Chapter XIV

That woman bought one of my paintings a few years ago. I remember when she came to the gallery. I did not know her name then or that she was my aunt. She did not say anything.
I remember she smiled at me.

"Elyse Reynaud bought a painting of mine a few years ago. I did not know who she was, she did not say anything. Why? I am sure she knew who I was?"
"Yes, she knew you were her niece."
"Then why didn't she say something?"
"Elyse knew that your mother did not tell you that she had a sister. They were not very close. They have never been."
"Why? I would have liked to have a sister."
"I cannot tell you this!"
"Why? You know more than your telling me! You lived here with Elyse. You knew her well! Why didn't she come to talk to me?"
"I am sorry Melanie but Elyse thought you would reject her."
"I would have not. Why would I reject her?"
"Because she was a stranger to you. To be honest she did not have the courage to talk to you."
"I still do not know why my mother did not say anything. She clearly knew she had a sister. They were not very close."
"Yes, your mother knew about Elyse."
"What else can you tell me? Did Elyse have any other relatives or still has?'
" Yes, her grandmother is still alive!"
"That is wonderful! Where does she live?"
"She lives here in this village in an old manor by the lake."
"I will visit her as soon as this rain stops. What is her name?"
"Adele Dubois, she lives in the Dubois manor. It is about 1 mile from here. It is not far."
"In that case I will walk there."

I finished drinking my tea and put the cup on the coffee table. I was not feeling tired anymore.

"Why did you lock the front door and where are the keys?"
"I am sorry about that but I did not want you to go out in the rain again."
"It did cross my mind."
"The keys are in your room on the vanity table."
"I also want the blueprints of the castle. Where can I find them?"
"You can find the blueprints in the library. I will bring them to you later if you want."
"Is there a secret passageway in my room?"
Ademar looked at me and smiled.
"There is a secret passageway in my room! You used it to leave me those roses don't you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Even if I lock the door you can still enter my room."
"Yes, I can."
"Where is it?"
"It is behind the floor standing mirror."
"How do I open it from my side?"
"You have to press on the bottom left corner of the mirror."
"Where does it lead to?"
"It leads to the library."

I looked outside through the window the rain was not going to stop anytime soon and I did not care. I like it when it rains.
The water is good for the earth. It feeds all of those beautiful flowers in the garden, the trees.
Thunders and lightnings do not scare me.

"Melanie it looks like it will rain all day."
"I wanted to go and paint today outside in the garden but now that will have to wait."
"You like painting very much don't you?"
"Yes, I do."
"I wanted to tell you that Elyse also left you some money."
"She left me money? The lawyer never said anything about any money."
"She left you in a bank account aproximatly
30 million euros."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
I am rich! I cannot believe it! First she left me this castle and know I found out Elyse left me all that money!

"You are telling me I am rich now. I do not even know what to say!"
"You do not have to say anything!"
"You should be resting now right? You can go of you want. You do not have to stay here with me!"
"But I do like to stay here with you!"

I held out my hand for him to grab it. He kissed my hand and I hugged him. I did not want to let him go.
We were locked in an embrace for ten minutes. It seemed like an eternity to me.

"I am glad you are here with me and that I am not alone in this castle."
Ademar kissed me on my forehead.

All this time I forgot that I was embracing a vampire. He seemed so human to me. So warm and yet so cold. He had no heartbeat and he did not breathe. It did not feel like I was embracing a corpse he was very much alive. His skin tone was not pale it had the same colour as limestone.

I let him kiss me once more. I tasted the same wine mixed with blood in his mouth. He must have feed not long ago.

What am I doing? I am falling in love with Ademar and I know almost nothing about him. Just that his family built this castle or chateau centuries ago, he used to own it and I do not know how Elyse Reynaud became the owner. Now she is dead and the castle is mine.
Blanche loved him, she was ready to marry him and for her love she payed with her life. She is six feet under now.
But I am not. I am still here and I am not going anywhere for now.

He is a vampire for crying out loud and I am just a human. I am fragile and he is strong.
He is an immortal and I am ephemeral like those roses he keeps bringing me.
I am playing with fire and I am going to get burned.
I am letting my feelings get in the way of my judgment and I may regret it.
Even so this is a risk I am willing to take.