Dark Heritage Trilogy

by Hoffman, Samantha

  You don’t know if she has a reason to not like half-demons, I reminded myself. For all you know, her family could have been massacred by one. Or maybe she was attacked by one. You’re judging her just like she’s judging Ezra—without knowing her.

  I dug into my food to keep from thinking about Beth’s reaction to meeting Ezra. While I ate, the others tried to bring Beth into their conversation by making small talk with her. She gave them short, quiet answers, but didn’t seem like she was interested in speaking to any of them any time soon.

  As I stabbed the last of the salad in my bowl, my thoughts drifted back to Annie. I could picture her clearly in my mind. Right now, she was probably standing in front of the Council, being judged for her powers like I always was. I wondered what was so important that they would call Annie to them when she had far more important things to be doing, like helping me find Tabitha’s spirit.

  “What do we do with our trays when we’re finished eating?” Beth asked, staring down at her only half-empty tray. Looking at her, I assumed her nerves were eating her alive right now, and it wasn’t a surprise that she hadn’t been able to finish it all.

  “We take our trays back up to the counter and hand them off to be washed. Come on, I’ll show you around some more. We’ve still got some places to see.”

  Beth got up and silently followed me to the counter, and I handed my tray off to the lady there. She was an older woman, and she always smiled at me when I handed my tray over to her. A smile was such a small thing, but when everyone thought I was a monster that should have been put down long ago…it was enough to brighten my whole afternoon.

  “Got a new friend?” she asked.

  I nodded. “She’s gonna be studying with me and Annie from now on.”

  The woman peered over the edge of the counter at Beth, who squirmed under the woman’s gaze. “How long are you here for Sweetheart?”

  “Forever,” Beth mumbled.

  “She’s in a similar boat as me,” I said. “She’ll be here for awhile.”

  The woman’s eyes softened. “I’m very sorry to hear that. When I was turned nearly eighty years ago, I was sentenced to this place, too. I spent almost a decade shut away behind these walls, so I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. People aren’t too fond of vampires, either. If you ever need someone to talk to, you come and find me, and I’ll help you in any way I can. Okay?”

  Beth nodded, looking miserable and upset. “Well, we have to get going,” I said regretfully. Now I wanted to get to know this woman’s story and learn all about her, but I knew we didn’t have time to linger around. Soon Annie would be done with her Council meeting, and I’d have to get back to work. Beth started for the door, and as I turned to follow her, the woman stopped me.

  “Show her the library,” the vampire suggested warmly. “I think she’d like that. All of those books about supernatural beings might cheer her up a little.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “Let her see that not all supernaturals have done evil things with their gifts. You know, some of the purest good our people have to offer has come from the most evil. Find some positive examples to show her. Let her see that we’re as good and human as everyone else on this planet.”

  I decided to ignore her comment about good coming from evil since I was positive that it was aimed directly at me. “You really think we are?” I asked, surprised. This woman had sustained herself on the blood of others for nearly eighty years. Even though she looked like someone’s great-grandmother, I had no doubts she could tear a person’s throat open in a heartbeat. Hell, she was probably as much an animal as Finn or any shapeshifter.

  “I know we are. If we weren’t, we would have all destroyed one another long ago. Instead, we’ve banded together over the centuries for survival, just like humans have. We’re really not that different at our core.”

  “If you say so,” I said, frowning.

  By looking at her face, I could tell she knew I was doubting her. “You’ll learn that someday. My offer extends to you as well. If you ever want to talk, come and find me. I always listen to those who need to vent.”

  “Thank you.”

  I hurried after Beth, and found her waiting for me out in the hallway. As I joined her, she looked up at me. “Everyone here hates me, don’t they?”

  “Most of them do,” I admitted. “But that’s because they don’t know you, and people tend to be scared of what they don’t understand. Once they see that you’re capable of good, they’ll start to be more accepting.”

  She looked down at her feet, refusing to meet my eyes. “What if I’m not capable of being good?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “My parents weren’t capable of good. They were trying to do horrible things…things they wanted to teach me and my brother. When I look inside myself, all I see is darkness, and it scares me. What if I end up like them?”

  “Beth, I’m not going to lie or sugarcoat anything for you, because that’s obviously not what you need right now. What I will tell you is this. We all have darkness inside of us. I know I do. I’ve been hurt, and abused, and I’ve known the darkness inside of me. It will always be there, hidden away inside of me. But you know what?”

  “What?”

  “I’ll always be here to fight it. I’ll never let it get the best of me. I’ll keep it locked away where it can’t harm anyone. And you have to do the same. It’s hard, but it’s the right thing to do. And with time, it gets a little easier.”

  She looked like she didn’t believe me, but she nodded her head, and I knew she would do a lot of thinking and soul searching in the next few days. I hoped she made the right choice and didn’t end up like her parents, but I knew it was a very real possibility. She had lost the people she loved most, and that would burden her heart for a very long time. And I knew better than anyone that pain like that made giving in to evil easier.

