"You are a vampire," Louis said, offering a hand to help her up. "You are as we are. You will never get old, or sick, or die. Does the world appear changed to you?"

He had hated watching her agony; he was only grateful it seemed to have been short, and more grateful yet that Claudia now had the mother she had so desperately craved. They would be a family, now, and one that might last for eternity.