Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MOTHER?

S moke choked the air, making it difficult to breathe as I surveyed the wreckage of what used to be the bar. Glass shards glittered like deadly diamonds on the floor, and splintered wood littered the area. The scent of scorched everything mixed with spilled alcohol, and a creeping sense of dread settled in my stomach. This was supposed to have been a simple mission, but Ro had other plans. Stupid demon fathers and their meddling. Why the hell did he keep showing up and screwing up my life?

"Look at this mess!" Mr. Smith's voice boomed through the rubble, his anger palpable. "You've not only failed miserably, but you've also violated the agreement you just made with us!"

Mr. Grumpy Pants stalked in behind him, his eyes cold. Hadn't Trux referred to him as Brantson? I like my name for him more. He glowered at each member of the team, disappointment radiating off him like waves. I clenched my fists at my side, trying to quell the rising heat within me. It wasn't our fault... it was mine. Well, Ro, but he was my fault. If I'd had better control over my powers, he wouldn't have been able to wreak havoc.

"Each of you will suffer the consequences," Mr. Smith continued, his gaze locked onto mine. "Parker, your lack of control is inexcusable."

"Leave her alone," Trux growled, stepping protectively in front of me. His body tensed, ready for a fight, but I felt his concern like a warm embrace. I appreciated his loyalty, but this wasn't his battle.

"No Trux," I murmured, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. I couldn't let him take the fall for me. "This is my fault."

Trux turned and shot me a look that should have sent me running, but not this time. My Tsigos hadn't done anything wrong.

"Fault isn't the issue here, Parker," Mr. Grumpy Pants sneered. "It's your inability to harness the demon inside you that's caused this disaster."

"Enough!" Mr. Smith barked. "The punishment will be severe." He looked at each of us in turn, his eyes lingering on mine. "You will be stripped of your rank and privileges until further notice."

"Please," I begged, the words feeling like bile in my throat.

"Silence," Mr. Smith snapped. "Your incompetence has endangered this entire operation. You've left us with no choice."

I felt their disappointment weighing down on me like a heavy chain, constricting my chest and suffocating me. The guilt gnawed at my insides, an ugly monster demanding to be fed. If only I could control the demon inside me. If only I could be more than the sum of my fractured parts.

"Get out of my sight," Mr. Smith ordered, his voice cold as ice. As we turned to leave, I felt the first flickers of demonic rage ignite deep within me.

"So many years of hard work all for nothing." Mr. Grumpy Pants' voice stopped us in our tracks.

Hair stood up on the back of my neck as I turned and glared at him. "What does that mean?"

He rolled his eyes. "Get out of here. You've ruined enough."

"Not until you tell me what you mean." I approached him with my finger pointing at him like a threat.

"You think you've had it tough, Parker? You have no idea. Not a clue what I've sacrificed for this."

His words struck me like a bullet. What did he mean? My mind raced, searching for answers. Flashes of my past rolled through my thoughts like a film reel, each memory more painful than the last. And then it hit me... the high level fake identities that a single mom wouldn't have been able to get on her own. It didn't make sense. Unless she had help from someone.

My heart felt like it would explode from my chest as I locked glares with Mr. Grumpy Pants, eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?" I demanded, trying to sound strong despite the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"Nothing," he replied smugly, his expression unreadable. "Just remember, you're not the only one with secrets, Parker."

The fury continued to build within me, fueled by fear and possibly betrayal. They had control over every aspect of my life, but now, with everything falling apart around me, I knew I needed to find the truth. And somehow, someway, I would make them pay for what they'd done. Once I figured exactly what that was, anyway.

"Let's go," Trux growled, pulling me away from Mr. Grumpy Pants and Mr. Smith.

"Wait," I said, yanking my arm from Trux's grip. "I need to ask Mr. Grumpy Pants one more thing."

"What? Nevermind, make it quick," Trux warned, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and concern.

