Dark Heirloom (An Ema Marx Novel Book 1) by J.D. Brown Page A

now.
    I shook my head, trying to clear my mind of memories that weren’t my own.
    “He is a good soldier. Loyal. Not like you.”
    This man you speak of so highly is trying to overthrow us.
    “You should not have stripped him of his title. He was loyal to me for hundreds of years. It was wrong of you to expel him from the Council.”
    He committed a crime.
    “He is a vampyre.”
    “Your Majesty? Sir?”
    “Will you shut up?” My fist pounded against the desktop, cracking the mahogany wood. Voi vittu! See what you make me do?
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Jalmari!” Maria hissed. My head snapped in her direction. I had forgotten she was still in the room. Her eyes bulged from their sockets as she scowled at me. I cocked an eyebrow, not understanding. “You just told Naamah to ‘ shut up ’.”
    I blinked several times, shocked at my own behavior, then held the receiver at arm’s length and cleared my throat. In my impatience with the second consciousness in my head, I’d accidently insulted a member of the Neo-Draugrian Council. I brought the phone to my ear again and tried to keep my voice even. “Naamah?”
    “Your Highness.”
    “My sincerest apologies, friend. I was… distracted.”
    “Of course.” He didn’t sound convinced.
    “Um,” I cleared my throat again, unable to remember where the conversation left off before my outburst.
    “The Akkadians, sir.”
    “Right. I can leave for Helsinki tomorrow night. Invite dear Victor over for dinner. I’d like to settle this peacefully, if possible.”
    “You must observe the girl.”
    Jesu can watch her. This is more important.
    “Very well, sir.”
    “Naamah, I apologize, but I must call back later.” I hung up without a proper goodbye, cupped both hands over my face, and sighed.
    “Your Majesty, you never answered my question.” Maria’s voice was soft, yet stern.
    “Tell the R.E.D. they can expect their report in the morning, add that to my list.” I mumbled through my fingers as I held up the folder.
    “That is not the question I was referring to.” She took the folder anyway. “Is everything well, My Lord?”
    “No,” I sighed. “I need a new desk.”
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    Night fell over the island. Silver moonlight snuck through the tiny window above my bed, making the colors and small details of my room stand out. I thought I would feel tired, having been awake for almost twenty-four hours, but my eyelids weren’t the least bit heavy.
    The deafening silence hanging in the air left me bored within minutes. I owned nothing other than a change of clothes and the toiletries in my backpack. All I had to occupy myself was the riddle Jesu left me with.
    Give my brother what he wants. The right story will earn your freedom.
    His words played over and over in my mind, until I was almost certain I had deciphered the meaning. Jesu wanted me to educate myself . Make up a lie, but make sure it was a good one. It had to be so believable that even Leena wouldn’t know it wasn’t true. It also needed to make me insignificant to Jalmari so he wouldn’t see any reason to keep me around. Only then, would I be free to go home.
    But I couldn’t even imagine a lie that would work. I didn’t know why I was here in the first place, or why Jalmari hadn’t just killed me in the alley like he’d intended to. I didn’t know why I had become one of them, but I did know that Jalmari wanted answers just as much as I did.
    Claws scratching against glass drew my attention to the window. The black cat sat just outside.
    “How did you get out there?” I stood on the mattress so I could pull the glass pane up. The black creature glided onto my bed. “I wish I could fit through that window.”
    I smiled as the cat rolled onto his back. I scratched his tummy. He closed his eyes and purred. I didn’t feel as silly talking to the cat knowing no one could hear me.
    “You know, I can take you back to Chicago with me when I get out of here.