Reflections of Light

The Long Journey

The lamps were just coming on as Dec was driving home when he got the call.

"Someone is phoning you." The voice beside him informed him, just in case he couldn't get it by the musical ringtone playing through the car.

Glancing over, he saw the big violet-blue eyes of his daughter Lila looking inquisitively up at him from where she'd been playing a game on her phone.

"Um... Just... If it's Danielle again, just ignore her..."

"It says it's some person named 'Love'." 

"... Alright, put her on speakerphone."

Lila clicked the button, and held the phone up for Dec to talk. "Hello?"

"Declan."

Dec grinned as he recognised the voice down the phone.

"Hey, Love. Couldn't stay away?"

He could almost hear her eye roll on the other end, as well as her suppressed blush.

"Dec. Get me out of here." She said, almost in a hurried whisper.

Dec was suddenly alert, the severity of the situation being realised to him. "Where are you? What do you need?"

"I need you to pick William and I up from the New York institute."

"Right... Okay... I'm kind of in the middle of something..."

"Just come! I'm desperate."

Dec looked over at Lila for a second, weighing up his options. "Alright, I'm on my way. But I want full disclosure when I get there."

Putting the phone back in her lap, Lila furrowed her brow. "Why's she called 'Love'? Is that her real name?"

"No, it's not her real name." Dec chuckled. "It's a nickname I call her."

"... Why?" Lila queried. "'Love' is like... Love. Do you love her?"

"Shush. Go back to playing your game."

"But this is more fun." She giggled, resting her elbows on her knees to lean her head on her hands.

Dec looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. "Don't get too comfortable, I'm going to have to ask you to move into the back when we get there."

"What?! No! Daddy, that's not fair!"

When he pulled up, it was getting dark outside as Luci and Billy walked over to the car.

Opening the backseat door, she put in Billy's car seat and went about strapping in her son.

A dark haired girl in a party dress and tiara looked sulkily back at them from the other side of the car, arms crossed in irritation.

"Daddy, there's a strange boy in the car!"

"Lila, I thought you were going to sleep?"

"I changed my mind."

Luci pulled open the passenger side door, and settled into the seat. "Everything alright?"

"Mummy, there's a strange girl in the car!" Billy immediately said.

"Lila, meet Luci and Billy. Luci, Billy; this is my daughter Lila." Dec gestured to each person respectively as they were introduced.

"Hi." Lila said, giving Luci a wave.

"Yeah, I had to pick her up first." Dec explained. "She was at a friends house for a party, but they got sick. I got the call a couple of minutes before yours."

"Yes, because I did not want to get sick too." Lila chimed. "Not on my princess dress."
Lovingly, she smoothed the skirt on her sparkly party dress, preening herself.

Billy eyed the older girl from his car seat. "I woz sick. I drinked Mummy's tea and et made me ill. I woz... In da hopsitol 'till today."

"DADDY!"

"William, don't upset her." Luci lightly scolded. "He's better now, don't worry." She reassured.

"He's got germs!" Lila squealed. "He'll get me sick, he will!"

"No, he won't..."

"DADDY! He's touching me!"

"No I'm not!" Billy hollered from his seat.

"He WAS! He was poking me!"

"No, he wasn't..." Dec sighed. "I can see you in the mirror here. It's not that big of a car, he probably brushed you by accident. And he's not going to get you sick. He's not going to get her sick, right?"

Luci shook her head. "No. It wasn't an illness like that. What actually happened..." She seemed to be taking a minute to pluck up her courage, to choose her words. "... Something bad happened and he ended up ingesting  demon blood."

"... Shiiit..." Dec muttered in response.

Not quiet enough, however.

"Bad word!"

"Daddy! That was naughty!"

'It's going to be a looong drive.' Dec thought, as he pulled out of the parking space.

"Luuuciii..." Lila sing-songed a while later.

"Yes, Lila?"

"Why does my Daddy call you 'Love'?"

Luci and Dec looked at each other nervously.

"Um... It's just a nickname your Dad gives me. It's cute."

"Is it because..." She met her Dad's eyes in the dashboard mirror, giving him a taunting look. "... Your name begins with a 'L'? An' love begins with an 'L' too."

"Yes, that's it." Luci said, relieved.

"And do you know what else begins with a 'L'? Lila!" Lila cheered.

"Yes, well done, Lila." Dec chuckled.

"My name has two 'L's in it." Billy said testily.

"Your name starts with a 'B'." Lila bit back.

"No, et starts wif a 'W', 'Cause my long name's William, so there."

Lila scrunched up her nose. "Why'd you get called Billy then?"

"Oh, I can see this devolving fast." Dec chuckled, shaking his head. "I think she likes you, though, which is good."

"So hopefully I don't have to worry about chewing gum in my hair?"

"That was one time, and Sam turned out to be an ass. The girls got better instincts than I have, that's for sure.
Keep it down, you two! I'm driving!"

"Daddy, Daddy! You and Luci are friends, right?" Lila asked, shoving Billy's hands away as he seemed to be trying to cover her mouth. "Are you like... Travis friends, or kissin' friends?"

"...Okay, it's late. Go to sleep."

"What, Daddy, no! That's not fair!"

"Nah nah, you have to go to sleep!" Billy teased, reaching over and flicking her curls to wind her up.

"You too, William." Luci said. "You should have been asleep almost two hours ago."

"Wot? No...!"

"Uh uh, no! No noise, not one peep. Quiet time now, you're going to sleep."

Half an hour later, Dec spoke up. "Love, have you seen in the back?"

Looking behind her, Luci smiled. "Aww, they've cuddled up together. That's just too cute."

Behind them, Billy was snoring quietly, face screwed up into a little pout with his head rested on an open-mouthed Lila's shoulder.

She and Dec shared a smile as she settled back in her seat.

"So..." He began. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"