  “They’re sending her after my brother,” Beth said quietly, interrupting my thoughts.

  I whipped my head around to stare at her. “What did you say?”

  “The Council. They burned my house to the ground, and my mom and dad stayed behind to fight, hoping to give us a chance to escape with our lives. In the woods, my brother and I got separated from each other. We were supposed to meet up somewhere, but the Council captured me and brought me back here for punishment before I got the chance to contact him. He’s still out there though, and they think he’s dangerous.”

  “How old is he?”

  “He just turned nineteen. But he’s harmless. We’re not…like our parents.”

  I glanced down at her. “I know what that’s like. I’m not like my family, either. Well, except for my mom. I’m a lot like her I think.”

  “But people here treat you like you’re evil.”

  I nodded. “Yep, and unfortunately, they’ll do the same to you until you prove yourself. You just have to learn to ignore it and move on with your life. What they say about you doesn’t matter in the end. It’s what you think of yourself that matters.”

  Beth smiled. “Thanks, Ronnie.”

  I put my arm around her shoulder. “You’re welcome. Now come on, let’s go find the library. There are some really interesting books in there that I think you might like. Have you ever read anything about witches?”

  She shook her head, but the smile remained on her face. “No. Are they interesting?”

  “Very. They can do pretty much anything they want as long as they have the right spell, or the right ingredients for their potions.”

  Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “They don’t actually use toads for their potions, do they?”

  I nodded my head. “Yeah, they do. Dead toads. I’m not sure if being dead makes it better or worse though. It’s more humane, but the smell of rotting toads is awful and it stinks up the witch’s hallway.”

  Beth giggled, sounding like her true age for the first time since I had met her. “Eww, gross. I won’t have to touch one, will I?�
��

  “No. In fact, I highly recommend staying away from a witch’s ingredients, or she’d likely turn you into a toad as punishment!”

  Beth and I laughed all the way to the library, earning a glare from the shapeshifter at the front desk. The look on her face just made us giggle even more.

  *****

  Beth and I were looking over a book about witches in New England during the time of the Salem Witch trials when Annie found us. I noticed she hung back for a few minutes, watching us with a blank expression on her face. I would have thought she would be happy to see Beth looking much less depressed than she had been earlier, but then I realized it meant she must have gotten terrible news from the Council.

  I beckoned for her to join us, and she made her way over to where we sat, weaving through the empty tables. “Ronnie, I need to speak with you for a minute. It’s important.”

  “I’ll be right back,” I told Beth. She didn’t look up from the book, but I heard her quiet sigh. Annie led me far enough away from our table that Beth wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation. “What did the Council want with you?” I asked.

  “They want to send me after Cory, Beth’s brother. He’s apparently learned of his parent’s deaths, and the Council is worried that he’s going to do something stupid. We have to find him and bring him here before he hurts himself, or someone else. If he hurts anyone, the Council will have no choice but to deal with him like they did his parents.”

  “You mean they’ll have no choice but to kill him,” I said flatly.

  Annie nodded, even though it hadn’t been a question. “I don’t want to see that happen, Ronnie. I want him to come back here and do his time so he can go out there in a few years and live his life. If I go with the search party, there’s a good chance this will have a semi-happy ending. I could save his life, and Beth could be reunited with her brother. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

  “But what about Tabitha’s spirit? She was here, Annie! Did you tell the Council about that?”

  “Yes, I told them. The Council and I agree that this business with Beth’s family couldn’t have come at a worse time for us, but we have to get this over with. We can’t afford to wait and risk Cory or Beth turning into another Andrew and Tabitha. God knows what might happen if Cory joined up with Tabitha! I have to go, Ronnie. I’m sorry.”

  I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. I could feel a headache fast approaching due to all of the stress. “I know. I get it, Annie. Really, I do. I just wish you didn’t have to leave me here alone.”

  “Marcel and I both have faith in you. You can do this. You just have to trust your instincts, and everything will work out in the end. You’ll see.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “I’m not sure. We know his general location, but we’re having trouble locking onto him directly. It could be a couple of days, or it could be a couple of weeks. We’ll have to wait and see as we go. I’m leaving right now. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can come back and help you if you haven’t found her. I just wanted you to know that I’m not worried. You’ve got this under control. Just don’t over think things. Lean on your friends for support as much as you can. I’m sure they’d love to help you.”

  I nodded. Annie is right. I can do this. There’s nobody here better equipped to find Tabitha than me. I’m the one that had the connection to her when she was alive, and I’m the one that still has the connection to her, even in death. “You’re right. I’ve got this. Now go. And help Cory straighten himself out so Beth doesn’t lose the last of her family. I don’t know what she’d do without him.”

  Annie’s eyes shifted over to the young girl reading behind us just out of earshot. “You think she’s dangerous?”

  “Potentially.” I shrugged my shoulders though like I didn’t really consider it. “Aren’t we all? I think she’s in a bad place right now, and there’s no telling what she could do…but I think she’ll be okay. She and I had a little talk earlier, and I think it did her a lot of good. But I’ll keep an eye on her while you’re gone.”

