Lydia shook her head, “Not kids Aimee. Those are something else. They’re half angels, like from the tales of a long time ago. Those kids are the product of very old and powerful angels. They're like Ari and possibly the problem we have been seeing coming for a long time. We need for them to agree to live here, maybe forever.”
Ari frowned, “So we are essentially doing the same thing as the government, making them stay in a place against their will.”
Lydia shook her head, “No they must choose this. We cannot bend their will for them. They have to see the power they carry is too much to take for granted.”
Ari sighed, "That’s a horrid lesson to learn, trust me."
“Why did the dark ones want them dead?”
Lydia's eyes shone in the moonlight coming in the window, “Someone has seen them as tipping the scales in our favor. Someone has seen them choose our side."
"Well its not like we couldn’t use the help."
Lydia sighed looking up at the old house, "It's about balance Ari. Not one side winning but both sides finding equal ground."
Aimee smiled, "Well I'm going home for the night, I need some sleep."
Ari laughed, "Don’t forget to call about the van. Say it broke down. It's my visa Aims."
Aimee walked away waving, "I will. Good luck tonight." She winked and was gone.
Ari looked up at the house, "Where will they all sleep?"
Lydia giggled, "Oh this old house always finds places to make a room or two when needed."
Ari laughed walking into the house to help the new additions get acquainted.
Lucas smiled at her from across the kitchen, "There's my girl."
She smirked back, "Hey you."
He walked over kissing her lips softly, he was always gentle with her.
She looked up at Sam watching her from the other room. She sighed closing her eyes and wondering what kind of troubles the new group of kids would bring. She thought about her own trouble and cringed. Nephilim were a dangerous group of people.
Lydia laughed behind her, "I love you Ari but you're thinking the exact thing I am."
Ari laughed, "Hurtful, you make me sound like a Luna-Chic. I've managed to gain control," she looked at the group of youths in front of her, "These guys will too."
Sam looked her in the eyes, holding her gaze.
Chapter Thirty-Four- Hyde and Seek
Epilogue
Aimee
She took a deep breath winking into the room. Her hands trembled but she knew it was the only way things could be. She owed him that at least. She walked into the living room and smiled, "Hi daddy."
The older man began crying, he looked afraid but he got up from his chair and walked toward her with his arms stretched out.
She remained very still as his fingers made contact with her arm. His grip tightened and he pulled her to him squeezing her. Had she been mortal the hug would have hurt her.
"How?"
"I faked my death."
He sobbed, "You're not a ghost?"
She shook her head silently as tears streamed her cheeks, "I am dead but not in the same way you would consider someone dead."
He pulled her back, "Do you think you're a vampire? I know that’s all the craze right now with girls your age."
She laughed, "No daddy. I'm a grim reaper, a death dealer."
"How? This isn’t possible."
She felt shame flooding her face, "I sold my soul to the devil to stay alive when nothing else could keep me here."
"Aimee are you on drugs?"
"No daddy I swear. I'm a reaper. I promise."
He touched her arm squeezing it, "I've lost my mind. It's finally happened."
Tears leaked from her eyes, "No daddy I'm here. I'm real. I swear."
He shook his head and walked away from her.
She walked up to him grabbing his arm, "Daddy watch this." She winked herself across the room and then back to him.
He reached out and touched her again, "Aimee."
She smiled and squeezed his hand, "Yes. I can't explain everything right now. Shane said he would come and answer your questions. I just couldn’t bear for you to think I'm dead one more minute."
"You're real?"
She nodded excitedly, "I'm real."
He nodded, "Okay. Okay. I can live with that. I'm not certain I want any details but I can live with that."
She laughed again, "I'm so sorry I hurt you and made you think I was dead."
"Are you in danger?"
She nodded, "That and I wont age, I wont get sick, I wont ever have children or be on the PTA. I will always be this."
He hugged her again soothingly, "You're perfect the way you are Aimee and if this is all we ever get than I will be grateful. I lost you once and I cant do it again."
She pulled back looking sternly at him, "Dad you can never talk about me like I'm alive, you cant let on you know. There are things after me, they want me dead or at the very least to join their side. We call them the dark ones."
