Charade (Heven and Hell #2)

by Hebert, Cambria

  My father nodded. “I wanted to. I loved Cole’s mother very much and we dated for a while, but then your mother came into my life. Things got complicated. Two women, two babies... I wanted you both, but could only have one woman. Your mother seemed to need me.”

  “But what about Cole?” I said, cutting him off.

  “I tried to see him, honey. Cole’s mother was understandably hurt that I chose someone else and she didn’t want me in his life. After all the pain I caused her, it was all I could do to honor her wishes. It was better that way.”

  “Not for Cole.”

  “Yes, for Cole. As I said, it was complicated.”

  I allowed his words to sink in, knowing that he only tried to do what was best. I didn’t want to spend what little moments I had with him arguing over something that I couldn’t change.

  “I always thought that I would have the time when he was older to explain things…” His words trailed off and I hugged him again.

  “It’s all right, Daddy. I understand.”

  “How is he?”

  I grinned. “He’s great. So much like you.”

  Dad nodded. “A Supernal Being,” he said, almost to himself.

  “Did you always know what you are?”

  He smoothed the hair away from my face and looked about to respond when his head tilted, like he heard something I didn’t.

  He frowned a bit, his brown eyes melting a little. “I have to go.”

  “No!” I hugged him fiercely as if to keep him at my side.

  “I’ll be watching over you, always.”

  “Please stay,” I begged.

  “Be strong and be careful.” He pressed his lips to my forehead before gently pulling away.

  “Wait!” I cried. He looked back at me with love. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too, angel.”

  Fresh tears slid down my cheeks as I watched him walk away. As he began fading away he smiled. “Tell your brother that I’m sorry and that I love him.”

  I nodded. “I will.”

  Just before he vanished completely, I saw him smile. “And Heven?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m proud of you.”

  * * *

  The night sky looked like rich navy velvet, pulling me toward the window and promising to cocoon me in peace. I ignored the pull of the silver studded stars and pushed the window closed, my fingers grazing over something that wasn’t necessary until now.

  The lock.

  My fingers stung and my eyes burned as I shoved the lock home. It’s temporary. I promised myself as I pulled shut the shades and curtains. I walked stiffly away from the window, my muscles protesting with every movement I made. Training today with Gemma had been exhausting. I hurt in places that I didn’t even know I had, and I felt beaten down with the knowledge of how weak I really was.

  But it didn’t matter because tomorrow I would be stronger.

  Every day I would get stronger and the pain and weakness in my body would give way to a warrior capable of going into the pits of Hell and achieving the only thing in this world that I wanted.

  Sam.

  But not just Sam.

  Sam and retribution for what was done to everyone I loved.

  It didn’t matter that Airis couldn’t help me. It didn’t matter that even with supernatural powers I was still achingly human. I didn’t care that Beelzebub was somehow going to return from the fiery pit that I punished him with and make me pay.

  And I had no doubt he would make me pay.

  I thought about my best friend, who may or may not be soulless and punished for working with the most heinous witch ever. I pictured my mother, lying unconscious in a hospital bed, a casualty of a war she had no knowledge of. I thought about Logan, who lay just down the hall, sleeping and barely alive from the damage that the demon had done to his frail body.

  And the lies I told Gran about Logan and Sam? Just a means to an end.

  With single-minded determination I would take the steps that would free everyone I loved from what had been done to them. I would get revenge and I would do whatever I had to do in order to do it.

  Beelzebub would pay for what he has done.

  I looked down at my bruised arms and legs and took pride in their pain. Pain was merely weakness leaving my body—a weakness that simply wouldn’t do. I needed strength, strength of mind and body.

  I went to the mirror above my dresser and looked straight at my reflection. What I saw would have sent me into a full-blown panic attack. Before. But this was After. What I saw wasn’t what defined me anymore. But it was definitely a scar. Or what was going to be a scar. Right now it was still raw, red and open. I didn’t see it as something awful though or something that represented a blank spot in my memory. I knew how I got this scar. I knew why.

  I was strong.

  Stronger than I ever believed and I would wear this scar with pride.

  It was why I couldn’t let Gemma or even my dad heal me. I was meant to carry this mark, and whenever I looked at my reflection, I would be reminded of my strength and everything that I am capable of.

  I glanced over at my bed, knowing that sleep would make me stronger, but I turned away from it abruptly; I couldn’t face sleep right now. The minute that I went to sleep, I knew he would come for me. After what I did, I wasn’t sure anything would keep him away. I shuddered and reached into my desk for some paper.

  Sleep wasn’t an option, but that was okay because there were other ways that I could build my strength. I sat down at the desk and arranged the paper in front of me. Reaching for a pen, I paused to look up at my bulletin board that was filled with snapshots of me and Sam. The way the sun kissed his hair and his smile was so genuine. My favorite snapshot was taken by Kimber, in happier times, of Sam and me kissing. I remembered it perfectly, the way his lips melted against mine just right and the delicious heat of the sun’s rays against my skin. I reached my fingers to the photograph expecting to feel the heat I remembered from the sun. Instead, the paper was smooth and cold, lifeless against my fingers. The pen I was still holding snapped in my hand. I turned away from the photos. They were distracting me.

  Distractions weren’t welcome right now.

  I had plans to make.