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wanted to ensure she maintained
her health.  He ordered her a full course meal.  As an afterthought he added
bottled water and juice.  She would need to stay hydrated.
    Michelle’s patience with the
situation had worn thin.  She watched Aaron closely, jabbing another psychic barb
his way.  “ It may be too late, but she must be fully cognizant of all the
repercussions .”  
    He barbed right back, “Tell
her what you will.  It changes nothing.”
    Michelle stepped up to
Anastasia, holding her gently.  “There are things you should know about us,
about the life you have chosen.”
    He followed Ana’s thoughts. 
She was utterly seduced by the charming French purr of Michelle’s voice.
    “The feelings you have with
the bite, is from the venom.  Is like a drug.  You feel very excited, its
wonderful!  Comme
c'est merveilleux!  Is very sexual,
but also addictive.  There is no cure I know for the addiction … except
permanent separation.”
    He popped up as she spoke of
separation.  “That’s not happening!”
    She stayed him with a hand on
his shoulder, “She must know the truth.”
    “Fine!  But she’s not
leaving.”
    Ana put her hand atop Aaron’s
in reassurance.  “I’m not leaving, don’t worry.”
    Michelle continued, “You
understand what we are?”
    Ana shook her head.  “Not really,
no––I have an idea, but I’m not sure.”
    Michelle sent a furious spike
of anger directed his way along with a scathing accusation.  “She knows
nothing of what you have done!  She knows not what we are!  Imbécile! ”
    She turned on him.  “ Avoir une
araignée au plafond ?   Something
about a spider on the ceiling.  Metaphorically she had questioned his sanity. 
Her speech regressed to French as she became emotional.
    “ Quelle mouche t’a pique ? ”  She made
reference an irritating fly, the French equivalent of what’s gotten into
you?
    This was headed south fast. 
He tried to diffuse Michelle’s concerns.  “She knows more than you think, more
than she realizes.  But let’s stop dicking around about it.  Tell her what
you’ve got to say.  She needs to hear it.”
    Michelle sighed in
exasperation.  “We are vampires … Oui ?   You understand?”
    Ana’s eyes glittered with
excitement.  He followed her jumble of emotions through a roller coaster ride
of fear, anxiety, and anticipation with a little too much adoration mixed in.
    “This is so exciting, I’m not
sure I understand it all, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world.  I’m not going
anywhere!  You can’t scare me off that easily!”
    Michelle eyed Aaron with one
of her murderous looks.   “She should be very afraid .”   She spoke
aloud to Ana.   “You must understand.  There is much danger to be close
with us.  This life will bleed you dry.  The passions you feel can be deadly. 
Is too easy to hurt you.  Your life will be at risk, always.”
    Michelle held Ana’s hands looking her straight in the eyes,
imploring her to see reason.  It was a lost cause.
    “ Il est difficile de vaincre ses passions, et impossible de
les satisfaire. ”  He understood her better this
time, no metaphors.   It is difficult to master your passions and impossible
to satisfy them.   She had quoted a famous line from De La Sabliére.
    He kept a constant monitor of Ana’s thoughts.  She had no
grasp of the French, but she understood Michelle tried to talk her out of what
she wanted most, to be with them.
    “I know he won’t hurt me, not on purpose.  I can’t explain
it, but I know it’s true!”  She looked back and forth between him and Michelle.
    “ Oui ,
Aaron tries very hard to maintain control.  He is careful.  He is respectful,
usually.  But this should not happen.  You should not be with us.  Is a
mistake.”
    He sensed Michelle’s pride in his normally rigid
self-control.  His caution and respect for women had been a complete surprise
to her.  Her only prior experience with a male vampire,