didn’t think he would accept the invitation. I knew I had to choose my next words carefully.
“Look, I’m not sure yet what this is all about, but it sounds like you made a difference during the war. We don’t always have a choice in the bigger decisions that are made, but you helped save lives and reduce suffering. My job isn’t nearly as important, but I am trying to do something helpful. I am trying to ensure that good people get elected. People who will work toward fewer wars, and more opportunities for stability and prosperity.”
William shook his head. “I’m sorry, I don’t see it that way. The Council gives your candidate an advantage. I know the Laurent family; they are powerful witches who can bend people to their will. You are highly empathic and probably a little telepathic, you know what the crowd wants and you can help make sure they get it. As far as I’m concerned, you are changing the fate of another human being. Maybe he isn’t meant to be elected to office, maybe humans deserve to live with electing the wrong person.”
Now it was my turn to object. “I don’t see it that way,” I said, repeating his words to me. “Levi is a good person, I can’t make him into that. I’m not deceiving voters. I’m making sure Levi communicates to the best of his ability.”
“And what if the voters want a war monger or a racist?” William asked sharply.
“Then I can’t help them,” I said, confused about our discussion. “What is it you really object to, William? I’m not controlling the minds of voters. I am listening to them and helping Levi win by really connecting with people. Not by making up catchy slogans or sowing fears about far-off dangers that may never happen.”
“I object because I don’t think we should meddle in the lives of humans, period,” he said. “They are incapable of learning from history. They are incapable of resisting their worst urges for power. They should be left alone to their own devices.”
Our conversation had certainly hit a wall. I needed to put some distance between us. “One thing about humans you should probably remember,” I said as I reached for the car door to get out, “is that I am one, and I don’t have such a poor vision of our collective destiny as you do. So I’ll say good night. I’d say thanks for a lovely evening, but I wouldn’t want to say something trite because I think that’s what you want to hear.” I slammed his car door and turned to walk away. I was barely up the walkway when he reached me, his quick vampire reflexes giving him the advantage of speed.
“Olivia, I’m sorry,” he said. “That was a lot to drop at your feet.”
“I can see you have strong feelings about the Council,” I said. “The question is whether they are stronger than your feelings for me.”
William frowned. “I thought we were having a discussion, Olivia. Can’t I express my opinion?”
“I don’t know. Can you do it without making me feel like a carny sideshow?”
William let out a sigh. “I am sorry. Years of living alone can do that to you,” he said. “I will try to be more careful with my opinions.” He walked me the rest of the way to my door and kissed me good night.
I went inside, tossing my keys and purse on the floor. As I laid my head against the door, I wondered how it could be that after everything I had experienced recently I could still be so naïve. What did I think William had done with all of the years of his life? He had died as a soldier in America’s bloodiest conflict, and been reborn a vampire. The tattooed angel on his back made more sense now. It was astonishing to think I had been sitting in the car with someone who walked the fields of Belgium in 1916. I had a connection to the world’s history…the only problem was, he didn’t seem to have emerged with a very good opinion of the human race.
I decided I would try not to take it personally
****
CHAPTER 23
I woke up the next morning knowing I needed to hit the books if I was going to have a meaningful relationship with William. My degree was in American history, not world history, and my education felt incomplete. The man I wanted to be with had walked across the Western Front and