e grandfather clock echoed like a warning. Celestine led Seraphina through a narrow side corridor, her bare feet padding silently o

of the Avarelle bloodline, regal and cold. Their faces stared down wi

e looking for?" Seraphi

there's a room-my father's study. He

eyebrow. "So how are

ll, silver key from a

linked. "Yo

ngers against a portrait of her grandfather. The wall behind

aled en

pine. "Of course there's a secret pas

r stacked perfectly, every pen aligned. But Celestine went straight to the cabinet in the co

the key.

boxes. Dozens of them.

as she reached for one marked

single ultrasound scan, labeled with a nam

over, reading the name ups

roat was dry.

name Celestine Avarelle. The other with Elira Marelle Avarelle. Twins. Both

n Elira's certificate.

paper as if it were a

eted me," sh

a handwritten note tucked behind it. Just

ificed. The name

H

sk. "Sacrificed?" she hissed. "They knew. They

ed. "It's him. Howard A

whose portrait hung in the main

y just chose you. Like you were worth

t this means. They used me. Just like they erased you. We're both

h the glass frames, rip down the lies from every wall. But ins

nts. I want to know why. Why did they choose me to be discar

ing the rest of the files, scanning quickly

addressed to Seraphina, but it had never been sent. T

owly, her fingers gr

augh

m my arms. Said one child was enough. That the second would bring shame, questions. I screamed. I begged. They told me you

didn't know.

ther, An

buckled and she sank to the floor, tears spilling f

er, unsure if she should r

Seraphina choked out. "She... s

er voice soft. "The

oared now-fueled by betraya

gea

voice steel. "Everything they to

e pale. "If you come back, if you re

Seraphin

elestine ad

eyes l

s, not as replacements-but as two broken girls thrown into

aphina said. "They ruined m

ly a whisper. "Then we bri