Immortal Dreams (97 page)

Persia did this.  She enslaved my father's mind to force him to want to come here.  She took their place when Athena's daughters came looking for my parents to get to me, but they didn't even know I was an Aphrodite.  They were using me to get to Devin.  They're a part of this somehow.  And Persia sacrificed herself to let me keep the parents she had chosen for me.

My tears pour freely once more, and Mom hugs me instantly.

"Sweetie, don't cry.  We're okay.  Please don't cry," she coos.

"I need to see Dad, please," I mumble through the sobs.

"Of course.  He's in the back working with the satellite receiver."

Devin, Deacon, and Camara follow behind us.  Mom takes notice of the new visitors, and her eyes narrow.

"New friends, dear?" she whispers.

"Yes.  Good friends," I add.

"I'm Deacon and this is Camara."

"Unusual names.  Do you work with Adisia in New York?" Mom asks curiously.

I told her I got a job in New York and I was staying with Devin temporarily until I found my own place.  It was yet another lie I had to tell.

"No ma'am," Deacon says softly.  "We're very old friends of Devin.  Adisia has been a lovely addition," he offers so sweetly.

His eyes are filled with sympathy, softness, and a new kindness I didn't think possible from him.

Mom accepts that as she wraps her arm around me and walks with me tucked against her like a scared child.  Dad is kneeling and cursing the receiver box as we walk up.

"Adisia's here," Mom informs.

"Adisia?" he says with surprise as he spins around with a look of disbelief.

"Hey, Daddy," I whimper.

"Adisia, why have you been crying?"

"She saw the house," Mom answers.

"We saw it on the news just before the electricity surged.  I think it ruined the box," he gripes.

I smile lightly at their naïve notion of the fluke storm.  Devin pats my shoulder before his lips find the top of my head, and then Mom's eyes grow wide.

"Wow.  That's a big ring... on your left hand... on your ring finger... Are you engaged?" she gasps.

I squirm uncomfortably under her gaze, and Devin mimics the awkwardness.  This isn't how I planned on telling them I was engaged, and I'm too bruised emotionally to play the happy fiancée right now.

"We were on our way to tell you.  That's why we drove out here," Devin lies.

"It's so soon.  You two barely know each other," Dad objects, his brow creasing as he frowns.

"I know it's soon, but I also know I love your daughter.  She's everything to me, and I will do anything for her.  I know it's a little late to ask your permission, but I do hope to receive your blessing," Devin adds with his formal mannered etiquette.

Dad's eyes droop sadly as he stares at the enormous ring on my finger.

"That really is a big ring.  It must have cost a fortune," he mumbles.

"It's not as much as she deserves.  But I was afraid to go any bigger for her small finger," Devin teases to lighten the mood.

"So you're rich?  I mean really rich?" Mom bluntly inquires.

My eyes widen at the embarrassing interrogation.

"Mom," I scold mildly.

"Yes.  I'm really rich.  I'll make sure she has everything I can give her in every way," Devin says gingerly.

I smile lightly and lean into him.  His grip tightens on me in response, and his breath warms my hair as he kisses the top of my head again.

"Wow.  This is just so... sudden.  Have you thought this through?" Dad asks.

"I've thought of nothing but her and our future since the day I met her.  I'm aware of the suddenness of it all, but I sincerely love her more than I've ever thought it possible to love anyone," Devin conveys.

Dad nods and then pulls me to the corner to embark on a useless whispering conversation.

"Adisia, blink twice if he's forcing you to be with him against your will," Dad jokes lightly.

I roll my eyes, and shake my head.  I can see Deacon covering his mouth to hide his insuppressible smile, and Camara hiding hers by turning around subtly.  Devin disguises his amusement by pretending as if his smile is directed at the childhood photo of me.

I turn back to my crazy dad.  "No.  I'm perfectly free in this decision.  I love him.  This is the most I've ever loved anyone this way," I say honestly.

Devin's eyes flash to mine, and I can feel the stirring of my love for him consuming me.  He's always here for me.  He pulls me from the darkest of places, and he's been saving me since the moment I met him.

