Our horses’ hooves tore through the soft earth as we made our way to the manor. The darkened sky mourned above. A heavy veil of gray smothered the sun. My mouth fell open at the carnage spread across the perfectly manicured lawn. Black spots marred the green where fires once burned. Stone laid in crumbled heaps. Gaping maws scattered about the walls, scarred from explosions. Bodies were piled up, one pile covered in white linen, the other left exposed to rot. My breath caught at the horrid gesture, made worse by all that I knew now.
As we entered the manor’s main hall, staff rushed about weaving through one another, some covered in blood. Shards of reflective glass coated the marble floors from mirrors thrown to the floor, leaving behind empty, gilded frames. Through the glass doors leading to the back of the manor, rows upon rows of injured members stretched out along the open expanse of grass. As I took in the sight, all I had once kept hidden clawed its way to the surface, setting free an unbearable anger, a pain I hoped to never feel again.
Alaric had said that some people will create their own war to be able to possess control.
My father did this.
All the lives taken, an immeasurable loss.
Though Alaric may have been the devil, Father had let him in.
“Charlotte!” Olivia’s voice broke through the roaring in my ears.
I whirled around, breathing a sigh of relief at seeing her unharmed.
“I was so worried about you,” she cried, pausing abruptly as she took in the sight of Sebastian and me both covered in blood.
“I’m alright, Olivia.”
She crashed into me, squeezing tightly.
“We’re all alright,” I whispered, more so trying to convince myself.
Over her shoulder I spotted Mother, her cold mask barely in place, rattled by her evident shock. Father walked in behind her. Violet half-moons sat beneath his eyes, his face hollow with a sallow tinge. I had barely seen him in the last few months. Given his recent correspondence with Alaric, he had known this attack was coming.
I had always viewed my father as a hard-working man. One who was in control, and I viewed that control as safety. He kept me safe. He kept Kilthorne safe. Although he was not always present in my life because he was so busy, he was kind to me. He never made me feel unwanted like Mother. I had always felt his love.
And I nearly fell into the earth as I realized I hadn’t ever known his love. And he was never safe. He tied my life to a demon.
“Did you know it was Alaric?” His name left a bitter taste on my tongue. My soul pulsed with a fresh ache.
Olivia broke away from our hug, stepping back, looking at me with confusion. I kept my eyes on Father, who only stared back blankly.
“Did you know it was Alaric who was haunting me all this time?”
He didn’t answer.
“Did you know the vampires are capable of illusions?”
Nothing.
“Did you know the exorcisms were killing me?”
His silence answered everything. I knew I could fall apart then. I knew how to break.
“Were you hoping for it? My death would tie up a loose end.”
“Arthur, what is she talking about?”
I had never expected to feel relief at Mother’s tight voice. By the look on her face, it was clear she didn’t know.
“Father,” Olivia urged, her voice wavering with the beginnings of a sob.
My anger evolved, surging beneath me. Once seeking any semblance of guilt, now out for blood.
“Did you know Sebastian is the Prince of Svealin?”
His eyes sparked with fury, and I smiled. He didn’t know. I also smiled at the reveal of his deadened expression, no longer needing to hide the monster within.
