Page 56 of Midnight in the Garden of Okay and Meh
“That’s the name, although I go by Jim now. Not that I want to complain, but the full name is a bit girly.”
“I just hope you can move past the whole thing with Hunter—Jim, what the hell?” Aisling stopped midway across the room.
“Abaddon,” Desi and I said at the same time.
“Why is it naked aga—” Drake stopped in mid-complaint and looked between Desi and me. “Well, that answers the question of whether or not Jim is really their child.”
“You look just like your dad,” Aisling said, coming forward to whip a throw off a couch and toss it at me. I wrapped it around my waist. She looked first at Desi, then at me. “Right down to the same hairline, and eye color. Although Desi doesn’t have a cleft chin.”
We all looked at Parisi, who looked unperturbed at the fact that her chin did have a slight cleft.
“Effrijim?” my dad asked again, leaning close to me as he searched my face. It was a bit uncomfy, because he was definitely exuding little tendrils of dark power, but I figured this was the best way for my parents to see who I was, so I stood there and let them stare. Then he hugged me, a full body hug, the sort that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in soft, warm cotton. It was a hug that reassured, a hug that said the things that words couldn’t say. I hugged him back, a bit moist of eye, because how often does a demon get to meet his parents?
“But ... this dog form ...” Desi stopped, and took a step back from me.
“Jim loves being a Newfie,” Aisling said, leaning against Drake, their arms around each other in a way that made me feel a bit better. Not that I cared much about their tiffs, but seeing my parents was doing a number on my emotions, and things were always easier if Drake wasn’t being unreasonable about Aisling. “It’s the form it always chooses, and I have to admit, as dogs go, it’s pretty handsome. Not that it’s not very handsome as a man, but we are all happy with it being a dog. I hope that doesn’t upset you. I’ve given it permission to change its form at will, so if it does, I’m sure Jim will be happy to go into human form around you. Clothed human form.” The last bit was added with a side-eye at me.
“Yeah, but dog form is so much better,” I said, then, figuring the parents had had enough time to come to grips with me, shifted back into my fabulous form, all floofy black fur, dashing white spot on my chest and some toes, and a truly magnificent tail. “So, Aisling is my demon lord, and I live with her and Drake and the spawn, but we should probably talk about visitation rights.”
Aisling’s laptop burbled to life before anyone could answer, and she moved over to flip it around.
“We’re going to have a meeting,” I told the parents, who were still at the window. I nosed Parisi until she sat on the love seat, Desi reluctantly joining her.
“We have much to talk about. How you found me, why you came after me, and what we’re going to do in order to protect you and Effrijim,” he told Parisi.
“Just Jim,” I reminded him. “Protect us from what?”
“Are we early? I’m sorry if we are, but Christian was anxious to get things rolling.” Allie and Christian came into view on the video screen, joined almost immediately by a window that featured Brom, looking mildly uncomfortable.
“Hi,” he said when Aisling greeted him. “Sullivan is chasing Anduin. He’s naked because he escaped his bath. Baltic is talking to the First Dragon. He’s pissed about one of Baltic’s brothers. Heya, Jim.”
“Heya,” I said in return, then tipped my head toward the love seat. “Got my parents here.”
“Cool,” he said, obviously studying them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Allie said, and Christian added a more formal greeting.
“My Beloved and I are grateful for your help, and are desirous of assisting both of you in whatever ways you need,” he said with a nod of his head. “Should you seek aid in finding lodging, income, etc., we will be happy to do whatever is needed.”
“It goes without saying that we’re here to help, as well,” Aisling said, sitting on the arm of Drake’s chair. “We have more than enough room if you’d like to stay a few days while we’re tackling the subject of the thane.”
“Thane?” Desi asked.
“It’s something the Dark Ones need help with,” Parisi told him. “He’s a very bad person, and they are worried that he will wreak vengeance through the mortal world.”
“Perhaps if we give them the whole story?” Aisling said, sitting back as Ysolde replaced Brom on the screen. “Christian can explain it much better than I can.”
I watched my parents while Christian and Allie explained the whole thing with the bad vampire ancestor. Parisi looked interested, but she kept sending quick looks toward Desi. I couldn’t tell if she was ogling him, or trying to figure out who he was. Honestly, I think it was a bit of both. He definitely was returning her interest with glances that came close to a dragon’s smolder, alternating with odd little looks cast my way.
Aisling had warned me before we started the expedition that they might be a bit put off by me being in dog form, so I decided Desi needed a bit more time before he could swing into the dad role. Since he’d been without us for sixteen hundred years, I reckoned it might take a couple of days to become comfortable with my magnificent form.
“Thane,” Desi repeated slowly.
“Do you know him?” Parisi asked.
“No.” He frowned at my toes. “Yes. Perhaps. I have a vague memory of four thanes who tried to interfere with Abaddon, but they were dealt with. Parisi ensured the Court handled them.”
“I don’t think so,” Parisi said, shaking her head, although I noticed that her hand had slid over to rest on his leg. “There must be another Parisi, one who did all these things. I am just a simple Defender of the Blood.”
