I spent the rest of the day with Kathy in her room, waiting and hoping for Alexander to return soon. Every hour felt longer than the last, and even though Kathy tried to distract me with stories, gossip, and childish questions, I could tell she was just as restless. The air in the room felt heavier as evening approached, as though the mansion itself was holding its breath.
Eventually, I excused myself and stepped out of Kathy's room. I walked down the hall, peeking through every window I passed to see if Alexander was back. But the yard remained quiet, and the gates stood untouched. From the silence in the pack house, I realized it was just Kathy and me left in the mansion alongside the silent servants who moved like shadows.
Lucian had left immediately after dropping me off, and he hadn't come back either. That meant Kathy would have to remain in her room until tomorrow morning.
After having dinner with Kathy in her bedroom both of us mostly eating in silence, I finally returned to my own room. I took a warm bath, letting the water soak into my skin as though it could dissolve the tightness in my chest. Then I slipped into a simple pair of pajamas, switched off the lights, and climbed into bed.
The room was quiet, too quiet.
Before I knew it, sleep had pulled me away from reality.
I drifted into a familiar environment...the warmth of home in the Green Lineage Pack. It felt so real. The familiar scent of family and friends, the distant chatter of wolves training, the comfort of my family close by. I saw my mother's gentle smile, my father's tired jokes, Jared and Kathy arguing over something stupid. It wrapped around me like a blanket, soft and safe.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel hunted. I didn't feel watched. I didn't feel like danger lurked in every corner.
I felt… at peace.
But the dream didn't last.
The warmth dissolved, replaced by an icy pull that yanked me straight out of my happiness. My stomach dropped, and my eyes snapped open.
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
I lay there for a moment, confused and bewildered. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was...the Darkblood Pack. Alexander's home. Not mine.
Not safe.
I reached out and turned on the lamp beside my bed. The soft glow filled the room, chasing away the shadows. I blinked at the clock and felt my heart sink.
1:00 a.m.
It's still midnight.
I laid back down, determined to force myself to sleep again. But sleep slipped further away the more I reached for it. I tossed to one side, then the other. I kicked my blanket off. I pulled it back on. I stared at the wall. I closed my eyes. I opened them again. Thirty minutes passed, maybe more, and I still felt wide awake.
Frustrated, I finally got up. I opened my door gently and stepped into the hallway, shivering as the cold air brushed against my skin. I closed my door quietly so it wouldn't echo. The corridor was dim, but familiar enough that I didn't feel the immediate urge to panic.
Still, I stayed close to the walls. I didn't dare walk anywhere I wasn't supposed to. The last thing I wanted was run into one of the vampires especially at this hour.
I walked slowly toward Kathy's room and opened her door a bit. She was curled up on her bed, sleeping peacefully, the blanket rising and falling gently with her breath. She looked completely untouched by the troubles that clawed at me.
I smiled faintly and closed the door again.
Then I turned toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
The air here felt colder. Heavier. I wrapped my arms around myself and continued walking. My bare feet made the softest pats against the marble floor, but I still tried to walk quieter. I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention.
The ground was almost painfully cold under my soles as I headed toward the garden. It was my first time going there alone since Kael had shown it to me the day I arrived, but somehow it felt like the only place I could breathe.
Just as I was about to enter the garden corridor, I saw someone walking in the hallway.
My breath caught, my heart lurched hard and for a split second, instinct told me to run. But I didn't. I stayed rooted in place and squinted through the dim light.
A small figure. Light steps. Dull red eyes.
The young boy.
The one I spoke to that morning.
Relief washed over me.
"Unable to sleep?" I asked when he got close enough.
He tilted his head slightly. "I should be the one asking you that question, miss."
I couldn't help smiling. "I just decided to walk a bit. Sometimes walking helps me fall asleep."
"It isn't good to wander around at night," he said softly, his voice flat but serious, "especially not in Alexander's garden."
I blinked. "I'm not supposed to go there?"
"It's not exactly forbidden… but it isn't safe either."
I frowned at that. What did he mean? Was there something else about the garden?
Before I could ask, he spoke again.
"Do you like to read books?"
I stared at him, startled by the sudden shift. Reading books wasn't really my thing. I preferred working until exhaustion took me or just relaxing with a movie. But tonight… tonight maybe reading could help distract me.
"I'll read a book," I said with a small smile. "I should probably give it a try."
He nodded once, then turned back the way he came. I quietly followed him.
"Sorry," I whispered after a moment, "but can you remind me of your name again?"
"Ezekiel," he replied.
Right. Ezekiel.
I nodded, making sure I didn't forget this time.
"What are you doing awake so late?" I asked gently.
"My duty, Miss Elena," he said simply.
He was so small, so young and yet still working at this hour. Even if he was a vampire, it felt wrong.
"Did you know Alexander would return today?" I asked quietly.
"No," he replied, "but I knew he'd come after you if he learned you left the mansion."
My breath hitched slightly. How did he know I'd left the mansion and had come after me immediately?
I didn't ask further. Ezekiel clearly wasn't the type to gossip.
He walked with a maturity far beyond his age. His posture, his steps, even his tone...it was all strange and unfitting for a child.
After a few more turns, we reached two massive double doors.
Ezekiel opened them slowly.
My lips parted instantly.
The library was enormous, far larger than I ever imagined. Floor-to-ceiling shelves stretched upward like towering trees, packed with books of every color, size, and thickness. It felt like stepping into a world made entirely of knowledge.
My voice escaped in a gasp. "It's… it's really big."
"It's Alexander's collection over the years," Ezekiel said. "Some books here are centuries old."
"He must really love reading," I murmured.
Ezekiel shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't say he loves reading. He simply keeps them for reference."
That somehow made it even more intimidating.
I moved deeper into the library, brushing my fingers along the spines of the books. Some were smooth and new, others cracked and old with faded letters.
"What would you like to read?" Ezekiel asked politely.
"I don't know," I admitted, still too awestruck to think properly.
"I'll get you something," he said and turned to leave.
"Wait." I stopped him quickly as a thought struck me.
He paused, glancing over his shoulder.
I swallowed and asked, "Do you think there are books about a place called Palgrim?"
His eyebrows lifted slightly. He looked as though he was searching his memory, then nodded once.
"There are many books like that here. I'll find one."
He disappeared between the shelves like a ghost.
A few minutes later, he returned holding a brown leather book.
"This talks about the legends of Palgrim, the witch clan."
I froze.
"The witch clan?" I whispered.
He handed me the book and nodded. "The most powerful witch clan to ever exist. The oldest witches came from Palgrim."
My breath faltered. Why was my father taken there? What connection did witches have to his condition?
"Witches don't have healing abilities… do they?" I murmured.
"Some do," Ezekiel said calmly. "It's rare, but possible. I also heard of a temple in Palgrim built with four dark magics of the world."
Four dark magics?
His voice dropped slightly. "Someone was raised from the dead in that temple centuries ago. It is… a very powerful place."
My fingers tightened around the book.
My father… was in Palgrim.
Could he truly survive there? Could he be healed?
"You seem very interested in Palgrim," Ezekiel said gently. "I'll bring you more books about it."
He walked away again, disappearing behind the shelves.
I stood there, breathing softly, my mind spinning.
Hope. Fear. Confusion.
Could my father still be alive?
All I had left… was hope.