CHAPTER 6 — THE SECOND DAUGHTER
CHAPTER 6 — THE SECOND DAUGHTER
The laughter stopped.
Claire stared at the staircase.
No one moved.
The basement seemed to hold its breath.
Richard was still looking at Daniel.
“Say it again.”
Daniel's eyes remained closed.
“I am not your biological father.”
Richard swallowed.
“Then who is?”
Daniel opened his eyes.
“Adrian.”
Richard shook his head.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
“Adrian was your father.”
“Yes.”
“And now you're saying he is my biological father?”
“No.”
Daniel's voice was barely above a whisper.
“Adrian is your grandfather.”
Richard stared at him.
“Then who is my father?”
Daniel looked at Claire.
She knew what he was going to say before he said it.
“Your father was my younger brother.”
Richard froze.
“You had another brother?”
Daniel nodded.
“His name was Thomas.”
Claire felt a chill.
She had never heard that name.
Not once.
“Why has nobody ever mentioned him?”
Daniel's face tightened.
“Because Thomas was the reason everything began.”
Richard stepped closer.
“What happened to him?”
“He disappeared.”
“When?”
“Before you were born.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Because Evelyn killed him.”
A terrible silence followed.
Then the lights went out.
Again.
Claire grabbed Richard's arm.
“Stay beside me.”
“I am.”
Jonathan reached for his weapon.
“Everyone stay still.”
A soft click came from somewhere in the darkness.
A door opening.
Then footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming down the stairs.
Jonathan raised his gun.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
The emergency lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then came back on.
A woman stood at the bottom of the staircase.
She was young.
Perhaps twenty-five.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
A black coat.
And a scar running from beneath her left ear to the edge of her jaw.
Richard stared.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at Daniel.
For the first time, Daniel looked terrified.
“No.”
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at her.
“My name is Clara.”
Daniel whispered:
“That's impossible.”
Clara smiled again.
“You said that fifteen years ago.”
Jonathan lowered his weapon.
His face had gone white.
“Clara?”
She looked at him.
“You remember me.”
Jonathan took a step backward.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Richard looked between them.
“Someone explain.”
Clara answered.
“I am the second daughter.”
Richard frowned.
“Second daughter of whom?”
Clara looked at Daniel.
“Of the Blackwood family.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You died.”
Clara's expression hardened.
“No.”
“You were killed.”
“I survived.”
Claire stared at her.
“Who tried to kill you?”
Clara smiled without humor.
“You already know.”
“Evelyn?”
Clara nodded.
“She tried to kill me too.”
Richard looked confused.
“Why?”
Clara walked toward him.
“Because I knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That you were never the only child they were hiding.”
She stopped inches from him.
“You were the son.”
Richard looked at her.
“And you?”
“The daughter.”
Daniel turned his head away.
Claire couldn't understand.
“Daniel, how many children were there?”
He didn't answer.
“Daniel.”
“Three.”
Richard's expression changed.
“Three?”
Daniel nodded.
“You.”
He looked at Richard.
“Clara.”
Then he looked toward the darkness.
“And Thomas.”
Richard's voice cracked.
“Thomas was my father?”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Thomas was your uncle.”
Richard looked at Clara.
“And you're my sister?”
Clara nodded.
“Half-sister.”
Richard stared at her.
“Who is your mother?”
Clara's smile disappeared.
“Evelyn.”
Silence.
Richard's face hardened.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're saying Evelyn is your mother?”
Clara nodded.
“She gave birth to me.”
“Then why did she try to kill you?”
“Because I wasn't supposed to survive.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Why?”
Clara looked at Daniel.
“Because I was born with the wrong blood.”
Richard frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Clara's eyes became cold.
“My father wasn't the man Evelyn wanted.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Who was?”
Clara answered:
“Adrian.”
Richard's blood ran cold.
“Adrian was your father?”
Clara nodded.
“And you are…”
She looked at Richard.
“My sister.”
The room seemed too small.
Too much history had been buried beneath the Blackwood house.
Too many children.
Too many lies.
Too many people who had been erased.
Richard stared at Clara.
“If we're related, why didn't I know about you?”
“Because your family erased me.”
“Why?”
“Because I was proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Clara looked at Daniel.
“That Adrian had two children.”
Claire frowned.
“But Adrian was supposed to have no legitimate heirs.”
“Exactly.”
Clara walked to the table and picked up the old photograph.
She turned it toward Richard.
