"Uhmm... Okay Mom, so you were saying that Azrael, the angel of death, is our ancestor?" I asked, staring at her wide-eyed.

She looked up at me after closing the ancient-looking book in her lap, her expression soft but serious.

"We're not expecting you to believe it outright, Arwen, but remember what I asked of you earlier—just keep an open mind."

I sighed, crossing my arms. "Mom, I was interested in the story. Still am, actually. But the thing is... it's fiction," I said, my face blank.

She remained silent for a moment, then spoke. "There are still some entries left in the book, Arwen. If you'd like us to continue, we can spare a few more minutes."

"Mom, come on! The last pages are probably just going to describe how Azrael fell in love with Talisa. It's so cliché!" I huffed, pouting like a child.

She didn't respond, so I kept going. "I'm here, Mom, trying to face reality and move on. I want to start fresh, to start here at home, and this... this is what I get?" I stood up, frustration bubbling inside me as I made to leave. But before I could go, I felt her hand on my wrist.

"I'm sorry, dear..."

"Let's just stop this, Mom... please." I pleaded, my voice cracking slightly.

Her grip on my wrist loosened, and she sighed. "Okay, Arwen. I'm sorry. We thought you were ready... Nick was right. It's not the time yet." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pulled me into a hug.

I didn't return the embrace, gently pushing her arms away. "I'll go to sleep now. Goodnight, Mom," I whispered, retreating to my room.

Once there, I closed the door behind me, feeling emotionally drained. Without realizing it, I had brought the book with me. Sighing, I tucked it away in my drawer, hiding it from sight.

I started brushing my hair dry when my phone buzzed. Absentmindedly, I answered without checking the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Hello, I would like to speak to Ms. Latrelle," a woman's voice said with a thick accent.

"Speaking. Who is this?" I asked, frowning.

"This is the Bureau of Investigation from the National Affairs Department," she stated, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Excuse me?" I stammered, my pulse quickening.

"We understand you've been associated with one of our subjects. We'd like to speak with you about your interactions with her."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, my nerves getting the better of me.

"We're coming to your home now. We advise you to stay put as we are approaching."

Panic surged through me, and I immediately ended the call, tossing my phone on the bed. Just as I was about to make a run for it, my door burst open.

"You're under arrest!" the woman shouted, mimicking a gun with her hand.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my eyes went wide with fear until I recognized the voice. "Bitch!" I screamed and tackled her to the ground, laughing in relief.

It was Alice.

She laughed so hard that I couldn't help but join her. "I hate you, bitch!" I yelled, sitting up while she clutched her stomach, still laughing hysterically.

"I got you there!" she gasped between breaths.

Footsteps approached, and when I looked up, I saw Bran and Nick standing in the doorway, grinning from ear to ear. I shoved Alice playfully and crawled over to Bran, who was waiting for me with open arms. I jumped up and hugged him tightly.

"Oh, Bran, I missed you so much!" I whispered into his shoulder.

"What about me?" Alice pouted from the floor.

"I miss you too," Nick chimed in, giving Alice a playful look.

"Oh, shut up, flirt," Alice groaned, glaring at him as he laughed.

I untangled myself from Bran and hugged Alice too. "I missed you too, you crazy woman."

Nick smirked. "Well, I'll leave you three to catch up. I need to take a bath. Alice, don't leave yet, alright?" He winked at her, earning a sharp glare as he left the room, laughing.

"When did you two get here?" I asked, sitting on the bed as Bran took a seat on my desk chair.

"We just arrived. Dumped our stuff at the house and ran straight here," Alice replied, grinning at me.

"And I'm starving," Bran added, rubbing his stomach.

I studied him for a moment. He looked as handsome as ever—his sharp, defined features, dark brown eyes, and perfectly trimmed short hair were still very much the same. His strong, athletic build made him look like he walked straight out of a fitness ad, though he had a natural warmth about him that made him even more appealing.

I turned my attention to Alice. She was sprawled lazily across my bed, her long, wavy brunette hair cascading around her shoulders she had that Clara Wilsey kind of beauty—fierce yet effortlessly graceful. Her striking features were accentuated by her sharp cheekbones and full lips, giving her a look that stopped people in their tracks. Nick's flirtation wasn't a surprise, not with how stunning Alice was.

"You guys hungry?" I asked, standing up. "We have leftovers from dinner."

"I'll grab something!" Bran offered, heading to the door. "Alice, want anything?"

"Nah, I'm good," she replied, waving him off.

As Bran left, Alice turned to me, her face softening. "Okay, what's going on?"

I sighed. "Can we just hang out for now?"

Alice frowned. "Arwen, don't push me away. Do you know how hard it is knowing you're going through hell and I'm not there?"

"I get it, but we were all busy with school—"

"That's no excuse! I should've been there for you."

I stared at her, feeling the weight of her words sink in. We had always promised to be there for each other, no matter what. I had broken that promise.

Before I could respond, Bran returned with a plate of food, looking between us. "Everything okay?"

Alice and I shared a glance, then both sighed. I would have to tell them everything soon—a about what's really going on. But for now, we needed this moment of normalcy.

We would figure the rest out later.