The heartbeat continued beneath the manor.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Amelia stood in the corridor, staring at the floor.
She could still see the woman from the vision.
The red moon.
The six vampires kneeling.
The altar.
The face that looked like hers.
Her mother reached for her.
"Come with me."
Amelia didn't move.
"Who was she?"
Her mother hesitated.
"The first."
"That isn't a name."
"No."
"Then give me her name."
Her mother looked toward Bryan.
He stood a few feet away, watching them.
For once, he didn't interrupt.
His mother finally answered.
"Seraphine."
The name seemed to settle over the hallway.
Amelia repeated it quietly.
"Seraphine."
The pendant warmed.
Her mother immediately looked at it.
"Don't say her name again."
"Why?"
"Because some names are inv
