Chapter 19. The Oath

When I pulled the bloody pendant out of the envelope, Dylan and I both caught our breath. Andrew was tactfully silent and stepped aside because he wasn't the only one affected by the incident.

There was a deathly silence in the living room. It was only after a few seconds that the teenager was able to speak:

— I-it's… It's my sister's!

— «Sister?» — I asked in a voice hoarse with excitement.

— Melinda…» he blurted out, «My older sister.

My pupils dilated in surprise. I turned back to him.

— But how? You didn't say anything about…

— We have a big family,» Dylan reported, «Many brothers and sisters. Melinda is the oldest… When her parents died, she went to work at Cassius Manor to feed us.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

— So it's true…?

The boy nodded.

— My sister told me a lot about you… That's why I was surprised to hear that you were the man who rescued us.