The Demon's Pa

The last leg of my journey, I believed, was going to be the easiest part. All I had to do was walk down a road I’d walked down only hundreds of times before, climb the stairs that led to where my sister, Caleb and Paul lived and knock on the door.

What could possibly go wrong? It was going to be easier than most things have been lately.

Once I was home, I would have enough time to think about what had to be done and to worry about finding the rest of the royals again before the five weeks in which we’d agreed to meet up. As long as I could find a way to communicate with them before the demons attacked everything would be fine, but at the moment my main concern was my family who couldn’t fend for themselves and who probably thought I was dead.

Once I was sure they were still alive and aright, I would worry about finding my other family, the side that sucked blood, literally.

Running away had been a risky move, cowardly on my part, but necessary for my own survival. I’d believed Viktor when he’d said that Alexander didn’t have permission to kill anyone other than me. That had to mean that the rest were still fine, I didn’t know what I would do if Alexander had killed them.

I froze mid step. What would I do if Alexander had killed them?

That would be disastrous; if he had killed them it would have been better if I’d just died with them.

Suddenly I was feeling extremely nervous and I started to walk faster. I didn’t want to run at full speed, that would just feel… wrong. I was home, I was back in New York, where I truly belonged, it didn’t feel right to be a vampire in a place I knew so well.

I stopped walking when I nearly slammed into a vampire male and we just barely managed to dodge each other. “Sorry!” I exclaimed quickly when he turned to face me.

He gave me a curious look, “It’s fine.” He narrowed his eyes at me and breathed in. He bared his teeth threateningly and his eyes darkened, “You weren’t created by Viktor, what are you doing here? State your name and purpose.”

I stared at him disbelievingly for a second. No vampire had spoken to me like that since I’d been turned. Not. A. single. One. It did make sense however why he did. Those who Alexander had created treated me like I was their royal but this one… he was one of Viktor’s.

“Answer me, or I will take you to my royal so he can deal with you.” He growled, “Who are you?”

I raised my head and gave him a challenging look, “I am Ash Carson, the royal of Africa. So stand down.” I glared at him, my vampire half wanting to slam this commoner into the ground.

He backed down. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I didn’t know that your royal had found his mate.”

“He did.” I stated plainly and swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, “Right before he was killed.” The common vampire’s wide eyes snapped up to meet mine but I didn’t flinch. “Now tell me, has Viktor arrived already?”

I silently prayed that he had, that would mean that he and Lucy were both still alive and surely he would have brought my nobles with him. I could do with some familiar company.

“No, he hasn’t returned.”

My heart fell. “Oh, he should have…” I shook my head, “I mean, I’m sure he’s coming, he’s probably on his way right now.”

The vampire nodded. “Do you wish for me to escort you somewhere, take you to Viktor’s residence and wait for him there perhaps?”

I shook my head, “No, I have… things I need to take care of before I can wait for him.”

“I see.” He said, “I really am sorry about being like that. It’s just… I mean I’m sure you’ve heard about the demons.”

My stomach turned uneasily, “They’re here too?”

“A few, but we managed to take care of them before they could cause a problem, but I was talking about what’s coming.”

“Oh,” I said, “I know, trying to stop the war is part of the reason I’m here.”

“Very well, then I will leave you.” The vampire said.

“Alright, please inform Viktor that I have arrived the minute he returns, I’m sure he’ll want to speak to me.”

The common vampire bowed his head a little, “Of course.” Then he literally ran off, but because he was only a common vampire my eyes followed him easily until he was out of sight.

Feeling like the universe was just loving finding new ways to drag me down, I started walking again.

What would it be like to see my family again? How would they react if I told them what I was? Would they also shun me and send me away like my friends had when I told them that I had killed someone?

I hoped not, but even if they never spoke to me again I just needed to see them to make sure they were safe.

After Alexander’s death I’d assigned a vampire to watch over each of my friends to protect them and I’d forbidden all my vampires from drinking their blood. I didn’t know what more I could do to try and earn their forgiveness.

The sun was sitting high in the sky and stinging my skin rather painfully, I looked up and cursed it. Stupid thing, it was necessary for life, but it was still stupid.

When I started nearing the building where Janessa lived I slowed again.

Did I really want to do this? I wasn’t so sure anymore…

With a deep sigh and a heavy heart I started climbing the dark stairs the led to the second floor where they lived. I found myself staring at the door with my hand raised to knock on it. Was I supposed to knock? I used to live here after all. It was my home.

Before my guts could fail me I slowly knocked on the door three times. The short raps rang out in the silence that surrounded me. Gosh, that was eerie.

After about twenty seconds more the door swung open to reveal Caleb looking as blank as ever. “What-” his mouth dropped open and his eyes widened, “Ash? Ash, is that you?”

“Uhh.” I smiled a little, “Yeah, hey Caleb, it’s good to see you again.”

