Chapter 2 - The Bloodline Agreement
"An older sister?" I asked, my voice barely a rasp. "Ryan, that's impossible. Mom and Dad never spoke of another child."
"Because they spent ten years erasing her from existence!" Ryan snapped, pacing the room like a caged animal. "Why do you think Dad kept us locked away in Duluth? Why do you think Mom checked the locks five times every night? We became normal people because our parents ran away! Dad changed our legal records when we were four years old! Our real last name isn't Vance. It’s Vance-Sterling!"
The name hit the room like a physical blow. Sterling. Old money. They owned iron shipping docks, banking institutions, and vast timberlands stretching into Canada.
"Julian Sterling," Ryan whispered. "That was Dad's real name. When Clara was born with that mark, our grandfather Arthur Sterling called it the 'Mark of the Firstborn.' Dad’s journals said the Sterlings are part of an old society—the Order of the Lake. They believe children born with that mark are tied to a blood promise made over a century ago to keep family wealth intact. When Clara was seven, Arthur came with three men and took her away. Dad took us, changed our names to Vance, and fled into the woods."
He pointed a trembling finger at the sleeping newborn.
"Dad thought the curse ended with Clara because you and I were born without it! But it skipped a generation, Maya! It landed on her!"
Melissa stepped back, her hands covering her mouth. "So... what are you saying? Someone is going to come and take her?"
"If her DNA is entered into the state newborn screening database tomorrow, the Sterlings will know!" Ryan said frantically. "They monitor birth registries for that specific genetic marker! The moment her profile is uploaded, Arthur Sterling’s lawyers will be at our door!"
He looked at me with a desperate plea. "We can't keep her, Maya. Anonymous surrender. Under the Safe Haven law. We walk away, let her be adopted under a fake identity across the country... it's the only way to save her!"
"No," a voice said. It was low, furious, and came from deep within my chest.
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"Maya, please—"
"NO!" I roared. "I carried this baby for nine months! I ripped my body apart to bring her into this world for you and Melissa! I don't give a damn about Arthur Sterling or family curses! She is your daughter! She is my niece! And I will die before I let you abandon her like trash!"