As I stared at Mr. Grumpy Pants, the pieces continued to fall into place. My mother's murder... was it all part of their plan? The note she left me hinted at a hidden truth behind her death. Was this the secret they were hiding? I'd assumed my mother had meant Ro was after me, but what if she meant the government? Specifically, the supernatural government. And what about Ro's actions? Every asshole thing he'd done led to helping me in a roundabout way. Cerberus ended up protecting me, and when Ro had handed me over to the government, that had made me aware of them before they intended. Or was I reading into his actions too much? I couldn't figure it out right now.

"Mr. Grumpy Pants," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my head. "My mother... did you have anything to do with her murder?"

His face remained expressionless for a moment before breaking into a twisted smirk. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Answer me!" I shouted, my control slipping as my demonic powers began to bubble up inside me.

"Enough!" Mr. Smith snapped, stepping between us. "Parker, you're coming with us for a debriefing. Now."

"Debriefing?" I spat, fire igniting in my veins. "You think I'm just going to follow you after all the lies and manipulation? I don't think so."

Before Mr. Smith could react, I grabbed a charred piece of wood from the rubble and an old receipt lying nearby. There was no turning back now. I had to know the truth, even if it meant unleashing the very power I struggled to control. But first, I needed to show them that I wouldn't be pushed around anymore. That I wasn't afraid of them or what they could do to me.

"Either you start talking, or this gets ugly," I threatened, gripping the makeshift weapons tightly and meeting their gazes with newfound determination.

"Your funeral," Mr. Smith muttered, but it was clear that he, along with Mr. Grumpy Pants, had underestimated me for the last time.

I focused my thoughts, feeling the demonic energy coursing through my body. With a shaky hand, I drew on the receipt. A mirror with Mr. Grumpy Pants' reflection in it and scribbled words that held power even I didn't fully comprehend.

"Let's see how you like this," I muttered, and threw the makeshift drawing at him.

The moment the paper made contact with his chest, Mr. Grumpy Pants let out a guttural scream and dropped to his knees, writhing in pain. The air around us crackled with electricity as he clawed at his own skin, desperate to rid himself of whatever torment I'd inflicted upon him.

"Stop!" Mr. Smith shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of my heartbeat in my ears. I didn't care if he approved. I needed answers, and I wasn't going to let them slip through my fingers again.

"Tell me the truth!" I demanded, staring at Mr. Grumpy Pants as he continued to writhe in agony. "What did you do to my mother?"

His eyes met mine, wild with fear and pain, and for a brief moment, I felt a twinge of guilt. But it was quickly replaced by anger and determination as I remembered the secrets and deceit that had brought me here in the first place.

"Alright, alright! I'll tell you everything!" Mr. Grumpy Pants gasped, tears streaming down his face as he succumbed to my power.

"Good," I whispered as I braced myself for whatever twisted revelations lay ahead.

Despite saying he would tell us everything, he didn't say a damned thing.

"Speak," I said, my voice dangerously low and laced with anger and demonic power.

"Your mother..." Mr. Grumpy Pants choked out, struggling to find his words. His fingers dug into the ground, desperately seeking relief. "It was part of the plan, her death. We needed you to be vulnerable, alone, and easier to control."

"Control?" I spat, clenching my fists as rage bubbled within me. "You've been manipulating my entire life? For what?"

"Power!" he cried, his face contorted in pain. "We knew of your heritage, your demonic abilities. If we could harness them, control them, imagine the possibilities! It wasn't just me. There were others, many others, all working together for our mutual gain."

I stared at him, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to process the enormity of his betrayal. Of the conspiracy. It was disgusting. Horrific.

"Tell me their names," I hissed as I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping I looked scary instead of dorky. "Who else is involved?"

"Mercy, please!" Mr. Grumpy Pants begged, his body trembling as he knelt before me. "I'll give you everything you want, but free me from this agony first!"

"Fine," I whispered, knowing that keeping him in pain would only make it harder for me to get the information I needed. "But if you lie to me again, you'll wish I'd left you like this."

I released the grip my powers had on him, watching as his body went limp onto the floor, his breathing heavy and labored. At least this time my powers listened. As he slowly recovered, I glared at Mr. Smith, who stood frozen in shock at the scene that had unfolded before him.

"Start talking, or you're next." I demanded, my voice unwavering as I prepared to uncover the truth behind the lies that had shaped my life.