by Amber Lynn
“You need to step as far away from my daughter as possible. If you value your life, I would schedule a nice trip to Antarctica about now. Alex or Sebastian, one of you get off your lazy butts and take our daughter for a little walk. I have a demon to deal with.”
Both guys move into action, but Sebastian is first in the room. With the look he is sporting, I am surprised he didn't snatch up the Panoptic knife on his way to the room. He may have tried to convince me that Ben didn’t let Candace out, but he isn’t happy about being awaken. Ben backs away from the crib to let Sebby through. I think he has realized he isn't going to be greeted with opened arms.
“Just what is this all about? I know you are pissed about me keeping secrets from before, but I didn't think you would go from giving me the silent treatment to talking about murder,” Ben says clearly confused.
“Where's Candace?” I don't feel the need to explain any more than that.
“Candace?” he asks like I said something odd. “I left her about a week ago locked up tight. I put her in a replica of my special room. You have seen it. It should have no problem holding her until you are ready to dole out your justice.”
“You left a key somewhere,” Sebastian hisses and picks up Sophia. He cradles her into him and turns around to leave the room, keeping her hidden from Ben. Okay. Maybe sleeping on it changed his mind a little about Ben's guilt.
“No way. It is lined with my best stuff. Your mom is already pissed at me for hiding you and taking off on her. She is going to be livid about this development. I take it by the amount of aggression in the room that Candy has made an appearance.”
She isn't the only one. “Could anyone have helped her out? As wretched as she was, I imagine she has a load of friends in the demon world.”
“It would have to be someone really strong that also had a death wish. Word of your heritage spread like a wildfire. Lucy called me to her to help sort through all the belated baby shower gifts she started receiving. Demons tend to be big ass kissers and celebrating your birth about twenty-three years late sounded like a good idea to way too many of them. Maybe someone summoned her,” he says and then pauses to think. “I put up protection to keep any other demons from calling her out, but I guess a stupid person from another species might have tried it.”
“I don't know the specifics, but she isn't roasting on a pit like I was hoping she would be. She showed up in Faerie and convinced a Collective contingency to kidnap my father. By the time we moved in, she had been chased off, but I know she is just regrouping. My question to you is what are you going to do about it?” I am itching to call Aphrodite back to my hand and I think testing her out on Ben is a great idea.
“Obviously, I will do whatever you need me to do. We already know that I cannot locate her any easier than you can, but I can ask Lucy for help. You have to give me a lot of credit for immediately being willing to go to her. She may take away one of my legions for losing Candy. I know you won't believe it, but she is probably the only person in the world to take bad news worse than you do. It has to be something in your DNA. I bet the baby in the other room won't be any different.”
“I would prefer to leave my mother out of things. Dad is here with me now and I don't want to witness a reunion between the two of them. His life was bad enough over in Faerie. He deserves to not have to deal with her for a while,” I say. The desire to skewer is fading. Aphrodite will have to wait to get a test run in.
“Faerie. You mentioned it before. I haven't heard of a demon ever visiting it previously. The green and happiness of the place isn't usually our idea of a good time.”
“Green and happy was not a way to describe the place when we arrived. I would prefer we exit Sophia's room and talk about this somewhere else.” I have seen him giving the crib looks of longing and since I refuse to give in and provide him with his own child, it is a little mean to make him stand in here.
“Lead the way,” he says sweeping his hand out. “I am still working to make things right between us, so that pretty much means when you tell me to jump, I will always respond with how high.”
I highly doubt that, but I am sure I could find a bridge for him if he is being even a little bit serious. The fall wouldn't do any lasting damage, which is too bad.
I take him to the sitting area in our wing of the house. I don't feel like walking out to the main living room and I am pretty sure at least two of my guards would try to inflict some damage on him. Since I am reserving that task all for myself, they will just have to wait.
Sebby is holding Sophia while Alex holds up different outfits for her to see. A one-day-old is picking out what she is going to wear for the day. Welcome to my life.
“Mommy, why are you so mad at Uncle Ben? Uncle Gabe told me while I was still cooking that as much as he hates it U.B. is going to be really important to your big fight. I think you should kiss and make up now,” Sophia states as she lifts her right hand to point at a cute onesie that Alex is showing her. It is one from Jake's set of bad toddler chic. I don't bother to read what it says and I am pretty sure Soph knows exactly its meaning.
“Don't call him Uncle Ben, or U.B. He has lost any privileges he might have had to be called that. I think you are collecting way too many uncles and 'Uncle Gabe' is a liar.” I hurry over to the couch and snatch her and her onesie up so I can dress her. I am hoping it will keep my hands busy. They are still itching to call my stab demons gladly sword, even though I have calmed down.
I sit down next to Sebastian and lay Sophia in between us. In doing so, I also lay down the onesie she picked out. The Devil made me do it is printed for the world to see in red letters on the black fabric.
“You know what this says don't you?” I ask the mini devil.
