Page 122 of The Vampire's Soul
But he’d stayed out of things while being an adviser to the king. Not wanting to cross the line. Never knowing the clock was closer to midnight than any of them could imagine.
That it would escalate so fucking fast.
When Brayden glanced his way, Ari drew in a deep breath.
It was time.
Time to tell his story.
To tell his remaining family the truth.
“I began my life as a human,” Ari said, and every head swiveled to his in surprise.
“Ari.” Sage gasped, clutching his shirt. She was the only person alive who knew his story.
All of it.
None of it mattered now. They had three minutes.
“What? Now you fucking tell us!” Brayden exclaimed. “When we have only seconds left to live. Jesus.”
Ari smiled because there was a twinkle in his nephew’s eyes.
“Sorry no time for Q&A, but I can tell you that it was God that changed my brother and me. Your grandfather. He came to us one night, standing on our dusty path, and gave us instructions to birth a new race.”
“Jesus Christ.” Willow gasped. “He’s real?”
Ari lifted a shoulder.
There was still a question around that. He said he was, but how would they know? Aside from the fact, he did give them powers and changed them into a new species.
“It was a long time ago and while I’ve questioned it almost every day, I’m certain it was him.”
At least ninety-nine percent certain.
Gio and he had talked many times over the hundreds of years they walked the earth together. There were a few things they shared different memories of but never disagreed about one key point.
They both believed it was God.
“Well, that prick hasn’t shown up to save us, so if he did create us, fat lot of good he is now.” Vincent said, lifting a remote and clicking the TV on the wall.
Ari didn’t disagree.
The main news channel appeared, showing streets in chaos. People ran for their lives, buildings exploded, and what looked like looting was taking place. Cars were on fire, and wild animals were running in the streets.
Had the cages at the zoo been opened up?
“Oh God.” Kate cried, picking up Lucca as a lion leaped in the air, attacking a group of people running through Times Square.
Isabella started to cry.
Brayden scooped her up, wrapping his other arm around Willow.
“How long?” Sage asked, pressing her face into his chest.
Ari looked at the timer on the screen.
T-minus thirty seconds.
