Chapter 263: Hope
I quickly sat on the floor, Meira still in my arms, and told Mom what I'd done.
Her reaction wasn't what I expected.
"You did WHAT?" Mom was usually pretty pale, her porcelain skin perfect. But now she looked almost ghostly, more like her vampire brother did before he had a chance to eat.
"Theridialis took me across," I said while Meira stared up at me.
"What was it like?" Her voice was low, soft, but I could hear real curiosity. At least I'd distracted her.
"Pretty cool," I said. "He invited me to come visit when this is over. You could come too."
Mom reached out and grasped my hand, squeezing so tightly I jerked free of her with a startled squeak.
"Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle," she said, voice trembling in fear and anger all swirling together, "you and your sister will be doing no such thing."
"Why not?" We asked in chorus and for the first time ever I found myself wondering why we'd never thought of visiting Demonicon before, even when Dad was whole and himself.
"Because," Mom said, the forcefulness leaving her voice as she sat back suddenly, "I said so."
Yeah. Good reason, Mom.
"Well, I'm going back," I snapped at her. "In case you weren't listening, Theridialis seems to think he can help Dad."
Mom shook her head over and over, her veil of black hair swinging back and forth, sending the scent of lilacs wafting toward me. "It's too dangerous," she whispered. "Syd, please. You can't go back."
Dangerous? "Not even for Dad?" That made her hesitate. Until he sighed and shifted positions, his eyes opening to meet mine.
"Listen to your mother, Syd," Dad said. "You're not going back. And that's final." His gaze met Sassy's across the room where my friend hovered. "What were you thinking?"
Sass started as if Dad struck him. "She wasn't supposed to cross," he said, tone huffy.
"Theridialis knows better." Dad sighed deeply and struggled to sit up. Mom tried to make him stay prone, but he ignored her. I reached out without considering my actions and touched his arm, a thread of power moving between us. Dad sighed again, but this time in shock as his skin seemed to fill out, weariness fading a little.
So he was still a demon after all, somewhere deep inside. He might not have access to power, but mine seemed to do the trick in reviving him.
Good to know.
"I'm going back," I said. "And I'm going to find a way to fix this, Dad."
He met my eyes for a long moment. "You're too much like your mother," he said. And smiled. Mom tried to protest, but again Dad ignored her. "Thank you, cupcake," he said. "Promise me you'll be careful."
"What do I have to worry about?" I looked back and forth between them before glaring at Sassy. "Well?"
"He'll keep her safe," Sassafras said, his bitterness still alive and well. "You can count on my father for that much at least."
Dad nodded slowly, even relaxing a little. "You're right. Miriam, this is my last chance. And as much as I hate to ask Syd to go, as dangerous as it could be for her, there is no one else."
"There is." Mom spun on the demon cat-turned demon boy. "Sassafras, you could go."
"No," I said. "He's banished, remember?"
Sass seemed to squirm before shrugging. "Not really," he whispered. "Not anymore."
"Your mortal form." Dad's voice was soft and full of hope for my friend. That was big of him, considering. "It broke the hold on you."
Sass mentioned being able to feel his father, but he said nothing about his banishment being over. "I think so," he said. "At least, I don't feel restricted anymore."
Mom was shaking her head the whole time they talked before spinning back to face me. But I beat her to it.
"I have to do this, Mom. But now that he's free, Sass can come with me." Maybe. I wasn't sure, really. Even when I said it, I saw the flash of fearful hope cross his face and wished I didn't say anything. He'd been through a lot too, and I'd hate to disappoint him.
"I'll stay with Dad," Meira said, sliding out of my lap and jumping up on the bed, her back pressed to Mom while she took his hand. "It seems like demon magic can help keep you going, at least for a while."
It was true. He still looked okay. Not dying at least. But it was a patch job at best, I could feel it. The power was already seeping out of him like he had holes in his soul it couldn't heal.
Mom's tears were silent as she hugged Meira. I could see the desperate need on her face, how useless she felt. I reached out with my magic and hugged her.
It'll be okay, Mom.
You be safe. Her mind jabbed into mine. Stay in the lab and away from other demons. And whatever you do, you can't stay past their sunset. Promise me.
