Sinister: The Immortal's Curse.

Chapter four

The following evening, I awoke with a strange sense of calm.

That alone was unsettling.

Peace had never been something I trusted.

I reached across the bed expecting to find warmth beside me, but my fingers met nothing except cold silk sheets.

My eyes opened immediately.

Prowler was gone.

For a moment, disappointment flickered through me before my attention shifted to the small velvet box resting on the bedside table.

The ring.

I reached out and touched the box lightly, my fingers tracing the smooth surface.

A proposal.

A promise.

A future I had never expected to have.

I stared at it longer than I cared to admit before finally pulling myself away.

There were far more immediate problems waiting for me.

I crossed to my wardrobe and selected an outfit more suitable for the day ahead—a pair of black leather pants, a simple white blouse, and knee-high boots. Something practical.

Something that reminded everyone, including myself, exactly who I was.

Before leaving, I glanced back at the ring one last time.

Then I closed the door behind me.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I noticed something strange.

Smoke.

My expression hardened.

Following the scent, I found Chester standing near the entrance hall, his face filled with concern.

"Chester."

He turned quickly.

"Miss Monroe."

His voice carried exhaustion.

"You never smoke this early. What happened?"

He looked away for a moment.

"Your niece."

My eyes narrowed.

"What did Novalee do?"

A humorless laugh escaped him.

"What didn't she do?"

I waited.

"She destroyed the dresses you prepared for her. Burned them in front of the mansion. Refused to complete her duties. And when I informed her it was time for school..."

His expression darkened.

"She spit in my face."

For a moment, silence filled the hallway.

Then I turned and walked away.

Enough.

---

I found Novalee exactly where I expected.

Chaos followed her everywhere.

I pushed open the door.

"What are you doing?"

She turned toward me, completely unapologetic.

"I’m doing things my way."

My gaze moved around the room.

Clothing scattered everywhere.

Ruined fabric.

A mess.

"I specifically instructed you to respect this household."

She crossed her arms.

"I'm tired of this."

Her voice grew louder.

"I don't want this life. I don't want to be some perfect little princess who has to dress a certain way and act a certain way because everyone says so."

She shook her head.

"I like who I am."

I studied her carefully.

"I see."

"I'll stay in my room until my father comes back. He can take me home."

She scoffed.

"I hate this place."

Then she looked directly at me.

"You're so boring, Aunt Sinister."

My eyebrow lifted.

"Boring?"

"Yes."

She stepped closer.

"You live alone in this giant mansion, following rules that nobody cares about anymore."

Her expression softened slightly.

"You know why people don't like you?"

I remained silent.

"Because you're cold."

Her words struck harder than I expected.

"You act like you don't have a heart."

She pushed past me and stormed from the room.

I stood there quietly.

Then I sighed.

"Lovely niece you gave me, Graham."

A familiar voice came from behind me.

"I think she's charming."

I didn't turn around.

"Not now, Prowler."

He leaned casually against the doorway.

"I was only observing."

"I am not interested in your commentary."

He smiled.

"Clearly."

I walked away before he could say anything else.

---

My study was exactly as I had left it.

Stacks of documents.

Reports.

Ancient records.

Responsibilities.

I stared at the mountain of paperwork on my desk.

Maybe Novalee was right.

Maybe my life was nothing but duty.

I picked up one of the papers and looked over it.

Another problem.

Another responsibility.

Another thing only I could fix.

With a frustrated sigh, I dropped it back onto the desk.

"I have a heart," I whispered.

The words sounded strange.

Almost foreign.

"And I am not old."

I looked toward the window.

"I simply have responsibilities."

My eyes drifted toward the hidden compartment beneath my desk.

The blade.

The thought of it made my stomach tighten.

Before I could think further, a knock interrupted me.

"Who is it?"

The door opened.

"Sinister."

I immediately recognized the voice.

"Serra."

The fairy stepped into the room, her eyes scanning every corner.

Her fingers brushed over my belongings as though searching for something.

"You know why I am here."

I crossed my arms.

"And you know my answer."

Her expression hardened.

"Give it to me."

A humorless laugh escaped me.

