In the painting, Gustav’s eyes speak something else now. I think the painter captured it: hope that he’d made a difference.
“So it was that the Montgomery line continued, albeit slowly. They were always in danger, but as time passed, their name was forgotten by most families as sons killed fathers to acquire power—we are a bloodthirsty lot. All the original signers eventually perished. Those who came after began to think the Montgomerys nothing more than a myth. But the Ferdinands had made one more promise: They would forever remind the son of Montgomery of his lineage and of his pact to carry it forward. It has been my duty, for five hundred years now, to visit the son of the Montgomery line and to tell him of his true heritage.”
“You mean—”
But she holds up her hand before I can continue, knowing that what I was going to say would pain me too much.
“I never met your father,” she says. “I was unable to reach him in time, and for that I’m deeply sorry. But I did meet his father and told him the truth. It’s amazing. Every time I spoke to a Montgomery, they were rarely shocked. In many ways, I think they’ve always known. Even more telling is their ability to hold it forever, to keep it secret.” She sighs deeply. “Now that is the mark of Old Family.”
“And that’s why you signed that Confirmation Decree.”
“That’s part of the reason, yes. But there’s another, and this is where our little tale takes an interesting twist: No doubt you’ve seen the Montgomery family tree, and no doubt you’ve seen the branch that held two children. Maximillian Montgomery had a son and a daughter: Esmerelda. The first female Montgomery ever born. With her, I saw the chance to finally bring the Montgomerys back out of the shadows. I thought enough time had passed since the warrant was signed; I hoped that the Montgomerys would be embraced. Already the fear of war was growing.
“And so I played matchmaker as it were. Esmerelda was quite simply beautiful, and she had enough Old Family blood in her that she was irresistible. And so I persuaded her to pursue one Murdoch Valentine.”
At this she gives an incredibly wicked smile, and I give one back.
“Your father, Victor, was notorious for taking human companions. Imagine his surprise when he took Esmerelda and found several months later that she had become pregnant with his child.”
He would have been floored. With the exception of the Montgomerys, humans and vampires can’t have children. But Esmerelda had enough Old Family in her that she could carry Murdoch’s son. A son who would grow up to become . . .
“Sin,” I say.
“That’s right. A horrid name given to him by Murdoch. He hated the child from the outset. And he hated him even more when I arrived at his doorstep with the Confirmation Decree, showing that Esmerelda was part of the Montgomery family. Imagine his anger at knowing that he helped to continue that blood line by complete accident, a family his own ancestors had tried to eradicate.”
“No wonder he hated Sin.”
“Yes, and his hatred only grew when he found the child’s gift of day walking. He hated him so much that he did away with the boy’s mother.”
I cringe at that. Victor puts his arm around me.
“I’m so sorry, Dawn,” Lilith says. “I had no idea Murdoch would do that to her. The Valentines were the most powerful family, and they led the charge to compose the death warrant. I thought that if Murdoch’s son were a Montgomery, he would have to do the only honorable thing: embrace the Montgomerys, call an end to the destruction of their family. I thought, at the very least, he would protect Esmerelda. But I was wrong on all counts.”
I think back to the family tree I saw but now fill in the lines myself. Esmerelda Montgomery and Murdoch Valentine, the parents of Sin Valentine. But there was another branch to that tree.
“Esmerelda’s brother,” I prompt.
“Yes,” Lilith says. “The Montgomerys were always to have at least one son to carry on the name. And so a boy named Jonathan was born, and he was your ancestor.
“I’ve kept watch on the Montgomerys from afar,” she continues. “By my count only three remain. You. Sin. And the last full-blooded Montgomery, Octavian. You should meet him. I’m sure he can provide many answers for you. I heard he was somewhere far west of here, somewhere in—”
“The mountains,” I say.
“That’s right.” She pauses. “The mountains.”
I shake my head. “He’s dead. I met him when Sin took me there. He said that we were the last remnants of an Old Family bloodline. He said that, just before killing Octavian and draining his blood.”
Lilith nods, her hands clasped together as though mourning at the man’s funeral.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. “But I’m afraid Sin is more insane than you imagine. The hate inside of him festers without bounds, and it was a hate that began at the hands of your father, Victor. It pains me to say this, but in some ways you shoulder the blame for what Sin has become.”
I’m about to defend Victor when he says, “I know. I knew my father had another son, but he rarely spoke of him. I also knew how strict my father could be, especially if it was a child he did not want. I could have gone back. I could have taken Sin away somehow. But instead I was young, afraid of my father’s wrath, and just left him there.”
“But we can still right it,” I say. “Sin is beyond salvation, but we can still stop him.”
“Perhaps,” Lilith says. “But for that, I believe we must reenter the council chamber. And Dawn, your right as an Old Family vampire I will defend with my life, but that may not be enough to get you the seat you deserve. I see that now. The Council may demand that only full-blooded vampires be allowed onto the Council. But we shall see.”
“Lilith, I don’t know what to say. Everything you’ve done . . .”
“I’ve only played a small part in this. I’ve set the stage, I’ve put the actors out, but you, Dawn Montgomery, will now step into the leading role.”
Chapter 13
Back in the council chamber our welcome isn’t exactly warm. No telling what they’ve been talking about since we left.
Lord Paxton rises. “Miss Montgomery, we have examined your documents. We cannot deny that you have some trace of vampire blood in you, but you are not a vampire. Only a full vampire may sit on the Council. Are you willing to be turned?”
“No,” Victor says adamantly.
“Why, young Valentine? If she would join us, then surely she would want to be like us.”
Victor places his hands on my shoulders, turns me, and gazes into my eyes. “I’ll die before I let you be turned.”
“There’s no need for me to be turned,” I say, speaking with the conviction of truth. “I have Old Family blood in my veins. I can trace my lineage back as far as anyone at this table. Those facts alone give me the right to be here.”
“She is right,” Lilith says, standing as well. “She is of the Montgomery family. Her blood gives her a right to sit on the Council.”
“Perhaps,” Lord Paxton says. “But the concern exists that she will be more interested in her human side than her vampire. Dawn, you’ve spent your entire life living in the world of humans, yet if you would have a voice here, we need to be assured that your loyalty would be to us vampires. Perhaps a test is all that is required. Would you be willing to agree to that?”