I skimmed through her childhood, which was interesting, but not currently important, until I found a section of text that seemed relevant.
After a successful entrance into the music industry, Celeste began living with Santiago Fiori, a union considered quite controversial by the supernatural world.
Four years later, Celeste gave birth to Santiago’s daughter, Gabrielle Fiori. Some found the news miraculous, others a sign of the apocalypse, and others still debunked the idea, claiming the child was the result of an outside relationship. The couple refused to do a paternity test, knowing that the outcome would expose them to negative media attention.
But the test didn’t make a difference. On a bright spring morning, police found the body of Celeste abandoned on the side of an English country road. Evidence led investigators to believe it was a hate crime.
I closed the book. I didn’t need to read the rest. I wiped away a stray tear. I’d found the answers I was looking for. A father who was sired by Andre de Leon and killed by fire. A mother who was born into a dying race and murdered by hate. This was my legacy.
***
When I entered my dorm room that evening, Leanne was lacing up a pair of hiking shoes. Next to her sat an open satchel filled with empty Ziploc bags.
“Going somewhere?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
“I have some clan homework. Want to come with?”
“Where exactly are you going?”
“There’s a shady grove near an entrance to the Otherworld. The herbs that grow there are especially powerful for divining the future.”
“Sounds safe.”
Leanne rolled her eyes. “Says the girl who plays with vampires and dodges hit men.”
“Touché.”
“So, are you coming?”
I sighed. “Count me in.”
I had just changed into something outdoorsy when Oliver barged into our room. “Hey ladies—” He took in our outfits. “Where are you guys going, and why wasn’t I invited?”
“We’ll be out in the wilderness, and hiking is involved,” Leanne said as she threw a couple empty vials into her bag. “I assumed it went without saying.”
Oliver put his hands on his hips and turned to me. “It does not go without saying.”
I looked at him incredulously. “You actually want to come along?”
He sniffed. “I happened to love the outdoors. I am a fairy after all.”
***
“I hate you both,” Oliver said as the branch I let go of wacked him in the face. “Why did you make me come along?”
“I thought you loved the outdoors,” I said, snickering. Oliver muttered something not so nice under his breath.
“Aren’t we near your home?”
“Trust me, the Otherworld leaves plenty to be desired. I’d choose this world any day,” he said.
“Fair enough.”
Suddenly Leanne dropped to her knees. I thought she had found what she was looking for until she lurched forward. Before she hit her head, I managed to catch her. Not realizing that we had stopped, Oliver tripped over the two of us and pitched forward.
“Aiiieeeee!” he squealed. I heard a splat and then, “Ugh, mud! My designer jeans are ruined!”
I ignored Oliver and held Leanne as her eyes stared beyond me, watching something only she could see. After thirty seconds she was back.
She blinked a few times. “Sorry about that. There’s powerful magic out here.”
“What did you see?” I asked.
Her brows furrowed. “I’m not sure. It all happened in the dark. But it looked like two men—they were definitely criminals. All I really caught was that they were listening to a soccer game on the radio—so they must’ve been in a car. I think someone else was there, but I can’t be sure. It was so dark.”
“Do all your premonitions happen this way?”
“Pretty much,” Leanne sat up, “although they are usually less forceful than that one.”
Oliver moaned a few feet away. “Oh, I see how it is. No one cares about me. Please, continue chatting about visions.”
“We better go help the princess,” Leanne said.
We got Oliver back on his feet and began walking again—albeit to the chorus of his complaints. Ahead of us the forest brightened, hurting my eyes.
“I think we’re almost there,” I said, mesmerized by the ethereal beauty of what I was seeing. This must be the grove.
The wind carried a melody, sung by some unseen being. I wondered how Oliver and Leanne were experiencing this. For me it was easy to imagine a nearby door to the Otherworld.
Before we got closer, Leanne said, “I think we should stop here. We don’t want to accidently annoy the wee folk.”
“Too late,” Oliver chimed in, “you already have.”
“You should’ve just stayed home like I said.”
“Hmph.”
We spent the better part of an hour groping for herbs. My night vision hardly helped, since I had no idea how to distinguish plants.
It was as I leaned against a tree, taking a break, that I heard a chuckle. I whipped around.