He frowned, "So you're good still then?"
She nodded, "I am. I don’t hurt people unless I have to, I govern the laws for people like me."
"You have a place to live and food and friends?"
"And you and Shane."
"Then what else could you ask for? Will you stay for a while?"
She smiled, "I'll come back tomorrow night, maybe some Austen?"
He laughed, "Done but I want that…"
She nodded, "I know I know Pride and Prejudice. You know dad there is one you’ve never seen before, it’s a bit more gothic."
His eyes lit up, "Well I feel more open minded as of late so why not." She squeezed his hands.
"I have to go. Shane will be here any minute to talk with you and answer questions."
"I love you Aimee."
"I love you too daddy." She winked from the room.
Her broken heart felt as if it were mending, even if it was just a little. She looked at her watch winking herself to her Roses assignment. She liked being exactly on time.
She walked along the long gravel driveway enjoying the feel of the night air on her. She looked up at the gothic Tudor home at the end of the driveway. She felt her cell phone buzz and pulled it out.
She smiled at the text from Shane.
'He's so happy Aimes. You did the right thing. C U tomorrow night'
She put her phone away and put on her game face.
She knocked on the huge wooden door with the forest scene carved in it and waited as the golden handle turned.
"Good Evening Miss Aimee. He is ready for you."
She nodded and walked in. She hated it when they were nice to her.
The house was massive and creepy as if Bram Stoker were to film there any moment. She walked listing to the click of her high-heeled boots on the wooden floors.
The man stopped her at a large bedroom door. Aimee could hear voices inside.
"Wait here." The man spoke softly, Aimee heard his voice break and tried not to feel sick for what she was about to do.
The door opened suddenly with a young woman around her age looking confused.
Aimee walked in, "Do you want her here for it?"
The old man on the bed nodded, "A promise is a promise."
Aimee smiled and nodded, "It is."
He looked at the young woman, "I have loved you for hundreds of years, long before I ever knew you."
He closed his eyes. Aimee took his weathered hand in hers and caressed it for a moment as the warm seductive feelings filled her.
She felt his life leave his body and turned away from him. She looked at the girl and spoke softly, "Now you see what happens, remember the ancient creed, ‘Do what ye will but harm none’ and we will never have to meet again young Hyde.”
She winked from the room feeling badly for the girl but grateful she'd been able to help the good Doctor out.
Ari
She slipped up the stairs noticing how her tall black military boots were nearly impossible to remain undetected in.
She could see a light or two on under the crack between the door and the floor, the nuns would be reading the bible before bed. She rolled her eyes imagining such worship by such people. The long dark hallway would have scared the life out of her but she didn’t let it, not anymore. She walked on her toes until she reached the last set of stairs that led to HIS room. She slipped up the stairs in the dark excited with anticipation.
The sickly smell of filth and sin filled the cool air, it hung around everything like a black cloud polluting everyone and everything. She could see the faint flicker of candlelight coming under the door. She could also hear the faintest of sounds. She wondered if he was alone in his room. She gagged slightly frightened of what she might see that would scar her forever. She took a deep breath and kicked the door open. Her legs had grown fiercely strong making the kick echo through the halls as the door was ripped right off its hinges.
He pulled back lifting covers to attempt at hiding his fat flesh. The head nun who had beaten Angry Ari many a time was atop him also gripping at the covers.
"GET OUT!" He blasted her trying to intimidate her.
Ari laughed, "You're a disgusting piece of shit. Both of you."
The nun leapt at her completely naked.
Ari's hand came up fast as lightening gripping her throat.
Ari smiled and put a finger to her lips, "Shhhh. I'm not ready for you yet." The women went still in Ari's hand.
"You little bitch I don’t know who you think you are." He spoke through his teeth jumping off the bed grabbing at her. She let go of the Nun and grabbed both sides of his face pushing into him as violently as she could.
He shot back tripping over the bed and slamming into the wall screaming holding his face.
The air filled with the sweet smell as it sparkled and came to life. His picture was different this time.
He was a young man, he was peeking in a window of a house. A lady was changing inside. He walked slowly around the corner almost tiptoeing. He slid the sliding glass door open and crept into the house.