Chapter Two
“Some questions are more important than answers”
-Nancy Willard
“Okay, so let me start off by introducing myself. Please, leave your questions until I am done talking. Thank you.”
He walked over to his big leather chair and sat down.
“Anyway, I am Cornelius, but most ‘people’ call me Neil. As you know I am James’ father, biological of course. I work for your all-powerful father. I am the Messenger. I deliver all news for my master, good and bad. This is why I was sent here, to deliver news to you. Your father, The Change, is willing to discuss the fate of Matt is it? Yes, Matt, but first you have to agree to terms. You must meet with him alone at a location you will receive in reality. You bring one person other than Mason; yes he knows about him too, you will never see Matt alive again. Second, you must not tell your mother. Lastly, you must and I mean must ditch your guardian Connor when you meet with your father. Do you agree?”
“Give me a second”
I can’t believe that this is happening to me. All those conditions? Wow, I don’t even know what to do, but I do know one thing: I love my true dad, Matt.
“Okay, I agree.”
Neil smiled.
“Joy, okay now I have a couple of questions for you.”
“No”
“No?”
“Yes, No”
“Wait, so yes or no?”
“No”
“I see and why not?”
“Because Neil I have questions for you too and I had to sit through that speech thing, so now you have to answer my questions.”
I heard James snicker and I scowled.
“You too, James. Don’t think that you’re off the hook.”
His face turned serious.
“Again, son I say real winner. Okay, Jessica, ask away.’
I let out a deep breath. Okay Jessie, you got this. I began.
“So let’s start at the beginning. How is it even possible that I have two fathers and one mother?”
“Well you see your mother cheated on your father right before they were to be wed. She cheated with my master and was already pregnant, but hadn’t realized it yet. It was Matt’s child, you. You see, when demons lose control they release this type of acid from their body. My master usually was very good at keeping the acid within him but when you, let’s call it procreating. So when my master was procreating with your mother he lost control. To humans the acid is not visible and it is most certainly not lethal. So when my master released the acid it seeped into your mother. Just a drop and that drop penetrated the placenta and seeped into you. Hence, your two fathers and one mother.”
“So how did my mom not know she was ‘procreating’ with a demon?”
“Ah, yes, you see one of the greatest things about being a demon is that you can shape-shift into anything. In the beginning it is hard but when you get to be about a hundred it comes easily.”
EW. My demon dad is more than a century old. Blech. Your picked a real winner mom.
“Oh. I see. So how does he know about me?”
“Whenever a demon brings life into the world they feel it in the little of a soul they have.”
“Okay so how does he know what I am and apparently everything about me personal life?”
“Mostly your aunt. She is a blabber mouth. She came to him a couple of years ago wanting to join him.”
“Sounds just like Celia. So any who what exactly can The Change do?”
“He can change or influence any dream, any way he wants. That is why you cannot see me when you look through your world.”
“So is he like a wizard too? Because he makes potions so I can’t see you.”
“Nope no wizard. All he does to make the potions is shed a tear into a vial, whisper what it would be doing and voila, you no see me.”
“Mh-hmm. So I guess that’s it. I have no more questions.”
Neil practically jumps out of his seat.
“Great, so question number one for mm…”
“For you. I still have a couple for your son.”
Exasperated, Neil sighs and sits. I turn to my James.
“Hi”
I smile.
“Hey, Jess”
He smiles.
“Oh brother. Can we get over the introductions? I am on a strict schedule.”
Our smiles disappear, but Neil does have a point. I get serious.
“Okay. So how long did you know he was here, James?”
“Remember when I told you that a stupid wolf was trying to get our food?”
“Yup”
“Well, it wasn’t a wolf out for our food. It was well my dad looking for you.”
“So why did it never seem important to you to tell me?’
“Well, first of all, I didn’t want to worry you and second of all I didn’t even want to believe it. I haven’t seen my dad since age two. The only reason I knew it was him was because of pictures my mom used to show me.”
“Wow. I’m sorry but did it ever occur to you to tell me your dad was evil?”
It wasn’t James who answered.
“He didn’t know.”
I turned to face Neil.
“I left before he could ever understand what I am. I didn’t want this life for him. I never did.”
Something he said triggered a question I had never thought to ask.
“Neil are you a demon?”
He laughed.
“Nope. I’m a warlock. We are usually called witches by everyday people although warlocks are the male versions of witches. But unlike all the others, I’m special.”
