Page 60 of Live Like Legends

My father’s girlfriend cleared her throat, making sure her voice didn’t sound like she was about to burst into tears. “Maurice, it’s Nick.”

She stepped aside to let me in, but not before opening her arms to embrace me in the biggest hug. Everything looked exactly the same and little by little, the ambiance of this place I called home started to settle against me. I heard footsteps that I knew well enough and I immediately looked down at the floor.

“What are you talking…” My father’s words were cut off when he stepped out of the hallway and into the living room. I didn’t know what it was, but I instantly felt myself wanting to cry. Something wrapped around me, almost like a familiar comfort, but nothing was touching me. My eyes were still towards the ground as my heart hammered against my chest.

One deep breath in, one deep breath out.

Inch by inch I let my eyes float upwards, until they were looking into a face that looked just like mine but older. They looked at familiar brown eyes, a mustache that was alwaystrimmed, and a look of pure stunned joy at my presence. His lips pulled into a small smile.

Mine did the same before I opened my mouth. “Hi, Dad.”

Iknew it had likely only been a few hours, but it was something about this place that felt like it had already been an eternity. There was an odd type of muted sadness to my surroundings and it made me work even harder to not give into it. So much was riding on my ability to keep it together and withhold my powers. If this was an entirely different situation I would have eradicated Dimitri and everyone else helping him, but from his threats I now knew that my once hasty behavior came with consequences. Those consequences weren’t just things I could shrug and mutter some noncommittalI’m sorrytowards.

No, those consequences were bigger than myself. I bent my legs, bringing them to my chest as I rested my head on my knees. I thought back to Nick in Purgatory and how he fought so hard to keep his shit together even though everything inside of him was disintegrating. He saw the bigger picture and put himself last, which ultimately could have cost him his life. I tried to think about what he would say to me right now.

Would it be something similar to what I told him?

Would he think up something just for me, to get me through this?

Maybe I didn’t need him to say anything at all…maybe I could just picture him coming in here with his heroic attitude.

I didn’t particularly love the idea ofneedingNick to save me. I didn’t like the idea ofanyoneneeding to save me. I could hold it together. Dimitri had to maintain his destructive boundaries unless he wanted the wrath of Lucifer on his ass. I had yet to meet the man, but he didn’t seem like a fun time when he was angry. I thought about Nick’s mind and the tiny threads of darkness I still felt there, the pieces that lingered.

He was hardly waking up in a sweaty mess anymore and he was doing better with his breathing techniques and just handling everything that I didn’t really think to bring up something I’d noticed. The hollow piece of him, the place where his father should reside was thick with an essence I could only label as resentment. It felt sad and betrayed but not in a hateful sense, it was like it wanted to bust out of its place inside of him and come to terms with whatever was holding it back, but the opportunity never presented itself.

It wasn't necessarily a debilitating thing if it was handled properly, but since Nick had never even attempted to talk to his father, I would say it wasneverhandled at all. I wondered if Dimitri could sense that. Was it that potent for him to latch onto and fuck with him all the way from Hell?

I should have said something….

I put my hand up to my face and focused. Tiny golden sparks flickered at my fingertips and skinny wisps of black curled around my knuckles as if they were greeting each other.

I heard footsteps outside the stone door, quickly ceasing any sort of power I had on display. I swiveled around on the floor so Icould look at whoever was coming inside. My face scrunched up in distaste when Dimitri entered the room, but he wasn’t alone.

I felt her presence before I saw her. Lilith glided in after him, tilting her head to the side when she noticed me on the floor. She looked almost like she was trying to figure out where she had gone wrong. Her long flowing dress bellowed around her feet, the silk texture more than likely collecting dust as she stood there.

“I thought you might like to see a friendly face.” Dimitri gave me a smile as if his gesture was anything but annoying.

My eye twitched at the termfriendlybut I never looked away from her.

“He really does have you down here, doesn’t he?” Her long platinum blonde hair flowed past her shoulders, moving as she shifted her stance. “I thought he was joking.”

Dimitri glanced over at me and grimaced at my silent response. “It is rude to not say thank you when I’m bringing you visitors.”

It was my turn to grimace. My shoulders tensed when Lilith started to walk up to me, squatting down when she was closer than I would have liked. “I thought you were dead. I thought that stupid boy of yours killed you and I dreamed about his agonizing suffering everyday since. I did wonder if he was wallowing in self pity thinking about what he’d done, but no, of course you arestillhere. My resilient girl.” She reached out, her blood red fingernails grazing my neck. I hissed when they made contact with the raw skin from Dimitri’s burn.

“Your disobedience has gotten you into so much trouble, hasn’t it.” It wasn’t a question and even if it had been I wouldn’t have been in the mood to offer up an answer.

“It was just a little warning. That’s all.” Dimitri cracked his neck. I flicked my eyes up to him to find him fiddling with the cuffs of his button-down shirt.

Lilith moved her hand to my cheek, the area still tender from where his palm had struck me. She pressed her fingertip into my cheekbone and her eyes sparkled at the way I winced. “I forgive you for hiding from us and thinking you could live some life you think you deserve.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Fuck you.”

Dimitri tutted. “You should be kinder to someone willing to offer you something we all know you want.”

“I don’twantanything from you,” I said in a steady voice. My throat aching just a little with each word.

Lilith smiled at me. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true. Dimitri and I came to an understanding while you were playing hide and seek. And once we saw your beautiful display of power, well even though I was quite upset with you, I knew the perfect thing to get you to trust us again.”

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