4. Kali
Chapter 4
Kali
T he rotunda was exactly the same. I eyed the pool in the back of the room, remembering the night Zan and I spent there. I shook my head, turning away from it, only to meet Zan’s gaze. He was sitting at the large table, having a quiet conversation with Gia. But right now, he was looking at me, and when his eyes cut to the pool and then back to me, it was clear he was thinking the same thing. My cheeks flushed, and I whirled around to stare back out of one of the large windows.
We’d been back at the property for a few hours, and the second we entered the house, Amaros had disappeared, much to my relief. But so had Warner. I had no idea where he was, and Gia wouldn’t answer any of my questions, which was beyond frustrating.
We’d all driven in the same vehicle, but I hadn’t dared say anything in Amaros’s presence. I was going crazy with all the questions in my head. I wanted to talk to Warner. I needed to ask Gia about my mother. She knew her. My mother was in the vampire world. A realization I was still wrapping my head around. And Amaros had mentioned I have a sister—something I couldn’t even comprehend.
And Zan…I’d been purposefully not thinking about him. I didn’t know where to even start when it came to him. He hadn’t said a word to me the entire drive here and had barely looked at me since we got back to the property. I was so fucking torn. He turned Warner into a vampire. But he saved his life by doing so, and I was well aware of that.
“Come on, Kali,” Gia said gently as she got to her feet.
I tensed. “Where are we going?”
“You need sleep.” She came up to me and linked her arm with mine.
“Where’s Warner?” I asked, my voice cracking from both exhaustion and worry. “I want to see him.”
“Tomorrow,” Gia promised.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Zan still sitting, but his eyes were on me as Gia led me out of the rotunda. There were no other vampires in the hall, and by the time I realized where we were heading, I didn’t even try to argue. There was no point when I knew my objections wouldn’t be heard. She was taking me to the bedroom I’d stayed in last time. Zan’s room.
To my surprise, she entered the room with me and closed the door behind her. My stomach churned as she turned to face me, pity filling her eyes.
“Now’s the time to ask what you want,” she murmured. “Amaros isn’t here, and I don’t know when that will happen again.”
“None of his vampires are listening?” I questioned. As much as I wanted answers, I didn’t want them at Gia’s expense.
She gave me a soft smile. “Ask me, Kali.”
“Is my mother alive?” I blurted out, my heart pounding against my ribs.
“No. I’m sorry.”
The pain in her voice was thick, and I stared at her, wishing I could see all her memories. Gia let out a sigh and wandered around the room before leaning against the dresser. Her arms were crossed with her long nails digging into her skin. She was trying to keep her usual composure, but it was easy to see her distress, making me curious about just how much she knew about my mother’s past.
“Do I have a sister?” I whispered.
“Yes,” she answered, the word quieter than my question. “A twin.”
The air left my lungs, and I stared at her in shock. A twin? Not fucking possible. But there was no reason for Gia to lie—and if she was, then she was doing a damn good job of it.
“Where is she?” I asked, my body trembling.
“I’m guessing she’s in Project Hope since Zan and Viggo saw her.”
Coldness swept through me as my mind raced. “Gia, please just tell me everything you know about my family.”
“Your mother was very special in ways I still don’t even know,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Wanted by both vampires and humans. She trusted the wrong person, and she ended up in the clutches of Amaros and PARA when she was pregnant. It was my job to…watch her.”
“Watch,” I repeated as tears filled my eyes. “You mean imprison.”
“Blame me if it makes you feel better,” she murmured, her gaze meeting mine. “But I was the only soul she trusted during those nine months. I was there for her.”
I blew out a shaky breath, the weight on my chest so heavy it was painful.
“When she gave birth, your sister was given to PARA,” she continued. “You and your mother went with Amaros, ending up right here on this property.”
I fell onto the bed, my head spinning with this new information. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I wrapped my arms around myself, hunching over. It was all too fucking much. I didn’t want to be a part of this.
“I’m sorry, Kali. I know this is hard to hear.”
“How did I end up in Project Hope?” I choked out.
Gia went still for a moment before silently crossing the room. I watched her with a frown when she quickly opened the door. My heart stuttered when my eyes fell on Zan, who was standing right outside the doorway. Surprise was on his face when he met Gia’s gaze, but she didn’t speak to him before she turned to face me again.
“I don’t know how you got off the property,” she said, tilting her head. “It was my job to watch you, and I failed. Someone —” Her eyes shot back to Zan. “—snuck you off the property. By the time I realized it, you were long gone.”
I went utterly still. Zan’s eyes widened, his stare locked on Gia as shock covered his features. His jaw clenched as if he was forcing himself not to say anything. Gia gave him a comforting smile before she walked back toward the bed and sat down next to me.
Did Zan save me as a baby? Was that even possible? He was a kid himself when I was born.
“Listen to Amaros, Kali,” Gia said, pulling me from my thoughts. “You don’t want to disobey him. There’s no escaping this. Don’t make it more difficult for yourself. I don’t want to see you suffer.”
This time her words were loud, and I had a feeling this conversation wasn’t private anymore. Her words sounded like the truth. But why did I feel like she wanted me to do the exact opposite? She didn’t want me to be a pawn for Amaros. A chill ripped through me as I imagined what Zan’s father wanted from me.
“Rest, Kali.” Gia’s hand landed on my knee, and she squeezed it gently. “If you behave, then you can see Warner tomorrow.”
I bristled, anger scorching my veins. Behave . I wanted to drive a stake through Amaros’s heart. I wanted to burn this entire house down until it was nothing but ash. When Gia moved to stand, I grabbed her wrist.
“I have more questions,” I said hoarsely.
“I can’t give you any more answers.”
Without another word, she swept out of the room. Zan was still standing outside of the doorway, and he met my eyes for a split second before the door was shut. The lock turning had defeat crawling through me.
I stayed on the bed, lying down on my back, staring at the ceiling. Noises from outside the room held my attention, and I tilted my ear, trying to hear any voices I recognized. But then I froze. Last time I was locked in here, I hadn’t been able to hear anything. Goosebumps skated across my skin when I realized what was happening.
My hearing was changing.
I was transitioning.
How long would it take until I was more Shadow than human?