Circle of Death Read Online Free

that way that only vampires could.
    And now I understood his expression. Like many vampires, he wanted to be accepted by what he was. I had done that, without many questions, without fear, and he didn’t want to lose it. Without really thinking about what I was doing, I sat beside him.
    “You didn’t offend me. I know vampires usually don’t like to talk about their past.” I said, following my intuition. His expression revealed that I was right, and he held out his hand, hesitant. I took it, and he gave me a half smile. His skin was hot, showing that he had fed not long ago. “I didn’t think that question would be so connected to your past. Forgive me for that.”
    “There is nothing to forgive.” He took my hand to his lips and kissed it. I felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the fact that a vampire’s lips were always cold, and barely managed to stay where I was. My whole body seemed on fire, and my only thought was to get away from him, get away from what was making me react that way. “You are a unique woman, Kelene.”
    I sighed, memories that weren’t mine and at the same time were coming to the surface, remembrances I tried to ignore most of the time. All of my barriers went up in an instant, and Lucio let go of my hand. His expression made clear that he understood his words had awakened some bad memories.
    We stood there for a while, in an uncomfortable silence, while I tried to send the past back to its place.
    “And why did you come here?” He asked, finally, using my own question. His voice sounded light, as if I had taken a great burden from his shoulders.
    “What?” And I gave back his answer, not sure if I had understood what he meant.
    “Students from the country live in dorms, students from the city stay with their parents. And you bought an apartment.”
    I smiled, aware that the expression didn’t hide my sadness. That had been the price of my choice. And I had learned that my decisions would never affect only me.
    “My family always had some money. My parents died just after my eighteenth birthday, and everything went to me. I bought the apartment because I didn’t want to live alone in our old house. And then I sold everything from before…”
    “It must have been hard.” He murmured, looking uncomfortable. He probably didn’t expect that answer, and I had said only the truth.
    “It was. But I learned to get out of difficult situations when I was still very young. My parents wouldn’t want me to let my life fall apart just because they weren’t here, so I kept going on.”
    He nodded, hesitating for an instant before speaking again. “You really are unique, Kelene.”
    He was watching me carefully, waiting for my reaction, surely, to know the limits of what I would accept. But this time my memories kept quiet. It was as if, finally, I had cleaned those words from the meaning they had carried for so long. With a smile, I looked away, and I’m sure that I blushed. And then someone slammed the building’s door, breaking the moment. I looked at the clock, using the opportunity to get away from a conversation that didn’t go as I had expected.
    “It’s late and I have to be up early tomorrow.” I said, getting up.
    “Good night.”
    “Good night.”
    I was already in front of my bedroom’s door when I turned.
    “And… Lucio?”
    “Yes?”
    I hesitated. Should I really say that, or was it too early? A glance at the vampire’s face made the decision for me. He also hid many secrets, and feared what was about to happen, I noticed. He feared what I might say.
    “It seems you are the best person who could have answered that ad.” I said, at least, smiling before closing the door.
    Where had those words come from? I didn’t know, but they were the truth. It didn’t matter that I would have trouble to keep what I did in secret, he was undoubtedly the best person who could have come to live with me. That was what my instincts were telling me, and I trusted them with