• The stranger in the cloak didn't even glance behind him. He tightened his grip on my throat. I could barely breathe. "Don't lie to me," He snarled, his breath a warm vapor upon my face that smelled of vinegar. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was a strangled gasping sound, sort of like a rock scraping against another rock. My heart was pounding in my chest. Was this strange man going to kill me because he believed I was lying? How did he know my father? What did he want with him?
    "Talk, girl," He growled. I stared into the hood. His dark eyes glistened with eager anticipation, like he enjoyed his job and wanted to kill me. "It's true!" Natalia screeched. She had risen to her feet and was standing a few feet away from the villain. He tensed up. He released my neck and I fell to the ground. I rubbed my neck and wished my father were here. It's amazing how things can change in the blink of an eye. "Tell him, when he does return, that Randall wants him. Bad." Then, right then and there, he vanished into thin air. For a moment I just sat there, stunned into silence.
    Natalia flung herself into my arms and put her head on my shoulder. "That was so scary." I put my arm comfortingly around her back and patted it. She was only ten years old, but Natalia was still a little girl at heart. I had to be strong for her. "Elena, are you okay? You're shaking," I looked at her. She stared up into my eyes. I realized then that I was indeed shaking. No wonder. I was panicking back there. I didn't want to die so young. "I'm gonna give Dad a call," I told her. She nodded in agreement. I rose to my feet. Natalia stayed beside me the entire time, as if she were afraid I was going to do something drastic.
    "There's no need," My head shot up as I heard my father's familiar voice. He stood in the doorway, a shocked expression in his face and a pained look in his baby blue eyes. I crossed my arms as Natalia ran to him. She flung her arms around him, sobbing. "Daddy, that was so scary! That strange man almost killed Ellie!" My heart seemed to skip a beat when she said that. Natalia never used Ellie, unless she was badly frightened. "Who was that man, Dad?" I asked, taking a step forward.
    He hesitated. Natalia looked up at him. His face seemed to drain of color as he took a breath. I wondered if he were going to pass out. "That man was my brother." He said. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. That man who had almost killed me, that man was my uncle?! What? "What?!"