Chapter 39
Michael began:
“It is known among vampires that I am old; the oldest living vampire. But I am far older than anyone realizes. I am the progeny of one of the first vampires; that is, the first of the genetic mutants that evolved from humans.
“Yes…we are descended from humans. Vampires like to believe we are a separate branch of evolution. Humans believe that even more strongly. We are superior beings, or we are monsters: in any case, we are different.
“But that isn’t the whole truth. Long ago, we split from the human line and became a separate species, yet we are still more human than not. When we bite humans, we genetically alter them—those who survive. Most do not.
“It is our genetics that make us vulnerable to sunlight, that make us immortal and powerful and swift.
“It i
