Lightbringer | Kai Parker Fanfic

Ten

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take a discreet peek. Luke Parker – How are things going?

I smile and look around. We're all sitting in the main room at our family estate. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because it always felt like we were an ordinary family. I look at the clan members who could make it to our annual reunion and feel like we're nothing more than a big family; one with weird witch-fight-anecdotes that we share, but still a whole bunch of people who take pleasure in cooking batches of food while talking all at once and laughing.

No one has talked to me about my mission or how I lost my witch. I got the basic 'so how's your mission coming along, Andy?' to which I answered 'Pretty good,' and we moved on to the next person. They talk on and on and I mostly watch and listen. I know I haven't been doing anything wrong per se but I tend to feel like an outlaw.

I glance at my dad. Was this how he felt for years? Was his mind often going somewhere else; far off to Portland, Oregon, wondering about his old friend but not daring to share it with us?

Another question has creeped to my mind during the last few days and I haven't been able to shake it: did Mom know? I am suddenly very aware of Luke' ring, sitting on a chain under my sweater. I take another look at everybody around; if they all knew that our ancestors and late clan members are sitting with us right now, how would they react? Would they thank me for saving them from oblivion or would they rise to their feet and use supernatural speed and strengths to neutralize me, accusing me of taking part by alliance?

We take a break right before dessert, so Lucien and Lorraine can go outside and have a cigar, while everybody take their turn to the bathrooms or stretch out a bit. Alice is listening to Simone's old anecdotes, patient and intent, while Jared is busy playing with the young kids – they are always super impressed when our first lieutenant takes time for them. I get up and walk toward a window in order to text Luke that everything is going well and return the question.

The news of Damon coming back from the dead kept us talking for hours that first night. It turns out the vampire didn't really die when he got stuck on the collapsing Other Side. He woke up one day in a deserted version of the world. For the last six months, he's been trapped in a loop of the same day, reliving it over and over again. He hasn't given his friends much explanation about what he went through; he was rather impatient to reunite with Elena. I wonder how she reacted, since she asked Professor Saltzman to compel her good memories of him away so she wouldn't drown in her grief. All Luke was able to tell me, is that Bonnie wasn't there with him – wherever he was. According to the vampire, my Bennett witch found peace, which is more or less a relief.

When Luke texts back that he'll call me later, I frown, already imagining the worst. That's when my dad walks up to me and sighs.

"Thanksgiving was your mother's favorite holiday."

"I know. It's mine too."

"I know." His hands are in his pockets and he keeps shifting his weight from foot to foot while I try not to focus on his breathing. He's been doing good for years but I won't shake this old habit.

"You and I never really talked about... our argument," he finally says.

Ah. THE argument. The one we had when I visited over summer and Alice told me the only way she'd ever gotten to meet with the Gemini leader was because Dad called his old buddy Josh Parker and vouched for her. I peek over my shoulder and look back at him.

"Do you really want to do this while the entire clan is in the room?" I ask discreetly. I know they're all busy chatting and no one can hear us because of all the noise and the music but still.