de continued to rage, the wind roaring against the windows and the enormous estate rattling like a beast trying to break in. There was nobody in the hallway. With one exception, though. V

ent. Only shadows and cold air. She ran to get Damien, but by the time they got there the painting w

he dining room. Mrs. Hawthorne had already arrived and was preparing breakfast. Selene made a snap decision. "Vivienne Blackwood?" Mrs Hawthorne froze. The teacup shuddered in her grasp. The older woman remained silent for a long time. Then she muttered, "She was

eeply. She had had enough of waiting for responses. She would discover the truth on her own if Damien refused to tell it to her. Hours had been spent searching the manor by Selene. However, all the rooms were securely locked. Every door, hallway, ev

d at the bedside table. A hairbrush made of silver, with the name of Vivienne Blackwood engraved on it. Selene felt her heart race. This space... It had been Vivienne's. It had been anticipating her a

em heavy. Then, suddenly, Damien walked forward. Selene stepped back. Her back struck the wall, and Damien was right there, so there was nowhere to go. Looming over her. On either side of her head, his hands braced. He said, "Y

hat nobody in the house would be honest with her. So she waited. She spent the entire evening in her room, acting like she was submissive and reading. She stirred when midnight struck on the grandfather clock in the hallway. Silently. With caution.

were in a spy film." Selene was not grinning. Because it was serious this time. Ava sobered when she noticed the expression on her face. "All right," she said. "Speak." Selene gave a detailed explanation. Vivienne Blackwood, The cautions, Damien's eyes were filled

of the Blackwoods proved hard to find. The files were sealed. There were no records. As if they had been wiped. Finally, though, they discovered something. An article from over ten years ago on old society. It was read alo

Manor was concealing her identity. Selene's heart pounded as she gazed at the television. "There was never a body discovered." She could not get the words out of her head. Vivienne had not simply departed. She was no longer there. Ava chewed on her lip as she leaned ba

an cold. Leaning forward, she looked over the text on the screen. "No woman ever leaves the Blackwood family after marrying into it." The first wife vanished. The second didn't exist. "They claim that she is still there." Ava turned to speak softly to her. She whisp

ng. "Try looking up her entire name." After hesitating, Ava entered it. The screen then became black. Ava swore. She pressed the keyboard. The mouse was clicked. Nothing. The laptop died. Selene felt a knot in her stomach. "Did it crash?" Ava attempted to restart it. A loading bar showed up

She couldn't discover the truth on the internet if she wanted to. She needed to get to a place they couldn't destroy. She said, "The library." "The office of records." Somewhere there are tangible documents. After a moment of hesitation,