All Chapters of A CONTRACT SIGNED IN BLOOD AND DESIRE : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Lina's hands tightened around the slip of paper.FAMES KNOWS WHO HE IS.The words seemed to twist and wriggle on the page as her eyes feasted on the ink.She slowly lifted her gaze to meet Fames'.He hadn't moved.Standing near the old table, his expression unreadable but his eyes betraying fear of a different kind than the kind she had seen on The Circle's faces."Tell me what it means," Lina urged quietly.He looked at the paper then at her."I don't know."Lina's heart sank."You're lying."Fames took a step closer."Lina-""No." She held up the note. "Everytime I ask you about my family you tell me you don't know. Everytime I stumble across a new secret you somehow seem to know something about, you find a way to know something else. And now this... this says you know who you are.""I knew this day would come," Fames whispered.Lina shivered."What day?"Before Fames could reply, a sound echoed from somewhere deep in the building.Boom.The floor shook and Elena grabbed the edge of

Lina paused at the steps leading to the hidden stairwell, her eyes adjusting to the shadows that stretched along the stone walls.The voice that had echoed in her ears was still fresh in her mind."You finally found the door,"her grandfather had said.But Lucas had said the same words before.Which meant that the two of them were somewhere below.Fames stood beside Lina, clutching the parchment that had been given to him by his father."The three bloodlines," Fames said softly, "Lina, Lucas, and me."Elena frowned."But why?""That is what we are going to have to find out."Lina took a deep breath."We go down."Fames turned to her."You don't have to.""I've spent my entire life being told what I could and couldn't know," Lina said. "I'm tired of it."Fames nodded."Then we go down together."They descended the narrow stairwell, the walls covered in thick layers of dust.After what seemed like ages, Lina spotted three strange symbols carved into the stone.A crown.A key.And a circ

Lina scanned over the name at the bottom of the paper.LUCAS.Her brother's signature was very clear on the page.There was silence for a few moments.Lucas gazed at the paper, shaking his head."That's not my signature."Lina turned to him."Are you sure?""I've never signed this."Fames read over the page, looking up at Lucas."The signature could be yours, but it was copied."Lucas stepped closer."Why would someone copy my signature?""Because they want you to seem responsible for the contract."Lina narrowed her eyes."What are you saying?""They want you to take responsibility."Lina looked over the page again, but before she could say anything else, the screen on the wall in the vault changed.The picture was gone, replaced by new words.THE HEIR MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITYLucas looked over at the screen."What's that mean?"New words appeared.THE HEIR SIGNED THE AGREEMENTLucas shook his head."I didn't sign anything."Lina was already walking over to him."I believe you."Luca

Lina stared at her mother.The words circled in her mind.You were never supposed to survive.For several seconds, nobody moved.Fames was at Lina's side, watching her mother closely."Explain," Lina demanded.Her mother looked down."I was afraid this day would come.""That doesn't answer me.""I know."Lina walked up to her mother."I want to know why you said I was never supposed to survive."Her mother took a shaky breath."Because when you were born, The Circle already knew about you."Lina's heart pounded in her chest."They knew I existed?""Yes.""Then why didn't they take me?"Her mother looked at Adrian."Because someone made a deal."Adrian was silent.Fames's expression darkened."You know something," he said.Adrian met his eyes."I know more than you think."Fames's eyes narrowed."Then start talking."Adrian slowly walked up to the table and picked up the old photograph."The night Lina was born, three people were supposed to make a decision.""Who?" Lina asked."Your m

The room fell silent.Noah's words echoed in the chamber."They don't want to kill Fames.They want him to succeed the Architect."Lina looked up at him."The heir?"Fames stared at Noah, his body stiff with shock.For the first time in a long while, the man actually looked surprised."Why me?"Noah exhaled slowly."Because you're the Guardian."Fames frowned."That doesn't explain anything.""It explains everything,"Noah stated as he walked over to the old table in the center of the room."The Circle always needed three people.The Key, the Heir, and the Guardian."He gestured to Lina then Lucas."You already know who the Key and the Heir are.As for the Guardian..." His gaze landed on Fames.Lina's eyes widened as she looked between the three men."But the Architect isn't any of those things,""No," Noah agreed."The Architect controls all three."Fames's expression darkened."So, they want me above everyone else?"" sort of,"Noah opened the black folder he carried with him and pu