Chapter 3 A young grandfather
Verona
“Who are you, and what do you want?” he growled, his voice rough. I swallowed hard, trying to speak calmly. “My name is Verona, and I came to find Evan Luther. Are you—”
Before I could finish, he shut the door right in my face.
My eyes widened, a sharp gasp leaving me as I knocked again. “Please, open the door! Are you Evan? Please, I need to talk to you!” I shouted, and the tears I had been holding back spilled over. Why was he so heartless?
Another howl echoed through the darkness outside, and panic twisted through me as I looked around helplessly. “Katara, I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” I whispered, stroking her gently, trying to calm both of us.
The door opened again, and it was the same man. “Get in,” he ordered. I grabbed my bag quickly and stepped inside, silently grateful that he’d come back for me.
Inside the mansion, everything was dark. Only candle flames lit the long hallway.
“Follow me,” the big man said, and I obeyed.
I was terrified, of course, but being in here was still better than being outside alone.
We walked for a while until he stopped and knocked on a door.
“Come in,” a calm voice answered.
The man pushed the door open, glanced at me over his shoulder, and said, “Enter.”
I slipped past him into the room.
It was dim here as well—just a few candles casting a weak glow. Standing by the window was a man dressed in a deep red robe, his long blond hair shining like it held the only light in the room.
When he turned to face me, I froze. Saying he was handsome wouldn’t even begin to cover it.
His sleek blond hair, those piercing eyes, the delicate but striking features—he looked almost unreal. His gaze stayed fixed on me as he spoke. “I am Evan Luther. Now tell me, child, why do you seek me?”
Child? He looked younger than I did. But I kept quiet; the last thing I wanted was to be thrown out into the creepy night.
“I came because my nana told me to find you,” I explained. I already felt foolish. He raised an eyebrow, so I continued, “She said you were her friend. But I… didn’t expect you to look this young.”
He suddenly burst into laughter.
“You foolish humans,” he said.
Humans? Aren’t we all? I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue.
“And who is this nana of yours?” he asked after calming down.
Katara was strangely silent in my arms, and uneasiness prickled through me. Maybe coming here was a mistake.
“Dolores Winchester,” I whispered, lowering my eyes. When I looked up again, his expression had changed completely.
Slowly, he walked toward me—his eyes locked on mine. Something in me wanted to run, but my body refused to move.
When he reached me, he raised his hand and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. There was a flicker of shock in his eyes, something almost unsteady.
“Then why are you human?” he asked quietly.
What? “Aren’t we all?” I whispered back, utterly confused.
He dropped his hand. “I see,” he murmured. “If you are Dolores’s granddaughter… then you are mine as well.”
What? I didn't know when I began laughing.
But he didn’t laugh, and that alone made my smile fade.
“You’re joking, right? How can you say you’re my grandfather?” I asked. I couldn’t believe I was actually having this conversation with him. Coming here truly was a mistake—first thing tomorrow morning, I’m heading back home.
“Your grandmother never told you anything, did she?” he asked, and I had no answer. What was she even supposed to tell me?
“You are a descendant of the Luthers… my grandchild.”
This man was insane. Irritation began creeping up my spine.
“Please, I don’t think this is funny,” I told him. But he only shook his head and smiled.
“You ignorant child. I’m assuming your being here means she’s gone, isn’t she?”
I pressed my lips together, the truth hitting me all over again. My nana was dead.
“How did she die?” he asked, his voice suddenly low. The question caught me off guard, and something in me told me to answer quickly.
“In my arms,” I whispered, remembering that horrible day.
He nodded slowly, his gaze drifting away as he sighed.
“My wife never wanted this life for you, so I’m wondering why she sent you here.”
Was he really that deep in his delusion—thinking I was his grandchild?
“I don’t understand what you mean,” I tried reasoning, and he looked back at me.
“You don’t need to understand right now. Tori will show you to a room. Tomorrow, we’ll talk properly.”
His tone shifted, sharp enough to make me blink, but I still nodded.
Tomorrow?
Yeah… I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“This way,” the big guy, Tori, said. I hadn’t even realized he was still standing there while this man went on with his nonsense.
“Okay,” I replied quietly. As I turned, Tori took my luggage from my hand—
and did he just bow?
The intimidating expression he carried earlier was gone. I glanced back at Evan, whose eyes were fixed on me and he smiled, then I turned away and followed Tori. But the moment the door shut behind us, I flinched.
A scream—raw and wild, burst from the room I had just left.
Evan was yelling at the top of his lungs like a man who had completely lost his mind.
Tori paused for a moment, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. I swallowed hard and hurried after him.
Had I walked into a psychiatric ward?
Nothing made sense, not from the minute I arrived at the airport, and definitely not after stepping into this place my nana sent me to.
When he showed me to a room, it was completely different from the one I’d stepped into earlier. No dripping candles or gloomy shadow, just a chandelier glittering overhead, a warm lamp by the bedside, and a massive, luxurious bed. And despite not even expecting me, the place was spotless.
“This used to be your grandma’s,” Tori said.
I spun around so fast my hair whipped. “What?” I asked, stunned.
He gave me a small smile, and somehow the giant of a man suddenly didn’t seem so intimidating.
“I know none of this makes sense to you, madam. But in time, it will,” he said, bowing again before walking away.
Everyone here kept speaking in riddles, and I honestly felt like I was inches away from losing my mind.
I turned back to the room, taking it in again.
If this really was Nana’s room… then was any of what he said true? Was Evan actually my grandfather?
No.
I shook my head hard.
What was I even thinking? He looked too young to be my father—grandfather? Absolutely not.
