“She’s a student at this school,” he stutters out. “Every student, especially new vampires, have to tell us how they were turned.” He’s trying to cover his tracks, but it won’t work.
Addy’s kidnapping, and being turned, was not common knowledge. No one but our group knows exactly what went down aside from the angels that were a part of it.
“Harleigh, baby?” I ask her sweetly, not taking my eyes off my father as I smirk. “Can you make that call now?”
“Uh-huh,” she agrees, and within seconds the door is opened and all of the colour that was left, drains from his face at the sight of Lucifer.
“Wh-what is going on?” he sputters, starting to sweat, and fiddle in his seat.
“Good question,” Mark taunts as they both sit down on either side of us, always making sure Harleigh is well and truly protected. Darren is also sitting beside Mark. “Why don’t you tell us?”
If I didn’t know any better, I would have said that Mark was an emotionless vessel in this moment. He could even give Orion a run for his money in the cold department. I guess it’s a perk of being raised by the Devil.
“Why are you here? I’m in a meeting with my son and his friends,” Dad snaps, and I shake my head at his stupidity.
Lucifer scoffs at him.
“If you think they are just ‘friends’, then you’re more delusional than I thought. Maybe I should let the kid end you,” he states, and Orion perks up, licking his lips.
“With pleasure. Just say the word.” He smiles at my father, making him sweat even more.
“It doesn’t matter. This is a matter between us. I don’t see what the Devil and some teacher are doing sitting in this damned office!” he hollers, punching his fist into the table and looking at me. He can’t let go of the controlling bullshit, even when he’s staring at death.
“Tell us the truth, father. Why are you here?” I question him.
His eyes move back and forth over everyone in a panic before landing on me.
“To get you out before it’s too late. You’re in over your head, over a girl, and you’re going to end up dead,” he seethes, and I laugh.
“That is nothing but terribly thought out bullshit. What I want to know is if you’re with them, or if they’re holding something over you to try and get information from us.” He blinks rapidly again, and shakes his head.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have friends that know things, and I just want you safe. Your mother would be devastated to lose you.”
Ouch. That’s a low fucking blow. Turning to Lucifer, I ask him one simple question.
“Can you get her to safety with the rest?” He nods without hesitation, and I know for a fact he will make it happen.
My mother will be safe from my father and the angels just like Harleigh, Adeline, and Brian’s families are. I didn’t want to pull her out of her life when my family hadn’t directly been threatened, but that’s changed now.
If he’s willing to bring my mother into this, then I know she’s not safe, even though he hasn’t actually threatened her.
“What in the bloody hell are you talking about? Keeping your mother safe? She’s perfectly fine,” he scoffs, but the sweat dripping from his brow belays the calm he’s trying to convey.
“Are you really this stupid, father? What are they holding over you?” I ask him, hoping he’s being blackmailed, and not just a part of this for his own fucking personal gain.
“No one has anything over me. A Connerton never lets anyone control them.” And just like that, I know he’s working with them for some reason or another. They just don’t trust him, or care enough to tell him everything.
“Money then. It has to be. Shame you won’t be around to use it, though.” Orion goes to stand, and I hold my hand up to him. “No. I think a prison cell in Hell is a much better place than death.”
He grumbles but sits back down, and Lucifer chuckles.
“Yes. A false world where he is a penniless nobody with impotence issues. His absolute worst living nightmare for the rest of eternity. I can work with that.” His smile is wicked as he plots, and Dad loses it.
“No. No! You have no business being here and threatening me. This is of no concern to you.”
Mark and Lucifer chuckle as Lucifer stands.
“Now see, that’s where you’re very wrong.” I’m pretty sure my father stops breathing as Lucifer towers over him from across the small table. “It’s you who has no idea what he’s walked into. Your greedy ass is so untrustworthy, the angels didn’t even tell you who they were sending you to go up against.” He’s leering now, moving slowly around the table as we all watch on.
“I—I don’t understand. What am I missing?” he hisses out, and looks at me with wide eyes, and I smile.
“Oh, that. Well, Harleigh happens to be Lucifer’s granddaughter, and Mark is her father.” I just shrug as he blinks at me before staring at Harleigh with wide eyes.
She giggles, waving her fingers at him like she’s taunting him now that she knows she’s safe from him.
“No,” he chokes out, and Mark laughs as Lucifer grabs my father’s shoulders, producing glowing cuffs out of nowhere, and slapping them on his wrists.
Tears start falling down my father’s face. He knows there’s no escaping these cuffs. As a demon, we are taught to recognize things forged in Hell.
“Yes,” Mark says, and moves to stand behind Brian and Harleigh.
“You can’t do this! It will disrupt the balance!” Dad shouts, trying anything to get out of this.
Lucifer’s laugh is dark and beast like as he answers.
“The Father knows everything. We have permission to do whatever it takes to right this imbalance you and your friends have created.” I hear a choked sob before Lucifer and my father disappear from the room, and we’re left in silence.
“Now what?” Harleigh’s voice is quiet, and Mark is the one to answer her.
