AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I trace the lines of the family tree through the generations, one after another. The ink becomes newer, transitioning from iron sulfates to pigmented dye.
Evan Sinclair: son of Alonzo Sinclair
Clio Sinclair: Daughter of Alonzo Sinclair
The space where our mother’s name should go is empty, and my name appears nowhere on the registrar. Has it not been updated since my birth? Or maybe I’m not a dhampir. The book says that, over time, they lose the abilities their forefathers were granted at birth. I know I don’t have any kind of super strength or hearing, but I’ve never known Clio or Evan to portray any of those attributes either.
What does this mean?
Sighing, I set the book aside and go to find another one that caught my eye. It isn’t as old, but it’s still ancient.
Vrajitoarele românesti: O mostenire.
Romanian Witches: A legacy.
Didn’t Asher tell me that my mother’s family comes from a line of ancient Romani witches before they migrated to Ireland? The problem is that I have no way of knowing who her family is. I don’t even know her maiden name.
As I delicately open the worn book, my fingers trace over the pages with a sense of urgency and longing. My eyes hungrily devour every word and detail, searching for any clue or insight into my mother’s mysterious lineage. But all I find are dry facts and unemotional accounts from an outsider’s perspective. It’s as if the book is trying to hide its secrets, protecting them from prying eyes.
With a heavy sigh, I pause to admire the pressed flowers that have been carefully tucked between one of the pages. The delicate petals are a mix of periwinkle and myrtle, still retaining their vibrant color, despite being pressed within the last thirty years. Each petal shows signs of aging, a slight curl here, a faded edge there. With careful observation, one can estimate how long they’ve been preserved.
Suddenly, a sharp jolt runs through me, making me shudder.
As I gently stroke the flower petals, a name flashes in my mind like a bolt of lightning, sparking my curiosity and sending chills down my spine.
Talyssa Petrea.
Flipping through the pages with renewed determination, I come across her image, and my breath catches in my throat. She bears an uncanny resemblance to me, with her round eyes, high cheekbones, and sloping nose. It’s almost as if I’m looking at a mirror image or a long-lost twin. The connection between us is undeniable.
Despite scouring every page dedicated to Talyssa Petrea in the book, I find little information about her aside from her affiliation with Clan Petrea. Yet somehow, she feels familiar to me as I run my fingers over her likeness. Who is she? A distant ancestor? And why does her name hold such weight in my mind when I’ve never heard it before?
My thoughts turn to tracking my lineage through an ancestry database, but obtaining a DNA testing kit will be a challenge. Money is not an issue, thanks to my memorized credit card number, but getting past the three imposing Kings may prove to be impossible.
But I’m determined to uncover the truth and unlock the secrets that lie within my heritage.
“There you are.” Miriam’s pleasant voice scatters my concentration, and I shut the book on my lap, my ears heating. It’s like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Except I honestly haven’t done anything wrong. It just feels like I have. “It’s half past lunch. I thought you would be hungry.”
Sighing, I set the book down on the table beside the chair and shrug a shoulder somewhat listlessly. Hunger really hasn’t been something I’ve been feeling over the last few days. Not because the Kings are nowhere to be found, but because the walls are starting to close in around me. I asked Miriam the day before yesterday if I could go outside, but she clucked her tongue and said she would have to get permission.
As if there’s anywhere for me to run.
Their mansion is more fortified than Fort Knox, I’d imagine. I don’t see them all that often, but I know there are vampires roaming the premises. Most people would have more security, but one vampire is equal to a full security team. I’ve seen five so far. The Kings have an army. That’s how deadly one vampire is, let alone five.
“I got permission for you to eat out on the terrace today.” She beams at me. “They’ve also given you an hour to spend outside each day when it’s nice out.”
“Oh, a whole hour…” I drawl. “Lucky me.” Do I want the time outside? Yes. It’s the fact that she makes it sound like I should be grateful for the basic human necessity. Humans need sunshine and fresh air, or we go mad.
“You should be thankful they gave you any at all,” she practically huffs. I narrow my eyes at her, crossing my arms against my chest. The Miriam I met in the kitchen that first morning has been conspicuously absent. The woman before me is more agitated than she is kind and more frustrated than compassionate. It almost seemed as if she wanted to be friends, like maybe I had an ally, and now…well, over the last few days, she’s been more like her brooding vampire bosses. I miss the old Miriam. This one sucks.
“And you should remember that I’m a prisoner in this house,” I snap, my lips twisting in a sneer. “Not a guest. They took me for a debt. Not because they wanted me. The only thing I will be thankful for is when your bosses let me go back home.” Her eyes round at my choleric temper. There’s a flash of hurt in her eyes, but I don’t care. I’m done with everyone in this fucking household.
“You’ve barely acknowledged me over the last few days, and now you suddenly want to play nice?” Spinning around, I grab the books from the table and turn to face her again. “Keep your fucking lunch on the terrace. I’m not hungry.”
With my chin held high, I storm past her and make my way back to the quiet of my tower. Wetness clings to my lashes, but I don’t let the tears fall. It’s been years since I’ve cried in anything other than pain, and I won’t start now.
Then again, this is pain. It’s just a different kind of pain. And this pain? It’s worse than the blows my father’s men dealt me a thousand times over. It’s the pain of loneliness and realizing I have no one on my side.
Once again, it’s just me, myself, and I.