“Why?”
“Because I cannot perform any magic.”
“That sucks”
“Not really. I gave it up, when I decided I wanted a child. As a matter of fact, that is where your dad came in.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well warlocks cannot have children but I wanted a son so badly. Your father found me when I was roaming the streets of Seattle, Washington. He told me he could help me with my problem and I trusted him. He told me that if I gave up my powers to him he could provide me with fertility. At first I was confused because a warlock’s powers cannot be transferred but then your father explained that they would just make him more powerful not in any way magical. I eagerly took the offer but there was a catch. I could only spend two years with my child or something bad would happen. So I relished those two years, but when they were up I left. I went to The Change and pleaded for him to do something, anything. So he did. If I was loyal to him for 15 years, I could see my son again, but even after I was allowed to see him, I would forever be his Messenger.”
“And now the 15 years are up.”
“Which is why I am allowed to be here with my son.”
I peered over at James and he looked like he was still trying to figure this out. There was a long silence, but I had to break it. There wasn’t much time left in the potion. I could feel it. Don’t ask me how, I just could.
“Wow. So, James, can I ask you one last question?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Do you still love me?”
“Jess, are you serious?”
He strode over to me then wrapped his arms around me. He held me there for a good five minutes. He nuzzled his head in my neck. He smelled of soap and simple freshness. He spoke.
“Of course I do. Nothing will ever change that, I promise you.”
Then with the most intense passion I have ever felt, he kissed me. It was the most amazing kiss I had ever experienced. I felt all his love radiating off his body and I wanted him so bad. I could have stayed kissing him for all of eternity, but his dad cleared his throat.
“Hate to be a party pooper but dear Jessica, your time is almost up and I have a few questions of my own for you.”
James and I untangled ourselves but kept our fingers interlocked.
“Okay, ask away.”
“Right well I am very curious about your little power, Jessica.”
“Can’t my ‘father’ tell you anything you care to know about it?”
“Well you father is very secretive about his life. So tell me, what exactly is your power? When can you access it? How do you have real people in here? Do they know they are here when they are? Also, when did you decide to invite my son in here?”
“Wow that’s a lot of questions.”
“Yes, well I need a lot of answers.”
“Okay then. Well, my power is to create a dream world. You see this, where you are? I created all of it. I can make anything happen in here with just one thought. Although, if I speak what I want to happen, it becomes more powerful than when I merely think it. As far as I know I have no control over when or how long I will be in here. It could be minutes, hours, even days. The people that I choose to bring in my world are real. For ‘people’ aware of the supernatural or anything supernatural, they know that they are here because of me, i.e. my parents, and such. For regular humans, they simply think they are dreaming as usual. As for your son, he just kind of showed up one day.”
I smiled over at James. The day he showed up was the best day of my life.
“Anything else?”
Neil smiled that horrid yet beautiful smile of his.
“Of course. I have many more questions but first I would like a little demonstration.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you said that you can create and control everything in this world?”
I nodded.
“As long as it is not in this house. I can’t control, create, or even see (when I look through my world) anything in this house. But you already know that.”
“Yes, very well then.”
Suddenly, with incredible speed and strength, he grabbed James and dragged him out the back door, to the outside. I ran after them.
“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”
“I told you I wanted to see a demonstration.”
He dragged James, kicking, to a cliff.
“Do not do it, Neil.”
He did it. He kicked James off. He was fast to do it but my mind was faster. All I had to do was picture James lying next to me and there he was. When he was safely beside me, I fell to hold him.
“Oh, James. Are you okay?”
He squeezed my hand to reassure me he was fine, probably just a little spooked. I held him for a couple of minutes then turned around to confront Neil.
“WHAT THE HELL, NEIL. ARE YOU SOME TYPE OF IDIOT?”
“Very impressive, Jessica. And ah-ah-ah, no more questions for me. I still have one last question for you.”
I scowled. I wanted to punch this guy in the face. But a deal is a deal. I walked over to James and started playing with the grass.
“Fine. Whatever, ask your stupid question.”
“How did you say people get into your world?”
“I told you, they need to be invited. Other than you of course, you have the potion my father gave you.”
“So you’re saying there is no possible way for a regular human to get in here other than being invited?”
I rolled my eyes. What was this guy not getting?
“OMG! Yes, absolutely no other way.”
“I see. So my final question sweet Jessica is how is my son here?”……………………..
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