“I don’t know, but you will find them.”

“But wait, witches and vampires attacked you tonight. Aren’t they already united?”

“Not all covens fought for good, my dear. Some witches have an incredible lust for power.”

“What happened to my birth mother, and why did you give me to David and Joy Honey?” Amelia asked.

Sybil got up and went to a drawer. She brought out a photo album and walked back over. Sybil opened the first page, and Amelia saw a picture of a dark-haired woman, who looked very like her, cradling a new baby in her arms.

“That’s your mother, Bronte. She came to us when she was nineteen. On the run from something, she wouldn’t talk about it. I became a sort of grandmother figure for her.”

Byron watched Amelia flick through the photo album with tears starting to run down her face. She sat closer and put her arm around Amelia.

“Who was Amelia’s father, Sybil?” Byron asked.

“I don’t know. Bronte realized she was pregnant not long after she joined us, and she wouldn’t talk about the father. She was so happy when she had you, Amelia. Bronte said you gave her life meaning.”

Byron gave Amelia her handkerchief as she began to cry more.

“What happened to her?” Amelia asked.

“I and a few of the elder witches had a vison the night you were born, that you were one of the descendants. We prepared ourselves for a special birthing ceremony, and the night of it, David and Joy Honey and their friends were protesting and singing hymns nearby.” Sybil put her head down. “Anka and her people attacked us. They wanted to kill you.”

Byron pulled Amelia into a hug to give her support.

“What happened?” Amelia asked.

Byron guessed this truth was going to upset Amelia even more.

“They were targeting Bronte, so she gave you to me and told me to get out of the ceremonial circle in the forest. I ran, dodging dark witches along the way, until I ran right into David and Joy’s group. I made a snap decision—I asked them to take you, protect you, and keep you away from anything in our paranormal world, and they did.”

Byron remembered what Joy had said when she lay dying. “Sybil, Joy said she was told one day a vampire would come along. Was that me?”

Sybil smiled. “Yes, you were always part of the vision, part of our plans.”

She watched Amelia trace her fingers over her face in the picture, then say, “Hello, Bronte, hello, Mum.”

Chapter Fourteen

Alexis walked back inside the cabin and found Katie talking on her phone. Trying not to disturb her, Alexis walked to the fridge to get some water. She heard Katie whisper, “You have to be careful, Daisy…Yes, I know I said I would, but…okay, we’ll talk when I get back.”