DESCENDED

USED

Making my way to the sidewalk, I head into town. Thinking about the vision I had when I was meditating. It told me to follow my father and his name. And since I'd rather be anywhere than at home or at school, I walk to the local library to see what I can find. But the first thing I need to do is wash the food out of my hair and change my clothes.

I stop by the cafe Sebastian took me to and the owner remembered me from before. She allows me to use the employee bathroom to wash my hair. And even brings me some shampoo. Then I take my shirt off and wear the camisole I have underneath it as a shirt. When I come out of the bathroom, Sebastian is leaning against the wall waiting for me.

"Francine told me you were here," he tells me. Noticing the 'how the hell did you find me' look on my face.

"I'm not going back there. At least not today," I protestd before he even gets started.

"I don't blame you."

Not what I thought he would say...

"I was thinking of going to the library. I want to do some research on my family," I tell him.

"Well, my car is outside. Let me take you," he offers.

"What about school? Won't you get in trouble?"

"Won't you?" He retorts. "And probably more if you're walking around town alone. You're like a magnet for trouble."

Good point...

"Okay, fine."

I follow Sebastian out to his car, and he tosses Francine a one-hundred-dollar bill. I'm surprised he even has that much money on him. Most sixteen-year-olds I know don't run around with one hundred-dollar bills.

We drive to the library, and the best part about leaving, is since Aunt Sarah took my phone away, I don't have to lie about not answering her phone calls. The school will more than likely call her to tell her I ditched, but I don't care.

"Come on, there's a genealogy database over here. We can look up your ancestors using that," Sebastian takes the reigns.

I start with my father's name. And with a few clicks of the mouse, I'm looking at an entire history of Savants. Sebastian prints out all the names, and when we look them up, we find death certificates for every single one of them. Some of them still have living spouses, but every living male born into the Savant lineage leading up to me is dead. And they're not just dead, they're murdered.

All of them.

And their murders were suspicious.

"How can all the male members of one bloodline be murdered coincidentally?" I ask out loud.

"That's a good question," Sebastian's brow raises.

He searches for marriage and birth certificates. Then we form a list of all the wives who were married to a Savant to find the ones that are still alive. Only four of them are living, and all of them still live in Louisiana.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask.

"You want to call them up?"

"Yes, but it's something I need to do alone."

"Understood," he nods. "I should get you home."

"No, I'm not going home. At least not tonight. I'm staying with you."

"I can't have a girl at the home, Angelique. I'll get kicked out."

"Fine, then don't go home. Hang out with me. I don't mind spending the night in your car," I tell him. Hoping he'll agree.