She grins up at me with her little fangs sticking out. She better grow the rest of her teeth soon because I will never get used to that look. I proceed to take off her sleeping clothing and find her sans diaper. She has little bitty underwear on.
“Explain?” I am pretty sure I added a question mark to the statement. I didn't know we even had baby underwear in with all of the other stuff we bought.
“While you napped on the way out of Faerie, Sophia told us she didn't like how the diaper she was wearing felt. She has decided it is time for her to start potty training,” Sebastian explains.
Her little grin gets wider right before my eyes. “You are joking, right? Are you going to start eating solid food as well? How about walking?”
“Don't be silly, Mom. My muscles aren't quite strong enough for the walking and you know I don't have enough teeth yet. Sheesh. What do you think I am, a whiz kid?”
“She really is an apple right off the ol' tree. I forgot to say congrats earlier as you carted her out of the room as fast as you could, Sebastian. You and Nyx sure do make pretty little babies. I want to go on record as saying I asked her not to call me Uncle Ben.”
Ben has taken a seat on the arm of the couch we are sitting on and Alex is next to Sebastian now. I quickly figure out how to snap Sophia into her onesie and call her dressed.
“Are you hungry?” I ask willing to feed her even with the visitor in the room. He hasn't seen the new and approved versions of the milk jugs, but I am sure it won't scandalize him any.
Sophia moves her head in as much of the affirmative as her still solidifying neck muscles will allow. It is kind of strange just what she has control over already.
I move my shirt up and out of the way. Even though the girls are bigger, they are still nice and firm, so a bra is still optional in my case. I pick up the little one and line her up. This will be her second feeding, so we are old pros. It still feels a little weird to me, but there isn't much I can do about that.
I hear Ben start humming and I look over at him with a scowl on my face. “Do you have something you would like to say?”
“I don't think either of your husbands would like to hear what I am thinking. Okay, you twisted my arm. I was going to ask if the other one was open for others,�
� he says and then darts as far out of arm's reach as he can get.
I think about my sword to call her to my hand. I don't want her name getting out just yet. I know Alex and Sebastian probably both heard it, but Demon Boy doesn't need to know.
“You should have gone with your first instinct, demon. You never know what weapons a person may have in their arsenal.”
“I cannot believe they actually let you have one of those. Did they give all the fine print on what you can do with that?” Ben asks. He sits back down on the couch. Why he thinks he is safe when I am ticked, I don't know. I am really losing my edge. Not that long ago people would have run as fast as they could out of the room if they found me to be armed with even a bit of menace in my eyes.
Just because there is a baby suckling on me doesn't mean I won't stab someone. Speaking of that baby, it is time to switch boobs judging by her lack of action. I put the sword back away. It is already losing its cool factor.
“I am full, but we could try a burping, if you want. The books you read said that is the thing to do now.” It's good one of us knows what to do.
“Here, you might want this,” Alex says handing me over one of the burping cloths that I stood in the store staring at for a full minute.
I put it on my shoulder and bring Sophia up to start patting her back. “Let me know if I hit to hard. I have a feeling your ex is hanging out with my current opponent and going to do her best to see me turned into a pile of goo, Ben.” Sophia lets out a little ladylike burp. I thought it would be a little more substantial.
“Well, she has to be different from her mom in some way. Why don't you let Alex hold her for a little while,” Sebastian suggests. “We haven't let him had any time with her yet.”
I don't think anyone has had a ton of time with her, but I will allow it. I pass her over and Alex takes her and gives her nose kisses. She is going to make pansies out of all of us yet.
“Back to the conversation about how you want my help killing Candy. Just let me know what I can do to assist and I am there. If I hadn't have taken time out to make silly attempts to keep her alive, you might have gotten the job done before Lucy showed up to deter you.”
“Did you guys have another lovers' spat when you were locking her away? We haven't really discussed what happened after you left,” I reply.
Ben leans back and gets good and comfortable. “You do realize it is hard to have that conversation when you aren't talking to me.”
“And the only reason I am now is because you may be useful to me. Don't think for a second all is forgiven. Once the threats against my family are gone you are right back in the dog house across town.”
Speaking of dog, Clyde strolls into the room and walks towards the kitchen area. “Don't mind me. I am just grabbing a bite to eat before the big meeting. There are too many people milling around the main kitchen and I have my own stash back here.” I really hope they didn't install a fridge Clyde can access. Maybe he has some jerky or something back there.
“Yeah. Since we called the meeting, we should probably get out there. You two can finish your argument later. Demon, you might as well come along. Sophia's Uncle Gabe thinks you might be useful,” Sebastian says grabbing my hand and lifting us both off the couch.
“We are going to have to make some time to discuss what Gabe has in store for me. I don't think it is something we want to bring up in front of a large group.”
“The less people that know about that the better,” Sebastian says. Even mentioning it in front of Demon Boy wasn't the smartest move, but you never know when he might prove to be beneficial.
