Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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~ London ~

From the balcony of my bedroom, I stared blankly at the serene garden that stretched below me. I was close to the heart of London, yet it seemed like a countryside escape.

When I imagined going to London with Aldus, I had a vision of busy streets, shops, noisy traffic, apartments, and densely packed townhouses. I definitely didn't think about a luxurious villa on a five-acre lot in the posh neighborhood of Knightsbridge. But then, this is Aldus, and I should expect the best.

The three-story villa has a glass elevator, ten bedrooms (each with an en-suite bathroom), a rooftop terrace that provides magnificent views of London, leisure facilities that include a swimming pool, full spa, gymnasium, fencing room, music room, tennis court, and a billiards room. The property also includes a staff lodge, an underground garage, and a helipad.

This luxury is very different compared to the industrial feel of the packhouse where Fynn and his crew are staying.

Aldus and I stayed at the packhouse with Zoe, Ash, and Luca for three days.

When we left, Ari was still under house arrest and her sister Bia apologized to me four times while Tessa tried to make up for any discomfort by giving me food. I felt guilty for deceiving them, but Aldus told me to keep the bandage on because the fewer people know about my abilities, the better it will be.

I suspect that the punishment for Ari ended as soon as Aldus and I left, but I don't care about their internal workings, as long as my three teens are safe.

Zoe, Ash, and Luca are good kids and I'm confident that they will do their best. I hope they will contact me if things turn worse, and that they will not suffer silently.

Fynn assured me that he will keep me up to date, but I doubt his reliability. He will try to conceal anything that might make him look bad, and on the other side, he wants me to return so… I have no idea how to find out the truth.

Aldus said that we can do a surprise visit in a few weeks and see for ourselves. By then, teens will be used to the life in the packhouse, and Fynn and his crew will drop their guards and show their true colors.

As for my sudden super-performance during a race, Aldus did a few experiments as soon as we returned home.

We started with me running on a treadmill, and my results were slightly better than an average human. I was getting out of breath at 9 km/h after a ten-minute long run.

Next, Aldus covered the control panel, so I couldn't see it. He would adjust the speed and observe my vitals while telling me that I'm almost there (without explaining what that 'there' is). After ten minutes, he stopped the treadmill and revealed the panel with statistics that showed how for the last five minutes, I maintained the speed of 20 km/h.

"How is this possible?", I asked breathily.

"The Pygmalion Effect.", Aldus responded, and his eyes sparkled as he realized something. "You are limited by expectations. You told me that you were always bad at physical activity, and you never pushed yourself harder than I told you to. Based on your muscle composition, I didn't expect you to perform better than a... well... human."

I knew what he was talking about. The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon where the higher expectations are, the better are results achieved. If a child hears praises, he will perform better than if he is scolded or ignored. If you encourage someone that they can do it, they will do their best, and if you tell them that something is not possible, many will accept defeat before trying.

Aldus nodded absentmindedly while sorting out his thoughts before sharing them with me, "Your tutors are praising your prodigious progress with comments that you can accomplish any task or exercise, regardless of how challenging they are. Before your run at Fynn's packhouse, I heard Bert saying that you should catch up to Tessa, and you focused on that. Just like now, I was talking to you like you are not at your max, and you kept on pushing yourself."

"What does that mean?", I asked.

Aldus's eyes sparkled and I was quite confident that I won't like his next words.

"It means that we need to do more tests and see what exactly you are capable of. I believe that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to."

It sounded unbelievable. "Anything? How about flying?"

Aldus didn't like my sarcasm. "I can throw you off a cliff and you give it a try."

I was not sure if he was serious, but I realized a second too late that I shouldn't provoke him. He gets touchy when someone mocks his tests. I forced a smile. "Let's stick to running."

Since then, Aldus tried numerous activities, pushing my body beyond limits I thought are possible. Every session would start with him telling me to forget the notion of what is normal and to do my best.

My results in speed were impressive, but my strength was OK at best. Aldus wondered if there is some trigger to unlock the potential of my body.

To be honest, I didn't care much about it. What's the point if I can run at 20 or 60 km/h, or how strong my punch is? I was never a physical person, and I didn't see myself joining the Olympics anytime. However, Aldus was extremely interested, so I followed his instructions without complaining.

