Epilogue
“Auntie, help me!”
Annaliese walked cautiously through the living wing of her mansion, listening for her nephew.
“Auntie!” Florian cried.
His voice.
The voice that she remembered so well, that flash of time when he was a boy.
A boy.
Nine years old.
All these years later, this little boy was crying out for her.
A chill surged through her bare feet as she started up a curved staircase.
It was dead in the middle of night, and through the sheer curtains on the windows, a crescent moon shone brightly.
She placed her hand on the banister.
She was sweating.
Damn medication. It was really weakening her.
“Auntie, I need you!”
“Florian?” Annaliese asked.
She proceeded cautiously up the stairs and into a long hallway.
Florian’s bedroom was just a few doors down.
“Auntie, I’
