A week had passed since Emily last saw Julian.
Strangely, he had disappeared without a trace.
Not that she was looking for him.
After their conversation at the café and the shocking things he had said about Ethan, Emily had decided it was best to keep her distance. Julian was dangerous. Not because he had threatened her, but because every encounter with him seemed to leave her with more questions than answers.
As for Ethan...
Emily sighed.
He had been absent too.
Busy.
At least that was what she kept telling herself.
The truth was she didn't know where he was or what he was doing. Since their conversation in her room, she hadn't heard from him.
Not a message.
Not a visit.
Nothing.
And for some reason she hated how much that bothered her.
Emily sat beneath a large oak tree in the orphanage yard, watching the children run around with laughter.
The warm afternoon sun bathed the grounds in golden light. Children's voices filled the air as they chased one another across the grass.
A small smile touched her lips.
No matter how complicated her life became, children always managed to bring her peace.
They didn't care about secrets.
They didn't care about vampires.
They didn't care about heartbreak.
They simply lived.
And sometimes Emily wished she could do the same.
"Emily!"
A little girl came running toward her.
The child threw her arms around Emily's waist and grinned.
Emily laughed softly.
"What is it, Rosie?"
"The handsome man is here again!"
Immediately Emily's heart skipped.
Her breath caught.
A handsome man.
Again.
Without meaning to, Ethan's face appeared in her mind.
The serious expression.
The cold eyes.
The way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
Emily quickly stood.
"Where is he?"
The little girl pointed toward the front entrance.
"He came in a fancy car!"
Emily barely heard the rest.
A surge of emotions rushed through her as she hurried across the grounds.
Could it be Ethan?
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
She rounded the corner and stepped outside.
Then stopped.
Her excitement disappeared instantly.
It wasn't Ethan.
Leaning against a sleek black car stood Alan.
His arms were folded across his chest as he stared up at the sky.
Hearing footsteps, he looked down.
Their eyes met.
A smile spread across his face.
Emily felt disappointment settle heavily in her chest.
She hadn't expected that.
Or maybe she had expected someone else.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Alan straightened.
"What kind of greeting is that?"
His smile widened.
"You look disappointed."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself."
Alan laughed.
For a brief moment it felt familiar.
Like old times.
Before everything became complicated.
Before vampires.
Before secrets.
Before Ethan.
"How have you been?" Alan asked.
"I'm fine."
"Just fine?"
"Alan."
He raised both hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright."
Emily studied him.
It had been a long time since they had spoken properly.
After the Winter Ball, everything had fallen apart so quickly that she never got the chance to process it.
Alan looked the same.
Confident.
Charming.
Carefree.
Yet there was something different about him today.
Something she couldn't quite place.
"How's Riley?" he asked suddenly.
The question caught her off guard.
Emily blinked.
"She's fine."
Alan seemed relieved.
"I haven't seen her since Julian's party."
Emily nodded slowly.
Neither had most people.
Riley had been spending nearly all her time studying with Sara.
Learning.
Training.
Changing.
The distance between them had grown over the past week, and though Emily hated admitting it, she felt lonely.
"She's just taking some time for herself," Emily explained.
Alan stared at her for a moment.
Longer than necessary.
It made her uncomfortable.
"Are you hiding something from me, Emily?"
Emily's stomach tightened.
"What could I possibly be hiding?"
His gaze lingered.
Then suddenly he smiled.
The tension vanished.
"Nothing, I guess."
Emily narrowed her eyes.
Alan was acting strange.
Very strange.
Before she could question him, he stood up.
"I'm starving."
Emily groaned.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The real reason you came."
Alan placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
"You wound me."
Emily laughed despite herself.
For the first time all week, she felt somewhat normal.
"Come on," Alan said. "Lunch."
Emily hesitated.
She didn't particularly want to spend the afternoon alone.
And honestly?
The orphanage had become painfully quiet lately.
"Fine."
Alan grinned.
"I knew you'd say yes."
He opened the passenger door for her.
Emily shook her head but climbed inside.
The drive began peacefully.
Atlanta looked beautiful beneath the afternoon sun.
People moved through the streets.
Children played outside stores.
Life continued as if monsters didn't exist.
As if secrets weren't hidden behind every corner.
Emily rested her head against the window.
Lost in thought.
She didn't notice Alan glancing at her several times.
Nor did she notice the concern hidden behind his eyes.
The city gradually faded behind them.
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
Eventually Emily frowned.
Something wasn't right.
This wasn't the route toward any restaurant she knew.
She sat up straighter.
The scenery had changed.
Large estates now lined the roads.
Expensive gates.
Private properties.
Old money.
Emily turned toward Alan.
"Where are we going?"
Alan kept his eyes on the road.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
"We'll be there soon."
Emily frowned deeper.
A strange feeling settled inside her chest.
The car finally slowed before a massive mansion.
Emily's eyes widened.
She recognized it immediately.
The mayor's residence.
Her confusion only grew.
The vehicle came to a stop.
Silence filled the car.
"Alan."
He finally looked at her.
His expression was no longer playful.
No longer carefree.
"Just stay calm, Emily."
Her heart skipped.
"Why are we here?"
"My stepfather wants to talk to you."
The answer only raised more questions.
Emily stared at him.
Something felt wrong.
Not dangerous.
But serious.
Very serious.
She slowly unfastened her seatbelt.
Outside, the mansion stood as grand as she remembered.
She used to visit often years ago.
Back when life was simpler.
Back when Alan's family felt like an extension of her own.
Now it felt foreign.
Distant.
Like a place she no longer belonged.
"Let's go."
Alan's voice was firm.
Emily nodded quietly.
Together they walked toward the mansion.
The front doors opened.
A servant greeted them before leading them inside.
As they moved through the familiar hallways, Emily's unease continued to grow.
Eventually they stopped before a large wooden door.
The mayor's office.
Alan pushed it open.
Inside, an elderly man sat behind a large desk.
His grey hair was neatly combed.
Several papers were scattered before him.
The moment he looked up and saw Emily, his tired face brightened.
"Emily, my dear."
A genuine smile appeared on his lips.
Emily returned it politely.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Come in."
She stepped forward.
The mayor gestured toward a chair.
Emily sat down while Alan quietly took a seat nearby.
For some reason, the room felt heavier than usual.
Like something important was about to happen.
The mayor folded his hands together.
"You've forgotten this old man."
Emily smiled awkwardly.
"That's not true."
"No?"
"I've just been busy."
The mayor chuckled.
"Young people always are."
The atmosphere lightened slightly.
But only slightly.
Because beneath the smile, Emily could still see the tension in his eyes.
The old man looked exhausted.
Worried.
As though he had been carrying a burden for a very long time.
His smile eventually faded.
The room grew quiet.
Emily glanced between him and Alan.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
And suddenly she knew.
This wasn't a casual visit.
This wasn't about lunch.
This wasn't about old memories.
Something else was going on.
Something important.
The mayor leaned back in his chair.
His expression turned serious.
Very serious.
Then he looked directly at Emily.
"There is something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time."
Emily felt her heartbeat quicken.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Colder.
The mayor sighed deeply.
Then spoke words that made her stomach twist.
"Something your father never told you."