-consciousness.

"the one time i'm entirely glad that i'm a vampire and have money to burn is when i travel."

matthew stopped behind a range rover the size of connecticut and fished a set of keys out of his pocket. he opened the back door, stowing my bags inside. the range rover was slightly less deluxe than his jaguar, but what it lacked in elegance it more than made up for in heft. it was like traveling in an armored personnel carrier.

"do you real y need this much car to drive in france?" i eyed the smooth roads.

matthew laughed. "you haven't seen my mother's house yet."

we drove west through beautiful countryside, studded here and there with grand chateaus and steep mountains.

fields and vineyards stretched in al directions, and even under the steely sky the land seemed to blaze with the color of turning leaves. a sign indicated the direction of clermont-ferrand. that couldn't be a coincidence, in spite of the different spel ing.

matthew kept heading west. he slowed, turned down a narrow road, and pul ed to the side. he pointed off to the distance. "there," he said. "sept-tours."

in the center of rol ing hil s was a flattened peak dominated by a crenel ated hulk of buff and rose stone.

seven smal er towers surrounded it, and a turreted gatehouse stood guard in front. this was not a pretty, fairy- tale castle made for moonlit bal s. sept-tours was a fortress.

"that's home?" i gasped.

"that's home." matthew took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. "maman? we're almost there."

something was said on the other end, and the line went dead. matthew smiled tightly and pul ed back onto the road.

"she's expecting us?" i asked, just managing to keep the tremor out of my voice.

"she is."

"and this is al right with her?" i didn't ask the real question- are you sure it's okay that you're bringing a witch home? -but didn't need to.

matthew's eyes remained fixed on the road. "ysabeau doesn't like surprises as much as i do," he said lightly, turning on to something that looked like a goat track.

we drove between rows of chestnut trees, climbing until we reached sept-tours. matthew steered the car between two of the seven towers and through to a paved courtyard in front of the entrance to the central structure. parterres and gardens peeked out to the right and left, before the forest took over. the vampire parked the car.

"ready?" he asked with a bright smile.

"as i'l ever be," i replied warily.

matthew opened my car door and helped me down.

pul ing at my black jacket, i looked up at the chateau's imposing stone façade. the forbidding lines of the castle were nothing compared to what awaited me inside. the door swung open.

"courage," matthew said, kissing me gently on the cheek.