“This was taken the day I was born.”
Richard studied it.
Evelyn stood beside a hospital bed.
She looked younger.
Happier.
And beside her stood Adrian.
His hand rested on Evelyn's shoulder.
Clara was in Evelyn's arms.
But someone had scratched Adrian's face from the photograph.
Richard touched the damaged image.
“Why was his face destroyed?”
Clara's voice was quiet.
“Because they wanted to erase him.”
“Who?”
“Elias.”
Claire looked at her.
“Elias Blackwood?”
Clara nodded.
“He wanted the empire.”
“And Adrian stood in his way.”
“Yes.”
Richard looked at Daniel.
“And you knew?”
“I learned later.”
“When?”
“After Thomas disappeared.”
Richard's jaw tightened.
“You all knew something.”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“And you let me believe I was alone.”
Daniel whispered:
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
Clara walked toward the old observation room.
She opened a cabinet.
Inside was a stack of files.
She pulled out one.
“Read this.”
Richard took it.
His hands trembled.
It was a medical record.
The name at the top:
CLARA BLACKWOOD.
Underneath:
Cause of presumed death: drowning.
Richard looked up.
“You were declared dead.”
“Yes.”
“But you're alive.”
“I was eleven.”
“What happened?”
Clara's eyes darkened.
“Evelyn took me to the lake.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
“She tried to drown you?”
Clara nodded.
“She held my head underwater.”
Richard stared.
“Why?”
“Because I had found the ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“The original Blackwood inheritance ledger.”
Claire immediately understood.
“The document proving Adrian's ownership.”
Clara nodded.
“It also proved Richard's inheritance.”
Richard stared.
“So that's why they wanted you dead.”
“No.”
Clara looked at him.
“They wanted me dead because I knew where the ledger was.”
“Where?”
Clara smiled.
“Under the lake.”
They went outside before dawn.
Blackwood Lake was covered in mist.
Clara led them to the old pier.
Richard followed.
Claire stayed close to Daniel, who had been moved into a wheelchair.
Jonathan carried a lantern.
Clara stopped at the edge.
“It's beneath us.”
Richard stared at the water.
“What is?”
“The truth.”
Jonathan looked uneasy.
“Clara, no.”
She turned.
“You've hidden it long enough.”
“I was trying to keep everyone alive.”
“You failed.”
Jonathan said nothing.
Clara removed her coat.
Richard grabbed her arm.
“You're not diving into that.”
She looked at him.
“I've done it before.”
“When?”
“Fifteen years ago.”
She pointed toward the lake.
“That night.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“You were there?”
Clara nodded.
“I saw Daniel.”
“You saw him alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
Clara looked at Daniel.
“He was carrying something.”
“What?”
“The ledger.”
Daniel looked away.
“And then?”
Clara's expression became haunted.
“Elias came.”
Richard frowned.
“Elias was supposed to be dead.”
“He wasn't.”
“What happened?”
Clara whispered:
“He shot Thomas.”
Richard froze.
“Thomas was there?”
“Yes.”
“He was trying to save Daniel.”
“And?”
Clara looked toward the lake.
“He fell into the water.”
“Did he die?”
“I don't know.”
Claire stared at her.
“Then why did everyone say Thomas disappeared?”
“Because they needed him to disappear.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Who is Thomas?”
Clara looked at him.
“Your father.”
Richard stopped breathing.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Claire turned toward him.
“You said Thomas was his uncle.”
Daniel's face crumbled.
“I lied.”
Richard stared at him.
“You lied?”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas wasn't supposed to be your father.”
Richard's voice rose.
“But he was!”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
The world went silent.
Richard looked at Claire.
Then at Clara.
Then at Daniel.
“Who am I?”
Clara answered softly.
“You are Thomas Blackwood's son.”
Richard's knees nearly gave way.
“But Daniel raised me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas disappeared.”
“Where is he?”
Clara looked at the lake.
“We don't know.”
A sound came from the trees.
Everyone turned.
A branch snapped.
Jonathan raised his gun.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
Then a voice came through the mist.
“Clara.”
She froze.
Richard whispered:
“Who is that?”
Clara's face had lost all color.
“I don't know.”
The voice came again.
“Come home.”
Clara stepped backward.
“No.”
A figure emerged from the trees.
An elderly man.
Tall.
Straight-backed.
His hair completely white.
He wore a dark overcoat.
Richard stared.
Something about the man's face felt familiar.
Not because he had seen him.
