Blood Ties

"Careful with that chalice!" Nicolas reached for my arm. Blood dripped onto my white dress.

"I'm fine—" The room spun. Power surged through me.

"You're not fine, Valentina. Let me help you." Nicolas's grip tightened.

"The ceremony affects everyone differently," Adrian's voice cut in. "Especially first-timers."

Elena's heels clicked closer. "Such a shame to ruin that beautiful dress."

"It's just a dress." I pulled away from Nicolas. A server bumped my shoulder.

"Mrs. Salvatore." The young man's whisper carried urgency. "Dr. Martinez needs you. Now."

"Valentina." My father's voice boomed across the room. "A moment in my study?"

"Of course, Father."

Nicolas blocked my path. "We should get you cleaned up first."

"It won't take long," my father insisted.

The study door clicked shut behind us. Father spread a map across his desk. "Beautiful ceremony. Though mixing blood creates... interesting situations."

"What do you mean?"

"Family should stick together. Blood calls to blood." He tapped Nicolas's territory on the map. "Some obstacles need removing."

"You want to kill him."

"Such an ugly word. I prefer... strategic elimination."

"And what about family loyalty?"

"Ask your mother about loyalty." His smile turned cruel. "Both your mothers."

"What?"

"Oh? Didn't Valentina tell you about her mother? Such a lovely woman. Your father's type, clearly."

My phone buzzed. A text from the twins' guard: "Clinic under attack. Martinez in danger."

"Excuse me—"

"We're not finished."

"I'm feeling unwell."

I rushed through corridors, found the communications room. Typed warnings with shaking hands.

"Looking for something?" Elena's voice froze me at the library entrance.

"Family records."

"Fascinating reading." She held up an old ledger. "Especially the parts about Valentina's true parentage."

"Give me that."

"Why? Worried about what it reveals?" She circled closer. "About who you really are?"

Books crashed from shelves. Glass shattered.

"What do you know?" I demanded.

"That blood tells interesting stories. And yours doesn't match the official version."

Through walls, I heard Nicolas: "Show me the surveillance photos again. Compare them to before her accident."

I fled to my old bedroom. Candles flickered on Santa Muerte's altar.

"Blood of my blood." The saint's voice whispered. "Choose your bonds carefully."

Elena's footsteps approached. "Found your sanctuary?"

A raven slammed against glass. Past, present, and future collided in mirror reflections.

"Time to choose sides," Elena called through the door. "Before we choose for you."

The blood oath burned beneath my skin. Two hundred days to decide: revenge or redemption. Family or freedom. Death or destiny.

"Ready or not," Elena's voice carried darkly. "Here we come."

The door burst open. "Found something interesting?" Elena's smile gleamed.

"Just memories." I backed toward the altar.

"Memories?" She picked up a candle. "Like the memory of Isabella Romano's last night alive?"

My heart stopped. "What about her?"

"Adrian described it so beautifully at our wedding." She traced the flame. "The way she begged. The way she died alone."

"You're sick."

"No, just practical." She set down the candle. "Like Valentina was, before her accident."

Nicolas's voice cut through: "Step away from my wife, Elena."

"Nicolas!" Elena's smile never wavered. "We were just reminiscing."

"About Isabella Romano?" His eyes locked with mine. "Interesting choice."

"You've been investigating her death," I said.

"Among other things." He moved closer. "Like why my wife suddenly fights differently."

Elena laughed. "Oh, this is delicious."

"Shut up," Nicolas and I said together.

"The blood oath revealed things, didn't it?" Elena pressed. "Things about Valentina's true family?"

Nicolas's gun appeared. "Last warning."

"Ask her about the ledger," Elena taunted. "About her father's other daughter."

"Enough!" I grabbed the altar cloth. Candles crashed.

"Valentina—" Nicolas started.

"That's not my name!" The words escaped before I could stop them.

Silence fell. Elena's triumph radiated.

"What did you say?" Nicolas's voice turned dangerous.

A crash downstairs saved me. Guards shouted. Gunshots echoed.

"They're here for Martinez," I said. "Your father's men."

"How do you—" Nicolas's phone buzzed. His face hardened. "The clinic's under attack."

"The twins—" Fear gripped me.

"Are safe." He grabbed my arm. "Unlike you if we don't move."

Elena blocked the door. "She's not who you think."

"Neither are you." Nicolas's gun pressed against her ribs. "Move."

We rushed through chaos. Guards fought in hallways. Alarms blared.

"The communications room," I pulled his arm. "We can warn Martinez's backup."

"You know about that?"

"I know a lot of things."

"Clearly." His jaw tightened. "We'll discuss how later."

The room's electronics sparked at my touch. Screens flickered.

"How are you doing that?" Nicolas watched me type codes.

"The blood oath... changed things."

"Changed you? Or revealed you?"

Guards burst in. "Sir! They've breached the east wing!"

"Get her to the panic room," Nicolas ordered.

"No!" I fought his grip. "The shrine room. Take me there."

"Why?"

"Trust me."

"That's the problem." He studied my face. "I don't know who I'm trusting anymore."

"But you feel it, don't you?" I touched his chest. "The connection's real."

"Real?" Elena's voice dripped acid from the doorway. "Like Isabella's suicide was real?"

Nicolas's gun swung up. "Explain."

"Ask her how she knows things only Isabella knew." Elena smiled. "Ask her why she fights like someone trained by Romano's security, not Salvatore's."

"You're trapped," I told her. "Martinez has proof about Isabella's murder."

"Had proof." Elena checked her phone. "Past tense."

"The twins!" I gasped. "They were at the clinic!"

"Safe with their real mother's brother." Elena's eyes gleamed. "For now."

Nicolas's grip tightened painfully. "What do you mean, real mother?"

"Take me to the shrine," I begged. "I can explain everything."

"Too late." Elena raised her gun. "Some secrets should stay buried."

The room plunged into darkness. Electronics died.

"What the—" Elena stumbled.

Power surged through my veins. Santa Muerte's whisper filled my head: "Choose now, child."

"I choose truth." Light exploded from my hands.

Elena screamed. Nicolas cursed.

When vision returned, blood dripped from my nose. Elena lay unconscious.

"The twins are safe," Nicolas's phone chirped. "Martinez too."

"Nicolas—"

"Don't." His eyes burned. "Just tell me one thing. Are you my wife?"

"I'm in her body."

"Isabella?"

The name hung between us. Through our blood bond, I felt his turmoil.

"The shrine," I whispered. "I'll show you everything."

Gunfire erupted below. Time was running out.

"Lead the way," he said. "But remember – I know how to kill ghosts."

"The shrine door slammed shut behind us. The darkness enveloped me, and the world tilted. Then—nothing."

Santa Muerte’s whisper filled my ears: "Truth demands sacrifice." My vision blurred, power surging and draining in the same heartbeat. I staggered, Nicolas’s grip steadying me. The altar loomed, and then—blackness.