Unearthed by Rachael Wade Read Free Book Online Page B

why I’m shocked to be alive right now, sitting here, speaking to you.” She flashed me another small smile, one that obviously begged for a little sympathy.
    Murdered? Awakened? Holy crap, she really was Sleeping Beauty. Well, sort of. “Yeah, I can see how that would be…difficult. Can I ask who, who killed you?” Sensitive etiquette, be damned. I had to know.
    “Samira.”
    My legs sent my body catapulting straight up from the chair. “Excuse me?”
    “Samira, my sister. We’re twins, in case you haven’t noticed.”
    It must’ve been all the blood that rushed to my head when I stood too quickly that sent me dropping back to the rocking chair seat. I landed with a thud, my hands reaching and gripping the arm rests. I gulped. “I’m sorry, can you say that again?”
    Her responsive smile was offering up sympathy now, instead of requesting some. “Samira and I are twins. She—along with your friends and some others—awakened me, as a link.”
    “Awakened you...from Earth?”
    “Yes. They have been trying to find a way to undo Gérard’s spell, the one that keeps you all trapped here, in this realm, even after his death. Spells by original witches, no matter how strong, usually don’t have permanent power like the one he left behind did. Once a witch dies, their spells are often broken. Of course, there are always exceptions. There are all kinds of conjure loop holes. The other originals believe Gérard’s spell was cemented due to a mixture of those loop holes and the fact that he was a hybrid. We aren’t positive, but it’s a theory.”
    “You’re telling me Samira and my friends back home sent you to communicate with us? And that Samira, your sister… murdered you?”
    “They’ve been trying to reach you for years, ever since they returned to Earth. Samira and I have a long, troubled relationship. She acted out in rage.” Her head dropped, as if she was ashamed of something. “I can see what led her to her actions.”
    My body surged with adrenaline and I found myself back on my feet, moving toward her. I couldn’t believe this woman was justifying what her sister had done. Samira had a twin sister, and she was communicating to us with our friends, from Earth. Audrey, Gabe, Josh, Arianna, and Gavin’s mother, Erica…all trying to reach us.
    Total and complete craziness.
    “Anastasia,” I began slowly, calling her gaze back to mine. “You do realize you’re being awfully nonchalant about your sister killing you, right?” I moved to sit next to her, swiveling my rigid body to face her. Was this woman for real?
    “I know how it must sound,” she laughed dryly, giving a shrug, “but I hurt her.”
    “And you believe that warrants murder? Of a family member?” I knew Samira was responsible for immeasurable bloodshed, long before her journey to the good side, but killing her own sister? That was outrageous, even for a vicious vampire queen.
    “I was originally promised the Amaranthian throne, long before the realm was ever created. Gérard seduced me, telling me he’d be my king, promising me all these wonderful things. But then he went and fell in love with Samira, and I was eventually cast aside. He never looked at me the way he looked at Samira. I was just a plaything for him.”
    “That sounds like Gérard,” I said quietly, feeling a shiver roll down my back. It felt so wrong, saying his name aloud, almost like if we spoke it, we’d summon him back to life. Images of Scarlet invaded my train of thought, as did the recollection of her affair with Gérard and how it had crushed Samira. The new knowledge that Samira had endured the pain of other affairs, alongside Scarlet, cut me deeply. So much loss because of one man.
    One monster.
    “At first, I didn’t mind,” Anastasia continued assuredly. “Honestly. I wasn’t interested in being a mistress or second best, and they seemed truly happy together. They were in love. But Gérard’s infidelity always got the best of him.