Free Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace Page B

the knowledge of what I was, and that disgust transferred to her for not telling me about it.
    “You are not a monster,” she said, grasping my hand.
    “Oh, yes I am. I fought that thing that tried to take me tonight. Did you forget that? Because I’ll never be able to forget. And to make my night even worse, you’re telling me that half the stuff that runs in that guy’s veins also runs in mine.”
    “You can’t judge what you are by meeting only one Pijawika. It’s like saying all Mexicans are this, or all Canadians are that. You can’t make these judgments on people after only meeting one of them. Your dad was a great man, and I’ve met many other Pijawikas that were great, too.”
    “Right, my dad’s a great man . That’s why he’s here now, right? That’s why he was there when I was born, and there to watch me at my dance recitals. Such a great dad, in fact, that he was there to teach me how ride a bike and to drive a car, and there for me for all those other big things a great man should do to be there for his daughter, right? He left us. He left because of me.” I slumped my shoulders, my anger transferring to disappointment. I was the reason he’d left.
    “Oh, honey. Is this what you’ve thought all this time?” my mom asked, eyes blinking with heartbreak. She shook her head. “Of course you would. I haven’t told you anything to help you think otherwise.” Regret etched in the small creases around her eyes.
    “Let me set you straight.” She wiped her eyes. “We, Garwin and I,” my mom said, nodding over at Garwin, “come from a long line of families that are kind of like the Freemasons. In that, our families are part of a secret society that knows all about the Pijawikas. Part of this society’s job is to feed the Pijawikas. I was the one who fed your father.” Her eyes grew distant and sparkled as if they visited happy memories.
    “I loved him and he cared for me, probably more than I did for him because Pijawikas feel emotions on a stronger and deeper level than we do. But as soon as I found out I was pregnant with you, I ran away. I couldn’t risk his life, nor mine with yours developing inside of me, so I ran. I’m sure your father was crushed when I left, and I’m sure he would be even more upset to learn I had you, and that he didn’t get to know you. So you see, he didn’t know about you. He didn’t even get the chance to walk out on you.”
    “So…you’re saying you used to be what? You were basically a call girl who would come over to let some vampire bite on her neck whenever he wanted?” I hoped I offended her. I was irate at how this conversation had gone, that neither my mom nor Garwin had told me about this, years ago.
    Garwin stood. “How dare you? You have no idea of the sacrifices this family has made. Go upstairs.” This time he did raise his voice.
    I figured this conversation was over, anyway, so I turned to Garwin to let him see the rage on my face and headed toward the room we called mine. It was actually a guest room, but I was the only one whoever stayed in it. Plus, I kept clothes in there for when we stayed over.
    Jaren got up and followed me out of the den. The walk to the foyer and up the grand staircase to my room was silent except for Jaren’s sneakers that squeaked across the travertine. Once inside, I slammed the door.
    “I cannot believe what I just heard! I find out my dad might have really wanted me, but the kicker is I also find out I’m a monster.” I turned around to look at Jaren and found his eyes cast to the floor with guilt.
    “Oh, no,” I said, letting him know I caught it written on his face.
    “I don’t know what to think about this,” Jaren said. “We’ve been through a lot in a short amount of time. Maybe we should cool it between us for a while to let this all settle in.”
    “God! Can this night get anymore fantastic?” I screamed, throwing my arms in the air. I looked him directly in the eyes. “You know what?