Page 96 of Hidden Sacrifice
She spent all day with me, teaching me all the spells she had inked on her skin and what power they held. At first, I was eager to learn all the magic she knew, determined to become powerful enough that my father would finally feel satisfied. As the years blended, my hope for his approval faded. Even when I mastered the power to communicate with others only using my mind, my father nodded before shutting me inside my room. At least from that point on, my throat wasn’t cut into anymore. But I never fully healed.
I approached him on the dance floor. He stood in the middle of what I liked to call his fan club. His abilities were limited to what he could take from other demons through touch. If Jasper touched my father, my father would wield the power of fire for a short period.
Demons moved out of my way, and I was happy to see they all remained scared despite my power levels. Most wouldn’t be able to notice my shortage at all, but the moment my father’s eyes slid to mine, I knew that he could tell.
I could feel Mor standing protectively to my side while Jace stood at the other. Justice and Jasper cleared out most of the remaining demons. He was convincing them that their lives were not worth the gossip.
“Ah, my boy, congratulations,” my father started as he went to put his hand on my shoulder. His hand was immediately knocked to the side in midair, and he gave me a questioning gaze as he knew I was too drained to have made the attack.
His gaze shifted to Mor as my hands balled into fists at my sides.
“Finally, a chance to talk with the Princess,” he said with a wide smile. “I imagined all the demons were anxious to get a piece of you, so I have left you alone to get your bearings.” His gaze returned to mine. “Son, I am disappointed you have not brought her by my palace wing for a proper introduction sooner.”
He held his hand out again, not attempting to touch but as an offering for Mor to shake.
“No,”I managed to send down the bond, using as little power as I could spare.
Mor kept her hands to her sides while she smiled at my father, daring him to grow bolder and make a scene. He frowned, and a small part of me rejoiced at the small victory. If he wanted us, he would have to work for it.
“I don’t think I like you very much,” Mor said, her tone an eerie calm. It reminded me of how Justice spoke before losing control and starting a new body count.
My father looked shocked by her honestly before his features changed into something that resembled respect. “I was worried a human could never be demon enough for my son. You happily proved me wrong. Don’t forget to bring her by my wing of the palace sometime. I have been dying to speak with you, my boy.” He turned and left with a polite nod, immediately getting lost inside the multitude of other demons.
I breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone. I still wasn’t sure if he was Fachnan or working with Fachnan, but I hoped that would be the last we heard from my father for a long time.
“Where’s Justice?” Mor asked, her tone raised as my head snapped up to look for him.
“Dammit, Justice,” I breathed, unable to find him.
“There are too many souls in here,” Mor hissed as she looked around wildly.
Justice has always been the type to disappear and reappear during feasts randomly, but I thought he would have known better than to pull this shit tonight.
“Have you mentally called for him?” I asked, wishing I had all my powers so I could berate him for his stupidity.
“Of course, I have. What if someone took him?” Mor whispered as Jasper and Jace positioned themselves closer to us.
“He was right beside us. I don’t see how anyone could have gotten to him without one of us noticing,” I said.
“Somehow, he disappeared without us noticing,” Jace said, which wasn’t helpful.
“What do we do?” Mor asked, her voice filled with barely restrained panic. I understood the look in her eyes; it was the same way I felt when I answered the phone call from Justice and Jasper asking if she was with me when she was kidnapped.
“I think we announce the party is over,” I said firmly. Instincts told me we were about to walk into a trap, but that was unavoidable now that Justice was missing. All Fachnan needed to do was take one of us out. “But we need to stay together as a group. Let’s not make it easy on whoever is after us.”
The group nodded. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest, forcing power into my veins. It wasn’t more than a steady trickle, but it would have to be enough. Loud caws sounded in my ears as I looked up to see a murder of crows descending upon the crowd of demons. They attacked in unison, diving down into the group with razor-sharp beaks that tore into the flesh before rising, ready to strike again.
Jasper held Mor up, her eyes blown black staring up at the sky while she moved quickly between the birds to aim their attacks. She was moving between the minds of at least thirty crows, making it look all too easy.
Shouts and screams ran out as demons started to run from the celebration. The music cut out suddenly as demons scurried. Others stood their ground and started to attack back. Mor lost several crows in the first wave as a tirade of power was aimed against them. I watched Mor blink as she released the crows to their free will. The crows decided to stay and fight against the demons.
We slipped into a hallway, unnoticed amidst the chaos. Jasper led Mor while she mentally searched for Justice now that there were fewer demons in the area.
“Found him!” she exclaimed, and we all stopped suddenly.
A strange aerial image flashed inside my mind showing a blip of green light not far from where we stood. I had no idea how she knew what that blip was, except that it was Justice, but I trusted her to understand her powers well enough.
“He looks alone,” Mor cautioned, “but I know there are ways to block the soul from my power.” She looked to Jace, and he gave an almost apologetic smile.
