Page 175 of Demise

“I swear,” Andrew says, blowing out a ragged breath.

“Do you swear to enforce all law whenever deemed necessary, no matter the task?”

“I sw—”

A commotion sounds from outside the room, my eyes meeting Ronan’s and Liam’s before I nod. Pulling the dagger from under my robe, I jab it into my father’s back.

“Sit down!” I snarl.

Members all around look at us in shock as Liam does the same, holding his dagger to his father’s back.

“What is the meaning of this?” William Walcott fumes.

“Shut the fuck up!” Liam snaps.

Andrew moves, taking his position behind his father as Ronan stands behind Henry Parris. We all know that if someone was going to try something, it would be that slimy bastard.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, hm?” my father taunts like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

The door opens in the next moment and Stroughton, Lewis, Wesley, and Vincent file in. Skyla is noticeably missing, but that’s okay. She’ll be here soon. Each person takes up residence behind their family, Vincent standing behind Ingersoll with a smile that makes even my skin crawl.

Charles Stroughton predictably looks ready to piss himself. Good. Let’s hope he stays that way.

“You all have just made the biggest mistake of your lives,” my father says, meeting the eyes of every one of us around the long table.

“Yeah?” I goad as another figure steps in through the doorway.

Wait, not one figure. Three.

I literally hear all the air sucked out of my father’s lungs as he sets his eyes on our newcomers.

“N-no. It can’t…how?”

Chapter Fifty Three

Skyla

You could hear a piece of hair hit the ground as we step inside the room. It’s that silent. I was so nervous to be back here. In these tunnels, in this room. I never wanted to step foot in here again. Something about it just seems right, though. Like something coming full circle, and the look on Christopher’s face is priceless.

Together, we move further into the room, my father’s arm looped on my right, my mother’s on my left. Shock and fear shoot around the room as everyone takes in my seemingly risen from the dead mother. I can’t help but relish in the panic and then anger that crosses Henry’s face when he sees me holding onto myrealdad.

“G-giselle?” Christopher asks, attempting to stand before Asher shoves him back down.

He doesn’t seem upset about it, too awestruck by the woman before him. “How? How is this possible?” he asks.

My mother gives him a demure smile that is absolutely dripping vengeance.

“Well, despite your best efforts to kill me, I prevailed. I’m afraid the same won’t be able to be said for you.”

Like a deranged lovesick fool, he ignores the bold threat as he shakes his head in awe.

“I can’t believe it. You’re back. Baby, I—”

“I’d appreciate it if you would no longer address my wife,” my father bites out, earning a thunderous look from Christopher.

“You! You…you Proctor scum! Giselle, my love, please tell me you have not…consorted with the descendants of a witch!”

“Of course not,” she says. “I fell in love, married and had a baby with one. You’ve met my daughter, your daughter-in-law.” She smiles.

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