"You're sure about this?" Dad asks more seriously.

"I've never been more certain of anything in all my life," I murmur.

I can tell Devin's resisting the urge to press his lips against mine as his eyes pour love from them.  I smile at him, and then I turn back to meet the heavy eyes of the man who raised me.

He whispers, "I'll kick his ass if he hurts you."

I smile, just as I feel Devin is doing.  Deacon lets a laugh escape, and then quickly recovers.

"Sorry.  Someone sent me a new cat-playing-a-piano video," he mumbles while pretending to stare at his phone.

Devin snickers under his breath at Deacon's accidental outburst, and then Dad turns back to me.

"I love you, kiddo."

"I love you, too, Daddy."  I almost cry, newly formed tears wavering on my lids.

I know what I have to do, and I almost hate myself for doing it.  I'm not crazy about entering and enslaving my father's mind, and to force him to do something for a long amount of time is almost heartbreaking.

I look toward Devin to tell him I'm ready, and he nods at me with tight lips for my silent request.

"Mrs. Titan?  Could you show me where I can find a glass of water?" he asks in an effort to remove my mother from the room.

"Oh.  Of course.  Are any of you thirsty?"

"Yes ma'am," Deacon and Camara answer in unison to offer me more privacy.

Dad starts to follow them, but I tug on his arm to draw his attention back to me.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," I whisper.

"Sorry for what, dear?" he asks quizzically.

"For this," I say as my eyes turn green, and I enter his mind.

He gasps slightly as I force his thoughts to change and take away his will.

"You need to take Mom and get away.  Throw away your old phones, and ditch your email accounts.  You'll fly out by private jet tonight.  You'll be escorted to the airport by two people, and they'll leave you with enough money to have a wonderful month away.  You'll have clothes there waiting on you, and you'll have everything else you need as well.  There's no reason to pack.  Don't call the insurance people or anyone else from home.  I'll handle everything here.  You need time away," I instruct.

"We need time away," he repeats with his zombie-like tone, and the tears threaten my eyes.

I
hate
doing this to my father.  I take a deep breath as his eyes slowly dilate back to normal.

He smiles at me, oblivious to what I've just done, and we walk quietly into the dining area to rejoin the others.  I nod to Devin, and he gives me an encouraging, you-had-to-do-this smile.

"Mr. and Mrs. Titan, I have a gift for you.  My family originally planned on taking a month long vacation at our summer home on the beaches of Costa Rica.  I was wondering if you would like to take their place because some family business has come up, and they'll no longer be able to go." Devin lies effortlessly.

He makes it seem so easy.  That's not too comforting.

"Oh, wow.  When?" Mom gushes.

"Tonight, actually.  There's a jet waiting at the airport for you as we speak," Devin adds.

"Oh.  I wish we could, but there's no way I can take off work for a month, and we really don't have the money to do such a thing anyway," Mom sighs.

"Actually, we can.  I have some money saved up that I've been waiting to spend for a while.  I wanted to save it for a special occasion.  I think this is perfect," Dad answers with his rehearsed lines.

"Really?  Since when do you have money saved up?  I still can't take off for that long."

"You can.  You've been working there for too long.  We both need a break.  I think this is perfect.  We can do it honey.  We're too old to worry about such things, and with the insurance money we'll get for the house, we can just relax for a while."

Her eyes light up as she considers the possibility.  She finally begins smiling.

"Okay.  I can't believe this, but okay.  I'll go pack," she squeals out.

"Actually, I hope you don't mind, but I had someone shop for you and leave all the clothes you'll need in the house you'll be staying in.  It's sort of important the jet leave as soon as possible so it can move on to its next stop," Devin lies again.

It's his personal jet, so there's nowhere else it has to be.

"This feels too good to be true.  Let's go," she says giddily.

Sneakily, I pull her cell phone from her purse and drop it into Camara's bag.  Dad pulls his out and drops it behind him while he heads to the door like a mindless drone.

Devin hands him a card and an envelope full of cash which Dad accepts without hesitation - though in his sober state of mind, he'd never do such a thing.

Mom rushes to hug me as she squeals in delight.

