Dad and I rode the lift together and walked hand in hand to our apartment. For the first time since Evelyn had reappeared I felt as though we were back on the right track.
The front door was ajar. I could sense the others inside already – that faint buzz of Grigori. Clearly Griffin and Evelyn had arrived before us.
Dad paused outside the door and pulled me into a hug. ‘I love you, Vi.’
‘You too, Dad.’
But as we stepped apart and I moved to push the door open, we heard Griffin’s voice from inside. There are times when you just freeze – times when you somehow know that whatever it is you’re seeing or hearing is important.
‘To be pulled back to earth in a ceremony like that – I’ve thought of it from every angle and I can only come up with one explanation.’
There was a long silence before Evelyn spoke. ‘Don’t do this, Griffin.’
‘You made terms, didn’t you? When Violet was born?’
I knew that tone. Griffin was on a mission.
I looked at Dad. He was listening intently.
Why is my heart pounding?
There was another delay before Evelyn responded. We both heard her heavy sigh.
‘It was the only way I could protect them. Lilith is eternal. She will always find a way to return. I always knew that Violet may have to face her. I was the one who sent Lilith to Hell and she is vengeful. She’ll come for Violet.’
‘Is that why you wanted Violet to be Grigori? So she had a chance at defending herself?’
‘No,’ she responded sharply. ‘Never. I would’ve taken her and James far away if there had been any option. I would’ve kept them safe on my own but … They needed her.’
I swallowed hard.
‘You made a deal with the angels?’ Griffin pushed on.
‘Two things. That Violet be partnered with a Grigori who came from a Power and that if Lilith returns in Violet’s lifetime, that I would return with her.’
My eyes went wide and I felt myself shaking my head at her revelations, refusing to let the words sink in. She couldn’t be trusted.
‘And the price?’
‘This isn’t the time,’ Evelyn replied, the warning in her voice clear.
‘I think it’s well overdue, actually. Where exactly have you been for the past seventeen years, Evelyn?’
Dad was frozen in place, his palm flat on the door.
‘Not now,’ she insisted, but I knew Griffin wasn’t about to let it go. I had a terrible sinking feeling.
‘If the deal was for you to be resurrected when she was, then you had to have been connected to her life-force. It’s the only way, and we both know it. Evelyn, stand in front of me and tell me you have not spent the last seventeen years trapped in the pits of Hell.’
There was the sound of movement and I guessed she must have started to pace the floor. It helped to cover Dad’s whimper.
‘There’s no point lying to you. You already know the truth,’ Evelyn said.
I practically stopped breathing. Griffin would have known if she was lying but I couldn’t accept it. It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t.
She traded me in, gave me away. Not … this. No. No!
I looked at Dad. I’d never seen him so stunned, so blank. His eyes met mine and I shook my head.
‘She’s lying,’ I whispered. ‘She’s lying!’
His expression changed, eyes welling, looking at me with something new – a darkness filled with fear and anger. No … with blame.
I shook my head again. ‘You can’t trust her!’ I heard myself saying frantically. And that’s when it happened.
Rage took over and he slapped me across the face.
I saw it coming. I knew what he was doing. And it didn’t even occur to me to move out of his way. His palm struck high on my cheek – the sting greater than from any blow I’d ever received.
Dad gasped, his hand dropping into his other as if to restrain it, his expression filled with shock.
I stumbled back into the wall, one hand covering my cheek.
We must’ve been noisy because the apartment door swung open.
‘James!’ Evelyn said, looking between us. ‘Oh, God, you heard.’
I stared at my feet – unable to look at either one of them – and felt tears welling.
Not now, not now. Don’t cry.
‘Violet?’ At the sound of Griffin’s voice I glanced up.
A slap barely tickles Grigori. Griffin had given me my own fair share of playful punches along the way to toughen me up. But what Dad had done, the emotion and intent that came with it … hit me in so many painful ways. Griffin must have seen it all in my eyes. And, worse, I saw the sympathy in his.
Suck it up, Vi.
I stood up straight, blinking back the tears, and cleared my throat. I wouldn’t be weak.
‘Griff, can you wait a minute before leaving? I’m coming with you.’
As I was zipping up my bag, Evelyn let herself into my bedroom.
‘Don’t,’ I said putting a hand up to stop whatever she was about to say. ‘Just … don’t.’ I slung my duffle bag over my shoulder and grabbed my other bag, not pausing to look at her again as I headed to the front door, where Griffin and Dad were talking.