Kindred (The Watcher Chronicles #2) (12 page)

"Good," Malcolm says.  "Will an hour give you enough time to get ready?"

I nod because I feel like if I open my mouth, Michael will say we're ready now and I really don't want to meet with Lilly in my pink flannel pajamas.

"Then I'll be back."

Mason comes over to me and kneels by my chair.  "What just happened?  You didn't sound like yourself when you said you would speak with Lilly."

I marvel at Mason's ability to know me well enough to tell I hadn't been in control in that moment. 

"Michael spoke through me," I say, not trying to hide how frightened that moment made me.  "He said he wouldn't try to control me but he just did."

"Talk to him," Mason urges.  "I'm sure it was only because of Lilly.  He's her father.  He's probably wanted to speak with her for a long time now.  I don't think he meant to scare you.  Michael was never one to do that to people.  Lucifer used fear to control but not Michael.  He was always the voice of reason and understanding.  Let him explain."

I nod.  "Ok."

I walk to my bedroom and sit on the side of my bed before I call to Michael.  He instantly appears.

"I'm so sorry," he immediately says, coming to kneel on one knee before me.  "Please, Jess.  It wasn't something I planned to do.  It just happened.  I couldn't let the opportunity pass by and I knew you wanted to wait.  Please forgive me for using you like that."

"I didn't know you could do that," I say in almost a whisper.  "It scared me."

"I know," Michael hangs his head in shame.  "It was stupid and rash.  I will never do it again.  I promise you."

Now I feel bad.  The way Michael looks tells me just how sorry he is for using me for his own purposes.  I reach out, wanting to bring him comfort but only find air when I try to touch his shoulder.  I know what it's like to want to speak with your father and pity Lilly because she’s never even met Michael.  At least I got to spend the first seven years of my life with my dad.  This will be her first time having any sort of communication with her father and it will end up being filtered through me.  That more than anything else makes me decided on my next course of action.

"I want you to use me to talk to Lilly," I tell Michael.

His head snaps up at my suggestion.  "I couldn't do that to you.  It would be like violating your body, and I just promised I wouldn't do that again."

"I know," I say, taking a deep breath.  "But Lilly needs to hear what you have to say.  I know what it's like to want your father close.  She’ll want to hear how much you love her.  She's not going to want to hear it through a third party.  She needs to know how much you care for her, Michael.  Trust me.  It's important."

"You would do that for us?" Michael questions earnestly.  "You would give us that time?"

Before I chicken out, I say, "Yes."

Michael smiles sadly and closes his eyes.  Twin tears stream down his face.

"Thank you," he says.  "Thank you, Jess."

I quickly get ready and wait for Malcolm to come get me.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Mason asks.

I've already told him the agreement I made with Michael.  I know he's scared about what I'm about to do.  He worries Michael won't be able to relinquish control over me once he takes it.  I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind, but something deep within my soul tells me everything will be all right.

"Please, don't worry," I say, drawing him into my arms and kissing him lightly on the lips. "I'll be fine.  Michael doesn't want to control me.  This wasn't even his idea."

Mason sighs heavily.  "I know but what if he can't find a way to give you back control?"

"That won't happen," I say confidently.  I think it's that confidence more than anything that wipes the worry from Mason's face.

Before I know it, Mason is crushing me to him, completely possessing my lips with his in a mind blowing kiss.  When he finally pulls away, we're both physically shaking from the experience.

"I'm not complaining," I say, swallowing air, "but where did that come from?"

"I wanted you to have something to remember while Michael has control of you.  I intend to finish that kiss when you get back."

I smile.  "Well, there's no way in hell that I'm not coming back now."

Mason chuckles and I know everything will work out just fine.

Chapter 10

Exactly one hour after he left, Malcolm reappears in my kitchen.  I sigh because I know he has free reign of my house now.

"Ready?" He asks, holding out his hand to me.

I stand up and feel Mason grab my hand before I'm able to walk over to Malcolm.

"Come back to me," Mason says.

I hear the worry in his voice and see his trepidation about what I'm about to do in his eyes.

