War of the Griffins

Chapter 12

Mother.

Evelyn stared at the name on her phone as it continued to ring. Why would she call? What did she have to say to the woman who stood by the man who she was forced to call father? She heaved a sigh and walked out of the door of the lounge where they were planning, and she bit her lip as she continued to stare at the phone.

Should I answer?

Even if she hated her father, she still held some respect for the woman who raised her. She groaned as she rolled her eyes and finally hit the accept. Evelyn raised an eyebrow as she put the phone to her ear, and growled, "What do you want?"

"Please come home. There have been some..." Evelyn could hear as her mother let out a sigh through the phone. "Developments. Your father has... "

"Why should I give a damn what that man has? All he has done was cause me and my family pain!" Evelyn growled cutting off her mother and pulled the phone sharply from her face as she hovered her thumb over the end button. She exhaled and brought her free hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose before she brought the phone back to her ear, "Out with it now... Before I change my mind and hang up this call."

"It's not that easy to explain, and I don't expect you to believe it at first... But your father wants to make peace with you and your siblings."

"Peace?! That man put me through hell! How would I ever believe that man is anything but a monster!" Evelyn hissed, pinching the bridge of her nose a little tighter, "I won't come home... But I will meet everyone on Neutral territory. On my terms."

"I understand...Where would you like to meet?"

"Leon and Ysabella's house. I will be talking to Fae from the Seelie Court. If they agree they will be there to mediate in a sense," Evelyn bit her lip, as she exhaled heavily. She couldn't help but worry more about her daughter. "My other term... We will discuss it if we meet."

"Of Course. Would you rather we wait for your call before arriving or...?"

"Yes...I will call. and mom... I know Father and I have had differences... But I love you..." Her eyes softened as she ran a hand through her hair, and bit her lip.

"I love you too Evelyn... I miss you, baby girl."

"I'm not even the baby of the family!" Evelyn looked flustered and she ran her free hand through her hair. She sighed as she stared at the portraits on the wall.

"Doesn't matter. You will always be my baby."

Evelyn sighed, unable to help the small smile that appeared on her face, before she finally spoke again, "Alright, well I'll call you later."

She quickly hit the end button cutting off whatever her mother would have said next, and shook her head. She walked back into the room, ignoring the glances from the fae, and inhaled as she began to speak, "My mother wants me and my siblings to meet her and my father..."

A growl came from Natasha who instantly stood up and opened her mouth to speak, "No way in hel-"

"Natasha sit down!" Jinx hissed her eyes flashing, as she reached up and in a swift moment grabbed her arm and wrenched Natasha back down onto the couch. " Let her explain!"

Natasha huffed and turned to Evelyn, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Mother has told me he wants to make peace with me and my siblings, she initially asked us to meet at the house but I told her I want it on neutral territory..." Evelyn started and inhaled as she ran a hand through her hair, "and if you agree, you will come with me to make sure it's not a trap."

Natasha hummed as she thought about it before she sighed. She didn't know what to do. Could this meeting hold some merit? Would it be enough to help her save Carolyn?

A loud boom came from outside and without a second Natasha was on her feet again. Her eyes flashed again as she shifted without a thought a bolted from the room.

"Could that portal have been any louder!" Vivian hissed as she looked around before she glanced at Damien.

"I'm not the best at them alright!" he ran a hand through his hair as he looked around the forest. The moon hung high in the sky and every second they stayed there, they knew it was a moment Matthew was left alone with his great-niece.

Not a moment later a low growl could be heard from the brush, and Vivian looked at Damien worriedly before they turned their eyes to behind them. He watched as from the shadows came a large white wolf, though they both knew she was no normal predator.

"Get behind me," he whispered to Vivian as he moved in front of his companion.

The only sound that came next was the wolf's breathing, and Damien knew by her flaring nostrils that she was starting to give in to her bloodlust. She curled up her gums to reveal perfectly white canines. Her claws dug deeper into the soil as her eyes narrowed and she let out a low rumbling growl.

"I know you have no reason to want to see me again or to trust me... I was a shitty best friend. Please...I only come here to bring Vivian to see Evelyn. She wants to help... "

In a flash of light, Damien found himself pinned to a tree, the collar of his shirt tightly in Natashas grasp. "It's like everyone's coming out of the fucking woodwork! First Evelyn's parents want to make peace! Now you bring Matthew's wife onto Seelie territory!"

Damien blinked for a second and opened his mouth to speak only to be cut off by Natasha's continued rant, "How do I know you're not trying to set a trap for my family! It wouldn't be so surprising! You and that damned boss of yours are the reason my Grandfather is dead!"

"I know... I don't expect you to forgive me. I wouldn't forgive myself. But I am doing what is right. He is unraveling more than I ever realized." Damien raised his hands in surrender, he didn't want to fight with her anymore. All he wanted to do was fix his mistakes.

"What do you want in return for this... I know you..." Natasha continued to glare at him, but she loosened her grip on his collar.

"Nothing for my sake, I made my bed, but when it comes to the end, spare his daughter. Spare Elizabeth. She is so young. She has no clue about any of this. She knows I can shift but nothing more," he begged and when he looked at her, tears crept past his eyes and ran down his cheeks.

"I will have to talk with my parents but... you are right. She is a child, she shouldn't suffer for the sins of her father." Natasha said as she pulled away from him a frown on her face, "follow me."

Natasha let out a few deep breaths as she walked forward. She would watch them closely, but if they could be of any use to save her girlfriend, she'd take the chance.

"If I may interject, earlier you mentioned Rosalyn and Jacob reached out to Evelyn in hopes to make peace..." She paused for a moment before she exhaled, "Jacob was always more ruthless in his parenting than my husband... so why now?"

"I don't know why... But I intend to find out," Natasha growled as she continued to move forward toward the house.

It only took a moment before Damien watched as Jinx crashed through the brush at a full sprint. He bit his lip as he was almost unable to hold back his laughter as she knocked Natasha over and face planted into the grass alongside her cousin.

"Jinx..." Natasha groaned as soon as the shock wore off, and she began to get back to her feet, "why were you running like a bat outta hell?"

"Uncle Stephan asked me to come out and check on you after you bolted out of the room like you were going to murder someone." Jinx rubbed the back of her head before she looked up with a startled expression. "Damien! What are you doing here?"

Damien sighed softly as he looked down at the forest floor and ran his hand through his hair. He gave Jinx a pained smile before he looked over at his companion and said, "Vivian and I well... We want to help."