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“Liar.” She grins.
“Why are they only leaving now? What’s taken so long?”
“Julian held the dinner for the Council and informed them what happened. A few of them offered to not only go with them, but also call in their security that has been waiting nearby.”
“Some of the Council are still here?”
She shakes her head. “No. He sent everyone away. He wasn’t about to leave the manor with you and a house full of ancient vampires here alone,” she smirks. “His words.”
A real smile spreads across my face. Despite his anger, he’s still always looking out for me. Yet another reason I love Julian Bellamy.
I sigh in relief at the knowledge they aren’t alone. Indisputably, more ancients tagging along can only work to their benefit.
“Maybe whatever’s in that box can help them,” Addy remarks, still trying to coax me into opening it.
I chew on my cheek for several minutes, thinking it through, and come to the conclusion that she’s right. Whatever is in this box was important enough for the late Crown to pass it along to Count Dupré in case.
“All right, let’s do it.”
She squeaks, sitting cross-legged on the bed, getting comfortable.
I place the key in the hole. It fits like a glove.
Inhale.
Exhale.
I turn the key and lift the lid. There at the bottom is one leather-bound journal.Just like the count said.
Picking it up, I turn it in my hand only to see a simple inscription:Darius Bellamy.
“That was Julian’s father’s name. Dreadful man, but in his own way, he did love those boys.”
Julian has said very little about his father. But what he has said was not favorable. I turn to the first page and begin to read.
October 31, 2000
I met with Madame Shante and Yvette to discuss my findings. Shante fell ill and Yvette stayed to impart their research on the familiar legend. According to the elders of their coven, the unity will be complete only when all three heirs consume the blood of their familiars and their familiars consume their blood. When that occurs, there will be peace among humans and vampires. The Crown will have absolute wisdom and power bestowed to him. His familiar will share in these powers, helping to strengthen and maintain the binding for eternity. Yvette believes the twins I found in Ohio are Julian’s and Law’s familiars. However, the third triplet was lost at birth. When she attempted to summon the ghost of the child, she was met with blackness and fire, a magic more powerful than her own. She claimed it was impossible. I think she’s hiding something. Even without the third triplet, the two can bind their blood with my sons and their powers will be amplified. I must go to Ohio and bring them here to Bellamy Manor before anyone else learns of their existence.
“Well, if anyone questioned whether you were Julian’s familiar, I guess we have our answer.” She purses her lips. “But why the fuss? I don’t mean to be insensitive, Marina, but the legend can’t be complete without the third.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know,” I groan. “There are hundreds of pages in this journal and if everything rides on all three of us, I’m not sure there’s much more to learn.”
“And that’s exactly why I think we should put it back for tonight and do something else.”
“I thought you wanted to help Julian.”
“I wanted to see what was in the box,” she says with a shrug, and I hit her shoulder with my pillow. “There’s nothing we can do to help Julian tonight. They’re already gone, and you know he’s not taking a traceable phone with him.”
“Then what do you propose we do? I won’t be able to sleep until they’re back.”
“Let’s go see what my father knows. There’s something he isn’t saying, and if anyone can get it out of him, it’s me.”
As much as I don’t like the idea of being anywhere near Count Dupré, Addy might be on to something. I said I was going to figure out this familiar legend and he might just be the key.
“I’m in.”
Chapter Twenty
