“About time you grew up and became a vampire like the rest of us.”

“Okay, so, how did you know to show up in the woods like that? Do you just go around finding people in trouble like...vampire Batman or something?”

“I didn’t tell him. He found out. Basically, he caught me coming inafter the last time you and I saw each other. But he won’t give us away,Lucas. He’s even willing to help us see each other, as long as we helphim with Charity.”“What, like, a fund-raiser or something?”I’d forgotten he didn’t know her name. “The vampire girl in Amherst.”“Wait—Charity? That’s her name? You were able to figure out whoshe is.” He smiled so proudly that all the tension of the moment instantlymelted. “I fell in love with a genius.”

“There's one way. Only one. Mine." Balthazar stepped closer, using every inch he had on Lucas, who was tall but not that tall. "Charity is a person. The same as you, the same as me.""You and me aren't the same."Balthazar cocked his head. "Then let's say the same as Bianca. Will that make you listen?""Bianca's no killer! She didn't have a choice about what she is.""Guys, don't do this," I pleaded, but they paid no attention."A choice? You think we all get a choice?" Although Balthazar spoke softly, there was a roughness to his voice I'd never heard before. It sent chills down my spine. "Try being hunted down in the night. Try running as far and as fast as you can and finding out their faster. Try coming to in a stable, with your parents' dead bodies on the ground in front of you, your hands roped above your head and a dozen hungry vampires arguing with each other about who gets you next. See how much choice you have then."Lucas just stared at him. Obviously he'd never imagined anything like that; neither had I.Even more quietly, Balthazar continued, "Try watching your baby sister die, and then tell me that you wouldn't spend the rest of eternity trying to make up for it. When you've done all that, Lucas, then you can talk to me about choices. Until that time, tell me what I need to know and then shut your mouth.”

“The worst was relizing that I’d lost him for nothing because he’d been rght about all of it-- vampires, my parents, everything.He’d told me my parents lied. I yelled at him for it. He forgave me. He told me vampires were killers. I told him they weren’t, even after one stalked Raquel. He told me Charity was dangerous. I didn’t listen, and she killed Courtney. He told me vampires were treacherous, and did I get the message? Not until my illusions had been destroyed by my parents’ confession.”

“But you have nothing better to do with your time than harass us, do you? Go back to ruling the universe from Mount Olympus or whatever else it is you mongrels do.”

“Everyone is lonely, we have to remember that life is to be lived one day at a time. You cannot worry about the past or future. Happiness is in the now.”