Free The Vampire's Angel by Damian Serbu

time with his lonely sister, but now he runs off every night to see you, so I was anxious to meet the person who can hold my brother’s attention even more than that little parish of his.”
    Thomas smiled politely. She was as charming as Xavier had described, though the abbé stood red with embarrassment. “I assure you, Mademoiselle, that the pleasure is completely mine. Your brother has offered a most fitting introduction to Paris.”
    Catherine laughed. “That’s typical Xavier, a martyr for any cause. But I dare say, Monsieur, that you hardly fit the part.” Her eyes twinkled as she winked at Thomas. With that, Catherine bustled past them into the room. Everyone followed as if she were a monarch and they her servants. Even Jérémie stood and greeted Catherine warmly without a hint of the despair Xavier had talked about.
    The gathering eased into various conversations when Thomas found himself near the bar, away from the others and with Catherine.
    “I’m glad you’ve befriended my brother,” she said. “He needs strong men in his life. Though you seem like more than the usual man running about Paris.”
    “What do you mean by that?” he asked, alarmed. Did she know about his being a vampire?
    “I’m not sure.” Catherine turned quickly and strode to the middle of the room. “Well, I suppose, as usual, you’re waiting for me. You all know why I called you here. Jérémie and Xavier already know, and I suspect that one of them has told Michel.” Catherine stood proudly, defiantly, controlling a group of men as if they were children. Thomas admired her spunk when she looked at him. “Don’t tell me. Xavier can’t keep a secret from you. He dotes over you constantly—”
    “Catherine, really,” Xavier said.
    “I’ve had enough chatter,” Michel broke in. “What do you want to tell us?”
    “Very well,” she said smugly. “I want you to meet my fiancé, Marcel André. I won’t discuss it further. I made my decision, so you can make your commands when you get back to the army, Michel. I brought you here to meet him, nothing else. I’m having dinner served and it will be friendly and civil or you’ll leave. And that means everyone here. Understood? I’m sure that Thomas doesn’t wish to hear us griping.”
    As she spoke, Marcel entered the room and Thomas instantly disliked him. Xavier stepped back, shaking. Thomas walked to his side and patted his back without anyone noticing. Xavier relaxed and leaned into Thomas’s arm. Thomas himself had never believed the drivel about getting to know someone before making a judgment. He operated on instinct, an animalistic behavior, and Marcel alarmed him. He remembered how Xavier described a feeling of evil when he entered the shop to meet Marcel, and that was indeed a fitting description. Marcel had a glassy look in his eyes, as if he stared through people and into their souls, looking for weaknesses.
    “Come here,” Catherine cooed. She, too, changed when Marcel entered. “Is anyone leaving?” she asked.
    No response. Everyone simply stared.
    “Good. Marcel, I want you to meet Jérémie. You already know Xavier. This is his friend Thomas, and this is my brother Michel. And now, dinner is ready.”
    Again they followed Catherine like ducklings, nervously avoiding her wrath. Xavier had told Thomas that no one agreed with her course of action, but no one moved to challenge her. Thomas, too, hid his discomfort. However, halfway through the first course, he saw Xavier staring at him from across the table. Without a word, Thomas tilted his head and grinned. Xavier glanced away, but Thomas had communicated for him not to worry.
    If anything, Thomas fretted about his relationship with the curé, not the odd family around him. They could work this out on their own, but where were he and this angel going together? Did a chance exist for the romance that Thomas sought? They certainly acted like a couple on more than one occasion, with a look, a glance, or