A Shade of Vampire 32: A Day of Glory Read Online Free

steadying her as she reached out to brush her hand against Field’s right arm.
    Through her moistening eyes, a smile shone through.
    “My brother,” she managed, before throwing her arms around him and holding him in a tight hug. Then I heard her whisper into his ear: “Thank you.”

Grace
    M y brother .
    I had a brother. I had heard my mother’s words and yet I still couldn’t believe it. Even in spite of his eyes, so close a color to my own. He had my mother’s lips, too.
    Field’s expression was that of confusion, uncertainty, as though we both shared the same doubts. Could this really be happening?
    “Are you sure, Mom?” I couldn’t help but clarify, even though I knew she would never have told me if she was not completely certain.
    “Corrine ran a DNA test,” she said, her voice deep. “It’s true.”
    This was so weird. Who was— or is —Field’s father? This must have been even weirder for my dad.
    My mother explained to me in brief the gaps in my knowledge about Field’s appearance in The Shade—how and where Lawrence had found him and the other four young men. After that, none of us really knew what to say for a while. We just sat in the room and looked at each other.
    “So you’ve basically lived your life alone, with your other four… brothers?” Even though they weren’t related—or at least, didn’t appear to be—‘brother’ seemed to be the right term to use.
    “Yes,” he replied.
    “Since you escaped the harpies and left the supernatural dimension, you’ve been in Canada… in that cave, all those years?”
    “Yes,” he said again.
    His tone was stiff. Considering that he had just discovered his long-lost family, I would’ve thought he’d look more emotional. But it seemed that he’d never really been in an environment to develop emotionally. Harpies had been the closest thing he’d had to parents.
    I felt almost guilty. My life had been so easy, so carefree and happy, compared to his.
    I felt the urge to understand him more. I wished to know him. But I found myself faltering, uncertain of even what questions to ask next. It felt like we were from two totally different worlds. I didn’t know how to relate to him. All the usual questions I would’ve asked a stranger—about hobbies, favorite subjects, and so on—didn’t seem to be applicable here. His life appeared to have been just one long, hard struggle, from his birth, up until now—all a fight for survival. But I knew there were deeper levels to him, just as there were to all of us. I supposed it would be a slow process, a matter of time and patience as he settled into our environment in The Shade.
    All I could think to do now was hold his hands, pull him in and hug him again tightly. Then I kissed his cool, pale cheek.
    “Do you know when your birthday is?” I asked, I wanted to know whether he was older or younger than me. He looked like he could be older, but that could simply be his mature demeanor.
    He shook his head. “I don’t know—”
    There came a knock at the door. My mother called, “Come in!” and in stepped Field’s four companions. They gave no explanation for their entrance. They simply entered and stood behind Field, looking around the room, before their eyes settled on my mother and me. I looked at them curiously, from their scruffy clothing to their long, untamed hair.
    The fact that they felt no need to give an explanation for their interruption of what would look to most people like a private conversation made me realize that they simply weren’t used to being apart. It was normal for them to do everything together. Be everywhere together. And they didn’t expect anybody to think that was odd.
    “Why don’t you take a seat?” my mother said with a warm smile. She pulled up chairs for each of them, and they sat down around us.
    “Well,” my mother said, looking back at Field, “maybe we’ll have to decide on a birthday for you.”
    We sat with each other a while longer—the