Because he had seen his eyes.
In photographs.
In mirrors.
In himself.
Clara whispered:
“Adrian.”
Daniel gripped the arms of his wheelchair.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Hello, son.”
Daniel's face twisted with emotion.
“You're alive.”
“I never died.”
“You let us believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
Daniel's voice broke.
“You left your children.”
Adrian looked at Clara.
“I came back for her.”
Clara shook her head.
“You came back too late.”
Adrian looked at Richard.
Then stopped.
His expression changed.
“You.”
Richard stared.
“Me?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You look exactly like Thomas.”
Richard's heart hammered.
“You knew my father?”
Adrian nodded.
“I watched him grow up.”
“Where is he?”
Adrian's eyes darkened.
“I don't know.”
Richard stepped toward him.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“You're the only person who can know.”
Adrian looked at the lake.
“I saw him fall.”
“Then he died.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“He survived.”
Richard froze.
“Where is he?”
Adrian looked directly into his eyes.
“He came back.”
Claire felt a chill.
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
Richard's face went white.
“Where?”
Adrian reached into his coat.
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed a man standing outside a hospital.
Older.
Scarred.
But alive.
Thomas.
Richard stared at his father's face.
“He's alive.”
Adrian nodded.
“Your father has been searching for you.”
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why didn't he come?”
Adrian's voice became quiet.
“Because he was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Adrian looked toward the trees.
“Of the woman following him.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“Evelyn.”
Adrian nodded.
“She has never stopped hunting the children.”
Clara stepped forward.
“She tried to kill me.”
“She tried to kill Richard.”
“She tried to kill Daniel.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“Evelyn is dangerous.”
“But she isn't the one giving the orders.”
Silence.
Richard stared.
“Then who is?”
Adrian looked at him.
“The woman behind the smile.”
Claire frowned.
“Evelyn?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Someone older.”
“Who?”
Adrian's expression became grim.
“The woman who raised Evelyn.”
Claire's blood ran cold.
“Elias's wife?”
Adrian nodded.
“Your grandmother.”
Richard stared.
“She died thirty years ago.”
Adrian smiled sadly.
“No.”
“She never died.”
“She disappeared.”
Adrian looked toward the mansion.
“She has been living beneath Blackwood Lake for thirty years.”
Clara stepped backward.
“No.”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
Richard looked at the dark water.
“What is beneath the lake?”
Adrian answered:
“A second house.”
Claire felt her stomach tighten.
“A house?”
“An underground estate.”
“Why?”
“To hide the people who knew too much.”
Daniel suddenly grabbed Claire's wrist.
“Go.”
She looked at him.
“Daniel?”
“Take Richard.”
“Why?”
His eyes were filled with terror.
“Because if she's awake…”
A distant bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Adrian turned toward the lake.
“The door is opening.”
The water began to ripple.
Not from wind.
From below.
A circle formed in the middle of the lake.
Then another.
Something massive moved beneath the surface.
Richard stared.
“What is that?”
Adrian whispered:
“The entrance.”
The lake began draining.
Water disappeared into a hidden opening.
Stone steps emerged from beneath the surface.
One.
Then another.
Then another.
A staircase leading downward.
Into darkness.
Clara looked at Richard.
“We have to go.”
Richard stared at the submerged staircase.
“No.”
Claire grabbed his arm.
“Richard.”
He looked at her.
“My father is down there.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Richard turned.
“What?”
Daniel's face was pale.
“Your father isn't down there.”
Richard froze.
“Then who is?”
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“The woman who started all of this.”
A woman's voice floated across the lake.
Soft.
Almost affectionate.
“Children…”
Everyone froze.
The voice continued.
“Come home.”
Claire recognized it.
She had heard it once before.
Fifteen years ago.
At the funeral.
The voice of the woman who had stood behind the coffin.
The voice of the woman who had smiled while everyone else cried.
Claire whispered:
“Evelyn?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
The voice came again.
“You've kept me waiting long enough.”
The hidden staircase disappeared beneath a sudden surge of water.
And on the shore, beneath the moonlight, someone had left a single white envelope.
Richard picked it up.
His name was written across the front.
He opened it.
Inside was one sentence.
RICHARD, IF YOU WANT TO MEET YOUR FATHER, COME ALONE.
At the bottom was a signature.
Not Evelyn.
Not Adrian.
Not Clara.
Not Daniel.
May you like
A name none of them had heard in fifteen years.
Thomas Blackwood.