Before I knew what exactly was going on he had his arms around me and was squeezing the daylights out of me, “Oh my word Ash, we thought you were dead!”

I chuckled, “Yeah, I thought that might be the case.”

“Ash?” I recognised my sister’s voice and the sound nearly had me in tears. “Ash!?”

I wriggled out of Caleb’s arms so I could face my sister. “Janessa.” I said, “I’m back.”

Both her hands flew to her mouth, “It really is you?”

I couldn’t help it, I rolled my eyes, “Yes it’s me, Ness.”

She ran towards me without wasting another second and threw her arms around me. “Oh my little baby sister, I thought I would never see you again!” She let me out of her embrace to grab hold of my face and inspect it. “What happened to you? Where were you? I was so scared for you! It was that vampire, wasn’t it?!” She scowled, “When I get my hands on him I swear I’ll-“

Caleb put his hands on both her shoulders, “Janessa.” He said her name warningly and she sighed.

“I’m calm.” She gave me a measuring look, “You look different.”

I stiffened, “I-“

“Older, more mature.”

I tried not to show how relieved I was that that was her only observation. “I am older.” I said, trying to ignore the fact that I’d stopped aging quite some time ago, “A lot has happened since I left here.”

A lot really had happened since that day. I’d learned that vampires weren’t all bad, not all of them anyway and that I could love a half demon more than I ever loved anyone else before. I learned how it felt to have someone betray and disappoint you, what it felt like to be at death’s door and be saved against you will. I’d learned the pain of rejection and loss. I knew what it felt like to lose the person you loved most in the world in the blink on an eye. I knew what it was like to have that person try to kill you and fear for your life. Goodness. In the time that I’d been away I’d found everything I ever could have wanted, friends and someone who loved me, but I’d also lost all of that again.

I really had grown up since the last time Janessa had seen me.

Janessa took my hand, “I’m just so glad you’re back, you have to tell us everything that’s happened to you.”

My smile must have wavered because she gave me a concerned look, “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, “Nothing, I’ll tell you everything later. Where’s Paul?”

“I think he’s still sleeping.” Caleb said, “He and Alex have really hit it off and they were awake most of last night.”

I grinned widely, “Yeah, I’ve always thought Alexander and Paul would get along really-” and then it hit me like a punch in the face. I swallowed. Alex? Did they say Alex? Alexander was here?!

I should calm myself, of course there are other people in the world with that name, Alexander was the only one. This wasn’t him, I lost him back in Africa somewhere. “W-w-who’s Alex?” I finally managed to stutter out.

“He’s been staying with us for a few days since he was chased out of his home by those filthy vampires.” Janessa said with hatred in her voice.

How did I ever think that she would be alright with me being a vampire?

“Oh, I… see.” She was going to hate me when I told her what I was.

We stood in an awkward silence for a minute in which Janessa looked at me like I was a ghost before she said, “Come in, come in, I don’t know what we’re standing outside for.”

I followed her inside and Caleb closed the door behind us. The first thing that I noticed was the familiar smell that surrounded me. This really was home. The second thing that I noticed was another familiar smell. Oh gosh no, no, no!

The man who was sitting on the couch in the living room looked up when we entered and my blood froze when his eyes met mine and a smile spread across his face. He stood up, put down the old magazine he’d been reading and walked closer, his green eyes never leaving mine.

I couldn’t move, I was frozen in place, again.

“Ash, this is Alex, Alex this is Ash.” Janessa said happily as she ‘introduced’ us.

Good hell. Alexander. It really was him but… his hair was cut.

“Hello Ash Carson.” Alexander said gently. He was faking it, he wanted to kill me.

“Your hair,” was the only thing I managed, “You cut it.” It was so short, but it looks as soft as ever and I resisted the urge to walk to him and pat his head.

His eyes pierced right through me, “Yes, I did, it bothered me.”

The Alexander I’d fallen in love with liked his long hair…

We looked at each other and I paced myself between him and my family protectively. Didn’t Janessa say he’d been here for days? If so, why hadn’t he killed anyone yet?

Fear pulled through me, if he really wanted to kill me and my family, I wouldn’t be able to stop him, he was too strong.

“What are you doing here?” I hissed threateningly under my breath at him. If he was here to kill my family he would have to go through me first.

Alexander merely shrugged and he eyed my sister and Caleb.

Janessa made an uncertain sound, “Do the two of you…uh… know each other?” My silence must have spoken book loads because she said, “Oh.”

I sighed, my eyes not once leaving the face of the dangerous demon that stood in front of me, “Can you give us a moment?”

“Sure.” She said with a hesitant smile and she took Caleb’s hand. “Come on dear.”

I patiently waited for them to leave the room before I allowed my eyes to shift colour and growled at Alexander threateningly, “I swear, if you hurt them I will hurt you so bad and I will find some way to kill you! Leave them alone.”

Alexander’s innocent look faded away and he smiled mockingly, “How amusing, you, making such… meaningless threats.”

