Read A Hidden Fire: Elemental Mysteries Book 1 for Free Online

flame unfurl and return to its home at the tip of the candle, shrinking until it was no larger than his fingertip. 
    “How would anyone newly sired have access to your library?  The rumors have swirled for years, but there’s been no actual proof.”
    “Yet I am in Houston.  And if I’m correct, I met the daughter of an immortal who was rumored to have a book I haven’t seen for over five hundred years.”
    “What do you think—”
    “I don’t know what to think right now, Father.  I need more information.  I’ve already sent a letter to Livia.  As for the girl?  I’m proceeding as if it’s of no consequence at the moment.  She’s…interesting.”
    “’Interesting’?  I can’t remember the last time—”
    “Did you know daylight savings time started this week?  I’ll be able to visit the museum again.”
    “Your phone manners are abysmal, Gio.  It’s not polite to interrupt someone, you know, even if you’re not in the same room.”
    Giovanni smirked into the darkened room.  “I knew what you were going to say, and I didn’t want to talk about it.  They’re hosting a lecture next week at the museum about Dali, I—”
    “What a fascinating subject change.  We’re going to forget about the daughter?”
    He smiled at the priest’s interruption.  “For now, yes.  I see her every week at the library.  I even saw her last night.  So far, nothing leads me to believe she knows anything about our kind, which means her father, if he is the immortal I want, hasn’t been in contact.  So, there’s nothing to be done at the moment.  I need to investigate more.”
    “Fine.  Let me know when the pieces move.”
    Giovanni paused, staring into the turning flame in front of him.  “Maybe they won’t.  Maybe it is just a coincidence.”
    Carwyn’s voice was soft when he replied, “Do you really believe that?”
    “No.”
     
    “Dr. Vecchio?” a familiar voice asked.  “What are you doing here?”
    He turned, surprised to see Beatrice De Novo standing in front of a Leger painting in one of the contemporary rooms; an older woman standing next to her.  The young student’s typical uniform of black was broken by the deep red shirt she wore and demure black flats replaced her combat boots, as he thought of them. 
    “Beatrice?  How unexpected to see you here.”  He wasn’t sure why seeing her at the museum caught him off guard.  It was a popular destination for students, and he tried to convince himself it was purely serendipitous she was here on the evening after he had been speaking about her.  “A pleasant surprise, of course.”
    The older woman looking at the Leger painting turned, and he saw the history of Beatrice’s slight accent in front of him as he examined the older woman.  Spanish blood seemed dominant in her handsome features, and he looked into a pair of clear green eyes.  She smiled and took Beatrice’s arm. 
    “¿Es el profesor guapo, Beatriz?”
    Her accent, he noted, was educated, and from the Guadalajara region of Mexico. 
    Beatrice laughed nervously at her grandmother’s question.  He smiled, happy that the girl had referred to him as ‘the handsome professor.’  Blushing, she smiled at Giovanni.  “Dr. Vecchio, this is my grandmother, Isadora.”
    Giovanni bowed his head toward the older woman, charmed by the graceful formality she seemed to exude. 
     “Mucho gusto, Señora.  Me llamo Giovanni Vecchio.  Your granddaughter has been a great help to me at the library.”
    “And of course he speaks Spanish,” he heard Beatrice mumble. 
    “Beatrice, manners please,” Isadora chided.  “Dr. Vecchio, it’s a pleasure to meet you.  Are you a lover of contemporary art?”
    He smiled and nodded, tucking his hands carefully in his pockets.  “I am.  I was just visiting the Rothko Chapel before it closed and thought I would take a walk through the main collection before I left.  Are you a fan of Leger?”
    “I am.  Though I love the