Was that what I had to worry about? Why?
Just listen to me. And do as I say.
I recalled how it seemed like the veil between planes didn't want to let me pass to come home. Could I be trapped there?
Mom just met my eyes. We don't know, she finally admitted. But I'm not willing to find out.
According to Theridialis, there was nothing to worry about. My human part would welcome me back. But there was more to it.
And my demon grandmother?
Mom's mind shuddered. I hope he's smart enough not to tell her you're coming.
Okay then. Sounded like the makings of a lovely family reunion. Why then did Theridialis seem to think otherwise?
A mystery for another time. I had enough to worry about. Besides, Mom closed herself off from me, so I knew I wouldn't get more from her anyway. I could easily ask Theridialis when I returned to Demonicon.
And there was always Sassafras.
I left the room, pausing just inside my bedroom door, mind whirling. I felt Sass brush past me, watched him sink to the end of my bed, head down. I went to sit next to him, hands on my knees. It was odd seeing them human again.
"Did he..." Sass paused then rushed on. "Did he ask about me?"
What? Who? Oh. Oh crap. I hesitated before answering. "We didn't really have time to talk about anything but Dad." Weak? You bet.
Sass didn't buy it. "You had time to talk about your grandmother and coming to visit," he snapped. "You don't have to sugar coat it."
The mention of sugar made me remember the delicious drink with something akin to an addictive craving, but I figured asking him what it was called probably wasn't the best thing to do at the moment. "I'm sorry, Sass," I said, reaching for his hand. He jerked free of my attempt and stood up.
"Never mind," he said. "Not like it matters." He stomped out of my room and disappeared down the stairs.
Great. Just freaking great.
I'm not sure how I managed to sleep, but it came surprisingly easy. All that traveling between planes must have worn me out. It was weird to wake up though, to a bright sunny day and consider I had to go to school.
It was an easy decision not to go. I'd had enough faking normal and if my passing out in uninterrupted sleep was any indication, I needed to be fully rested for my visit to Demonicon so school could take a flying leap.
I spent a leisurely couple of hours just hanging out in bed, reading a squishy romance novel and munching on a half bag of chips I found stashed under my desk. It wasn't until almost lunch I finally got up and shuffled down to the kitchen in search of a more substantial meal.
I found Mom making sandwiches and quickly helped, handing Meira hers, crusts off, just how she liked it. She smiled at me, a little wan and tired. Mom's hands were shaking as I turned back, her fake smile barely surviving as she met my eyes for only an instant.
She fled with lunch, retreating to her room, presumably to feed Dad. I sat next to my sister and squeezed her hand. It was only then I felt how drained she was and my guilt surged.
"Are you okay, Meems?" How could I have left her all night to sustain Dad? Was I nuts?
But she just shrugged. "I couldn't sleep," she said around a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly. "That's why I'm tired. It's okay, Syd. I can handle it."
What was with us Hayle women having to be all tough and such garbage? "I know you are," I said. "Did you have to help him much?"
She shook her head. "I really didn't," she said and I believed her, feeling relief. One thing Meira could never do was lie to me. "But he kept waking up which meant Mom didn't sleep so I didn't either." She yawned, a huge expression, showing off the remains of what she'd failed to swallow. "I'm going to sleep for a while. He should be okay for a few hours without me."
My ten-year-old sister sounded so grown up all of a sudden. I hugged her before watching her pad her way, still in her pajamas, out of the kitchen and up to bed.
I finished my sandwich and returned to my room to find Sassafras sitting on my bed again.
"Can we go outside?" He stood the moment I entered and started pacing. "I just need to get out of here for a while."
I was feeling a little cabin feverish myself, now that he mentioned it. I reached my power out to Mom and connected.
Sass and I are going to the park.
Mom's instant anxiety made me wince. But to her credit she eased off and got a grip.
Not too long. Be safe.
It was the park. Not like life threatening stuff happened there. Well, okay, fine. Not on a regular basis. We won't be long.
I grabbed my old soccer ball on the way out, just on a whim. It was a good decision. An hour flew by while I taught Sassafras how to play. He was actually laughing and so was I. Amazing how refreshed a little fun could make me feel, even in the middle of so much tragedy.
