cold and callous. Vampires were self-serving and vicious creatures.
"At the time, we didn't realize it." She glanced at the ceiling as if she was somewhere else. "We grew up as sisters. Even though she didn't look anything like me, we were inseparable."
"When did you find out that she was part vampire?" Mason seemed to relax ever so slightly now that we were getting information and the atmosphere had changed to non-threatening.
"We were probably around five." She glanced over at her daughter and took her hand. "We were beginning to practice our magic, and she was already so much stronger than me." She shook her head and sighed. "I was afraid that she would actually become the priestess instead of me. I had been worried."
I had a feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse during her tale, so I kept my mouth shut.
"The next day, we were running along the spring. I’d tripped and fell down, hurting my knee. It began to bleed. Rose ran over, full of concern until she smelled my blood."
"Let me guess; she wanted a taste." Kassie sat back in her seat.
"Well, yeah, that's the short way of putting it. When we got back home and I told my mom, fear shone in her eyes."
"Yet, you all agreed to let the backstabber stay." Star's words were full of vehemence.
Agnes pretended her daughter hadn't said a word. "You see, she was a part of our family at this point. To be honest, we never thought that it was possible for her to even be remotely vampire. Somehow during the birth, she was connected to her mother long enough to change a little, but not completely. Of course, that's when she and I both learned that we weren't sisters by blood."
"I'm assuming she didn't take it well?" I couldn't imagine growing up with a set of parents and finding out they weren't my own.
"No, she didn't. But she was afraid of that part hiding inside her. So we all pretended it wasn't there." Agnes sighed and frowned. "All went well for the next thirteen years, and to be honest, she flourished. She had control of her magic better than anyone here, and she found the love of her life, Wilmont, who was one of the coven members. He helped ground her and kept the vampire side at bay."
"A man?" Tommy arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, our coven is less traditional than some. We recognize that wizards should have the right to practice with us. Our group is made up of both wizard and witch."
"So I'm assuming something happened." The story couldn't have ended there.
"As with most villains, there is usually a trigger." Her eyes settled back on me. "You see, the young prince of the wolves came to visit us that year."
My heart sunk. "You mean my dad?"
"Yes, the oldest prince." She tilted her head as she stared at me. "Honestly, when looking at you, it's as if I was staring into his eyes. It's a little uncanny. As if he left a piece of his soul with you."
"He loved her very much." Kassie's voice was thick with emotion. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if he had."
"Yes, well, you see, as most young people do, they are prone to making horrible decisions." Agnes rested her hand on the table as if she was trying to steady herself. "Your father was very charming." A small smile spread across her face. "I'll even admit I was a little taken with him. He and Wilmont hit it off extremely well." She lifted her hands, spreading them outward. "Even though we are one with nature, we do enjoy the luxuries of life from time to time. And apparently, your father had come down with some kind of sports car."
"It was a brand new Ferrari." Tommy's face dropped to the table.
"Wait, how do you know that?" I couldn't believe he would hide something like that from us.
"I started as his guard right after the accident." He ran a finger along his mustache.
"Wait. That was a witch?" Kassie's mouth dropped open. "He'd mentioned it a few times when he drank too much, but I never really understood what happened."
"Can someone just tell me what happened?" I needed to know everything and now.
"Well, your father and Wilmont bonded, so the prince agreed to let him drive his car." Agnes rubbed her temples. "Mom should've said no, but a wolf prince never wanted to visit with our people before. It was an olive