“That’s just it, isn’t it?” Hemlock sneered loudly. “Even though she’s a noble andDeath’s daughter,she’s weak. This is such a big deal because why? Because they’re nobles? You all make me sick.”
The words stung, and my face flushed hotter. But before I could muster a response, my father’s form blurred. In an instant, he was in front of Hemlock, his hand gripping his face and thumb slipping into Hemlock’s septum piercing’s hoop.
Skel stumbled back, falling back over his feet at my father being so close, while Dex’s grin widened as he watched in amusement.
Hemlock’s eyes widened in shock.
Daryl whispered, “We do not need to kill to feed, Pandora. Watch this.”
I watched, frozen, as my father siphoned a dark wisp of Hemlock’s soul, his black eyes glowing with an eldritch light as the soul went directly into his eyes.
Hemlock shuddered, his arrogance replaced with a vulnerability I didn’t know him to be capable of. “Fuck, I need a drink.”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Daryl tugged at Hemlock’s piercing. “Now, you try.” He turned back to me with an expectant gaze.
I twisted my ring, and it was oddly white atthe moment—even with the chaos around us. “I—I can’t,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. “What if I kill him?”
“What loss would that be, really?” Daryl asked, his voice hard. “Unlike him, you are not weak, as he suggested.”
“Daryl,” I whispered harshly. “He’s just a drunk. Ignore him.”
Hemlock’s gaze bore into mine with more hatred, but they exploded with pain as Daryl yanked the piercing from his nose, a flap of skin hanging down a moment before healing back.
Daryl tossed the hoop at Hemlock’s face. “This isn’t as flattering as you think it is.”
Ashenfell took control again after that and made everyone else pair off.
Daryl and I had practiced activating my powers, but nothing happened. It was a conundrum, but he thought it was because I hadn’t ever used them before. He still didn’t understand how I survived without awakening. Honestly, I didn’t either.
“I could remove that chaos demon,Hemlock, for you,” he offered awkwardly, grim humor in his tone. “Council privileges have their perks, plus, all I have to do is outstretch a hand toward him, and he’d drop dead.”
I managed a weak smile but shook my head. “No, Daryl, that won’t be necessary. I can handle myself, believe it or not.”
“You’re my daughter. I’m allowed to be concerned,” he told me with a frown. “Right?”
“Of course,” I assured him. “And I appreciate the concern. I really do. But if anything, I feel sorry for Hemlock. He’s always drunk and miserable. Someone like that must’ve been through something to get that way.”
He pouted, rolling his eyes. “Fine, but if he messes with you again, just tell your dad.”
A giggle broke out of me, and I nodded. “Sure, Daryl. I’ll let you know.”
His lips quirked up in a victorious smirk.
Daryl had morecouncil duties that I was pretty sure had to do with dark magic, so he had to leave shortly after class ended. By the time I looked for Reed, he had left, too. I decided to head to the library to research activating my powers, but as I passed by Cryptic Altar, I saw Hemlock arguing fiercely with another demon I hadn’t seen before.
He had the same red eyes as Hemlock, but unlike Hemlock, the guy had red hair cut in a short style.
“I never asked you to come!” Hemlock snarled.
He looked desperate as he reached out and clutched Hemlock’s arm. “But I’m here. You can keep pushing me away all you want, but I’ll still be here, Bram.”
“You haven’t been here!” Hemlock growled as he yanked his arm away. His horns slipped from his skull as his tail whipped angrily behind him. “You’ve never fucking been there. Don’t start now.”
“That’s not fair, and you know it,” the guy whispered brokenly. “If I had known about you, I?—”
“You’d what?” Hemlock shouted, anger thick in his tone. “Take pity on the low-class demon because we share a shitty dad?”
“But I was a kid, too.” His voice dropped as he stepped close to Hemlock, who was the same height. Now that I looked closer, they looked like they were related. “Why do you blame me for that?”
