My eyes skimmed over books on demons, doppelgangers, and lycanthropes before finally finding books on vampires. I pulled out a few books that looked good and headed to a table.
Clicking on the desk lamp, I opened the first book, Famous Vampires of History. Sitting right in the middle of the table of contents was my father’s name, Santiago Fiori. I knew that he and I shared last names, so I wasn’t sure why it was so shocking to see it written on the page. Maybe it was because I hadn’t expected to find him so easily after so many years of dead ends. Or maybe it was because the book was first printed in 1887. I flipped to the corresponding chapter.
Born in Venice in 1498, Santiago Fiori was the youngest of the Five Elders and the last vampire sired by Andre de Leon.
Andre had changed my father?
Raptly I read through the next ten pages, finding out that Santiago befriended a number of popes—which shocked and greatly embarrassed the supernatural community—helped smuggle out many aristocratic families during the French Revolution, and had rubbed elbows with Shakespeare—who he later admitted was a “charming brute.” And there was so much more. He was a bitter enemy of Henry VIII, a confidante of Napoleon, and a close friend to Benjamin Franklin during the time the latter spent in Europe. It appeared my father went wherever history went.
There was likely to be more information about my father’s life throughout the twentieth century, but the book was old, and its history stopped a century short.
I picked up another book, Modern Day Vampires. Just like in the previous book, this one discussed my father. While it touched on some of his historical achievements, it focused more on his personality and what he was doing up until the time of his death.
Fiori was an avid supporter of Andre de Leon’s Vida Mandata, the official declaration that prohibits vampires from turning a human. He was the only Elder to not pass on his vampiric lineage.
Toward the end of his life, Santiago met, fell in love with, and married Celeste Kallos, the last living siren.
Celeste Kallos. I had found my mother’s name. I shut the book. Now it was time to learn about my mother. I got up and wandered the isles, eventually coming across a promising section.
“You’re not going to find her here.”
I looked up from where I was crouching and met the gaze of an old woman with skin the color of ebony, Peel’s head librarian. I read her nametag: Lydia Thyme.
“I’m sorry?” I asked, confused by her words.
“Your mama. You won’t find the truth about her in these books. They don’t talk about the darker side of your world. For that you need permission to access your clan’s private collection.”
“How did you know that … ?” The woman raised an eyebrow and swept her gaze across the library. She didn’t need to speak; her eyes said it all. She could read me like the many books around us.
“I’m sorry—I’m still getting used to this new world.”
“That’s alright, hun. Like I said, if you want to find out more about Celeste, you’ll need permission to access your clan’s books.”
“How do I get access if I’m the last of my clan?”
“In that case I’m afraid students are only allowed in if they are interning with the House of Keys or training with the Politia.”
I’d only understood about half of the words in that sentence, but enough to know I didn’t have access.
“However, I think under the circumstances surrounding your past and your lineage, I can bend the rules.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I’d been met with so much animosity lately that I greatly valued her offer.
“If you can wait here, I’ll grab the book I believe you’re looking for.”
“Yes, definitely.”
She inclined her head, and walked down the isle and out of sight. Five minutes later she returned with a single book. She passed it to me, and I read the cover. The Last of the Sirens.
“That book should answer all your questions. Make sure you bring the book back to me before you leave.”
“Why are you doing this?”
She stared at me for a long time, and I got the distinct impression she was looking into my soul. Finally she said, “I was leading the ritual the night you died. You … intrigued me. I also happen to be old friends with someone from your past.”
The hairs on my arm rose. She was trying to tell me something, but I was not sure what. I was also not sure how I should feel about her. She didn’t seem evil, like the man in the suit, but she didn’t seem good either.
***
I walked back to the table and opened this final book. A bookmark slid out. Never taking my eyes off the text, I fruitlessly groped around for the fallen slip of paper.
My eye caught the title of the final chapter, “The Last of the Sirens.” Bookmark forgotten, I flipped to the end of the book.
I skimmed through the history of the Kallos lineage for a few pages before I found what I was looking for.
Celeste Kallos was the last siren to make it to adulthood.