I growled and took a step towards him aggressively, “Meaningless my ass, I will follow through on those threats if you harm so much as a single hair on one of their heads.”

He chuckled, “You’re so… cute when you make death threats.”

I snapped completely, “I’ll freaking murder you!!! You stupid son of a-“

Before I could even comprehend what was happening Alexander had jumped over the coffee table in the middle of the room and he had me sandwiched against the wall with his body.

I was shocked into silence and he growled lowly when I tied to free myself from him. “Don’t move, little fighter.”

“How did you find me?” I questioned.

Alexander shrugged, “I was fairly obvious that you would eventually come here.” He gave me almost an impressed look, “But you did really did manage to throw me off of your trail, so I’ll give you credit for that, you’re not a complete moron.”

I was silent for a moment. Was I really that predictable, or did some part of him still know how much I love my family? “If you’re going to kill me just do it now and leave my family out of this messed up situation.” I said.

He looked at me intently, his eyes still bright green. He was in full control of himself, “You’re so helpless.” He commented while blatantly ignoring what I had said.

I growled at him again and struggled to free myself.

“You’re so helpless and yet you still fight even though you can’t do anything.” He frowned, “Like a little kitten trying to take on the bigger cats.”

“Listen here you-” I started but I was cut of short with a dangerous snarl close to my neck.

“No, you listen here.” Alexander said, “I am having a lot of fun hanging out here with the weak little humans who think I’m one of them. The fact that I have to kill you almost slipped my mind until I heard you at the door.” He gave me a disdainful grin, “So what do you say, little kitten, care to play house with me for a little while?”

“Go to hell.” I tried to say vigorously but it came out sounding rather breathless because he was so close to me and my mind was running wild and free. He was calling me kitten again, that had to mean that somewhere under all of…this… my Alexander was waiting to come back, right?

“I’d accept the offer if I were you, Ash.” He smirked darkly, “Because if you tell them what I am or try to kill me, I can promise you that lovely little Ness will be the first to go.”

“Leave my sister out of this.”

“I will, but only if I stay human in their eyes. As an added bonus I’ll even agree to keep the fang-y part you have a secret as well.” He bargained. “I had an interesting little chat with my brother about what exactly you are to me.”

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously, “What are you playing at?”

He grinned playfully and brushed his open mouth against mine and I sucked in a startled breath, “I like to play with my food, little kitten.” He whispered against my cheek.

I couldn’t think of anything witty or threatening to say. “Then play with me all you want.” Gosh, that sounded so wrong. “But leave my family out of this.”

Alexander laughed deeply and his grip around my wrists tightened for a spilt second before he let go of me, “We’ll see.”

“Ash?” The voice from the doorway brought me back to reality and I turned to face Paul who had me in his arms within seconds of seeing me. “Ash!”

“Hey.” I said as he squeezed me half way back to life and I gave Alexander a challenging look when he smirked evilly, allowing his eyes to turn yellow for a second and he snapped playfully with his fangs. Alexander wanted me to drink Paul’s blood. I flipped him off.

He’d heard Paul coming and let go of me to not let it look too suspicious. What a jerk!

Alexander’s eyes changed back to green and he ran a hand through his short brown hair. Hell. I wanted to kiss him. He was doing this on purpose, that half kiss, this thing he was doing with his hair and that look he was giving me. He really was playing with me, toying with my emotions like I was some doll ready to be ravelled out by him! And he was probably going to kill me before the week was over!

This time I wouldn’t be able to run and he was well aware of that. If I ran, he would kill my family, if I tried to hurt him, he would kill me family. There was nothing I could do but listen to his demands.

“I’m so glad you’re alive!” Paul exclaimed when he let go of me. “I thought for sure that vampire who had bitten you that day would have killed you.” He hung his head. “I’m so sorry, I should have done something to stop them from taking you that day.”

I rolled my eyes, but kept looking in Alexander’s direction cautiously, “Don’t be silly, what could you have done to stop them from taking me?”

“Something.” Paul said determinedly, “Anything would have been better than what I did: nothing.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“But I do.” Paul said, “I’m just so unbelievably sorry Ash.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I insisted. “If anything it’s my fault for being the P-” I stopped speaking abruptly and rephrased myself, “For being such an attractive blood bag.”

Paul nodded wordlessly and seemed to realise for the first time that Alexander was also in the room, “I see you’ve met Alex. He’s staying with us for a while.”

I merely nodded, not trusting myself to say anything when I saw the warning in Alexander’s eyes.

Paul put an arm around my shoulders and started to steer me in the direction of the kitchen. “Come on, let’s go join Janessa and Caleb and you can tell us all about where you’ve been and what you’ve been up to.”

I glanced back at Alexander.

He was looking right at me.

He walked fast to catch up with us and we came to a stop in the door of the kitchen. Then he whispered something in my ear soft enough that only I could be able to hear, “Let the game begin, kitten.”

A shiver pulled down my spine.