Dad turns to Devin and smiles as he says, "You have my blessing."

Devin looks to me to find out if I had added that to his instructions, and I shake my head to prove my innocence.  He smiles at my dad to show his appreciation.

"Thank you, sir.  It means a great deal to me."

They walk out, and Devin comes to put his arm around my shoulders.  He kisses the top of my head and leads me back out to the SUV.

"I want to go to my apartment.  There's something I need to get," I murmur.

"We'll need to be quick," he cautions.

"There're just two things I want," I say softly.

He nods and holds the door open for me to climb in.  I should be catatonic, due to how drained I am right now, but I'm still holding it together against all odds.  I know it's because I have Devin keeping me upright.

We pull up to my
apartment, and we flash up the stairs.  Devin opens the door for me and surveys the inside before he allows me to follow.

Camara and Deacon are watching the outside, and Camara is using her furry friends for additional eyes.

I walk to my bedroom and pull my lockbox out from under my bed.  The cold, metal top stares at me expectantly, and I hesitate as the fresh tears begin to blur my vision.

Taking a deep breath, I open it and pull out the necklace I had worn as a child.  It has my name inscribed on it.  The metal top clanks back shut when I release it, and then I walk over to the dresser and pull out the top drawer to retrieve the tarnished princess tiara I received from the mother I didn't know still cared.

Devin's eyes soften as I walk toward him with my nostalgic treasures, and he takes my hand as we flash back down to the car.

"This necklace told the world my name when I was too scared to speak to my new family," I whisper softly.

"I'm sorry, baby.  I wish I knew what to do," he says helplessly.

"Help me find them," I say with an ominous hue.

His eyes show their fear for my request, and I duck into the SUV to escape his dread.  Deacon starts driving as Devin finally responds.

"You know how dangerous this is.  I'll find them, and I promise I'll take care of it.  I don't want you anywhere near them.  Athena's poison only targets an Aphrodite.  The toxin spawned from her hatred and jealousy she bore toward your blood.  You can't fight against them," he warns.

"I can, and I will.  I'll draw them out if you don't help me find them.  They've been chasing us this whole time."

"It's not them.  Whoever has been chasing us most likely tipped them off to who you really are.  They just wanted someone on their side, and the daughters of Athena are a powerful ally to someone after us," he explains.

"They didn't know who I was until they saw my eyes.  They're allies alright, but they weren't cued in on me.  They're part of this, and I want all of them dead."

"I love you.  I won't lose you to a battle you're bound to die in."

I sit back and keep my mouth shut the rest of the way back to the apartment.  I will find them - with or without his help.

I stare at the lying
tombstone in front of me.  The date born has been falsified for prying eyes, but last night's date is the true ending for her life - a life she willing offered to the monsters disguised as women.  She did it to keep me safe.  I'll kill them to give her justice.

Devin walks over and puts his arms around me for added comfort and support to my weary stance.

"She lived a long time, Adisia.  All she ever wanted was to know you were safe.  She got the chance to be in your life for a little bit, and she loved it," he encourages.

"Life.  That's a funny word to use.  The date born is etched into the stone with all of its lying pretenses.  The ending is much clearer.  The dash in the middle represents the
life
she lived.  There was no life though.  This is all one fatally elaborate game of hide and seek.  I'm tired of hiding.  I'm ready to seek.  I want to be able to live, and this isn't living.  This is barely surviving."

He sighs loudly when he realizes there's no way I'm ever backing down from this, and his eyes show defeat.

"I'll help you find them, but you have to swear to give me some time to formulate a strong plan of attack," he pleads.

"I promise," I mutter.

His lips close over mine as he scoops me up.  I pull back though to drop the flowers on the grave.  A few more tears drip, and then he carries me to the car.

Greer is waiting for us, and he holds the door open as Devin lowers me to the seat.

I lean against him as we ride to the apartment and my tears burn against my cheeks.  Devin comforts me as I weep lightly into his chest, and the blurry scenery around me passes us by.

In my catatonic state, I tune out everything going on around me.  I don't even realize we're back until Devin holds the door open for me.  With a heavy motion, I step out and take his hand.