  Annie handed me a slip of paper with a phone number on it. “This is the number where you can reach me while I’m gone. If you need me for anything, let me know, and I’ll help in any way I can.” She hugged me quickly, just like a friend or even a sister would do. Then, without another word, she left the library and took a right, heading down the hall and out of sight.

  “Be careful, Annie.”

  “She’ll be okay,” Beth said, startling me.

  She was turned around in her chair, watching me intently. “How much of that did you hear?”

  She frowned and her eyes narrowed, like she was angry that I would accuse her of eavesdropping. “None of it. But I know where she’s going. Remember, I was the one who told you they were going to send her after my brother. I’m not stupid.”

  “You know, they’re not going to hurt him. They just want to bring him back here so they can keep an eye on him.”

  “They’re worried we’ll turn out like our parents,” Beth said, turning her back to me again.

  I walked up beside her. “Beth, what did your parents do?”

  She sighed. “They were always unhappy at being treated the way they were. They wanted respect, even if they had to hurt people to get it. A few months ago, your dad approached them with an offer.”

  I froze. My grip on the back of Beth’s chair tightened until my knuckles were all white. “My dad?” My voice was soft and hesitant, as if I didn’t want to believe what she was going to say next.

  She nodded her head, but didn’t look up at me. “Andrew visited us quite a few times. He told my parents he had a plan to take over the world, and if it worked, we would be in charge. People would finally respect us and treat us like we deserved. My parents were excited about it, but Cory demanded they keep him and me out of it.”

  “He was trying to protect you,” I said. “He knew that if Andrew’s plan didn’t work, he and anyone involved would be hanged for their crimes. Cory didn’t want you to suffer that fate.”

  She nodded her head again. “I know. So while they were planning their takeover of the world, I was left to play with Andrew’s daughter.”

  “You know Tabitha?”

  “I was really excited to meet her. She was the first necromancer I met that wasn’t family. I wanted to see what she knew. I wanted to be her friend, but she was always so cold and quiet. I knew she didn’t like me.”

  “Tabitha didn’t like anyone.”

  “She’s your half-sister, right? Did you know her?”

  “Not as well as I would have liked. I didn’t even know about Tabitha until recently, and by the time I got to meet her, she was already half-crazed and dangerous. She tried to let me in, but I wanted no part of her plans, and to her, that was like the ultimate betrayal. She saw me as the enemy, as someone to be destroyed.”

  “Was it hard? Killing her? I mean, I know it’s not easy to just kill someone. I’m not stupid. I just meant—”

  “I know what you meant,” I said quietly. “And yes, it was very hard. I kept wanting her to magically come to her senses. I kept seeing her as this scared, young girl that was lost and confused. I had to remind myself that she was evil, and that she had made her choices. But, even though I knew it was the right thing to do, it was still the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I had a connection with her. And more than that, I understood how she felt.”

  “Did you?”

  “I lost my mom when I was a little girl. I know what that kind of pain feels like. But it isn’t and never will be an excuse to be an evil, psychotic bitch.” I closed the book firmly. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room. It’ll be near mine and Annie’s, since we’re the only necromancers here right now. We’ve got the hall to ourselves. Nice and quiet.”

  Beth and I walked in total silence. I assumed she was busy thinking about her brother, and about what I had just told her. I didn’t want to interrupt her in case she came to the decis
ion that she would do anything to avoid ending up like Tabitha. I really hoped Beth chose to be good, because I was starting to like this girl, and I didn’t ever want to consider what I might have to do if she went astray. I had enough blood on my hands to last me all of eternity.

  I refused to add to it.

  “Here we are,” I said, stopping in front of the room beside mine. “I’m right next door. And when Annie comes back, she’ll be right across the hall from me. If you need anything, just knock and let me know.”

  “I don’t want to bother you.”

  “You won’t,” I assured her. “It’s okay to admit you need help with something. I’ve been where you are. We have to stick together, Beth.”

  She nodded her head. “Thank you for being so nice to me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I left her standing in front of her door, and I slipped into my room, not bothering to turn on the light. I could feel the headache about to hit me, and I didn’t want to risk any bright lights agitating it and making it worse. It was just bright enough for me to make out Two Socks’ sleeping form curled up on my pillow.

  Hopefully this nap will nip that headache in the bud and keep it from becoming a problem.

  I slid into bed, laying my head on the pillow next to Two Socks’ face. He opened his amber-colored eyes and stared at me. I could tell he wasn’t happy at being woken up, and I rubbed his head, hoping to appease him. I shifted onto my back and listened to Two Socks purr as I tried to clear my mind. I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep any time soon if I couldn’t stop thinking about Tabitha.

  Two Socks began to growl, and when I looked over at him, I noticed that his back was arched and his tail was puffed up to over twice its normal size. His nails dug into my pillow and when he opened his mouth, the yowl that came from deep within his chest was terrifying. I had never in my life heard him make that noise before, not even when he and Finn got into their occasional growling matches.