My body was sore after each round, and my healing would take care of that within a minute.

Between sessions in the gym, Aldus would mentor me about Notte Pharmaceuticals, employees, business models, and anything else that might be relevant.

The meetings with executives of Notte Pharmaceuticals were set in advance, and Aldus asked me to accompany him in order to make everyone aware of my presence.

Aldus and I know each other for only a few months and part of me felt that it's too soon to step out in the world as Aldus's daughter. But I also knew that this was Aldus's way of welcoming me into his life and showing me how creatures live in the world of humans without being detected.

I told myself not to overthink it. It's not like I will take over Notte Pharmaceuticals as the new owner. Aldus has everything under control, and he already explained that most of the work is done by the executives and a handful of his subordinates. He is involved only if there is some unexpected event or crisis, and that doesn't happen often.

Back to the present…

I closed my eyes and inhaled the humid after-rain air while wondering where Duke is. Is he close? The fact that I'm in London and that he is probably in vicinity, made me tingly all over. I was nervous.

A knock on the door got my attention.

"Young Miss…", the maid called. "Master asked you to join him in the main receiving room. Young Master Killian arrived."

I nodded in acknowledgment and followed after the maid.

Aldus told me that Killian is a vampire who serves his family for more than a thousand years.

Killian leaves Lemuria about once in a century (give or take a decade), and acts as a messenger between Aldus and his family. This time, other than news, Killian brought something for me. Aldus didn't tell me what that was, but he seemed excited about it.

I stood at the door of the main receiving room and saw Aldus sitting on the sofa chair and talking to a man.

Aldus stood up and waved at me to come closer. "Serina, this is Killian… Killian, this is my daughter, Seraphina."

I blinked a few times to confirm that I'm seeing right. When Aldus said how long Killian is serving his family, I imagined an old man with a white beard and not this youngster who barely looks twenty years old. Do vampires wear glasses? Killian's sharp suit didn't match his playful spiky hairstyle or his boyish smirk.

Killian's eyes flashed in confusion for a moment before he greeted me with a bow stoically. "Nice to meet you, Lady Seraphina. Please, call me Ian."

Lady Seraphina? I like him already. "Nice to mee you too, Ian. Please, call me Serina."

Killian shook his head while rejecting. "I wouldn't dare act too familiar with a member of the Mezzanotte family, Lady Seraphina."

I glanced at Aldus and he discretely gestured to me to let it go before showing me to sit.

Killian didn't sit before me. I wondered if he is a gentleman or a well-trained servant. Somehow, I leaned toward the latter.

Aldus took a palm-sized dark blue box from the table and explained to me, "Ian brought this for you. I had it made so that you can enter my properties…"

Aldus opened the box and I saw a silvery-looking bracelet with a round pendant that had etched in it a fancy letter M, a crescent moon, and a crown.

It took me a moment to realize that this is the item that will allow me to operate runes and arrays that are set on Aldus's properties, portals, and the alchemy furnace. Awesome!

Aldus saw my face lit up and he smiled.

"Let me put this on you…"

I extended my left hand and offered him my wrist.

He clasped the bracelet and I got it closer to my face to inspect it. Along its edges, it had small runes etched into it. It looked very nice, but somehow I expected it to be more… secure. If only this bracelet is needed to disarm Aldus's security, what will I do if I lose it? Maybe there is more to it.

"How do I use it?", I asked Aldus.

"Put a drop of blood on the pendant.", Aldus instructed. "Other than special materials and engravings, it has my blood in it. Your blood will activate it and bound the item to you. When in your hands, it's a key. When in someone else's, it's a shiny bracelet."

That was more like it! For a moment I thought that I will need to guard this with my life. Or maybe just leave it at home.

Without thinking, I bit the tip of my right index finger and smeared a bit of blood on the pendant.

I hissed. The temperature of the bracelet was rapidly increasing as it shrunk to the point of searing into my flesh. "Is this supposed to hurt?"

I wished that Aldus gave me a warning, but then I saw his frown and I realized that this was not expected. Great. Now what?

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