Anna and the Vampire Prince Read Free Page A

were drained of their blood would hardly be a logical question to throw out.
    A cell phone chimes from the other room. “That’s probably Cecily,” Trish says, brightening. “We’ve got to decide on our rehearsal schedule. Do you mind?” she asks Dad.
    He waves her off. “Go. Can’t interfere with the artist at work.”
    Once she’s gone, I smile at Dad. “She’s really doing well.” I lean closer and touch his hand. “How about you? How are you doing?”
    The smile is still on his lips but his eyes cloud with sadness. “I miss your mother every minute of every day. I just thank God for you and Trish. Without you two…”
    He must read something in my expression because he stops. He squeezes my hand. “It’s time for you to go home, isn’t it? Back to San Diego.”
    I release a breath. “You know I’ll stay as long as you and Trish need me. But yes, at some point, I have to go back. David and Tracey have been carrying on without me, but I can’t ask them to do it forever.”
    He nods and sighs. “If it were up to me, I’d have you and Frey and John-John move here. Help me run the vineyard.” He sighs again. “But that’s my dream. Not yours. Your mother and I learned our lesson a long time ago about interfering—I won’t make that mistake again.”
    He’s speaking of the rift that once arose between us because I made the decision to give up teaching for bounty hunting. But that was another lifetime ago. Before I became a vampire. Before Trish came into our lives. “That seems so long ago,” I say.
    “Not so long that I haven’t forgotten the pain we caused you. I don’t ever want you to resent me, Anna. Not ever again.”
    Trish bounds back into the room. She must sense the darkened mood because she stops, looking from her grandfather to me. “Is everything all right?”
    “Absolutely.” I gesture for her to return to her place at the table. “So when is this play anyway?”
     “Three weeks.” She slips into her chair. “We’ll be rehearsing every day after school and on Saturday afternoons.” She looks at Dad. “That’s all right, isn’t it? I promise to keep up with my chores and homework.”
    “Of course it is.” He glances at me. “But I’m not sure your Aunt Anna will be here—”
    “Are you kidding?” I stop him with an upturned hand. “Miss Trish’s stage debut? Not on your life. David and Tracey can wait another couple of weeks.” I lean toward Trish. “But I think you’d better translate the play for me before the curtain goes up. I don’t think my limited French is up to the task.”
    It’s not until later, when I’m in bed, that I think again about Vlad and his Marseilles problem. I don’t know what’s more aggravating, the way he shut me down or me being so out of touch with the European vampire community. As he took great pleasure in reminding me, the vampires here, the oldest in existence, claim their own sovereignty. They never recognized my position as the Chosen One. Since the execution of their leader a few months ago, Vlad has reluctantly assumed a leadership role.
    But then, I’m out of touch with my own vampire community. I’ve not had contact with any vampires in the States or elsewhere, and they, out of consideration for my mother’s passing, have left me to grieve in private. That, too, will end once I return to the States.
    My thoughts return to Marseilles. Of course, there’s the distinct possibility that the kidnappings have nothing to do with vampires. Not that anyone would admit if they suspected it might. Our existence is still a secret, and most mortals know nothing of us.
    Still, I’ll go into town tomorrow and pick up an English edition newspaper. Maybe I can pick up a clue or two on my own.

Chapter Four
    I leave right after breakfast to head into Lourges. I drop Trish off at school first and make a stop at a little newsstand on Boulevard Georges Clemenceau, right next to the café where I met Vlad yesterday. I find several