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some Venators who are not blood-related to us and have chosen at their peril to be Venators.
    â€œThose who are not Chosen by divine order, as we of the Gardella family are, but who choose to become a Venator by Trial, must complete great and dangerous tasks…and even then there is no certainty that they will be able to accept a vis bulla. But once they acquire their vis amulets, they are just as powerful as we are. It doesn’t make them any less skilled than you and I, but since we are of the original family, we carry the heaviest burden.”
    â€œAre you and I and— him —the only Venators?”
    â€œThroughout the entire world, there are perhaps one hundred Venators, and at this time, you and I are the only living female Venators. And yet there are thousands upon thousands of undead, and their numbers grow every day, at will. We can never take our ease in this battle, for once we relax our guard, they will surge into strength and power. That is why I called Max here from Venice, for with London being Lilith’s stronghold now, I knew we needed more support. The other Venator who had been here in England was killed three months ago.”
    â€œIs Max a Gardella? Is he a real Venator?”
    Eustacia speared her with her eyes so sharp that Victoria nearly stepped backward. She had never seen such a fierce expression on her aunt’s face. “Max is more of a Venator than you are, Victoria. He chose this path at great peril, and he is at this time the most powerful of the Venators . .. after myself. Yes, I am called Summa Gardella and you will be too someday when I am gone. But I…my arthritis and age keep me slow. It is only his lack of Gardella blood that keeps him from being the Chosen one, the head of the Venators—the most powerful one of us all. Someday it will fall to you, Victoria.”
    Her demeanor gentled. “Now, my dear, if you have had enough of your curiosity assuaged, perhaps you would bring me the book from the cabinet.” Her perpetually curling finger, the one part of her body that visibly betrayed its age, jabbed toward the mahogany cabinet standing against one wall in her private salon.
    Victoria went to the slick breakfront and carefully fit in the tiny key that her aunt usually wore on a strong gold chain about her neck. Click click clunk …the key turned and the lock tumbled open.
    She had never gone to the cabinet on her own before, and had certainly never been given the key to unlock it. Victoria realized she was holding her breath when she pulled both doors open as if she were the butler, sweeping a clique of guests through a set of French doors into the dining room for dinner.
    Inside the cabinet, on its gently inclining display, rested an old book. The Holy Bible.
    It was heavy, with gilt-edged pages that shone stubbornly despite its age. The leather corners were creased and bumped, but the spine was true, and three faded silk bookmarks fell lifelessly from their places.
    Victoria brought it to Aunt Eustacia and placed it on her lap so that the older woman could read it.
    â€œIf you fulfill your destiny, Victoria, you will be victorious for us all.” She laughed softly. “You are aptly named, my dear. Perhaps that is yet another sign.”
    She opened the front cover and pointed to the words written in ink of varying shades of black, brown, and sepia. “These are the names of the Gardellas who have accepted the Legacy,” she said, tracing across the lines with her curling fingers. “The original pages of this Bible were given to the family during the Middle Ages. Six hundred years ago.” She looked up, her dark eyes sharp. “You understand, there have been Venators in the Gardella family since Judas Iscariot hanged himself and was brought back to earth by Satan. Some day you will learn the full story of Gardeleus, part of which is included herein. Until a Gardella mystic, the beloved and legendary Lady Joanna,