The Vesper Creed

Chapter 8

Aizere's Point of View

The air inside was different—it was still, almost frozen, and carried that same scent of pine and old metal. We walked through a dimly lit foyer and into a massive living room. The ceiling was high, with dark beams crossing over a space filled with velvet furniture and shelves of ancient, leather-bound books.

As we entered, the conversation in the room stopped instantly. I froze.

They were all there. The group from the cafeteria was gathered around a long, low table, looking like they were in the middle of a serious meeting. Enzo Pierce sat in a leather armchair, still holding a glass filled with that deep red juice. Niklaus Black was leaning against the fireplace, the orange flames making his red hair look like it was actually burning. Victoria Nyx Blood was seated elegantly on the sofa, her stormy gray eyes tracking my every move.

"Ezrain," Victoria said, her voice smooth but sharp. "You didn't mention we were having a guest."

"She saved Snow," Ezrain replied simply, letting the white cat jump from his arms. The cat immediately ran over to Victoria and curled up at her feet.

Ezrain turned to me. "You've seen them around, but allow me to be formal. This is my cousin, Enzo. That's Niklaus. And you've already met Victoria."

They all nodded, but none of them smiled. The atmosphere was thick, like the air before a lightning strike. As I stood there, feeling small under their collective gaze, my eyes drifted to their hands. My heart began to race. Enzo was holding his glass with his right hand, and there, etched onto his skin, was the same crescent moon and thorny rose. I looked at Niklaus, then back at Ezrain as he moved his hand to rest on the back of a chair.

They all had it. The exact same mark in the exact same spot.

"Why do you all have that?" I asked, my voice trembling but clear. I stepped forward, pointing toward Ezrain's hand. "That tattoo. I saw it on Victoria in class, and now... you all have it. Is it some kind of family crest?"

The silence that followed wasn't just quiet, it was heavy, like the world had stopped breathing.

Enzo stopped mid-sip, his glass frozen at his lips. Niklaus stood up straight, his relaxed posture vanishing instantly. Victoria's gray eyes widened, her hands tightening on the fabric of her skirt. They all turned their heads slowly to look at Ezrain, their expressions filled with a mix of shock and something that looked like genuine fear.

"You can see it?" Niklaus asked, his voice harsh and disbelieving.

"Of course I can see it," I said, confused by their reaction. "It's right there on your hands. Why wouldn't I?"

Ezrain moved closer to me, his shadow falling over my shoulders. He reached out and grabbed my right wrist, but his touch wasn't gentle this time. He held my hand up, his silver eyes searching my skin as if he expected to find something there.

"Aizere," he whispered, his voice sounding strained.

"That mark... it's not a tattoo. It's a seal. It's hidden by a veil that no human eye can pierce. Only those chosen, only those of our blood are supposed to be able to see the moon and the rose."

Victoria stood up, her face even paler than before. She walked toward me, her gaze locked on the mark on her own hand and then back to my eyes. "To a normal human, our hands look completely clear. Even Ruan cannot see what is written on our skin."

She looked at Ezrain, her voice trembling. "How is this possible, Ezrain? She is the Sheriff's daughter. She is supposed to be human."

Ezrain didn't let go of my wrist. He leaned in, his face inches from mine, his silver eyes searching for a memory I didn't even know I had. "Who are you really, Aizere Soleia Forbes? And what did you leave behind in the water four years ago?"

The tension in the room was so thick it felt like it might snap, but Victoria was the one to finally break it. She stood up from the sofa with a graceful movement, her stormy gray eyes finally moving away from me. She smoothed out her skirt, her face returning to that cool, calm look she always wore.

"That is enough for today," Victoria said, her voice sharp enough to stop any more questions. "The sun is going down, and the Sheriff will be looking for his daughter. It isn't safe for her to be out this late." She turned to me and gave a small nod. "I will give you a ride home, Aizere. My car is right outside."

Ezrain finally let go of my arm. The skin where he had touched me felt like ice, a coldness that seemed to stay even after he pulled away. I followed Victoria out of the dark stone house and onto the gravel driveway. My eyes went wide when I saw her car. It was a bright purple racing car that looked like a jewel against the dark green trees. It sat low to the ground and looked like it could go faster than anything I had ever seen in this small town.

As I moved toward the passenger side, I felt a shadow fall over me. Ezrain had appeared beside me as if he had simply walked out of the air. He was carrying Snow, the little white cat, in his arms.

"Wait," he said softly.

He stepped closer to me, and I could smell the scent of rain and pine needles on him again. He held the cat out, offering her to me.

"I want you to take her," he said. His voice was quiet, but it sounded like he had already made up his mind.

I reached out and took the warm, soft cat into my arms. "Why? She belongs here with you," I said, feeling confused.

"The four of us have to leave town for a week," Ezrain explained. His silver eyes stayed locked on mine, making it hard for me to look away. "We have family business that we cannot miss. After what happened on the road today, I do not want her wandering off again. I will feel better knowing she is with someone who knows how to protect her."

He reached out and used one cold finger to pet the top of the cat's head. Then he looked back at me with a serious expression.

"I think she likes you, Aizere," he added, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And you should know that Snow is not just a cat. She is much smarter than she looks. She will watch over you while we are away."

I wanted to ask him what he meant by saying she wasn't just a cat, but he was already stepping back into the shadows of the porch. His pale skin seemed to disappear into the darkness of the house.

"Go now," he said.

I got into the purple car, and Snow curled up on my lap, purring loudly. Victoria did not say a word as she started the engine. The car made a loud, powerful sound that echoed through the trees. We drove away fast, leaving the big stone house and the man with the silver eyes behind us. As we headed toward my house, I looked down at the cat in my lap and wondered what kind of secrets she was keeping.