I have resisted seeing Giovanni but am increasingly suspicious when with Balthazar. I know he keeps secrets from me. There are rooms in his house I am forbidden from entering. He tells me it is for my good that I stay out of his private chambers, but what could he guard so closely?
He caught me trying the doorknob in one of the forbidden rooms. I have never seen him so wrathful, so angry. But he could tell he frightened me and took me in his arms like a child to soothe me. His reaction worried me, so I visited my father’s friend, Giovanni.
August 20th, 1561
I sneaked out at nightfall to Giovanni’s like a common burglar. I worried that Balthazar might see me and grow suspicious. Giovanni met me at the door. He poked his head out and looked both ways as if he were cautious. Then, he ushered me into his parlor and offered me tea, letting me warm my bones before a blazing fire.
“I know why you’re here, child,” he said once the pleasantries were out. “Your father is worried. Lord Balthazar is indeed dangerous and cannot be trusted. He is not as he appears.”
“What do you mean?” I said as gooseflesh peppered my body. I rubbed my sleeves with my palms, seeking the kind of warmth that didn’t come from the sun or a fire in the hearth.
Giovanni sighed. “There is so much to tell you. The dagger that was found in your little basket when your adopted parents discovered you—it appeared at your birth. This is always the way with Timebornes.”
I frowned. “I am a Timeborne? That’s such a preposterous notion. I heard my father say this, but I thought he was crazy.”
“And yet it’s true. There are whispers in my circle that Lord Balthazar is not human—he is darkness, a blood-killing demon. I believe he is darkness and that darkness only goes after one thing—to kill Timebornes. He is as old as time. And he will hurt you, Alina, as certain as the sun rises.” Giovanni’s voice shook with emotion. “You must travel to another time where, hopefully, he can’t find you. Live your life!”
His arms swept into the air. “There are people who want to kill Lord Balthazar. He is a hunted man.”
I shivered, overtaken by the thought that someone wanted Balthazar, my beloved, dead. “Even if I believed you about this time-travel madness, I don’t know what to do! And whyshould I believe you? How do I know you and Papa aren’t conspiring against me with some fantastic tale?”
“I wish it were only a story, dear Alina.” Giovanni shook his shaggy head. “The moment your father told me he found you with the dagger, I began to study and learn. I have pored through ancient tomes and documents. Lord Balthazar is real, and he is deadly. Don’t be fooled!” His voice bounded off the high ceilings, echoing around the room.
I shot to my feet. “This whole idea is ridiculous!”
“I’m sure it seems unfathomable. But trust me, Alina, I speak the truth. Since your father came to me with that blade, I’ve studied Timebornes. You must believe me!” He pounded the side table next to his chair with his fist.
I jerked in surprise. “What would you have me do?”
“You must travel to another time and get away from this place. Start over, have a family, but most importantly, get away from Balthazar.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “You know how foolish you sound, don’t you?
Once again, Giovanni slammed his fist on the side table. “You’ve got to believe me, child! I speak the truth.”
I stared at him.
“Balthazar isn’t your only problem. There are Timehunters out there—people who want you dead,” he said.
I wrung my hands beneath my chin. “You don’t understand, Giovanni! Balthazar would never hurt me—he loves me, and I love him. I could never leave him!”
My mind flitted toward our passionate lovemaking last night, where Balthazar told me he would always love and protect me and that he was sworn to keep me safe. God, how much I love him. Just thinking about him and our passionate lovemaking is driving me mad with desire.
Now, Giovanni was telling me Balthazar was a monster. Ididn’t know who to believe, so I bolted, racing from his home and stumbling to my house in the dark of night.
To my horror, I found my family dead, lying in crimson pools. I let out a scream and crumpled next to Papa’s lifeless body in the dining room archway.
“Oh, Papa! What has happened to you?” I held his head in my lap and rocked him. But his eyes remained vacant, staring at Heaven’s gates.
Mother lay in the kitchen face down.
I sat there for the longest time, sobbing, holding my father, and willing him back to life. But his body grew cold in my arms.
I heard a disturbance in the back of the house. Numb with grief and shock, I got to my feet and stumbled through the house. Blood splattered the walls in sweeping arcs and handprints. I wanted to retch, but I had to save the rest of my family if they weren’t already dead.
I came upon my brother and two sisters, also slain. I staggered into the back bedroom, where my youngest sister slept with my now-dead middle sister. To my shock and disgust, I witnessed Balthazar plunging a knife into my youngest sister’s body.
She let out a blood-curdling scream when she saw me. “Alina! Help me!”