"I won't be long," I promise, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

I walk up to Malcolm and he places his hand on my shoulder.

A warm ocean breeze flutters my hair against my neck.  I find myself facing a glass wall with seamless sliding glass doors open to the outside.  Palm trees, a blue ocean and black sand make up the outer surroundings of the glass, steel and cement home I'm standing in.

"I'll leave the two of you alone," Malcolm says, looking at someone behind me before phases.

I turn around to find Lilly standing on the other side of the room by the opposite glass wall.  She’s wearing a white eyelet sun dress.

"Thank you for coming," she says.

I see uncertainty in her eyes and instantly wish I could erase it.

"Lilly," I say, taking one step forward, "your father and I decided it would be best for you to speak with him directly instead of me telling you what he wants you to know."

Lilly looks confused.  "What do you mean speak directly?"

"I'm going to let him control my body and talk to you."

Lilly gasps, obviously not expecting this turn of events.  "He can do that to you?  Why would you let him?"

"Because if I were in your shoes, I would want to talk to my dad without having another person basically just relaying messages back and forth.  He loves you so much, Lilly.  He deserves a chance to tell you himself, to be with you and feel you."

I see Lilly's eyes glaze over with unshed tears at what’s about to happen.

"Thank you," she says with a nod, signaling she's ready to meet her father.

I close my eyes and call to Michael.

The sensation is weird, to say the least.  When he takes control of my body, I can still feel everything but it's like the sensations aren't immediate.  It's almost like there's a time delay between him moving me and my feeling it.

"Hello, Lilly," I hear myself say, realizing Michael is addressing his daughter for the very first time.

Lilly holds a hand up to her mouth, desperately trying to suppress a cry but unable to do so.  I watch as tears spill freely from her eyes and her shoulders begin to shake as she stares through me to see her father.

Michael walks over to his child and takes her in his arms.  I can feel how happy it makes him to finally be able to touch and comfort her.  Lilly cries on Michael's shoulder drenching the long sleeve blouse I'm wearing with her tears.  Michael holds her to him, never wanting to let her go.

Once Lilly is spent of her tears, she lifts her head.

"I can see you," she says.  "I can see you in her eyes.  How is that possible?"

"Because you are my daughter.  Lilly, I want you to now that I have loved you since the day you were conceived.  I'm thankful to Jess for letting me say that to you in person and to tell you how proud I am of everything you've been able to accomplish in your life.  And I don't mean just your defeat of Lucifer either.  I'm proud of the way you let yourself find love and fight for it.  I'm proud of the children you've had and what a wonderful mother you are to them.  A father couldn't be prouder than I am of you and what you've been able to accomplish even with all the obstacles placed in your way.  You have so much strength, so much power, yet you don't take advantage of it.  You only do what you have to.  What father wouldn't be proud of a daughter like you?"

"I've wanted to talk to you so many times during my life," Lilly says.  "And now that you're here, I can't think of anything to say."

"I want you to know," Michael says, "that leaving you and your mother was one of the hardest things I've ever been asked to do.  Please tell me you understand why I had to do it."

Lilly nods.  "I know.  God explained it to me.  You had to leave because if you didn't I wouldn't have been able to end up where I needed to be.  I won't lie and say I liked it, but I understand.  I don't blame you and I don’t blame Him.  Please, don't feel any guilt over what you had to do.  I wouldn't change a thing about my life because if I did I might not have Brand or my children.  If I didn't have them, my life wouldn't be worth living."

"I don't want to impose on Jess for too long," Michael says.  "But I'm thankful to her for giving me the opportunity to hold you and talk to you.  Know that you can speak with me at anytime through her.  She is a true friend to me and she can be one to you too."

Lilly nods.  "I know.  I felt that the first time we met."

Michael brings Lilly back into his arms for one last embrace and kisses her on the forehead.

"I love you," he says.

"I love you too, Daddy," Lilly replies.

When Michael gives me back control over my body, I immediately stretch to chase away the cobwebbed feeling in my extremities.

