When Brad said that dinner was almost done, I assumed that it was something more than a sandwich. To be fair, it was full of salad and deli meat, but it was not like what he usually prepared.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Sleep well?"

I nodded, not wanting to look up. Anzide was leaning against the wall, looking out the window to the forest. I also didn't want to look up because Kannon was sitting at the table opposite me and clearly unimpressed.

Jess sat beside Kannon, grinning wildly as she held up a book.

"Look what I found last night."

It was a teal-colored book that had nothing written on the cover. Just plain suede.

"It's, uh, pretty."

Jess scoffed, offering a slight frown.

"It's not pretty. It's stunningly beautiful. Touch it. Feel how soft it is."

The book was placed on the table in front of me.

"Do not touch it," Anzide muttered.

Brad turned to look at him. Kannon frowned.

"What's wrong? Is someone at the door?"

Jess's smile had lessened as she looked around the table.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. You know what, guys? I think we should chill on the lessons for a couple of days. Evie's had a rough time today. I think we should call an end to the day."

"Yeah," Jess said hesitantly. "You're probably right. A run-in with a demon is not fun by any means."

She began packing the books back into her bag, then flicked her head at Kannon.

"Come on, bud, I need a lift home."

"Sure. Text you later, Evie."

I nodded, slowly chewing the food in my mouth. He smiled, but I could see that there was a lot of uncertainty.

Brad walked with them to the door. I watched and wondered why Brad was essentially kicking them out.

"Eat your dinner, Evelyn," Anzide said softly. "Everything is fine. You're just tired."

Well, someone has definitely learned how to tell a lie.

Brad sighed heavily and loud enough that I could hear him easily on this side of the large open space.

"You want to explain what that was about?" he snapped at Anzide.

"I can't touch a book, apparently," I answered.

Neither of them was impressed.

Anzide sat at the table, waiting for Brad to return to his seat.

"In my head, he told me to stop you from touching the book and to get rid of them immediately. What the hell is going on?"

"I should have realized it sooner, but I was caught in the mindset that Evelyn was a witch. Do you remember that I said that your lineage was extremely powerful?"

I nodded quietly and with a mouth full of cereal.

"That was correct. I could feel the power, and I still can. They clearly figured it out, or at least think they have. That is why she wanted you to touch the book. I was not visible to them. They did not know why their departure was so abrupt. It was necessary. Otherwise, she would have insisted and continued until you touched the book and then confirmed it. Now, they will retreat and wait until another time."

"Okay, so she doesn't touch the book. What are they trying to confirm? That she's a shapeshifter?"

"No, they would not care if she was one. It is not a beneficial species to them. A phoenix, however, that is a weapon that is incredibly powerful to everyone. Vampire, demon,"

"She's a mythological bird?" Brad interrupted.

Anzide shook his head.

"Do not relate her to what you have seen in books. I require paper and a pen."

"Please," Brad grumped as he stood.

I looked up. Anzide watched Brad as he stalked out of the room. His face was filled with mild amusement as he slowly turned his gaze to me.

"Want to know something fun?"

"Sure."

"If you fornicate with the boy, his life will become a fast-ticking clock. Then one day, not that long after the deadly deed, he goes poof and is gone."

I gulped hard as I looked at him. That was a terrible fate.

"How is that fun?"

"Oh, I didn't mean for you."

"You're so horrible to him."

A thought hit me.

"So, if I can't have sex with him, then who?"

"Biblical is the only option if you want your partner to survive."

"How convenient."

"I know," he said smugly.

Brad's heavy footsteps thumped through the corridor.

"Is that why my mother is dead?"

The smile fell away, replaced with a grim twitch in the corner of his mouth and a deep frown.

"Your mother died because of Andross. We discussed this. However, to answer you correctly, yes, she was affected by fornicating with your father. Her life was always going to end."

"So, essentially, he murdered her."

Anzide paused, staring at me with lips parted as he considered what to say.

"He did."

"Great. If you have any knowledge of where he is, keep it to yourself."

Brad slapped the paper and pen on the table, then sat down.

"Okay smart guy, enlighten us."

Anzide dragged the paper closer, picked up the pen, and started to write.

"Vampires, witches, shapeshifters are classed as immortals."

He wrote the words down and then drew an arrow to another word, immortal. Then he continued with more. All the while, his gaze was down, looking at the words and arrows that formed on the page in front of him.

"It means they do not suffer a natural death but can be killed. They are the original inhabitants of this world, humanity came later. They are not connected as a species, even if they have many similar features. Mortals are classed as animals, and in this instance, you could even include plants. Mortals are something that dies, like a human. The Eternals are the ones like me, the Nephilim, angels, demons. We do not suffer death in any form and cannot be killed no matter how hard one tries. You, my grumpy oddity, are classed as an immortal because of your mother's line."

"And Evie?"

Anzide wrote phoenix to the side of the groups. Clearly, I was on my own.

"Technically, immortal because of your sister. Then her father threw his genetics into the mix, and together they created the peculiarity that is an immortal creature that is destined to die and regenerate every hundred years. If you are wondering, there are a few in existence and they only ever occur when a powerful eternal breeds with another powerful being that is not biblical. It is likely that the combination of vampire and shapeshifter caused the power to grow in Nancy however the deciding factor was definitely your father. If you were to find out who he is then things will make more sense."

