Ash(33)

My mouth dropped open. For the first time there was an emotional response from Ryder – his eyes flashed and the silver took over his black iris. He moved beside me as if to protect me from impending attack. “She’s twenty years old. The Originals died over two hundred years ago. It’s not possible! I am two generations removed from the Original line, and that’s the closest we know of.” Ryder growled.

The female’s expression hardened. “The science speaks differently. Her DNA is a direct branch of Carter Atwater of the fourth house.”

Why were Ryder’s brows drawn together like that? Not to mention his fists clenching? Was he scared? Ryder wasn’t scared of anything.

“And the other thing you told me?” Lucas pushed.

She nervously fiddled with the paper. “It’s just a theory, sir…”

Lucas’ current stare could have cut glass.

She hurried out the next part. “I’m not one hundred percent sure that Charlie is an ash.”

Okay, now I was even more confused. First she tells me I’m from a dead Original – sure, okay. I might buy that there was something weird going on there – Carter was the name my mom gave me for her rescuer after all. But now I also wasn’t an ash? What other option was there? I knew I wasn’t a vampire. I had been out in the sun and there was definitely black in my eyes. Was there a third option they hadn’t told me about?

Ryder shook his head. “What is she then?”

Okay, if Ryder didn’t know of a third option, then this woman was clearly a few blood bags short of a full load.

“She’s not human or vampire, I know that. To tell more I need more time and more blood.”

Lucas nodded. “I will provide you with whatever is needed, and you will testify to the Quorum tomorrow that she is a diluted descendant ash of the fourth house.”

The woman clenched her jaw. “And if I do this, you will let my family go?” For the first time, some of her timidity fled and her fangs flashed as she glared at Lucas.

He smiled. “We’ll see. Be a good girl.” He opened the door and she stormed out.

Wait, what the hell just happened? Ryder was looking at me like I was going to sprout a second head. Lucas had kidnapped her family to keep this information private? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really wanted to demand he release the captives, but I didn’t have any pull with the powerful Quorum member. Poor Madeline … I would have to try and figure out something later.

I realized that Ryder had started talking again, his words short and clipped. “This changes everything,” he said to Lucas. “If she isn’t ash and if she’s a direct descendant, we can pull her from the culling. The Quorum will spare someone so special.”

Did Ryder just call me special? I raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t delude yourself! The Quorum would never let her live, for fear that she could overthrow them. You’re not old enough to remember the dark days. We keep her in the culling and tell no one of this revelation.”

Hey, I’m right here.

“Excuse me? What’s the fourth house all about?”

The white-clad vampire wasted no time turning to me. “When Carter Atwater was bitten by the bat infected with Anima Mortem virus, and transformed to a vampire, he manifested the power of levitation. As a direct descendant, you too should be able to utilize this power to some extent.”

Whoa. This was … what the actual fuck was going on here? Carter Atwater was my father and an Original. Was that why he’d been in hiding and told my mom that things were rough for him. How had he not died with the other Originals? And if my mother was right about our Christmastime money deposits, he was still alive now. Something told me I shouldn’t trust this knowledge to anyone. If they tried to kill him once, they would do it again.

Lucas met my eyes as if reading my train of thought. “Your mother didn’t say anything about still being in contact with Carter, did she?”

Lie, Charlie, lie your ass off. I huffed. “Yeah, right. She was shocked as hell about what I turned out to be. Said the guy screwed her and ran off.”

Lucas seemed like he wanted more of an answer. “You know there was a fire and Carter’s body was never actually recovered. You can tell me if he has contacted you. Some say he might still be alive.”

My eyes flicked to Ryder, who shook his head the tiniest bit.

I smiled at Lucas. “Trust me, if this dude was alive, I would have you drag his ass to the Hive so I could kick him in the nuts for ruining my life.”

Lucas smiled, but it didn’t quite reach those silver eyes. “Alright. Let’s keep this all under wraps. Keep training. Charlie, I’d like to have you over to my place for dinner tomorrow night.”