Page 53 of House of Lilith

“Why he just stayed there after he did it. Why didn’t he leave, try to run, shift, whatever?”

Uncle shakes his head, pressing his lips tight. “Who knows what goes on in a sick person’s mind.”

“So you think it’s sick, what he did?”

“Of course I do,” he rushes to say. “Which is why I think we should discuss it no more. It’s not a topic suited for a young, impressionable mind.” He looks around his desk, his eyes fixing on a stack of papers to his right. “Now,” he says as he starts leafing through them, “your work in Blood Magic this year…”

My own eyes dart to the fireplace behind him. I spot a tiny flash of green amidst all the grays and blacks.

Whatdid he do and why?

“You’re making some great progress, you know?” I hear him go on, but I decide to bite the bullet.

I look back at him and I say, my voice determined but slightly shaky, “I saw it.”

He freezes in place, his eyes darting to mine.

“I saw the Authority Officer give it to you last night.”

My heart skips a beat. He drops the papers and just keeps staring at me for a second, his breathing becoming shallower. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear,” he finally says, his voice low but warning.

I gulp. Too late to turn back now. My eyebrows pulling down in sympathy, I lean a little forward. “Please just tell me what happened, Uncle,” I beg him in the softest, most familiar voice I can muster. “We can make it sono oneends up in jail. I can help you.”

For one long moment, he just stares at me. I hold my breath, fully expecting him to start talking, for real.

Then, to my surprise, his jaw clenches and his cheeks flush.

“Help me?” he yells out as he rises out of his chair so suddenly, he knocks it over.

On instinct, I get up as well.

“You should stop playing detective,” he spits out, anger distorting his facial features, “that’s what you should do, you foolish girl. In case you forgot,” he says as he pokes the desk with his finger, “I’m a professor at Grimm Academy and an esteemed member of the vampire community. It wasmethey chose as the Guardian of the Obscura, a highest honor that is only given to persons of trust.”

It leaves me straight-up dumbfounded, his reaction. And it makes me believe I was right in thinking there was something fishy going on. This is not the uncle I know.

Fuck, I think as I keep staring at him. I don’t think I want this, to mess with family like this. So I give Uncle a curt nod and I turn to walk away.

“I won’t let them take this away from me,” he practically yells after me, making me stop midstep. “I’ve done nothing wrong, Anastasya, I’m a person of trust if ever there was one.”

I take a deep breath and I turn back to him, my voice low and cold, “If you’re so trustworthy, why don’t you tell me what it is you last burned in that fireplace?”

“Your mother will be hearing about this,” he snaps, still red in the face.

My blood boils. “There’s a boy being taken to jail for something he might not have done.”

“Okay,” he rushes to convince me, taking a step closer and wringing his hands, “you saw what you saw, but it was only about a meeting with Professor Onas that was penciled in at the wrong time. I assure you, you would’ve done the same.”

A meeting, really, I think to myself. I just look at him for a second, disappointed, pissed-off and scared all at once. “No, I wouldn’t,” I say through gritted teeth and I turn to walk out of his office.

He rushes to block my way. “What’re you going to do?”

I can barely stand to look at him. “I’m just going to tell the Authority where they can find the victim’s journal.”

“Please, don’t do this because of a stupid meeting.”

I just shake my head.

“In the name of Lilith, Anastasya,” he pleads, clasping his hands as he stares deeper into my eyes. “I’m your family. I’m a Romanov just like you are.”

---