Daughter of the Devil - r. peters // 2

𝟼. 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚎

She didn't know what she was expecting. Maybe a retired drug lord. A man eating a hot dog. She really didn't know.

She definitely didn't expect to be poofed to a house, right on the porch.

Callie tilts her head. "Where... Where are we?"

Luke swallows, looking down at the ground. "My parents' house."

Oh.

"Why'd... You take me to your parents house?"

"Because I wanted to tell you something. Alright?" He points into the house at the elderly couple inside, who look... Happy.

"My parents bought me a guitar when I was 13. And I loved it. Played it until my fingers bled. Then I met the guys a year later, we started a band, and it was like fate was on my side." He sucks in a breath, shaking his head. "But my parents... They didn't like the idea of me being in Sunset Curve. My mom, especially."

Callie takes a breath, nodding. "And?"

"I was angry at them. At her. For igniting the spark that I knew was there, then trying to shove it down like it didn't exist." He says, closing his eyes. "I blamed her for not being able to do what I enjoyed whenever I wanted. And... We got into an argument. A bad one. I... Ended up leaving that night."

Oh...

"Luke-"

"Let me finish... If I don't, I don't think I ever will." He says quickly.

She nods, watching him look back at the couple.

"I left... And went to... My friend, Bobby's house. Where... Julie lives now." Another swallow. "I stayed on the couch there for the next few months. Then... We booked the gig at the Orpheum... And I dropped a letter on the doorstep, then just... Knocked, and just... Bolted. Just something... Saying, 'hey, remember when you said it wasn't going to work out? It did.' I... Never got the reply. And then... A few days after that, I... Died."

She nods softly, looking back at the older couple.

"They'd celebrate my birthday every year. Just... Like I was never gone. But... I was."

"Luke, what does this have to do with me?"

He swallows again, looking at her. "You blame Caleb for not letting you be able to really live out your dream, right? Even if you... Enjoyed helping, it... It wasn't the same as cheering."

Callie scoffs. "I didn't blame him-"

"It wasn't cheerleading, no?"

"No..."

He nods. "Exactly. Caleb is holding you back now, too. Me... I got my second chance. Reconciled with my parents... Everything I wanted." Luke says softly. "Maybe... You can too."

Callie scoffs. "You think Caleb'll give me up, and decide to be an actual father for the first time in a century?"

"Maybe not the second one... I'm just sayin'..." He looks down at her bruised hands, taking one in his, turning it over to reveal the purple stamp that he had only a few months ago. "Don't let this, and whatever you have with Caleb, make you give up. Because you can't. Not... Not now."

She shakes her head. "I lied to you guys... About everything. How... Why do you want to help me now?"

"You saved us, Cal. No one, in the history of the Hollywood Ghost Club, has been able to stop Caleb. Just-just think... If you could save us, you could save yourself, and you could save other ghosts!" He rambles excitedly, looking at her.

"It's not that simple, Luke-"

"No, it isn't. It's gonna take some effort. But... That doesn't mean you should stop trying." He says, his eyes almost pleading as he looks at her.

She hesitates, but takes a breath. "Thanks for showing me.... I know it must've been hard." She shakes her head. "But... I can't-"

"Please, Cal. Don't give up on yourself. It's the least you can do for us. For you." He says softly, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

She nods softly, looking up at him. "Okay... I'll try. But... I'm not sure I'll be able to save myself this time."

"It's okay, it's okay, just- try." Luke says, lightly cupping her face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs under her eyes. "Try."

She smiles, nodding. "I will."

"You better." He mumbles, leaning forward to brush a soft kiss across her forehead, before backing up, looking at his parents. "You should probably get back. It's late."

She looks up at the black sky, then nods. "Yeah, I... Should." She smiles a bit at him. "Thanks."

Luke nods. "Anytime, princess."

She nods back, squeezing his hand again, before letting go, and poofing back to the club.

///

When she gets there, she pulls her hood back off her head, stepping forward, almost immediately colliding into a hard chest.

She stumbled, but a firm hand grabbed her shoulder, steadying her. She looked up, seeing the eyeliner rimmed eyes, twinkling with slight amusement.

"Careful there, Calypso. Wouldn't want you to fall." Charlie says, his lips quirked into a half smile.

She smiles a bit, stepping back. "Sorry... I didn't mean-"

"It's fine, love. You didn't mean to, I understand." He waves a hand, shaking his head at her, before his eyes dart up, to someone behind her, and his face falls just a tiny bit.

He clears his throat, his gaze going down, something clouding his eyes. "Sorry. I can't be here."

"What-"

"I have to go." He says firmly, taking a step back, before glancing back behind her. "Sorry." He says again, before he poofs away.

Before she can question anything that just happened, there was a sharp hand on her wrist, and a yank that indicated that whatever sent Charlie running, wasn't anything new for her.

Even as she was shoved into his office. Even as her body slammed into the door. Even as the man's lips crushed to hers, even as teeth but harshly at exposed skin, even as his hand gripped around her throat, even as the mark on her wrist sent vibrating pain through her body.

None of it was new. And, to be honest, it never would be.

Not for Callie.