The Vampire's Angel by Damian Serbu Read Free Book Online Page B

moment before responding. “Is this just between us?”
    “I would never betray you,” Thomas answered and grabbed Xavier’s hand.
    “I don’t believe all of it. I’m not sure how to put it into words. I think that some higher being exists, which we can’t understand. I find it impossible to believe that all of this happened by accident or haphazardly. Mankind seeks to answer this question, and, for many, those answers come through the church.” He stared at their clasped hands, wanting both to run away but also to stay. “I serve in the church because I was raised in it. It’s how I come into contact with the spiritual world. It also allows me to help people. Really, this sounds silly.”
    “Not at all.” Thomas squeezed his hand and let go. “It makes sense, especially knowing you. It’s not what I believe, but I love your passion. The first day that we met, I saw you help that little girl find her mother. You never hesitated or got angry. You just acted. That’s a profound love that few feel for their fellow humans. I wish that I shared such zeal.”
    “You make me a saint prematurely.” Xavier managed a wan smile. “I get angry with the world and fail to live by my own standards. Why, I almost never succeed with my brother.”
    Thomas moved them to a bench and sat opposite him. Xavier barely controlled his urge to sink into the shelter of Thomas’s powerful arms.
    “What about your brother? I thought you cared deeply for him.”
    “Oh, I do, I do. I cherish my brother and sister. Remember what I told you about Catherine, about how Michel has taken his responsibility to lead this family too far?”
    Thomas nodded.
    “He does the same to me. It enrages Michel that I refuse to accept a higher position in the church. He claims that it degrades the Saint-Laurent name, and he’d feel better if I were protected. He sees religion differently, as more of a duty, another cog in the government. He fights with me about this almost every time that he visits. I try to listen and to accept that he feels as he does and let it go, but too often I let the anger build and then yell at him.”
    “I hope my bluntness doesn’t offend you,” Thomas said. “But your biggest weakness is that you’re too hard on yourself. You expect perfection in how you serve your parish and in how you handle the family, even in how you speak with me. But you’re fallible and no one should expect perfection of you.”
    Thomas spoke the truth, yet Xavier thought of all the people who did expect that of him. The Catholic Church elevated priests to a false pedestal, and Michel and Catherine doted over him constantly. His eyes filled with tears.
    Thomas patted Xavier on the shoulder. Without a word, he moved closer and hugged him tightly, and whispered into his ear. “I understand, abbé, I understand.” They sat like this for a long moment before Xavier sat up, collected himself, and smiled.
    “Thank you. I hope I can repay you some day. I’m sorry.”
    “You apologized again,” Thomas teased. “And you do help me, every time I see you. Perhaps someday I’ll explain.”
    Xavier struggled to stay awake and allow this moment to continue, but the evening had worn him out. His head bobbed once, and then he heard Thomas laugh softly.
    “Are you exhausted?”
    “I am tired, but it has nothing to do with you. I get up early to read and then work through the early afternoon in my parish so I can visit Catherine in the evenings.”
    “Should I let you rest tomorrow?”
    “No, please, come back.”
    Thomas stood and accompanied Xavier toward the church. He held the door open for Xavier, who walked in and turned around.
    “Good night,” Xavier said with a smile.
    “Abbé.” Thomas smiled in return as he turned to leave and tilted his head. He paused at the gate, looked back and waved, then disappeared into the night.
    Xavier watched him leave and he hated that his stomach ached when Thomas did so.
    He had fought these longings his