Melissa de la Cruz - Keys to the Repository

Text and illustrations copyright 2010 by Melissa de la Cruz Shelter Island copyright 2007 by Melissa de la Cruz, a version of which first appeared in 666: The Number of the Beast, published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scholastic Inc.

All rights reserved. Published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.

First Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
V567-9638-5-10105
Printed in the United States of America
Designed by Elizabeth H. Clark

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file.
ISBN 978-1-4231-3454-1
Reinforced binding

Visit www.bluebloodsbooks.com

Visit www.hyperionteens.com

Also by Melissa de la Cruz

THE BLUE BLOODS SERIES

Blue Bloods

Masquerade

Revelations

The Van Alen Legacy

THE AU PAIRS SERIES

The Au Pairs

Skinny-Dipping

Sun-Kissed

Crazy Hot

THE ASHLEYS SERIES

The Ashleys

Jealous?

Birthday Vicious

Lipgloss Jungle

Cats Meow

Fresh off the Boat

Angels on Sunset Boulevard

Girl Stays in the Picture

NONFICTION

How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less

The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch Heels and Faux Pas

Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys: Essays About the Friendship Between Straight Women and Gay Men

For my family: Mike, Mattie, Mom, Aina, Steve, Nicholas, Joseph, Chit, and Christina, and the memory of Pop

The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.

Anas Nin

Dear Constant Reader,

When I was growing up, I was a huge fan of Stephen Kings books (I still am). And something I remember so vividly about reading his books is that once in a while he would include a letter to his readers in the introduction. These letters were addressed Dear Constant Reader because as he published more and more novels, it became apparent to him that his readers were eating them upreading them as fast as he could write them, and so he wanted to thank them for that, and to celebrate it as well. In his letters he would give us a little insight into how he wrote his books, what inspired them, how they were written, and what he thought about them once finished.

I loved these letters. I think I secretly enjoyed his letters a little more than the books themselves. As someone who had read all of his books, I was fascinated by this glimpse into their inner workings, and to be told something more about the storiesa background history, an inspiration, a governing idea, maybethat was not to be found in the pages themselves.

If you are holding this book in your hands, I hope its safe for me to assume that you are my Constant Reader, and that you are curious to find out a little more about the world of the Blue Bloods beyond what has been available in the novels so far. And for that, I am extremely tickled, humbled, and gratified. Its always been a dream of mine to write a book like this, a companion book to the series. I absolutely adore companion books. On my shelf next to my many Stephen King novels, you will also find The Dark Tower: A Concordance, Volume 1 and The Road to the Dark Tower: Exploring Stephen Kings Magnum Opus.

Id like to share a little bit about the Blue Bloods se-rieshow I first imagined it and how it came to be and how the work is going. The story behind the story, so to speak. As King says, Some people dont want to know how sausage is made; if so, skip this and go ahead to the real meal. So if you dont want to hear about the backstory, you dont have to read this. But if you do, here it is.

When my editor asked if I ever wanted to try my hand at a horror/fantasy book, I responded with a resounding YES! YES! YES! As soon as I got off the phone with her, my mind was whirling with so many ideas. I knew from the beginning I wanted to write a big epic fantasy, like my favorite books from childhood: Kings Dark Tower series, Isaac Asimovs The Foundation trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, Anne Rices Vampire Chronicles. But I also wanted to set the story in the modern world, like J.K. Rowlings wonderful Harry Potter books, which reminded me, as an adult, how pleasurable reading books could be. I especially wanted to set it in New York City, my home, which I had just left and missed terribly, as we had moved to Los Angeles in late 2003.

It just happened that at the time my editor called, I was tooling around on the Internet and had found a Web site that listed every passenger on the Mayflower, along with their notable descendants. The list was the lightning bulb from the beginning: I thought, what if all these wealthy, important, and influential Americans (the list includes the likes of the Bushes and the Roosevelts, but alsowhich I thought was more interestingAmerican icons like Oprah and Marilyn Monroe)what if all these great people had come to be that way because they were... (da da dum...) UNDEAD? (BWAHA-HA-HA-HA.)

My other idea was that I very much wanted to have an origin story for my vampires. I had yet to come across a vampire novel that had one. I wanted a believable explanation for their existence. I had always loved the story of Paradise Lost and found Lucifers fall incredibly romantic and tragic. And so: the Mayflower, the New York elite, and vampires as cursed angels who fell with Lucifermy outline was really starting to take shape.

I imagined a large, sprawling story with a huge cast of characters. Some pieces came into place easily: three girls, three different motivations. Schuyler, the shy girl who might hold the key to the Blue Bloods salvation; Mimi, whose superficial faade masks her true nature; and Bliss, who hides a dangerous secret. Other pieces, like how the Lost Colony of Roanoke figured into the tale, came as I was writingthe first book. Soon I was off and running, and now, five years later, I am more immersed in the story than ever. It is alive in my mind, the Blue Bloods saga dominates talk at my dinner table (my husband is a supportive sounding board), I spend my days turning over plot points, and I cant sleep if I cant solve a characters dilemma.

In these pages youll find the mythology of the Blue Bloods explained, some new stories featuring our favorite young vampires, and a sneak peek at whats to come. I should warn you, The Repository Files, which include character profiles, were written by rather crotchety historians who work for the humorless Committee, so you might find their estimation of the characters a little astringent. Also, while the Repository might think they know everything, careful readers will observe that in certain instances their knowledge is somewhat limited.

Thank you for welcoming the Blue Bloods into your library. I have very much enjoyed the journey that has brought them to your shelves.

I dont remember how Stephen King said good-bye to his readers, but for me, its always a very fond...