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The doorbell rings, and Master starts barking aggressively. He only barks that way when there are threats.
“Be right back. Don’t move.” Bard heads off to the foyer.
“No! Wait. Don’t open that.” I run after him just as the front door opens. Standing there is General Rool. Tall, fierce, with long dark hair and a white streak over one temple. He’s wearing black leather pants and a breastplate.
I lunge for Bard, knocking him into the wall. I fling the door shut and lock it.
“Lake, what are you doing?” Bard rights himself.
“That’s a vampire! Don’t let him in!” I point at the door.
Bard lowers my arm, taking a calm tone. “Yes, I know. And Rool is our friend. Even if Master disagrees.” Bard reaches for the door and opens it.
“I’m sorry, Rool. Lake isn’t feeling herself today. Please come in. Wait for me in the study.”
“I hope she will recover soon.” Rool flashes a fanged smile at me before going off down the hall in the direction of my grandma’s old study.
I stand there with my mouth hanging open. Master snarls until Rool is out of sight.
“What was that?” I ask Bard.
“I think you’ve been working yourself too hard again. Go rest on the couch. I need to talk to Rool, but it’ll only take a few minutes. Then I’ll get you home.” He walks away.
I press my hand over my pounding heart. “What the fuck is going on?” I whisper.
I stand there for a while, trying to process the immaculate mansion, complete with polished white marble staircase leading upstairs, a front door without peeling paint, and a dust-free chandelier hanging over the foyer.
It’s River Wall Manor, but not the dilapidated money pit I grew up in.How is this possible?I stroll down the hallway, noting the family photos on the wall. There’s a picture of me and Bard on our wedding day. Next to him are my grandma and my parents.
I look down at my hand. There’s a big rock and a wedding band.
I’m married to Bard? We’re married! He’s still alive?I start to hyperventilate and double over to catch my breath. I’m somewhere between fainting and throwing up.
“Lake, what’re you doing there, child? We have potatoes to peel. And that damned turkey won’t baste itself.” Grandma Rain’s head pops from the doorway leading to the kitchen. Her long silver hair is up in a neat bun, and she’s wearing makeup. Pink lipstick, blush, and mascara. I’ve never once seen her dolled up.
“Grandma Rain, is that you?” My heart squeezes inside my chest.
“Is there another of me?” She ducks back into the kitchen.
I walk down the hall and follow her, stopping in the doorway with my mouth flapping. The kitchen is sparkling clean with clear glass cupboard doors, marble countertops, and stainless steel appliances. This is not the pea green 1970s disaster I grew up with because we had no money.
“How are you here?” I ask.
“I live here. Remember?”
“So I don’t live here?”
“You and Bardolf live in the house down the hill. What the devil happened to you?”
“Um…I…uh… There’s a vampire in your study.”
She throws down her towel on the counter. “Are those pesky Skins causing problems again? They keep gettin’ into the chicken coop. You’d think we wouldn’t have any left with all the shenanigans they get into.”
I swallow hard. “We have…Skins? Here?”
“Now, don’t start with me, Lake. I know you don’t like them, but they’re important to the work. And it’s Thanksgiving. We promised to leave the politics outside. Your mom and dad will be here in an hour, and we can’t let them see us fighting again.”
My eyes tear up. “They’re alive?”
