Chapter 14: Running

By the time Luc and I descended the stairs, the house was silent. I had no doubt Lee had gone to bed and if Jinx was home, she definitely wasn't letting her presence be known. My movements were slow, as there still seemed to be a delay between my brain and my limbs.

"We don't have to do this tonight." Luc whispered again and I sighed heavily. He was back in his female form and as promised, the maroon streaks were not visible in his long dark hair.

"I do." I insisted, carefully releasing the banister. My body swayed slightly but I was otherwise able to support my body weight. "I need to check on Katie."

Luc sighed behind me but said nothing else in protest as he helped me slip on my jacket. My body protested at having my wings suppressed but I did my best to ignore the sensation as I pushed the door open. Luc quickly walked past me and helped me down the steps, his grip gentle and firm.

We walked down the street slowly and quietly, the vampire acting as my cane as I leaned on him. The muscles in my legs felt like I hadn't walked in years and frequently tried to buckle beneath me. It really felt like it was only willpower and Luc's arm that let me move but I was determined to check on the young girl. She was the last thing tying me to the awful case and I couldn't let go until I knew she would be able to move on.

The edges of the neighborhood came into view and the first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. It was not that late in the evening yet, and I expected to see older kids outside like we had the first time we walked through. However, the streets were eerily silent, and my heart started to pound. This was not a good sign.

"It's quiet." Luc whispered, echoing my thoughts as we walked deeper into the neighborhood. All the houses were still, as if the whole population was resting or… "I don't like this."

"Me neither." I agreed, noticing as Katie's house came into view. I could feel that my magic was still in place, so Katie and her father should have been safe. But what was going on in the rest of the neighborhood?

Luc released me as I approached the door, slowly making my way to the portal. The door was in the same state of disrepair as it had been the first time and I gently knocked on the wood.

"Katie?" I called out nervously, relief filling me as I heard noise within. That relief soon changed to worry and disgust as I felt the presence that approached the door. The intense hate and anger that told me to destroy the being on the other side. A demon.

"What do you want?" A deep dark voice came through the door, and I did my best to swallow the anger and distrust that was rising in me.

"My name is Lin, and I spoke with Katie a few days ago. Her friend asked me to check on her." I managed and I heard a second person moving in the space. I recognized the voice as Katie's, and I frowned as she tried to calm down her father.

"Dad, it's okay. I promise, they're okay. They were helping Sammy."

"Sammy is dead."

"Yes, Dad, but she was worried about her parents covering up the truth again." Katie seemed to be pleading with her father and I felt the feeling of anger start to lessen as he moved away from the door. The lock turned and I saw as Katie stepped outside, and it was clear she didn't want us to interact with her dad. She closed the door as she leaned against it.

The girl looked haggard, as if she hadn't showered or slept since we last saw her. Like the first time we met her, she was withdrawn and seemed reluctant to talk to us.

"Sorry about my dad, he's-"

"Right to be wary. This area can't support you any longer." Luc interrupted and I turned to glance at him. He had his eyes locked on the doorway, and there was a sad look in his eyes. "I'm guessing you two will be moving again soon."

"How-" But the girl was interrupted as the door slammed open, and I nearly stepped back as I was once again assaulted by anger and disgust. Her father remained in the shadows, but I knew he was in his full demon form.

"You." The man hissed, and Luc responded by bowing.

"It's been a while, Bar'gath." Luc's voice took on a demonic quality as he spoke, and I moaned softly as I tried to resist my instincts. His feminine voice was gone, replaced by one that was too similar to his father's. "Although you can calm down. I have no intention of telling Requiem where you are or where you go."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because she wished to check on your daughter." Luc motioned to me, and I turned back to look at the dark shape in the house. I could just make out his outline and his piercing green eyes in the shadows. This Bar'gath was not looking at me, his gaze locked firmly on Luc where the vampire stood on the street. "Once she is finished, we'll gladly be on our way."

"Um," I glanced down at the teenager, watching as she looked up in the same moment. "You came to check on me?"

"Sammy asked. She's resting peacefully now." I smiled and I saw relief on the girl's face. "Her last request was that I check on you and make sure you would be okay."

"Yeah," Katie nodded, glancing back to her demonic father. "We'll be leaving soon, so everything will be okay."

"Alright." My mind burned with a million questions, but I felt it was better not to ask the girl and her father. Luc took my arm as I walked back to his side, and I heard as the door closed gently behind me. I waited until we were almost to the edge of the neighborhood to address the vampire next to me. "So did you recognize her the first time?"

"I had my suspicions, but I never met Bar'gath formally before." Luc admitted, glancing to the ground for a moment before shrugging. "I also didn't want to assume when I wasn't sure."

"What is she? Katie"

"Katie is a human half-breed but should have died at birth. Her body is too weak to use or contain her demonic power." Luc spoke softly, refusing to stop walking. "Her father drains life from others to keep her alive. When he's drained as much as he can without killing, they move on. Requiem has been hunting them for years."

"Hmm."

"He's her actual father." Luc continued, answering my unasked question. "Requiem told him to let her die and just try again but he… decided not to."

I said nothing as we walked out of the neighborhood, my thoughts swimming. The demon's intentions seemed… pure? Loving? Requiem's request to just give up also sounded more like something the Angelic Court would say and I sighed softly. Maybe there was more about Requiem and demons I didn't understand.

"Sounds weird." I finally offered and I felt Luc's grip tightened.

"What does?"

"Just… different from how I was taught." I admitted, shrugging. "Was taught Requiem encourages chaotic and free behavior. Why would he care if a demon drains others to protect his child?"

"Reality is far different. I was taught Angels kill without hesitation." I glanced up at the vampire, surprised by his words. Luc didn't bother to look at me, using his free hand to fix his vest around his chest. "I've learned not to rely on what I was taught, and that my father isn't always right."

I said nothing as we continued walking back to my house, taking in what the vampire said. It definitely explained some of his dislike for his father, but what had he been taught about Angels? Was there any truth to what I had been taught about Demons?

I decided to swallow my questions for now, and just focus on keeping my legs moving as Luc helped me return home.

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