Count's Daughter

Finding the Truth

When I wake up there is a slice of toast and a glass of water on the table. Apparently someone was in the room while I was sleeping. I don't care though, probably because I am still drowsy and not thinking straight.

I eat the toast and drink the water. I didn't think of poison or truth serum until it was too late. That is until LB and Hitch were walking into my room again, without the needle.

They must notice my facial expression, since they both smiled and shared a knowing look.

"I don't think we'll need the needle for what we have in mind for today." LB said in a grave voice.

That's when I noticed the file and camera that she had in her hand. Oh no, questions. I shudder.

"I understand that you've never met your father." LB starts.

"It sounds as if you already have an answer, and it is yes. I have never seen my father, never had him send me a letter or anything." I try to keep my voice steady, adding in the letter part to hopefully throw them off that trail. I don't want to talk about what was in the letter to Aunt Polly.

"How much do you know about your family?" Hitch asks.

"Too much about Aunt Polly and none about my father. Only one thing about my mother. She was murdered by someone called Spectrum." I'm starting to feel uneasy. Why do they want to know about my parents?

"Did your aunt tell you this?" For once LB sounds nervous. Now I'm really nervous, LB has seemed sure of herself and calm. What is going on?

"No. My father wrote her a letter and I read it. He said that Spectrum interrogated her, then finding out that she didn't know where he was, killed her and sent him the video of it."

LB looks dismayed, nevertheless she opens up the file and takes out multiple pictures, changing the subject. "We don't have any good pictures of him but here are the best that we have of Count, your father." She shivers as she says his name.

"He has done many things, none of which are good. All bar one of our agents who encountered him has been seen alive since." Hitch again.

"How do you know it's him then?" I ask. I don't like the idea of my father being a criminal and I really don't like them accusing him of murder, especially when they couldn't possibly know it was him.

"He has a certain style. Very old fashioned and dramatic. Very, very ruthless. We knew that though we didn't know just how ruthless he was until he did this." LB answered and pressed play on the camera.

I'm suddenly watching a woman being asked questions by LB. I can just hear them.

"Who are you? Where is the Count?" LB sounds tired and aggravated in the video.

"I'm Iriana, Count's wife. I don't know where he is but if I did I wouldn't tell you."

My mom. This is a video of my mom. Why would they video my mom? Who are they?

A new figure comes into the screen. He looks like the pictures they showed me. My dad. He's carrying a needle. What's in it?

I watch as he sneaks around the room coming to my mom. She turns, recognizing him and says "Hello Victor. What are you doing here?" He stabs her with the needle and injects whatever's in it into her. Why did he do this?

Then he leaves as quickly as he came, leaving my mom with her foaming at the mouth and shaking horribly. He poisoned her! My dad killed my mom!

Even though I know I must be tough, tears are hot in my eyes and start to run down my face, their trail feeling hot against my cheek that's below freezing. I've experienced a lot of pain in my life, including an arm broken in two places at the same time, but no amount of physical pain combined could even come close to the emotional pain I was feeling right now.