairs, locked the door behind him and made his way up the stairs, calling out to announce, “I’m here! Ludovico, which room are you in?”
    “Upstairs!” He called back as he shot a look to William, wordlessly giving him command to be nice. William shrugged to let him know he was unaware of any need for niceties. Ludovico rolled his eyes, then watched the entrance. The moment Joshua could be seen he quizzed him with, “Now, where have you been?”
    William watched from his chair. At this early age, unexplained absences and being late when you are expected, promised trouble. The temptations of the blood thirst were too strong and his discipline must be as it was with all fledglings, too weak. What had he been up to, William wondered as he eyed the young one’s guilty posture and expression.
    “I got distracted. Again,” Joshua mumbled. He looked toward the fireplace, impossibly drawn in by its warm amber flames. “Everything is so new.”
    “Oui. It is understandable. But where did you go, my musical friend,” Ludovico asked again, steadily. He would not be avoided.
    “To…Montmartre. The moon was so beautiful tonight. Je m’apelle Joshua.” He turned and bowed in introduction to William.
    William raised his eyebrows and offered a tilt of his regal head, but he did not get up. “The pleasure is mine. Montmartre, you say? How did you find it there?” William asked, his gaze unwavering and intense. Of music William knew little, but of lying he knew much. Joshua was lying, that was clear.
    “Monsieur?” Joshua paused, about to sit down, and deciding against it due to the tension he felt palpably surrounding him.
    “Where were you, really?” William asked.
    “William, stay your suspicious mind, if you please. If Joshua says he was at Montmartre, then he was at Montmartre. My friend has found difficulty in understanding how we did not see you there, mon ami. We were on the hill, ourselves, William and I, just two hours ago. But, no matter. We did leave some time ago, did we not? Yes.”
    “There were many people there. And painters. I’m sorry to have missed you,” Joshua added.
    Ludovico jumped on that tidbit, wanting to believe him.