I picked up a new phone for myself, since mine got destroyed in the accident, and the first thing that popped on the screen was Jasmine's message. 

Call me ASAP. I have information.

That would have to wait for a more private moment. 

Half an hour later, a limousine was waiting for me in front of Dorian's house. Knowing that showing up in jeans and a t-shirt wasn't acceptable, I've managed a change of clothing, and put on Dorian's mother's short black Balmain with a deep V-neck.

Nausea gripped me from the inside out as I entered the limousine and found my sister Libby sitting on the opposite side. She swung her crossed bare leg back and forth and sipped a martini through a straw. Her silver hair fell over the pink tulle dress. Her bright blue eyes smiled at me, and her lips closed around the straw. Iron-clad bracelets clinked against each other around her thin wrists, and the crystal earrings sparkled under the neon-lighting coming from the limousine liquor cabinet.

Libby grinned, "Hi, Odette."

"Lisbeth." I crossed my legs.

Libby was beautiful in a pale, sick way. The way a maiden on her death bed might be considered beautiful. She looked fragile, broken, unstable, but there was poison hiding behind her cold gaze.

"Oh, I'm so happy!" She squealed, spilling her martini over her dress. "I told daddy he should have brought you back a long time ago. Honestly, Edmond is so serious all the time, you can't even have fun with him. And Lucien's sulking all the time. Like, lighten up, depression is the least fun of all disorders you can have. Mix it up, let's go a little crazy."

Oh, boy.

"How come you're picking me up, Libby?" I asked, trying to ignore the memory of traumatic experiences I've lived through in that house.

"Daddy wanted to send someone, and he didn't feel like going himself." Libby grabbed the straw and sucked the contents. "I think he should have welcomed you properly. Though, I think we can still manage a party. How about tonight? Oh, let's have a party tonight! Honestly, it's been so dull without you."

Libby was fifteen years older than me.

"So, Libby." I ignored everything she's just said. "How's home?"

"Oh, home is home-" She stopped talking, her gaze flying to the side and her eyebrows furrowing, "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm going to tell her how's home."

I took in a deep breath. Fuck my life.

"That's Odette, silly." Libby talked to her side. "She's always been on our side!"

"Everything okay, Libby?" I asked, lips pursing.

"Oh, yes." She glanced back at me. "What was I saying? Oh, yes. Home's home, you know? Mommy's been busy lately with all the work in the UAE, and daddy doesn't like it all that much. Aunt Lucrecia doesn't exit anymore, by the way, just like you didn't exist-"

"Libby." I cut her off, my blood beginning to boil. "Who's the worst?"

She laughed, and it lasted way longer than necessary, "Edmond is off the rails. Keeps talking about how he wants to be king. He doesn't even know I know about his underground dungeon. Daddy is up there with his shenanigans. But Lucien- he's the first to go, if you ask me."

I arched my eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Libby looked at me like I was the idiot, "He's going to kill himself, silly."

My mouth fell open, and I had no idea what to say. Two years. I've been gone for two years, and Lucien was on the verge of ending it and Edmond has gone full psychopath.

"Now." Libby leaned forward, a spark appearing in her eyes. "Let's talk you. I hear you've been screwing a vampire hunter."

My throat constricted for a second before I remembered Dorian told Edmond I had been sleeping with Jimmy. I gathered myself and cleared my throat.

"Well, someone had to find out what those pesky hunters have been up to." I cocked my head. "Daddy hasn't been doing much."

"Oh, daddy knows they're a threat." Libby grinned. "He's been testing you."

I had no strength in me left to digest that.

"Has he?"

"Oh, yes. He told me a few weeks ago that I might soon be getting a new sister." Libby's eyes sparked. "Anyhow, he's very pleased. Now, he just wants a name."

"He'll get a name."

"Good, good." Libby dragged her pink sharp nail over her thigh. "Now, I've been meaning to ask you something."

I swallowed, "Yes?"

"Have you also been fucking my fiancé?"

"No."

"Oh." Libby leaned back into the seat. "That's a shame. I know how badly he wants to fuck you."

"That might be over."

"How come?"

"Edmond killed his girlfriend."

"Cherry?" Libby's eyes widened. "That's such a shame. I liked Cherry. She tasted like cherries, did you know that? Funny."

I was way too exhausted for this.

"Libby, can we catch up later?" I asked. "I haven't slept in ten years."

She giggled, "Neither have we."

It was a subtle shift, but she wasn't alone in the car anymore. Her gaze flew from her right to left, and she giggled more for herself, or with someone else.

I leaned my head against the backseat, hating the fact she was here. Fuck, I wanted to be alone. I wanted to process everything that's happened today. But my father must have known it would be better to catch me off guard.

"Let's sleep." Libby's mouth fell and any sign of happiness disappeared. "It's been a long day."

"Yes, it has."

Once we arrived to the estate, I was ready to fuck everything off and run away as fast as my feet carried me. Fuck conspiracies, vampire hunters, and innocent people. There was a reason why I decided to leave this place, and it was possibly the best decision I've ever made. Now, I was returning with a bowed head and empty pockets.

The grounds spread in front of me from the iron gates all the way to the mansion. Privet fences, fountains, mowed lawns, and golf terrains littered the estate; opulent, massive, perverse. Staff was everywhere; taking care of the cars that drove to the entrance, gardening, bringing out food and beverage. It took me a moment to realise I was entering a gathering.

A party.

The mansion was huge, big enough to give everyone their own wing. My father had his own floor that we weren't allowed to go to. The bricked facade covered the house, decorated with intricate detailed columns, somehow both vintage and modern.

The moment I stepped inside the estate, a young brown-haired boy with a tan handed me a key to the gates. This was it. I was back.

Libby led me to the entrance.

As I approached, everything disappeared from my head. I could remember neither Cherry, nor Dorian; neither Lucia, nor Jax. Only my family stood in front of me on the patio before the door.

Anton, Lucien and Edmond waited on the steps, all three of them staring.

"This is our new sister." Libby grinned, her hand on my back. "Her name is Odette."

My oldest brother, Lucien, looked away and retreated to the house.

Anton clapped and jumped.

Edmond stared at me, his lips spread into a smirk, "Hi, princess. I hope the rest of your day went spectacularly."

Anger boiled inside me, hot and stubborn, but I pushed it aside.

At the Zaleria estate, violence was not the way to get what you want. No, one needed to be much sneakier here.

"Where is dad?" I asked. "I have some information for him."

Edmond's smirk faltered, "In his study."

"Great." I grinned. "I've missed him."

"I'm sure you did."

I walked past him, fighting the urge to grab him and torture him for the rest of eternity, and entered the house. The familiarity made me sick. I haven't forgotten anything about this place. Not the high double ceiling, nor the grandiose staircase. Not the paintings in the hallways, nor the candleholders up on the walls.

This was a different kind of battle.

I might not have what it takes to survive in the real world, but I knew a thing or two about the sheltered, spoiled individuals that had everything served to them on a silver platter. Fortunately for me, I navigated these places like a professional.

The only problem was, if I wanted to survive here now, I'd have to tap into the person I was back when I lived here. She wasn't pleasant.

"Just so you know, Odette." Edmond whispered in my ear, suddenly behind me. "Your presence here doesn't change much."

"I'd think about that twice, Eddie." I glanced up at my brother. "Daddy's favourite is home.

THE END

Ahhh, this one is finished just in time for the Wattys! Thank you so much for reading this story. The sequel is already in the works, so stay tuned!