#chapter 59 A Fractured Unity

Days turned into weeks, and the tension within our home, and compound remained palpable. The anger and disappointment that Cheney, Brian, and Nicholas felt toward me weighed heavily on all of us, the news of my secret spread quickly. It began casting a shadow over our once-unbreakable bond. I yearned to rebuild the trust I had eroded, but it seemed an insurmountable task. The rumors about Amy's possible connection with the vampires still gnawed at me. I couldn't fathom how she, imprisoned as she was, in our most secure dungeon, could have any dealings with our ancient enemies. Why would she want anything to do with the vampires anyway? Why would they want anything to do with her? Did her dark magic draw them in somehow? The uncertainty gnawed at my mind like a persistent itch. In my confusion and turmoil, I often found myself sitting alone by the window, gazing out at the moonlit valley that I now considered my home, and would do so for the rest of my life. It had once been a