Chapter 115: Hello, Cupcake
I had only once witnessed Dad's mortal form and even so I was still stunned. Gone was the red tinted skin, the horns. Like me, he looked human.
But more than human. Super human. Like a god made flesh. Everything about him was perfect. His whole being vibrated with power without even trying. His deep blue eyes, so dark they were almost navy, settled on mine and he smiled.
"Hello, cupcake."
His hug was so warm, so real. While I adored seeing him no matter what, feeling his arms around me, there was still a cold and stone-like quality to him when he came through his statue. As if he wasn't able to fully dispel the substance in exchange for his own.
This Dad was totally different. Totally mortal.
And it terrified me.
"We need to go." Sunny looked so relieved I was starting to believe her.
"After you." So he wasn't trusting her either. Good to know. I knew my dad wasn't stupid or anything. After all he was older than dirt. But when it came to Mom, he could be entirely irrational.
Mortal case in point.
The kitchen was dark and quiet. I could feel the vibration of Sassy's energy above me as he wove his wards tighter and tighter around my sister. One less family member to worry about.
I followed them to the back door where Dad stopped me.
"You need to stay here." I knew a Dad order when I heard one. But it was about as effective as the Mom version, I figured.
"I'm going with you." Dad and Sunny both started to protest but I cut them off. "You said you needed demon power." Sunny nodded, unhappy but knowing I was right. "And Nicholas has already shown he's scared of me."
"If that wasn't an act." Sunny shrugged. "I have no way of knowing."
But my demon and I both knew the truth. The fear he showed, he regretted. I had seen it in his eyes, a flash of hate I managed to instill real terror in him, probably for the first time in centuries.
"Syd," Dad said, "I won't be able to do this if I don't know you're safe."
Did he and Mom practice this crap? I'd heard that line before.
"Tough," I said. "Either you let me come or I follow you. Your pick."
Dad sighed. Then laughed softly. "Okay, cupcake."
I swatted at him for the nickname, but my relief was powerful. "Just give me one second." I looked down at myself and my rumpled pj's. "I just need a sweater."
I ran for the nearest closet, not really believing they would leave me behind, but certain Dad would attempt something sneaky if he thought he could get away with it. I jerked on an old sweatshirt of Uncle Franks, a baggy hooded thing with a university logo on it. I was back down the hall in a flash.
Lo and behold, they were waiting for me.
Sunny reached out and ran a finger down the sleeve with a smile so sad I wanted to hug her.
Shake it off, Syd.
Sunny led the way, Dad right behind her. Thoughts tumbled together in my head. I needed to tell Dad about the new and improved Sebastian. I was just about to pass the threshold when my flip flop caught on the carpet at the door and I stumbled. I looked up, in the process of taking my next step, and froze.
Sunny and Dad were surrounded buy a pack of fluttering shadows rapidly solidifying into vampires. My demon grunted in surprise while my temper flared to bursting.
"SUNNY!" She shook her head even as I moved to lunge forward. Right into a wall of amber power.
"Syd," Dad shouted at me. "Stay!"
No. I had to reach him. My demon clawed at his shield, I threw myself against it but nothing worked. He was just too strong.
"Honey," he said as Nicholas materialized next to him. "I have to know you're safe."
And I was safe, here inside the wards of the house. He dropped his shield. I stayed put. But not because of my dad or what he said. I was hit with a second shock that drove me to a wide-mouthed freeze.
A man in a white robe was gently set on the ground next to Nicholas. I knew that robe, if not the face.
One of the Chosen of the Light. What was he doing with Nicholas and his vampires?
"Well done." His voice was boring, ordinary, his features more so. He looked like a lackey waiting for a master. Three more Chosen appeared and I frantically searched faces. No Demetrius. Had he died in the accident?
"I had nothing to do with this, Haralthazar." Sunny was shaking again, but this time in fury. "I swear to you, I did not betray you."
"Not on purpose." Nicolas's laughter was getting on my nerves. "But, my darling Sonja, there was no need for your cooperation." Sonja? "You see, I'm still inside your mind." Her face crumpled as he spoke. "Oh yes, you missed it, didn't you? Thought breaking away from your master would be that easy." He fixed Dad with a grin full of malice. "Women," he said. "So stupid."
Dad didn't move, but I felt his power building. He was going to wipe them out, or do his best trying. And I was ready to help.
"I've been in your mind far longer than you think." Nicholas turned on Sunny. "I've even been able to influence you from time to time. Like this gem I cooked up." He gestured at Dad. "Convincing you to raise the demon and make him take mortal form. Quite genius, don't you think?"
"You bastard." I barely heard her, but agreed whole heartedly.
He slapped her so hard she staggered. Blood poured from her nose when she straightened up and glared back at him.
"Enough." The Chosen leader approached Dad. "Bring them both." He glanced my way. "And get the girls."
No way. I hit the wards around the house with a burst of demon flame that drove the other three back.
Their leader shrugged. "Your power will only last so long," he said. "We're patient, Sydlynn Hayle."
Nicholas moved to take Sunny's arm but the man in the white robe cut him off. And it was suddenly very clear to me who was in control here. Now to figure out a way to use it to my advantage.
"Don't make me order you again." Nicholas actually cringed away from the man, hissing softly under his breath.
Sunny laughed. "Well," she said, "isn't this a surprise. The mighty Nicholas DeWinter the lackey of a human."
He snarled at her, but stayed back.
"Vampire Sonja," the Chosen leader said. "Shut up." He leaned forward quickly and pressed his palm to her forehead.
I've never heard a scream like that before. Ever. There was power moving around out there, but without passing the wards I had no idea what kind. Only that Demetrius lied to me.
His people harbored witches after all.
Sunny fell to her knees when the man finally dropped his hand. I heard her sobbing, saw her fingers lift to her face. She shook violently, though from where I stood she didn't look harmed. Whatever it was, it hurt her so much she collapsed from it.
I felt the edge of Dad's might move to strike just as the man turned to him.
"I wouldn't." His tone was so reasonable. "Your wife is not where this vampire thinks. And if you fight us in any way, we will kill her. And your daughters."
This was exactly what I had been afraid of. "Dad, kick their asses."
He shuddered. Looked at me with so much sorrow I wanted to cry.
"Why?" Dad faced the man head on. "Why are you doing this?"
"For your power, of course," he said. Sunny raised her head, fought her way to her feet as he went on. Her eyes met mine, face sheathed in tears, but she was okay. At least, she looked that way. "Our mandate must be filled. We will use what makes you a demon to purge the world of magic and evil once and for all."
They were nuts. Totally certifiable. Besides, they clearly had no idea Dad didn't have access to his full power anymore. In fact, they would have been better off keeping Meira. Clearly their education was flawed.
I figured Dad would fill them in. Until I realized he knew what I did-if he told them the truth, he would be worthless to them and we'd never bring Mom back.
Okay then. I kind of agreed with his decision. But he could still make the right choice and fight. I could tell when he met my eyes for the final time he chose a different path the second the Chosen told him the truth of things.
The leader extended his hand, a round crystal pointed at Dad. Instantly he was surrounded by a bubble of force, shimmering in the cool air.
I was forced to stand there, vibrating with so many emotions I could barely tag them as they rippled through my tension, watching as the Chosen took my father away.
***
