– Is that all? – I asked.

– You are arrogant and selfish. I can't stand it. You look at me contemptuously like a cockroach, you make me feel insignificant and stupid. You don't have a shred of humanity in you! All you're filled with is contempt for people!

– I had a better opinion of you," I said with a scornful grin. – And you turned out to be a common coward.

– I'd rather be a coward than a monster like you!

Her words took my breath away.

Viper looked me straight in the eye, and I suddenly thought she knew who I was, knew my secret.

– Monstro in frontum, monstro in anima. But you hide your true face behind a pretty shell and deceive people," Viper said quietly. Without knowing it, she'd revealed my true nature.

She was absolutely right: I was a monster.

– I thought you'd be braver, but I guess I was wrong, because you act so stupid the first time you fight," I said grimly.

– I thought you were better than what you turned out to be," Viper said bitterly. Her face went pale. – And maybe I'm not as smart as you, but I don't deserve your insults," she whispered, her head lowered.

Realising how much my harsh words and my behaviour had hurt Viper, I felt a mental discomfort.

Viper looked up at me, and I saw again the same pain that had been in her eyes the moment I'd hurt her. In that second I realised how wrong I had been about her, thinking she was weak of spirit and afraid to fight. I could feel it now: her airy soul could not bear the insults with which I had wounded her quite undeservedly. It was my fault, and I did not wish to transfer it to the fragile shoulders of this mortal girl. I know how to admit my mistakes. I was overcome with regret and shame for my mistakes. And for once, vampire pride didn't drown out the voice of reason.

– I'm sorry," I said, surprised at myself.

Viper's eyes flashed with genuine surprise.

– I do love Baudelaire's work, and I often reread it so that I don't forget it in my memory," I said hastily.

– What do you like his poetry? I wanted to know just that, and you took my question that way! – Viper said quietly, frowning slightly.

– 'He was writing the truth. As you said, there is darkness in his poems, although, no, they are just soaked in it, but this darkness does not repel, on the contrary – it envelops the mind with beauty, melancholy and majesty. Reading Baudelaire, I involuntarily think about the frailty of the world and what beauty is hidden where people are not destined to see it, because they are blind and do not want to see the beauty.

Why am I saying all this? To earn Viper's favour? A mortal?

What a shame.

– And to hear that, I had to listen to your insults first? – she asked sadly.

– I apologise to you for my unimaginative and undignified behaviour," I apologised again.

How many times do I have to repeat those words to her? And how many more times would I have to repeat them before Viper would forgive me? Why am I so eager for her forgiveness?

– What did I do to make you so angry? – the girl asked

– I don't know. I must have been in a bad mood," I said.

It was true. I didn't know the answer to that question myself.

– So you're very hot-tempered? But what makes you think you're allowed to take it out on people around you?

– I can control my emotions.

God, what am I doing? I'm persuading a mortal girl not to refuse to study with me!

– Is that why you were rude to Julia?

Oh, shit. How clever of her to catch me!

– You made the exchange behind my back. You have to admit, it's not very nice to be exchanged like a thing," I rebuked her in turn.

Viper suddenly blushed and lowered her gaze to the floor.

– Yes… That was not nice of me," she said quietly.

– Next time, if there are any contradictions between us, we will solve them immediately and without interference from outsiders, – I said insistently.

– Next time? You think we can study together? – Viper was surprised.

– Why not?

– If only because you can't keep your temper to yourself.

– I thought I said I was capable of self-control? – I asked calmly and a little mockingly.

– Yes, I heard you. But can you guarantee that you won't insult me again and look at me with that contemptuous look?

– I… promise to keep my temper in check. – I barely got that promise out of me, the first time I'd ever promised something to a man and apologised to him twice before.

– Then I agree to continue our lessons.

You do? Like I asked her to do that?

– While we're at it, let me ask you, what other poets do you prefer? – As if seizing the opportunity, Viper suddenly asked.