Page 64 of Demons & Damnation

“Yes, dear. Like your grandfather said, I am one.”

“Werewolves?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Ghosts?”

“Indeed.”

“Vampires?”

“Unfortunately.”

Kyla frowned, scratching her head for a second before carrying on. “Goblins?”

Lily chuckled. “Yes, dear.”

“Angels?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Pixies, elves, leprechauns...?”

“All of them.”

“Gargoyles?”

“Very much so.”

“It doesn’t matter what I think of, does it? It’s going to exist, isn’t it?”

“Yes, dear.” Lily took a sip of her tea and smiled at Kyla. “The world as you know it no longer exists now you are aware of your true place on this earth. Are you ready for that?”

Kyla frowned. “How does it not exist? I’m still here, my car is still outside, you still live in an idyllic crooked cottage, and my mother is still a bitch. I don’t see what’s changed?”

A twinge of pain shot across Lily’s face, almost as if she cringed at Kyla’s words. “Your mother is something we need to talk about.”

“You need to understand, Kyla—” Malcolm said, reaching over to his wife and placing one of his hands over hers “—we had to be seen to be impartial. We couldn’t choose between our daughter and our granddaughter. I hope you understand that?”

“Yes, I do, but what I don’t get is why you never picked up the phone to even see how I was? You just wiped your hands of me like I was a piece of rubbish.”

Lily gave her granddaughter a sad smile, her brilliant blue eyes washing with tears. “I’m so sorry, Kyla. That’s not what we intended. Everything was so raw and emotional, we both agreed if we spoke to either one of you, we’d be running the risk of taking sides. If we kept out of it, it was no longer a possible complication.”

A spark of irritation enflamed Kyla’s insides. “Taking sides? Surely there is no side to take but mine. Do you even remember what she did to me? What he did to me?”

“I know it’s a hard thing for you to understand because you’re in the thick of it, dear, but you also need to see it from your mother’s point of view. Since your father, she’s been alone, and to finally meet someone and fall in love is a very special thing. Surely you can’t deny her that?”

“HE WAS MY BOYFRIEND! How can you be ok with that?”

As soon as Kyla finished shouting, she cowered back into her chair, afraid of the repercussions from her grandad.

But none came.

Shock, confusion, and dawning reality creased her grandparent’s faces into looks of regret and trepidation. They shared a look between them for several seconds, as if words were being exchanged in silence.

Lily turned to Kyla and reached over, taking her hand and squeezing it tight. “We understood that Tony was your best friend who you were madly in love with.”

Kyla’s mouth dropped open. “Is that what she told you?”

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