"MELANTHEA!" my step dad yelled. I laughed and ran up the steps, knowing he was going to kill me.

All this over a tiny piece of pizza.

Okay, yes, there had been a large note on it saying 'Do Not Touch: Melanthea, this means you!' but when you're hungry, you're hungry, right?

I ran up the steps, stopping in the middle of the hall way. I yanked the rope hanging from the ceiling, revealing the trap door that les to the attic. I climbed up the ladder that always came down instantly and closed it behind me, pulling up the rope as well so my step dad couldn't climb up after me. A couple minutes later U heard pounding on the trap door.

"Melanthea Rose Jones!" Harry, my step dad, shouted "Open this door RIGHT NOW."
"No." I replied, stubbornly "And for the last time, it's Gracewelle! G-R-A-C-E-W-E-L-L-E! What about that do you not comprehend?"
"Leave her alone Harry." Diana said, quietly. "It was just a piece of pizza." Harry growled.
"But it was mine!" he protested. I rolled my eyes.
"Honestly, Harry, grow up." I called "I'm fourteen. Get over it." Harry grumbled something about not getting any respect in this house, the stormed off.
"Come out when you're ready, Thea." Diana said. I didn't reply. I moved over to the corner of the attic, where all the boxes with my mother's stuff were. I sat down and pulled out the photo album. I opened it. On the first page was a picture of a smiling woman with dark hair and green eyes. My mother. Lilac Gracewelle. I stroked the picture, feeling the familiar pang in my heart. Underneath the picture were words, scawled in an elegant script.

Lilac Gracewelle
Species: Witch
Association: Assasins
Family: Married to Harry Jones. One daughter (Melanthea Rose), two brothers, one sister.

How many times had I read those words? How many tears had fallen on this page? Too many. I turned the page, revealing a grinning man in his early twenties. He had the same dark hair as my mom, but his eyes were a stormy gray.

Drake Gracewelle
Species: Warlock
Association: Assains
Family: Married to Amber Walsh, no children. Two sisters, one brother, one niece.

My uncle Drake. I've only seen him a few times and none have been recent such my mon left, all of my mom's friends had slowly faded from my life. These photos were all I had left of them. I flipped through the pages, faces of my mother's friends passing by. A short brunette named Amber, a tall blonde named Eliana, my other uncle, Seth. A werewolf named James, a vampire named Justin and a blonde named Carver. I'd seen this all before.

When I'd pulled out of my zoning out state, I realized I'd flipped too far. I was on the very last page of the book. In blue ink, words scrawled across the page. I drew in a breath. How had I never seen this? The words read:

Find the box hidden above
Only a vampire's strength can open it.
Wait until you are thirteen.
It will answer all your questions, I promise

... What the Hades?

I whipped out my cell phone, pressed one and hit 'call'. I pressed the phone to my ear.

"What is it, Mel, I'm sleeping." A lazy voice drawled
"You're always sleeping, Fabian." I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"True." he said "What's up?"
"Grab Kellan and Peter." I replied, staring at the writing.
"Why?" he asked, but I could here him struggling to pull clothes on as he talked into the phone.
"I need your help with something."
"What is 'something'?" He asked, impatiently.
"Just hurry up Fabian." I snapped and hung up.

Time for a little investigation.