Chapter 412: Happy, Grandmother?
I'd seen Dad angry, beside himself, in an animal-like rage fed by power. But I've never seen him so full of fury he couldn't speak.
Sassy did it for him.
"You trapped the girls here on purpose." He growled a soft whine, ears flat, tail thrashing against me. "Took their hope, forced them to fight. Ahbi, that's despicable, even for you."
I sat back, not really all that surprised, to be honest, as I met Dad's eyes. "Can you please tell me," I said, amazed at how light my tone was, "why you ever wanted to come back to this place?"
He shook his head, teeth grinding as he clearly fought the urge to do something unspeakable to his own mother. "You know," he said, "I really have no idea."
Dad surged to his feet, holding his hands out to us. "In fact," he said, "I think I'm about to change my mind." Meira took one of his hands as she rose, mine sliding over the warm skin of his palm as I joined her. "Well done, Mother. But you've forgotten something." He pointed at the sight of the basement, the shimmering effigy winking back as someone turned on the single bulb over the pentagram. "I'm anchored to their plane. And I think it's time I went home. For good."
Grandmother stood, her face crumpling in weariness and pain. "Please, my son," she whispered it, the first time I saw her weakness. "I need you. Your world needs you. Do not abandon us again."
I felt Dad hesitate, the weight of his duty pulling him down.
"Dad," I said, squeezing his hand. "You're always welcome. You know that."
Why was he so sad? The fear of losing him forever came back. What was really going on here?
"Let's go." He pulled on my hand, leading me to the gap. I turned before he could push me through and met Grandmother's eyes.
"Thanks for the hospitality," I said. "And the life lessons. I won't be back."
Meira jerked free of Dad and lashed out at Grandmother with her power. "Neither will I," she snarled. "Happy now?"
She ran through the veil alone, but not before I saw the tears in my sister's eyes.
"You will return," Grandmother said, sadness pulling her face down. "You weren't the right choice, not yet, but someday you will sit next to your father, Sydlynhamitra. But I will see you before then. When I need you the most."
I refrained from giving her the finger while I worried she might be right and followed Meira home.
***
