Chapter 32: Where to Begin

Hallie’s POV

“I mean, I have over a century of knowledge, Hallie, I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

River’s voice is low and raspy, and his eyes are soft as they watch me from across the room. They are still completely red, and although the color is bright and should be intimidating, I happen to find comfort in them. They feel warm and inviting.

“Well…you can start by telling me why there is someone who looks exactly like you in a photograph my professor showed to the class.”

River’s tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip as his legs give out and he slowly slides to the floor with his back still pressed against it. “Because it’s me.”

“It’s y-you in the photograph? From a century ago?”

He nods, “Yeah, it’s me. That was my whole family. We had just been turned into vampires a few years before that photo was taken. We had no idea what we were doing with our new lives, which is how the hunters managed to find us.”

I swallow hard. “Did they…kill everyone?”