It better not have its own consciousness.
No one here can know my secret.
Each sanctuary city has its own town council, but I’m a legacy. Although, that is on my human side. I still don’t think I’m required to check in or anything. If I do, I’ll figure it out as I go along.
This whole situation is a disaster waiting to happen. Maybe I should try my luck in a human city? No, I’ll never last with all the tempting human blood around.
There will be humans in Black Cove, but hopefully, there will also be some type of service for blood.
I left the city where I had family, friends, and support.
Nothing makes sense anymore, but it’s like an itchy feeling attacks my brain any time I try to contemplate why I’m making such drastic choices.
What the hell am I even doing?
Fae age extremely slowly. Being half human, I age somewhere in between the two but closer to the human end of the spectrum, which is nice, because fae normally don’t reach maturity until they turn one hundred.
I’m twenty-eight, but I look closer to twenty. And now, thanks to Cole, I’ll stay this age forever.
It blows my mind. I always hoped I would have a prolonged lifespan, but I knew I wouldn’t be the type of undying immortal that my mom is. And I kind of found comfort in that. She’s going to outlive my dad and a few of her other lovers. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but before I was turned, she would have outlived me too.
Now her reality has become my own fate, and I’m torn about how to feel.
Turning down the music, I scan the numbers on the street. The massive house comes into focus, and I park in front of the garage.
Dammit. I don’t even have a clicker to open it.
Parking inside the garage would be safer, in case I need anything out of my car during the daylight hours, but the trip only took four hours. It’s a few minutes past midnight, and I still have plenty of darkness to carry in my things and try to find a safe place to spend the day.
The house looks exactly like I remember from the last time I visited. Big, imposing, three stories with a wide wraparound porch.
The house key is already on the ring for my car keys. I shut off my vehicle and pump myself up to go inside. It’s going to smell like old lady and dust, because no one has lived here in years.
Luckily, I brought my own pillows and blankets, so that won’t be a problem, but none of my other stuff will be here until later this week.
I’ve literally got what I could fit in my car and that’s it.
You’re procrastinating.
Rolling my shoulders back, I toss the car door open and prepare to explore my new home.
It’s regal and imposing and a lot bigger than most of the houses in Haven. Sanctuary towns have limited space, due to the wards necessary to keep out the majority of humans. Humans who’ve been invited in are able to pass. So are those with jobs like delivery drivers, but once they leave the ward, it causes them to forget. It’s a complicated magic system that I don’t really understand, but it keeps our existence a secret from the outside world.
Following the sidewalk, I head up to the front porch. The dark siding on the house kind of makes it seem like I’m walking into a horror movie set.
It didn’t seem this intimidating when I was a kid.
I’m a vampire now.
There’s no reason I should be so apprehensive. I’m probably a badass. I’m definitely stronger than I was.
I wiggle the key into the lock and frown as I shove the door open. The lights are on in one of the far away rooms.
Who has been paying the electricity bill for this place?
Something dive-bombs into my head.
I squeak, smacking at my hair.