Exerpt from Book Two
NEW YORK – PRESENT DAY
CHAPTER ONE
The two vampires stood in silence atop Belvedere Castle gazing into the quiet Manhattan night just as they had done for decades. Silence cloaked Christian Mauré as he fought the pull of their conversation. Central Park was empty in the early morning winter hours with only the sounds of distant traffic disturbing his thoughts. On a night not unlike this one, just one month ago, his world had changed forever; and now, he and Michel Baptiste, his best friend since childhood had to move ahead.
Recently, the three vampires joked about moving back to Paris, a place Christian knew now only in name; devoured by urban sprawl and the absence of politesse. The vampire Sabin Réyon, his only other connection to Le Revolution Française, had already left for Paris in the hopes of finding them lodgings there yet it was hard for Christian to imagine living there.
Still, he had an ache inside; a need fueled by both the present circumstances in the City of Lights and in his personal world as well. So much had happened in such a short time as he and Michel still tried to make sense of it all as it related to a time and place he had long ago abandoned. Presently, the Parisian vampires were without a leader and though he knew there would be petty skirmishes in attempts to gain the throne, it would remain empty, unless….
“Mon ami; back to my original question. When will you tell Amanda?” Michel began tossing small rocks and sticks into the Turtle Pond. He seemed fascinated as each rock arched out over the pond and quietly splashed in the inky black water below.
Christian had asked himself the same question, over and over again and still he had no answer, rolling over various scenarios in his mind. He would have to tell her soon, but then what? He wanted her by his side in Paris, but in her present condition he thought it downright dangerous to bring her into the middle of a situation he could no more imagine than he could control, and Christian liked control. On the other hand, to leave her alone in New York seemed a more irresponsible decision.
Christian Du Mauré had never been a trusting soul. Even as a mortal man, he had trusted only one person and that vampire was standing beside him, tossing rocks into the water like a child. He still could not believe his ancient enemy Gaétan was dead. After coming to New York to kill Amanda for her powerful blood Christian had slain him. Still, it was hard to believe it had all happened and had left the chasm in the power base of the Parisian vampires. Though Christian felt a need to return the reasons eluded him.
