"Did you know," Christian said, laughing, "That vampires are actually real? I thought they were just in books, like Dracula. But no, not here... Here they have all sorts - and apparently, you're here, too. Why didn't you come to me in France? I thought I was the crazy one, after a while, with Toulouse swearing you were there with us..."
Christian carefully leaned back against the park bench, not wanting to upset the fairy with the movement -- and not certain he wouldn't slide too far to the left or right. "Fred didn't have to die," he mumbled, seeming to be talking more to himself than to the fairy. "She shouldn't have died. She was good, like..." Like Satine, fiery, beautiful, perfect Satine. "She was good," he finished, picking at the label of his wine bottle.
"What's it like to die in a fire? It must be terrible. I hope it was quick. I hope she didn't suf-- suffer." His voice broke and he dropped a hand over his eyes.