Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

‘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?’
    Dadwas 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.
    Dadgasped, 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 heragain as I headed to the front door, where Griffin and Dad were talking.
    Dad had recovered and found his voice. ‘I’m going to New York, too,’ he stated.
    Griffin was trying to settle him down. ‘I understand how you feel, but they won’t allow it, James. The Academy do not admit non-Grigori.’
    ‘I don’t care. I’m going with her,’ Dad said adamantly.
    I knew the ‘her’ he was referring to was not me.
    I joined them. ‘It’s fine, Griff. We’ll find a way.’ I glanced at Dad, my expression blank. ‘You’ll be able to go with her, I’ll make sure of it.’ Then I turned back to Griffin with a nod, signalling I was ready to leave.
    ‘Violet, wait!’ Dad said.
    I paused, head down.
    ‘I … I’m so sorry. I lost my mind. I don’t know what’s going on – I just snapped. The idea of her being in … All this time. Please forgive me.’
    But I couldn’t. Because I didn’t know what was going on either but my response hadn’t been to blame him. So I shook my head, ignored my welling eyes, and