Chapter 6 #2
For a moment, the tension lifted. Carnell sipped his wine, and Cal made a quiet joke about Greyson that earned him a look from me. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of awkward laughter and guarded conversation, the kind of family dinner that felt equal parts hopeful and exhausting.
At one point, Carnell leaned forward, his tone warm and curious. “Liam, did you play any sports as a kid?” he asked.
Liam lit up at the question, his hands animated as he talked.
“Yeah, I played soccer for a while but was really into basketball. Max and I used to shoot hoops all the time after school. And my dad…” His voice softened, the smile fading slightly.
“My dad used to take me to games. I miss him, you know?”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My throat tightened, and my emotions surged before I could stop them. I felt the familiar heat behind my eyes, and when I glanced at Cal, his expression shifted, concern flashing across his face.
“Hey,” he said gently, his voice low. “I need some fresh air. Why don’t you come with me?”
I nodded, grateful for the excuse to step away. Outside, the cool night air hit me, a contrast to the warmth inside. Cal turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Your eyes were glowing,” he said, his tone calm but pointed.
I exhaled, my breath visible in the crisp air. “Yeah,” I admitted. “I need to get my emotions under control.”
He nodded, leaning against the railing. “It’s a lot tonight. You’re handling it better than you think.”
I didn’t respond. I just let the silence settle between us as I worked to ground myself. The distant hum of traffic filled the void, and for a moment, it was enough to keep the glow at bay.
After a moment, Cal broke the silence. “You’ve noticed the changes, haven’t you? Your shifter side… it’s getting stronger.”
I nodded, my voice low. “Yeah, I’ve felt it. It’s… hard to manage sometimes.”
He studied me, his expression unreadable. “It’s not just you. Liam… the potion we used to suppress his memories? It won’t last forever.”
I tensed, the significance of his words sinking in. “He’s three-quarters human,” I said, as if that made it better.
Cal shook his head. “It’s the demon part that worries me. The time between doses is decreasing, and you know it.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know. But that’s a problem for another day.”
He didn’t argue, he just gave me a look that said he wasn’t convinced. After a moment, I pushed off the railing. “Come on. Let’s get back inside.”
We returned to the table, the warmth of the restaurant enveloping us as we sat down. Liam looked up, smiling, and for a moment, I let myself believe we could hold everything together… just a bit longer.
Dinner wrapped up with the quiet silverware clatter and the low conversation hum fading into the background.
Carnell leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly.
“It’s a nice night for a walk,” he said, his tone light but with a glint of purpose in his eyes.
“The Moreau building is only a few blocks from here. I will have Dran retrieve your vehicle.”
Before I could object, he was signaling for the check. Cal glanced at me, a subtle shrug of his shoulders, and Liam didn’t seem to mind, already engrossed in a conversation with Cal about his life in Cincinnati.
Carnell paid the bill without so much as a glance at the total. “Let’s go,” he said, rising from his chair. I followed, my mind racing as I caught snippets of Liam’s words.
“Max and I have been working on expanding the business,” Liam was saying to Cal as we stepped outside. The night air was crisp, a welcome change after the warmth of the restaurant. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s worth it.”
Cal nodded, his interest genuine. “Sounds like you’ve got a good head for it. That kind of ambition… it’ll take you far.”
Liam grinned, his hands shoved into his pockets as he walked alongside Cal.
I stayed a step behind, Carnell beside me, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts.
The Moreau building loomed in the distance, its silhouette cutting against the moonlit sky.
It just lacked the gargoyle statue that adorned it during the day as the stone mascot was walking beside my son.
The city was quiet tonight, unnervingly so.
The snow underfoot crunched with every step as we made our way back to the Moreau building.
Liam walked beside Cal, oblivious, as always, to the surrounding tension.
It was just another cold night, a simple family dinner to him. For me, it was a countdown.
Then it hit—the scent of danger, sharp and acrid, stinging the back of my throat. I stopped dead, my hand flying out to halt Liam. “Stay behind me,” I snapped, my voice more abrasive than I intended.
He blinked at me, confused. “What?”
Before I could answer, the growl rolled through the night, low and menacing. My heart sank. Krampus. The bastard stepped out from the shadows, his hulking form illuminated by the faint glow of the streetlights. His eyes gleamed with malice, and his claws scraped the pavement as he advanced.
Liam froze, his breath catching. “What the hell is that?”
“Trouble,” I muttered, stepping in front of him. Cal let out a deep, guttural snarl as his skin turned gray. Carnell was already moving, his leather coat flaring out like wings. His eyes burned red, a stark contrast against the pale snow.
Krampus roared, the sound ripping through the air like a battle cry. Before I could react, he lunged, faster than something his size should’ve been able to move. His claws raked out, and I heard Liam yell. A raw, pained sound that turned my blood cold.
I turned just in time to see Liam clutching his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. My vision narrowed, rage bubbling up from somewhere deep. I felt it take over, the familiar burn spreading through my veins. My eyes began to glow, the golden light piercing the darkness.
Carnell was already there, his movements precise, calculated. He grabbed Krampus by the arm, his strength nothing short of inhuman.
“You picked the wrong night,” he snarled, his voice a guttural growl.
Krampus roared again, his claws lashing out, but Carnell didn’t let go.
Then Cal—damn him—shed his human skin. His gargoyle form burst forth, wings stretching wide as he launched himself at the creature.
The impact was brutal, sending both of them crashing into a streetlamp that snapped under their combined weight.
Krampus hesitated, his glowing eyes flicking between the three of us. The demon criminal turned tail, fleeing into the night with Cal hot on his heels, his massive wings beating the air.
The street was suddenly quiet again, the fight leaving a heavy, electric charge in its wake. Liam stumbled back, his face pale, his bloodied arm trembling. He stared at me, at Carnell, at the space where Cal had been only moments ago.
“You…” His voice cracked. “You’re monsters?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The words wouldn’t form, not with his eyes locked on mine, filled with equal parts horror and disbelief.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, his voice rising. He clutched his arm tighter, the blood dripping onto the snow at his feet, bright and accusing.
I swallowed hard, the glow in my eyes fading as I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Liam, I can explain,” I said, my voice low and steady. But even as I said it, I knew nothing I could say would ever be enough.