Chapter 287: Evolution
Graduation was rapidly approaching. Good thing I was a quick study. I was able to recover from my almost week of crash and burn enough I knew I'd at least pass. Not like I needed good marks to get into the college I'd be attending. Being a witch was all I needed. Still, I'd always been a good student and the thought of not making it, especially in my last year, rankled.
Liam was a big help on the studying front. Fortunately, he and Quaid had formed some kind of truce during my absence into grief and now seemed like pretty good friends.
When Liam broached the prom subject, telling Quaid he was happy to step aside and let my boyfriend take me, I kyboshed it immediately. And even though I knew it made Quaid jealous, he was great about it. I guess he knew better than to push me after what he'd put me through.
Smart boy.
Theridialis popped in far more regularly, and Sassy seemed happy about that. When I taught him to ride the veil, my demon cat acted like he'd known all along even though from his excitement he'd had no idea.
I let him have his little subterfuge. He'd earned it.
As for my dad, he was totally fine. More than fine. He seemed extra powerful too, like Sassafras, though he didn't talk about his return to Demonicon at all. The cool part? He was around more often. I guess he got used to being with us on a regular basis. I often came down to breakfast to find him having coffee with Mom.
Pretty awesome. Turned out he no longer needed help to cross over. My demon energy, now fused with his new effigy, fed him more than enough power to link to our plane so he could come and go as he pleased and stay for longer periods.
As much as I was thrilled to have my real dad back, if he and Mom didn't stop with the long stares, sighs and giggles I'd likely die of embarrassment.
Speaking of Dad's statue, the diamond-like material it was made of seemed pretty much indestructible. The crystal and steel combination was not only strong, it was flexible. I caught Sass and Dad gleefully testing it one night like a pair of bad kids, using power to lob large objects at it. After I got over screaming at the two of them for being total idiots, I calmed enough to observe there wasn't a scratch on it from the attention.
After Mom took a turn tearing them both a new one, they stopped.
At least, they told us they stopped.
I had to admit, it looked pretty cool, his effigy, all sparkly like that. I couldn't help but wonder though why Dad felt so different and if the crystal's addition to his statue had made any further changes beyond the obvious.
I was happy to see Quaid back living with the Vegas, about as happy as they were. They greeted him with open arms and hearts that first night, Louisa covering his face in kisses and patting his arm like he was about to leave her again while Martin beamed in pride.
Uncle Frank checked in, a little cranky Gram visited me and was still avoiding him. There wasn't much I could do or say about that so I did my best to stay out of his way until he left again.
Sunny, on the other hand, seemed to be spending more and more time with us. She was even teaching Mom how to cook fine cuisine, though often I found myself smiling and nodding around a bite of something I would have preferred to spit out.
Nights of popcorn dinners followed.
I couldn't help but worry about Mia and what was happening with the Dumont family. But at least I knew the girl I called my friend still lived inside the chameleon and seemed to be digging her way out again.
The Dumonts and Ameline had naturally vanished after their failed attack. And we had as yet to hear a word from the Council or the other coven, so far so good. The Chosen were also gone, chased out of town by my family. I hoped we'd seen the last of them, finally.
Celeste tried to kick up a stink about Dad's return to power only to have the entire coven turn against her for the second time. She hadn't gone through with her threat to go to the Council, at least, but Mom was on the edge, no longer willing to put up with the woman just for the sake of keeping her close. I knew one more transgression and the horse-faced witch was history.
Couldn't wait.
We had as yet to hear back from Pender Tremere or any of the other Enforcers he said were on his side. Mom did a great job hiding her worry, but she refused to talk about it so I knew she was just doing her coven leader thing to keep it from me.
Mom's fears for Gram seemed to have faded though, especially after what happened outside the hotel. She finally admitted Gram was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but still insisted Uncle Frank keep looking.
The whole best friend thing with Sassy was actually a huge light in my life. He'd changed, but for the better. Still his snarky self, he was also kinder, deeper, his power always present as if he was worried putting it away would mean he'd lose it again. I was so happy to have him home, it was like he'd never been in human form at all.
I even let him sleep on my bed again.
Like he gave me a choice.
I was lucky to have one furry friend around. Galleytrot had happily gone back to hanging out with Liam, dozing away his days in the magic cavern under town hall. Funny, it seemed when I went looking for Quaid and even Sassy at times, I'd find them all crowded together in the archive with Liam, reading.
Nerds. Snortle.
Life was good, better than it had been in a long time. I had my dad back, my boyfriend, my demon cat.
So why did it feel like I was forgetting something? Someone?
It would come to me.
End of Book Seven
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Dedication
To my sister Caron, not just by blood, but by soul.
I love you so much.
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