We (Sassy) finally tired of kicking the ball around and retreated to the swings. I pushed off with my toes, breathing deeply of the fresh air, turning my face up to the sun and pretending for a moment my family was okay.
Sassafras's voice shattered my happy bubble. "You need to know what he's like."
"Who?" I stopped swinging, leaning against the chains, watching as Sass spun himself slowly around in a circle.
"My father." He let himself go, spinning back as the chains unwound only to start all over again. "It is dangerous for you to go to Demonicon. But not because of your family."
"Then why is Mom so worried? Dad?" Watching him swing around was making me feel dizzy.
"Oh, don't get me wrong." He stopped and met my eyes. "Your grandmother is a force to be reckoned with. And if she gets her power on you... I don't know, Syd. She's always been disappointed Harry didn't give her demon grandchildren. She might try to keep you."
I guess that would worry Mom and Dad a little. "And staying too long? Will I be trapped?"
He shrugged. "No one really knows. There have been lots of pairings between humans and demons. But the offspring just stay on their own plane."
"But it has happened." Why else would they be afraid?
"There's an old legend," he agreed at last. "About the sunset, on either world." I realized then when Dad was here in his mortal form, not just as his effigy, it only happened a handful of times, and rarely at night. In fact, he only did so once. The night he was taken captive by the Chosen.
"Okay, good to know. Now, about your dad." I kept my tone no-nonsense so he knew I was taking him seriously. That I was on his side.
It seemed to work. Sass straightened and nodded. "He's a scientist first and foremost," he said. "Remember that. He might care about Harry, but he really has no idea what love is, Syd. My father will do whatever he can, whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if it means risking you. Or Harry."
So weird. I totally didn't get that vibe from Theridialis at all. The opposite in fact. It made me wonder two things: if time had softened the old demon or if Sassafras's memories were skewed by years and anger.
The answer was probably both.
"I know what I'm talking about." He must have sensed my hesitation. "My parents, both of them, are scientists. I was an experiment, Syd. A combination of viable DNA. They wanted to see what they would produce together. They never loved me and never will." He scuffed his sneaker over the divot worn in the path of the swing, a scowl on his face as he stared at the puffs of dirt he raised. "I never even really saw my mother. He raised me. She just showed up from time to time to see how their project was progressing."
I wanted to hug him, to tell him it was okay, that we loved him and he didn't need them. My anger at his father grew, making me reach out and take Sassy's hand. He didn't pull away, but he didn't look up, either.
"It's their fault I turned out the way I did," he snarled. "Why I was banished. And it was my father who chose my punishment." He pushed off from the swing, striding away a few steps before turning back. "So remember when you go back, who you're dealing with. A demon who could abandon his own son on the streets of a human city, stripped of most of his power, trapped in the body of a lowly cat. Remember that, Syd."
"Why did he do it?" Sassafras had never told me, or anyone else as far as I knew, why he was punished this way.
It was the wrong question to ask. He shot me a glare so full of anger I wished I could take it back.
"You didn't hear a word I said." He chopped one hand down, as if cutting me off before driving both hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "Fine, you'll see. You'll learn. Don't come crying to me when it all goes bad."
I stood, moved toward him. But before I could reach him, I caught a flicker of motion out of the corner of my eye. My head whipped around and I found myself watching Liam approach slowly, as if sensing he was intruding.
"Hey," he waved to both of us. "Missed you at school, thought I'd check in and see how you were."
I filled him in on the latest while Sassafras stood there in sulky silence. Liam seemed to take it all in with little surprise. When I finished he started nodding.
"I've uncovered some really interesting stuff," he said. "If you two can come to the library, maybe it can help?"
Sass didn't say anything, but I felt his energy shift a bit, out of the darkness in which he hid. That made me feel a little better at least.
Mom, Liam has some information. I need to go to the library and I'm taking Sass with me.
Her hesitation told me volumes. Another hour. You have an appointment.
Thanks for the reminder. My sarcasm was inevitable. Glad to hear you're on board at least.
She didn't respond. In fact, she cut me off.
Nice going, Syd.
I forced a smile at Liam I'm sure told him everything was not at all fine at home and gestured.
"Lead the way."
***
