Vampires and Mistletoe

Chapter 2

Mid Morning, December 22nd

The throng of waiting sisters quickly crushed Tessa in a group hug as she entered the warm, lavishly decorated main hall of her father's home. Talia looked a bit forlorn; her son was with his father for the Christmas holiday this year. Tessa missed hearing his cheerful little voice. She had brought gifts for the servants and all of her sisters, and even one for her father. It was Christmas after all; and her mother had taught her about the importance of giving.

Mutely supervising her return from a dim corner, her father nodded to her levelly in a pathetic excuse for a welcome. She returned the nod with equal casual coldness. A tall zombie helped carry in all of her packages. He gave her the creeps, but she attempted to graciously thank him for the assistance. His throaty growl quickly caused her to back off. He was definitely on Santa's naughty list for next year!

The family settled down in the comfortable room. Almost the moment her backside hit the cushion her father made a drastic announcement.

"Your Aspen trip is canceled. Recently, several attempts have been made on Tessa's life recently."

His announcement was met with stunned silence. After several panicked heartbeats Tessa spoke earnestly, "That's a lie, Victor."

In her shock she forgot to call him Father. Victor's eyes glowed a deep angry red and Tessa could literally see little flames dancing in them. Her use of his first name always caused him anger.

"There's a fringe group of humans who know about the Other World. They call themselves demon hunters. Somehow they've discovered you are a demon. On three occasions they have tried to kill you."

Her mind fought to process what he was saying. Her brain turned off, but her mouth unfortunately, stayed operational. "Shut the fuck up!"

He raised his eyebrow. Looking at her sister's terrified and surprised faces made her feel even more nervous. The last time she'd seen him things had gotten scary. You could only push a demon so far before it got dangerous. She hated the thought of ruining her sister's holiday -again- with a fight with Victor. His eyes glowed red, not a good sign. Her words were a mistake, and she knew the moment she said them that Victor would make her regret them. Cringing, she waited a second, and then another second passed. Nothing happened, and she glanced up at her father. He hadn't lost his glamour yet; that was a good sign. He didn't look happy; but he wasn't calling his wrath down on her like he would if anyone else talked to him like that. His eyebrow stayed raised, and she wondered if it was stuck.

"No, I will not."

He could be so literal sometimes, she thought with a sigh. "

Listen to me, Tessa. Your life is in danger. If you take your sisters to the human realm they too will be in danger. I know how much you love them. Stay here; be safe. This is your home, child."

"This has never been my home, and you know it! I'm not an idiot. You can't fool me into staying here. I give you kudos. This was a creative idea, but I would know if someone was trying to kill me. What would stop them?"

"Your bodyguards would stop them."

"My- my- my what? Have you had me followed?" Tessa felt confused. Why hadn't she known? "How long has it been going on?"

He looked menacing, as if he could slay all these would-be enemies himself. "Do you think I would let my heir, my eldest, wander around foolishly playing human unprotected? I've always had a security detail charged with your safety."

It was the greatest outrage she could imagine. Horrified, she didn't even know if she could scream her rage at him. No wonder some crazies knew she was part demon. Demons were stalking her. Feeling uncomfortable and almost dirty she slammed her hand against the table in frustration. Tessa's whole body shook with the rage she felt building inside herself. What had the strangers seen? What details of her life did her father know? It just seemed grotesque.

Violated beyond words, Tessa tried to pull herself together. Regally she stood, and with all the demon fury she daily suppressed, she used her magic for the first time in years. Snapping her fingers she teleported herself back to her apartment.

Rushing to her closet, she began to pack. It would be hard to escape his long reach, but determined, Tessa made a mad dash for the door. She would not be house-bound at her father's like she had during childhood.

Because she had left her coat back in Other World she grabbed a thick sweater and left her apartment, knowing she would never see her small, tidy home again. The life she'd built -home, job, and friends- was lost to her.

Taking only the single suitcase and her purse she rushed away; hoping to lose her father's goons. Tessa wasn't his pet. She would make sure her father and the demon haters never found her again.