eye.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Abby stepped aside. They all entered the sitting room in a row and the girls sat in their seats on the opposite side of the table. Abby sat across from Alex and Sam sat across from Vance. Bradley took a moment to make introductions before settling at the head of the table to get down to business.
“Vance, Sam, I’ve summoned you here to Ruthers because you are the best at what you do.” Bradley began the conversation that was going to change everything.
Vance glanced over at Sam, stunned as he realized what was happening, and curious as to why Sam didn’t seem surprised. He assumed that the guardians had called him in but he hadn’t even imagined that Sam would be brought in, too. It couldn’t have been better if he had planned it himself.
Abby’s nervous laughter caught all of their attention. “What are you talking about, daddy? Sam just got here. This had nothing to do with your project. Unless you killed her parents to get her to move back.” Her face blanched pale white as soon as the words escaped her lips.
“And what about Vance? Alex hired him. Not you.” She wrung her hands together as she finished her thought.
“I need you both to listen to me. And trust what I’m about to tell you. You know that I would do anything for my children. It’s finally time for the two of you to go into the family business. And I don’t mean consulting.”
Alex sat straight in his chair, clearly intrigued by what he was hearing, while Abby squirmed in her seat.
“We need to start by clearing the air. Vance, Sam, you need to explain who you are before I can get into what’s about to happen.”
Bradley swiveled his chair in Vance’s direction and motioned for him to begin. Vance hesitated so Bradley began for him.
“Neither Vance nor Sam are human beings. In fact, over your lifetimes,” Bradley stated calmly making eye contact with both of his children at the table, “you have met and lived among many similar being, and not so similar ones.”
Sam could hear Abby’s heart race as she sat silently listening to her Bradley’s voice. Sam wanted to reach out and comfort her friend but she was worried that the revelation that Sam had been lying since she got there would leave Abby unreceptive to the gesture. It was never easy to accept that those closest to you frequently kept things from you, even though it usually was for your own good.
Feeling the tension was too much, and with Vance frozen speechless, Sam decided to jump in.
“We’re immortal. Basically, anyway. We can’t die of old age, like humans, in fact we don’t age at all. We can die by the hands of another immortal, using the weapons they create, or by a human in league with immortals, if they use immortal weaponry.”
Taking Sam’s hint, Vance continued as Sam paused to reach out to Abby, whose expression was frozen like stone as she tried to process the information being poured out in front of her. Abby jumped almost imperceptibly at the contact but calmed quickly and accepted the kindness.
“There’s a war out there that no one knows about. Good versus evil, led by angels and demons. That’s the way the world works. Everything has to be equal. Our role is to fight for our own side and keep the balance no matter what the humans have planned.”
It was a fair explanation. Sam was a little worried that Vance would claim demon superiority since he was given the opportunity to speak first, but his words were simple and straightforward and completely nonjudgmental.
“So you’re telling me that I can’t hurt you.” Alex smirked at Vance as he pulled a small red Swiss army knife out of his pants pocket. Alex flipped out the blade and started running his finger along the sharpened side while his eyes sparkled in challenge to Vance’s tale. Instead of recanting, Vance grabbed the blade in one swift motion. It wasn’t until the handle of the knife stuck straight out of Vance’s chest that Alex
After what seemed like a lifetime, Abby stepped aside. They all entered the sitting room in a row and the girls sat in their seats on the opposite side of the table. Abby sat across from Alex and Sam sat across from Vance. Bradley took a moment to make introductions before settling at the head of the table to get down to business.
“Vance, Sam, I’ve summoned you here to Ruthers because you are the best at what you do.” Bradley began the conversation that was going to change everything.
Vance glanced over at Sam, stunned as he realized what was happening, and curious as to why Sam didn’t seem surprised. He assumed that the guardians had called him in but he hadn’t even imagined that Sam would be brought in, too. It couldn’t have been better if he had planned it himself.
Abby’s nervous laughter caught all of their attention. “What are you talking about, daddy? Sam just got here. This had nothing to do with your project. Unless you killed her parents to get her to move back.” Her face blanched pale white as soon as the words escaped her lips.
“And what about Vance? Alex hired him. Not you.” She wrung her hands together as she finished her thought.
“I need you both to listen to me. And trust what I’m about to tell you. You know that I would do anything for my children. It’s finally time for the two of you to go into the family business. And I don’t mean consulting.”
Alex sat straight in his chair, clearly intrigued by what he was hearing, while Abby squirmed in her seat.
“We need to start by clearing the air. Vance, Sam, you need to explain who you are before I can get into what’s about to happen.”
Bradley swiveled his chair in Vance’s direction and motioned for him to begin. Vance hesitated so Bradley began for him.
“Neither Vance nor Sam are human beings. In fact, over your lifetimes,” Bradley stated calmly making eye contact with both of his children at the table, “you have met and lived among many similar being, and not so similar ones.”
Sam could hear Abby’s heart race as she sat silently listening to her Bradley’s voice. Sam wanted to reach out and comfort her friend but she was worried that the revelation that Sam had been lying since she got there would leave Abby unreceptive to the gesture. It was never easy to accept that those closest to you frequently kept things from you, even though it usually was for your own good.
Feeling the tension was too much, and with Vance frozen speechless, Sam decided to jump in.
“We’re immortal. Basically, anyway. We can’t die of old age, like humans, in fact we don’t age at all. We can die by the hands of another immortal, using the weapons they create, or by a human in league with immortals, if they use immortal weaponry.”
Taking Sam’s hint, Vance continued as Sam paused to reach out to Abby, whose expression was frozen like stone as she tried to process the information being poured out in front of her. Abby jumped almost imperceptibly at the contact but calmed quickly and accepted the kindness.
“There’s a war out there that no one knows about. Good versus evil, led by angels and demons. That’s the way the world works. Everything has to be equal. Our role is to fight for our own side and keep the balance no matter what the humans have planned.”
It was a fair explanation. Sam was a little worried that Vance would claim demon superiority since he was given the opportunity to speak first, but his words were simple and straightforward and completely nonjudgmental.
“So you’re telling me that I can’t hurt you.” Alex smirked at Vance as he pulled a small red Swiss army knife out of his pants pocket. Alex flipped out the blade and started running his finger along the sharpened side while his eyes sparkled in challenge to Vance’s tale. Instead of recanting, Vance grabbed the blade in one swift motion. It wasn’t until the handle of the knife stuck straight out of Vance’s chest that Alex
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