Chapter 98.

Chapter 98.
Adrian.
Night...

It’s midnight, when I walk through the doors of the castle. Holt takes my coat, as I walk further inside. 

“Where’s Lady Bran?” I ask curtly, as I head towards my office.

Some work related matters, need my immediate attention. But because of this summons from the Vampires’ conclave, I was unable to attend to them early.

“She’s in the library, Sir. She’s being there for hours. Asked us to keep sending her coffee.”

“Library?” I ask, perplexed.

I’m already turning away from the office and heading in the direction of the library. 

“Holt, just call Cassius and ask him to hold those matters until tomorrow.” 

I march briskly, wondering what Andria is up to. I enter the library and my senses suddenly tingle in alarm. I ignore the tingling and I venture further into the library. My eyes searching for her. When I don’t find her in the main library, I grow alarmed and march briskly to my secret chamber. 

The first shock that greets me is that my wife is inside the chamber, buried in books, photos and papers. And that painting; the only one that still has my face, glares aggressively at me. My mouth instantly dries, as I slowly understand the scene before me. Dread finds me fast. 

“Who are you?” 

Her voice doesn’t have the usual calm and sweetness. This time it has fear and wariness. She’s frightened and bewildered. I attempt to speak, but it seems my throat has lost all function.

“The other day, I found a magazine clipping of your look alike in our school’s library…” 

“Have you been looking at pictures of me?” I ask, frowning.

She looks aghast.

“No. I needed to do an assignment and I was referred to those clippings and that’s how I found an Adrian Trinidad, in 1925. Here in the same castle with a Julius Kinsley.” She utters. 

I school my emotions, but her words sting every passing moment. I try to mask my features, pretending that seeing this; seeing her here in this room doesn’t terrify me. But it fucking does, because the story of my entire life is here. 

“So I searched the internet, but there were no photos of you in that regard. And then today I heard whispers…”

“Whispers?”

“Don’t…That doesn’t matter.” She interjects, impatiently. “What matters is what I was led to. I saw this painting hanging on the wall and I saw your name. And I saw your signature appended along the signatures of the other three. I didn’t believe my eyes, so I searched all the drawers. I searched the shelves in here and I found all these... Documents. Photos. All of one Adrian Trinidad.” She’s sitting on the floor, buried in documents, photos and papers.

My eyes sweep across her. 

“I found no other Adrian Trinidad, but I found only your unique signature. The same one you used to sign that contract with me. The same one you used to sign our marriage contract. And I wondered, how is it possible it’s being one Adrian all along with one signature; since 1925 till now. There must be a logical explanation, Adrian…Please… And then I found this.” She picks something beside her and when she does, It’s the Vampire Chronicles Book. 

I stagger back in shock. She watches my every expression and this time I can’t hide nothing.

“The book was marked on; The forbidden. Vampires can’t have children with humans, because it’s a forbidden…That’s the reason you don’t talk about kids right…” 

“That’s bullshit. Vampires don’t exist. That book is just a book written by an author to draw attention.” I lie, marching forward to take the book from her.

I’m turning away and heading to drop the book, when her words halt me. 

“What about this news paper clipping from the Vampires’ News in 1925?” I hear her rise and slowly close the gap between us.

She’s behind me and I’m afraid to look at what she’s got in her hand. 

“It reads; Lord Bran and his family, Lady Bran and Lord Trinidad, were viciously bitten by a stray vampire from Bath in England, Julius Kinsley. Against their will, the entire family was birthed into vampires. A grave injustice against them. And a break on the pact between humans, vampires and lycans…”

The words all fade into a humming blur in my ears, as she continues reading. The images of the night described in the news clipping, visit my mind with a vengeance. For years I've tried to banish this part of my past. I even went to extreme measures to ensure none of this ever came to light. I paid for these documents to be taken off the internet, so that no one would ever find this side of me. 

I’ve painstakingly tucked away this sordid side of my life for as long as I can remember. But never did I think it would come out like this. Choosing to ignore Andria, I continue to the other side of the library, where I push the book into a private drawer, locking it.  

“Your silence confirms everything. Your silence tells me that you know what this is and you’ve being hiding…That’s the reason you drink blood, right? It’s not a fetish. It’s in your nature.” Andria argues, standing in front of me.

Shouldn’t she be scared of me? Rather she stands before me, all trusting. Waiting for my reply. If she so believes the words in her hands, she should have bolted out of this room by now. 

“Those are just stupid words said by some stupid kids, who want to make trouble for me. And besides can you hear yourself. Vampires? Next you would speak of witches and magic.” I scoff.

But deep inside, I’m trembling. I hate lying to her. 

“You still feigning ignorant?” She asks, disbelievingly. “Okay. Tell me who Anaya is and what happened to her in 1975?”

All humor drains from me. My worst nightmare has come to life.