“Yes, and no. I don’t know. I think it comes from America. But it’s something. There are two sound threads, one for humans and a lower one, one only for us. But you’ll be able to hear it. Listen to it. Listen to it and maybe you’ll come to understand us.” He showed Derek the charger. He took it and plugged it in behind the little refrigerator. “Of course if or when he finds out you have it, he’ll take it away.”

“And you’ll be in grave trouble for giving it to me.”

“I don’t care about that,” said Arion. “I may be gone by then. I don’t know. It is a canker in me that you’re imprisoned here. But I cannot sin against my host.” He stood by the refrigerator with his hands in his pockets. He was staring off again. He did not like eye contact. “I feel so sorry for you,” he said. “It’s full of music. Just listen to the music if you want to. I couldn’t bear to think of you down here, all alone, and like this.”

There were sounds above.

“Shut it off, and hide it,” whispered Arion. “And make it work after we are asleep. I must go.”

In less than an hour the great house had become a tomb. The mortal servants would not come till late afternoon, and they never ventured down the stairs. The city of Budapest roared with the world of daytime.

Derek played with the iPod. It was not so complicated at all. And in no time he’d found the broadcast archive and found himself fascinated to hear the unnatural voice of a blood drinker addressing the whole wide world under cover of music at a decibel level humans couldn’t possibly hear. Now that was marvelously clever. He lay back on his bed listening.

“Benji Mahmoud here from New York this New Year’s Eve, beloved brothers and sisters in the Blood—to report that all is well at the great Court in France, to which all are welcome. And to let you know that our beloved Prince has now officially turned the night-by-night governance of the tribe over to the Council of Elders, who will soon be drawing up for us our own constitution and laws. In the meantime, those who wish to be in the good graces of the Court know how to conduct themselves. No more arguments, quarrels, pitched battles. No more feeding on the innocent. Brothers and Sisters, remember, as I say so often, we are no longer parentless!”