"Is that why Andross burned?"

"It is. You were angry, defending yourself, and you were untrained. That is your father's fault. He should have remained in your life to train you. Of course, he should have stayed away from your mother, but that is something,"

"That we don't need to discuss. I don't want to know a single thing about him. He had sex with my mother, knowing that it would kill her. If you want someone to train me, find someone else. Anyone would be better than him."

Brad left the table, wandering into the kitchen. I watched as he began cleaning the benches and packing away everything that he'd left spread over the counter. It made me wonder if he was trying to hide his thoughts about losing his sister.

Turning back, I was mildly amused by the little doodles Anzide drew around the words. Stick figures with horns or wings. He'd also drawn a stick figure hanging from the gallows with an arrow pointing to it, the boy written next to it. Anzide looked up at me, giving a defiant and smug smile. Ignoring him was the only thing I could do.

"Are you absolutely certain that you've got it right this time? You're not going to come up with some other rando creature?"

"Rando?"

"Random."

He smirked, then turned back to the piece of paper in front of him.

"You are definitely a vampire, thanks to Niko's influence. Beatrice gave you shapeshifter abilities. They were both purebloods. Your grandfather Edward Newton was human, as was all of his family. The phoenix will override everything."

"So, when I get to one hundred, I will combust?"

"That is what usually happens. The phoenix is technically classed as an Eternal but one of those variances like the Nephilim."

"What's their purpose?"

"Originally, they were seen as the keepers of the immortals. They watched over them like the angels watched over the mortals. Now they are just another being that does as they please."

"Will your kind make me pay for what my father did?"

Anzide paused as he looked at me, then sighed.

"Eternals are not supposed to breed. But, they are few in number and have certain desires. They knew the ramifications of entertaining themselves with the immortals or the mortals, so they fornicated with each other. I guess no one thought to tell them that such things lead to things like me. The travesty of it, right? Creating life. How dare they."

I smiled. It was difficult not to find his mockery funny.

"Is there an opposite to them, like the demons?"

"No, thankfully. Originally, it was like a triangle of beings. The two groups of caretakers and the one group who are the collectors."

"You're hiding what Harlwood really wants, aren't you?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Am I nothing but a piece of meat to all of you?"

"The path to what we want is different, but yes, they all end up in that one place. Avoiding the demon is necessary. Otherwise, your soul will be corrupted, and darkness will consume you to the point that any spark inside of you will be extinguished."

Charming.

Brad frowned as he emerged from the kitchen.

"Going to veg out in front of the computer. The doors are locked, and you're not to let anyone in, okay?"

I nodded.

"Listen to the freak and behave yourself."

Brad turned and walked down the corridor.

"After all that I offer, I am still the freak."

"You turned from a teenager into a man. Though, to be fair, he did say that you were older than what you appeared to be."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, he said that you didn't speak like a teenager."

"Hmm, I suppose that is correct. Now, we were discussing intentions."

Sighing, I rolled my eyes and got off the chair.

"I get it. I'm a solid gold piece of ass. Let's drop it, shall we?"

Dumping myself onto the lounge, I turned to face the window.

"No, I think that it is imperative that you are aware of the boy."

"You said that I can't. I don't want Kannon to die. I like him too much for that."

"That is your choice, wrong, but still your choice. This needs to be discussed so that you understand why I do not trust them and why you should listen to me."

So, I guess we were doing this anyway. I said drop it, but mister chatterbox wanted to dish the dirt.

"Their original intention would have been to ensure that a union happened so that he could be the leader's partner. Once the first child was born, your time in this world would have ended. As your partner, he would have assumed control until the child was of legal age to lead the coven. Bradley could have stepped in, but they'd make short work of him too. They might not have had a hand in the treachery that happened in this house but rest assured, they were fully aware of what happened. They knew where he was."

I looked at Anzide with a frown.

"How do you know this information?"

"Weak minds can be entered on occasion. There are variables to the situation and I haven't had much of a chance to delve deep. These four vampires are extremely good at hiding the past in their minds. As for their knowledge about Niko, I got that from Jess. Another vampire told her where the original leader was prior to your arrival in Hades. She didn't care because it didn't affect her and, in her mind, the sole focus is to avoid rousing Drakkus's attention. As for their plans, they will continue. Sadly, the boy has been dragged into their nonsense. I can see that even if he was forced into the situation, he had a genuine interest. Now that they have realized the truth, that interest will be pulled back. Wait and see. They won't risk his life just to get an heir on the non-existent throne."

"They'll just make me abdicate," I murmured. "I can't rule if I can't produce a vampire heir, right?"

The lounge shifted down. I turned my head to see Anzide sitting beside me.

"They won't make you abdicate, but they will use you to defeat Drakkus. Then they will claim that you are not a true vampire and make you hand over the rule. That is not what your great-grandfather would want."

"And what does Anzide want from me?" I whispered.

"To ensure that you reach your potential, to help you through this life and along the dangerous path that is ahead of you."

His hand pressed to the curve of my shoulder, warm and reassuring.

"To get you to the goals that you desire without harm."