"You truly believe you can control it?"

She floated slightly above the ground, anger flashing across her face.

"You used that blade for evil."

"I did not."

"The court has decided."

Her voice grew colder.

"You will be banished, and the blade will be destroyed."

My eyes narrowed.

"I have never touched that blade."

Serra raised her wand.

A beautiful creation of silver, gold, and shimmering fairy dust.

"Show me."

I stared at her.

Then I sighed.

With a simple motion, I pressed the hidden switch beneath my desk.

The bookshelf moved slowly, revealing the secret chamber.

The blade remained exactly where it had been hidden.

Untouched.

Unused.

Serra stepped closer.

Then stopped.

Her face changed.

Fear.

Shock.

I turned toward the blade.

Nothing.

No movement.

No missing weapon.

Then I looked back.

Serra was gone.

Only sparkling fairy dust remained.

My blood ran cold.

"Where is it?"

Silence answered.

My fists tightened.

"Where is it?!"

---

I moved quickly to the communication room and grabbed the phone.

The moment it connected, a familiar voice answered.

"Sinister."

My jaw tightened.

"Hida."

"Where is it?"

"I told you before. Stop calling me by that name."

"Where is the blade?"

I closed my eyes.

"I don't have it."

His laughter was quiet.

Cold.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I never touched it."

"Sinister..."

His voice lowered.

"For once in your life, tell the truth."

My grip tightened around the phone.

"I am."

A pause.

Then came the words I knew would change everything.

"Very well."

His tone became official.

"Sinister Von Monroe, you are hereby placed under arrest."

My eyes widened.

"You are sentenced to banishment."

The line went dead.

---

For the first time in centuries...

I felt nothing.

Not anger.

Not fear.

Only emptiness.

I returned to my room and shut the door behind me.

Then I saw it.

The velvet box.

The ring.

Still sitting perfectly where I had left it.

I picked it up and placed it safely in my pocket.

I didn't know where I was going.

I didn't know how long I would be gone.

But I refused to leave it behind.

A commotion echoed from downstairs.

Voices.

Arguments.

The court had arrived.

I walked toward the noise.

Every step heavier than the last.

As I reached the hallway, I heard Novalee.

"Aunt Sini!"

I stopped.

"They're saying you committed a crime. They're here to take you away."

Her anger was obvious.

"And they expect me to take your responsibilities."

For once...

She sounded worried.

"Novalee."

She looked at me.

"Go upstairs."

Her mouth opened, prepared to argue.

Then closed.

And surprisingly...

She obeyed.

---

The officials stood waiting.

Damien Cypress was among them.

Of course he was.

"Sinister," one of them said, "we know what happened."

I stared at him.

"You know nothing."

He smiled.

"You have been training Novalee. She can take over your duties until a replacement is found."

My eyes moved to Damien.

"You know me better than most."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You know these accusations are false."

A faint smirk crossed his face.

"See you on the other side, love."

Then he turned and left.

I watched him disappear.

Then I looked at Gulp.

His expression held concern.

"I'll be fine."

He shook his head.

"I'm not worried about you."

A small laugh escaped him.

"I'm worried about whoever wanted that blade."

I looked away.

"Everyone knows only someone with Wave Blood can control it."

"Exactly."

His expression darkened.

"So who wanted it badly enough to risk everything?"

I was silent.

"Revenge," I finally said.

"Power."

"Blood."

I looked toward the stairs.

"Many reasons."

Gulp studied me.

"You know everyone hates you, right?"

I gave a small, tired smile.

"Trust me."

"I know."

A pause.

"Maybe that's why I never had many friends."

I turned toward him.

"Gulp."

He looked up.

"I need you to investigate this."

His face fell.

"Oh, wonderful."

He sighed.

"You get banished, and I get the impossible mystery."

"Exactly."

He shook his head.

"You always know how to make life interesting."

I walked toward the stairs.

The human world waited.

And for the first time in centuries...

I had no idea what came next.

I placed one foot on the staircase.

Then another.

"One."

Another step.

"Two."

Another.

"Three."

And with every step...

I left behind the only home I had ever known.