I am still in the clothes I slept in and it doesn't look like I have an option to fix that. It is a good thing they can pass as normal clothes. I am curious to see who my beaus have called in as backup. I think we are going to need the majority of the resistance forces to prepare for this upcoming fight. Hopefully the number of people in the resistance is as high as I think it is.
Chapter 5
Sardines do not belong in my living room
Alex continues to carry Sophia as we head out to the main area. As we get closer, the noise level increases exponentially. Our rooms must have a few dampeners in place to keep the majority of the sound out. I imagine it works both ways.
“Most of the people here will know who you are, love. They will be curious about you, so you are forewarned about the stares you will be receiving.”
“Do you think I should go down to Hell and bring back some of my legion to help?” Ben asks and the noise I noticed just a second ago drops. Ben's question hangs lingering on the air.
He might as well have asked who wanted to line up first for a cannibal buffet. I don't think demon assistance is going to be welcome here, which makes me happy.
“You and Clyde will be the only ones associated with Hell in on any of these discussions, as well as the fighting,” I announce trying to get the crowd to ease up a little.
A crowd isn't exactly what greets me in the living area. A wall-to-wall sea of sardines is more like it. There are way too many people in here to talk strategy. I thought the department heads were the only ones actually in on the conversation.
“They are,” Sebastian says quietly. He isn't trying to hide his words; he just doesn't need to speak very loudly because of the sound void. “Ben here serves my beautiful mate, Nyx, so you don't have to worry about his involvement. The Collective more than likely has a succubus on their side, so a little demonic help won't hurt.”
A united sigh is heard from the gathered mass. What drama queens. “Moving on. We need to do a little house keeping in here. Do we even have a war room somewhere in this place?” I ask.
“Yes,” Alex replies. “If the escorts don't mind finding something to do while the rest of us talk, we have some things to discuss.”
The sea parts and I can finally see familiar faces standing in the back of the room. I would have liked it better if my people were up front when I walked in.
Alex and our daughter lead our small group to meet the others. As we walk, a few people separate from the crowd and follow in behind us. Glancing back about fifteen turn into our shadows.
“Hey wannabe angel,” Hilda says working her way closer to me. “Is everything reknitting itself down below? Your healing abilities should have taken care of any issues, but I thought we better check.”
I don't think there are any issues, but it is rather hard for me to take a little peek for myself to check. I am sure I could get one of the guys to hold up a mirror for me; however, I don't think that is really something I want to see.
“Nothing feels out of place and thankfully Sophia's head isn't as big as Clyde's. If that were the case, I don't think any amount of self-knitting would get me up and walking within a week.”
Sophia laughs in her little girl way. “Ha ha, Clyde. Mom thinks you have a big head.”
“So. She thinks you have a head the size of a pin. I guess your new nickname is going to have to be Pin Head,” Clyde replies.
Charming. Just think if it wasn't for me, I don't think Sophia would have been able to hear his reply. Being a conduit for the loud mouth dog can be a little annoying, much like the Hellhound himself.
“Watch the 'dog' comments, biped. We are just having a little fun. No need to get all huffy about things.”
I don't have the energy to try to play referee between them anyway. Alex has taken us well past the part of the house I am familiar with. I still haven't gotten past the quick tour of our wing and the main living area. A full tour is on the list of things to do right after my family is safe.
Alex stops, juggles Sophia, and opens a set of double doors, before stepping back and ushering people in. “Take a seat anywhere, but please try not to sit by those you don't get along with. There are bound to be some heated conversations about to happen within these walls and it is better if you don't already want to smack the person you are sitting next to.”
Darn. I guess Ben is going to have to stand because I
am pretty sure everyone in the room wants to hit him. Clyde and Sophia may be the lone holdouts. I will have to work on them.
Sebastian leads us to the head of the table where my father is already seated. My guards are all standing against the wall behind him waiting to pounce if anyone gets out of hand. The only usual faces missing are Sam and Phee's. They aren't exactly strategic planners, so I am not surprised to find them occupied elsewhere. There are also zero of the captured Collective agents we brought home with us. After talking to them a little, I think a couple of them might be useful.
Alex sits down next to Aaron, I sit next to him, and Sebastian sits to my right. Ben joins the guards behind us. I would assume he wants to keep his eye on everyone as well.
Hilda is sitting next to Sebastian and me and her are the only females in the group. If I ever do become this great leader everyone keeps talking about, I am so promoting a few other women.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Dad says. He doesn't have to worry about getting their attention because everyone is staring at us.
“Our time has finally come, which I am sure you will all be overjoyed to hear,” Sebastian adds getting right down to business. “You all know of Aaron and Alex here, but not everyone has had the privilege of meeting the woman that binds us altogether. Let me introduce you to Nyx. We are currently negotiating what her last name should be.” Not that again. I should have never tried to add everyone's name to mine. They are going to push me into keeping it permanently.
“We also have the pleasure of introducing the newest member of our family, although I think it will be a few years before she is able to join us in battle,” Alex says holding Sophia in his arms for all to see. “This is our daughter, Sophia Rose.”