CHAPTER 12

**AMY**

When I wake up in the empty bed, I realize I’ve slept longer than usual. An involuntary smile appears on my lips as I recall the intense moment I shared with Aaron the previous night. Holding the white sheet against my body, I get up from the bed and stretch my arms, feeling a wave of renewed energy envelop me.
The morning light enters through the half-open curtains, and as I pull them back from the bedroom window, I frown at the sound of laughter coming from the mansion's garden. I look out the window and see Elara running across the lawn, closely followed by Aaron. Their laughter echoes in the air, breaking the stillness of the cloudy morning.
A smile forms on my lips as I see them together, finding a moment of joy and relaxation even amidst the lingering pain of our loss. I know they both need a distraction after facing the death of a family member, and it’s comforting to see them finding solace in each other.
I decide it’s time to start the day and head to the bathroom. The hot shower water envelops me, dispelling any lingering sleepiness. As I dress in warm clothes for the cloudy morning, I feel invigorated and ready to explore more of the mansion.
I go down for breakfast and see Elara and Aaron still together, sharing laughter and animated conversations. I decide not to interrupt them, knowing this moment is important for both. Instead, I have my coffee in silence, allowing myself to enjoy the tranquility of the morning.
After finishing my meal, I decided to explore more of the mansion on my own. I climb the stairs again, my heart filled with curiosity about what more this mysterious house might reveal. As I walk through the corridors, I observe the antiques and artwork adorning the walls, imagining the stories each holds.
As I venture through the various rooms, I find myself increasingly fascinated by the richness of details and the aura of mystery that permeates every space. Each room seems to tell a unique story, and I find myself absorbed by the magic and charm of this singular place.
Walking down an unknown corridor, I feel enveloped by an aura of mystery that permeates the air around me. With each step, my curiosity grows, propelling me forward as I approach the closed door at the end of the corridor. I look back and realize I am alone—just me and the promise of discovery that awaits on the other side.
My hand trembles slightly as it wraps around the doorknob, and a sigh escapes my lips when I realize the door is unlocked. With a hesitant movement, I turn the knob and slowly push the door open, revealing what lies beyond.
Initially, I expected to find just another ordinary room, perhaps a forgotten storage space. However, I am surprised to enter and encounter something completely different. My eyes widen as I examine the room before me, realizing this is not just an ordinary room but a kind of memorial.
The room is filled with carefully arranged mementos, each telling a silent story of times past. Paintings adorn the walls, displaying portraits from a distant era. Antique furniture fills the space, bearing the weight of memories and emotions.
My steps are cautious as I move through the room, absorbing each detail with admiration and reverence. My eyes fix on a painting on the wall, and my heart skips a beat when I recognize the figure depicted. It is a painting of an extraordinarily beautiful woman, with eyes that seem to shine with their own light. Her delicate features emanate a serene tranquility, and for a moment, I felt hypnotized by her presence.
My fingers lightly traced the edges of the painting as I read the name engraved below the image: Diana Castelanni. The connection is immediate, and my heart fills with compassion as I realize this is Elara's mother, the woman who once shared her life with Aaron.
The revelation is impactful, and for a moment, I am paralyzed by the magnitude of what I have just discovered. The painting seems to have been made centuries ago, but it remains very beautiful. I sigh, looking around the room and seeing more photos and mementos of the woman. At this moment, I mentally question what happened to her. I sigh, opening a drawer and smiling when I find a photo of a baby.
The woman and Aaron look very happy holding Elara in their arms, and I realize I have never seen him smile like that before. I think he lost the woman he loved and the mother of his child. I sit on the bed, seeing flowers beside me, and frown when I find a very beautiful necklace.
"You would have had a beautiful family, Diana.", I whisper, holding the necklace, and lift my head when I hear footsteps. I stand up quickly when I hear the door opening, and seconds later, Aaron enters. I open my mouth to say something, feeling very nervous about invading his privacy.
"The door was open, and I... I'm sorry.", I say too quickly, and he continues to look at me. Aaron approaches me, but I see no anger or irritation on his face because of what I did. 
He touches the necklace I am holding before looking at the painting on the wall. He sighs silently, and I decide to ask him something I never asked him before.
"Was she Elara's mother?", I ask in a low tone, and when I think he will answer, he nods, looking at me.
"Yes, she was Elara's mother, and now she is dead."
There is sadness in his voice, and I quickly understand it is not a good time to ask how she died and if she was a vampire like him. In the painting, the woman has beautiful dark eyes and not red ones.
Aaron walks through the room, and I look at my hands, realizing I am still holding her necklace. I turn my head, seeing Aaron touching the painting, and mentally wonder how much he loved her.
"She was the kindest and gentlest woman in this world, but I couldn't save her. I couldn't protect her when she needed me the most."
"Was she like you?", I ask with curiosity, referring to whether she was also a vampire like him.
"A couple of vampires can't reproduce unless one is human for it to happen. Just like it happened between your father and your mother.", he explains, and I sigh.
"If Diana wasn't a vampire, wouldn't that make Elara human too?"
"She should be, but Elara is like me. At her birth, I had to make a terrible choice between letting my daughter or the woman I loved die."
I frown, still not understanding what he is telling me now.
"I couldn't let them die, so before the baby was born, I made a definitive choice. I had to turn Diana to save her and Elara."
"So when Elara was born, Diana was a vampire?", I ask, and he nods slowly.