The Code of the Vampires decreed that anyone who violated the Sacred Law was condemned to death, the blood burning. Charles had refused to subject Allegra to the sentence. But Mimi was a different matter. Mimi walked out of the church, knowing that if she ever saw Jack again, she would have to kill him.

Not that they were there to have fun—although with Kingsley Martin around, fun was never far from the agenda.

Instead of fearing the future, I should live and enjoy the present, she told herself.

He kissed her, and their souls melted into each other in a melody older than time.

I still love you. I will always love you, and that is all that matters. I will forgive you anything, and I will forgive you this.

School was more than academics; an education prepared you for the humdrum of real life: working with others, tempering one's personality to assimilate with the group but without losing your individual identity, understading the factors of logic, reasoning, and debate. For a person - vampire or human - to succeed in the world, unlocking the mysteries of the universe was insufficient. One would also need to grasp the mysteries of human nature.

we laughed until we had to cry, we loved until we said goodbye.