"Thank you, Jess," Lilly tells me, giving me a heartfelt hug.

"Anytime," I tell her.

When she pulls away from me, she takes my hand and we sit down together on a white L-shaped sofa in the room.

"Malcolm's kept me informed on your progress since the attack," she tells me.  "How are you feeling?"

"I'm still a little tired but other than that I feel fine.  I actually feel the best I have in a long time."

A knowing smile spreads Lilly's lips.  "This wouldn't be due to a certain angel would it?"

I laugh nervously.  "Most definitely."

Lilly's smile falters.  "You know after Baruch attacked you Mason came to see me that night."

"After he left me?"

Lilly nods.  "Yes.  I've never seen him so upset before.  He was inconsolable.  I told him he was being an idiot but Watchers are notorious for self-sacrifice.  Mason most of all.  He felt it was the best way to keep you safe.  It took you almost dying at the hands of Asmodeus and Mammon for him to see how much safer you actually are with him around."

"Lucifer says I don't have to worry about any of them anymore," I tell Lilly. 

"Has he figured out why he's drawn to you yet?"

"No.  But I take it from the way you just said that you think it's because of Michael too."

Lilly nods.  "It makes sense.  They were best friends.  Michael was the one who had to bring Lucifer to Earth for his exile.  I don't think either one of them fully realize how much they still mean to one another.  Even though my father's soul has melded with yours, Lucifer can still feel his presence within you."

"What do you think Lucifer will do when he finds out what I am?"

Lilly shrugs.  "I have no way of knowing.  My dealings with Lucifer were far different from the ones you're experiencing.  We were enemies from the get go, but with you he feels a growing friendship, a need to keep you out of harms way.  It's a side of him I’ve never seen.  I wasn't even aware he could feel anything but greed and hatred."

"Do you think I'm meant to change him in some way?"

Lilly's eyebrows lift in surprise.  "I never thought about that possibility," she says.  "God hasn't mentioned it to me but who knows what He has planned."

"I know this will sound completely insane," I say, "but Lucifer isn't all bad."

Lilly looks shocked that I think this.

"I'm not saying he isn't evil," I qualify, "but there's a part of him that's actually noble.  He might not have a lot of standards but protecting his friends seems to at least be one of them.  I don't think he would ever intentionally hurt me."

"So, what is your theory on what his reaction will be when he learns you and my father share a soul?"

"Honestly?  I think he'll just be relieved to know why he likes me.  The mystery will finally be solved.  I don't think he'll hurt me when he finds out.  He cares too much for Michael."

Lilly sighs.  "You might be right.  I guess we'll know soon enough.  It's only a matter of time before he figures it out."

I see Malcolm phase into the room with Brand by his side.

Lilly locks eyes with her husband almost immediately and I feel the connection the two of them share with one another like a wave of energy hitting me in the chest.

"I was worried," he says, explaining his sudden appearance.  And I know he wasn't worried I might do something to harm Lilly, just worried how she would be handling speaking with her father for the first time.

Lilly stands and walks over to him.  Brand brings her into his arms and holds her tightly.  I instantly see her relax against him like he's the only home she needs.

"There was never anything to worry about," Lilly tells Brand.  "It was better than I could have hoped for."

Malcolm walks over to me.

"Ready to go?" He asks, obviously wanting to give Brand and Lilly some time alone to speak about what happened.

I stand and nod.

Malcolm instantly phases us to my front porch.

I look at him.  "Why didn't you phase us inside the house?"

Malcolm grins.  "I figured you didn't want me doing that.  I won't do it unless you ask me to.  I owe you that much."

"Why do you feel like you owe me anything?"

"If I hadn't taken you to Mason's house that night…"

"Wait," I say, holding up a hand to make sure he doesn't say anything until I'm finished.  "Don't go blaming yourself for that.  Besides, everything worked out in the end.  Things happen for a reason and honestly if it hadn't happened I probably wouldn't have Mason back in my life.  I'll chance a near death experience for him."

Malcolm grins.  "So I heard about the date last night."