All Chapters of Where Darkness Learns your Name: Chapter 31 - Chapter 35

The drive back to the Devereaux estate was quiet. Not peaceful. Quiet. There was a difference. Sera sat in the passenger seat, staring through the window as Blackridge passed them in fragments of yellow streetlights, closed shops, convenience stores that were still open despite the late hour, and apartments with warm windows glowing against the darkness. Ordinary lives. People going home. People probably complaining about work, deciding what to eat for dinner, reminding their children to finish their homework. Sera rested her forehead against the glass. Twenty-three years. She kept hearing the number. It had started before the massacre. Before her parents died.

The words remained in the room. My family.Lucien stared at Elias.Sera could see the realization forming in his eyes.Not forgiveness.Not yet.But doubt.For the first time since Elias had been exposed, Lucien looked less certain that he understood what had happened."Your family?"Elias nodded."Where are they?""I don't know.""Don't lie to me.""I'm not.""Then how long?"Elias closed his eyes. "Years."Sera's breath caught. "Years?"Elias nodded. "Adrian found out about them.""Who?""My wife." He swallowed. "My daughter."The room went quiet.Sera looked at him."You have a daughter?"Elias nodded. "She's twelve."His voice cracked slightly. "I haven't seen her in three years."Lucien stared at him. "Why?""Because Adrian took them.""He kidnapped them?""Not exactly.""Then what?"Elias looked at her, "He made them disappear."The words were quiet. Terrifying."He showed me photographs.""Where are they?""I don't know.""Then how do you know they're alive?""I receive proof.

The key sat between them on the table. Number 17. Sera had stared at it for almost five minutes. Lucien hadn't touched it. Neither of them wanted to be the first to decide what it meant. The woman was dead. Another person had tried to kill her before she could explain the truth. And now there was a name. ELENA VOSS A name that shouldn't have mattered. Except it did. Because the woman had said Voss. And because she had known Sera's mother. And because twenty-three years ago, the entire story had begun with people whose names were becoming harder to separate from one another. Valmont. Devereaux. Voss. Sera rubbed her temples. "This is getting ridiculous." Lucien looked at her. "What?" "Every time we find an answer, we get three more questions." "That's usually how investigations work." "You're enjoying this?" "No." "Good." He almost smiled. She leaned back. "I'm serious." "I know." "I just want one thing to be simple." Lucien looked