Midnight Rose (completed)

Chapter 21

"Bye, Mom. Have fun." I hugged her tightly. There was no telling when I would see her again.

"I will. I love getting together with the girls."

I laughed. "Oh, Mom. You're an elderly woman trapped in a thirty-five-year-old body."

She laughed, too. "I love you, sweetie. I'll see you next weekend. Have fun with your father."

She kissed my cheek, and then Dad walked her to the car. I watched from the doorway as he helped her in the passenger seat, still in love. I waved from the porch as my mom drove away, a piece of me going with her. My dad walked back over and put his arm around my shoulders.

"Now what?" My body was stiff, not completely forgiving him for all the lies.

"We go to The Order."

My mom honked at the corner as she turned and disappeared. She was oblivious to the monsters in the dark and the liars right in front of her.

"Isn't it hard to lie to her?" I waved back.

"You have no idea," he mumbled, ducking his head shamefully and going back inside.

Elijah was staring out the front window again, and my dad sat on the couch, staring mindlessly into the fire. If his remorse wasn't so evident, I would probably hate him, but this was hurting him just as much as me.

I joined him, putting my head on his shoulder. "I need to know everything, Dad. I can't go into this blind."

"It's hard to believe how much you've grown up. If I didn't know better, I would think you were much older than your seventeen years."

"I suddenly had to grow up fast," I replied somberly.

"Yeah. I guess so." He sighed deeply. "The Order isn't all bad, Abigail, or else I wouldn't let you go. The Order has kept humans safe for a very long time.  I'm sorry for assuming that all immortals are dangerous. It's just hard to believe otherwise after what I've seen."

"You're referring to the Hunters?" I asked with a weak, victorious smile. I couldn't imagine what my dad had been through.

"Yes.  I can see that Wes means a lot to you."

The fire crackled loudly, drawing our attention. We used to spend a lot of time right here. Mainly myself on the floor, playing or reading because my grandpa didn't own a television. He didn't believe in technology that stripped society of quality time with their families. It never really bothered me not having one. It was why my dad never gave me a cell phone. Not until recently, at least, and I hadn't even used it. I had forgotten all about, leaving it on my desk at home.

"Do you have a gift, Dad?" He smiled widely, a sparkle in his eye. "What?" My eyebrow raised curiously.

"How do you think I was able to keep so many secrets from you?"

It had never dawned on me. I just thought he was a really good liar. And apparently he was. Supernaturally.

"No one can detect when I'm being dishonest. It has become invaluable in keeping your gift hidden. Until my father, that is."

The bitterness was fading a bit, replaced by guilt.

"These seem like odd gifts, don't you think? I mean, when I think of gifts, I think of flying or transporting. Something a little more spectacular."

He squeezed me close. "It's the subtle things that go unnoticed and prove to be the most effective. Your intuition will save your life, Abigail. You just have to learn how to trust it."