Platonic Hazard

My mother had been livid upon hearing about all the attacks that had happened. My dad listened intently, his red eyes darting about the room as if he felt the next attack could happen any second now. His mouth was a thin line. When I finished telling them about everything, he rubbed his face tiredly. "Fuck...this is all my fault..." I glanced at him. "What do you mean dad?" He sighed and let his head fall back against the couch. " I....met this fellow...a few months ago...at a bar...." I turned myself so that i could face him. My mother and Dallas also turned to face him. "I got a little drunk...the guy was asking me all these fucking questions..." The thing that happened next happened so fast I almost didn't have time to react. My mother had launched herself from her seat and now had Artemis by the throat. "You IDIOT! You told somebody Alina was a hybrid! YOU TOLD THEM AFTER I TOLD YOU NOT TO LET ANYONE KNOW!" He choked, staring down at her as she lifted him bodily from the couch and promptly threw him into the wall. She advanced on him, teeth bared. "I TOLD you not to say ANYTHING Artemis! I TOLD you it could endanger her if anyone found out! But you can't fucking control yourself when your drunk and you put...my..baby in..DANGER!" SHe had grabbed him again and with every clipped word slammed his head into the wall. I looked at Dallas, but the Were merely sipped his coffee...obviously with no intentions of helping. I couldn't blame him...a small part of me said it wasn't my old mans fault..but in all actuality it was. He had possibly sealed my death deal. As a demon AND a vampire I was condemned to a long life, as were any children I may have conceived, but considering what My father had done, It was unlikely even that would happen. I was going to be the youngest Hybrid in almost a century to die before I hit 21. My mother continued to slam her ex's head into the wall, snarling at him. WHen I finally did figure it was time to pull her off, my dad slid to the ground, dazed, but still conscious. He blinked a few times then struggled to get to his feet, using the wall for support. "God dammit Claudia...I think you gave me a fucking concussion." SHe snarled at him again. "It would be less then you deserve you mongrel! How could you do that to her Artemis?! How!? Knowing what a demon would do with a Hybrid like her...he wouldn't kill her..he would enslave her! Sure we got a lucky break with Mr. Kashman, but anyone...ANYONE...could easily use Alina to push themselves into a ruling position..and YOU would be the cause of it! Its rare enough for Hybrids to live past their second birthdays let alone to 19...they would tap into whatever power she has and use it to eliminate everyone who stood in their way! God you are such a fucking MORON!" Artemis rubbed his head, frowning at her. "Look...I didn't know..." I sighed softly. "Mom...he didn't know they would try to come after me..." She glared at us both, then turned and buried her face in Dallas's shoulder. I gently pushed my dad towards the front door, intending to take him back to my place. "I have to go see Barak...I'll call mom...I swear..." She gave a tiny muffled whimper and I nodded to Dallas, before leading my Dad out to my bike. He was still rubbing his head. "God, she hasn't been that rough since the night you were conceived." I made a face and swung a leg over my bike. "TMI dad...TMI".

Barak paced back and forth in his office, frowning deeply. He didn't know why but there was an annoying buzzing in the back of his mind that told him something was horribly off. It was mildly proven right when almost all of the loud, talk from downstairs stopped. He glanced at his security screens to see what looked like Alina and a very large man entering the bar. Accept she wasn't in disguise and the man looked so much like her it was almost criminal. He turned when the door opened and Cherry poked her head in. "Barak...you wont believe who's down stairs". He flicked his gaze back to the screen, only to find Alina peering up at the camera, as if telling him to come down now. He followed Cherry down the stairs and into the main room, where everyone was silently staring at the two. He approached cautiously, not wanting to give the fact that Alina wasn't hiding her looks to much attention. The man with her was looking around, red eyes falling on the bar and its occupants with interest. "Er...Miss Alina...what...do we owe this visit to?" Alina shifted her weight to one hip. "Mr. Kashman...so nice to see you again". THe demon behind her jerked his attention forward, eyeing barak in a way that made the other male somewhat uncomfortable...which was a hard thing to do indeed. "I was merely showing my Father the town...he'll be staying awhile". Barak blinked, and stared up at the white haired male that so resembled his daughter in every way possible, from the snow white hair, to the tanned skin, and even the way he held himself. "Your...father you say?" She nodded. "Yes....Daddy..this is Barak Kashman...he was nice enough to treat me to dinner after my last concert." 'Daddy' surveyed him with such a fierce expression, Barak wondered just how much of their experiences together Alina had told him about exactly. But instead of ripping his head off, the large man actually smiled, and gripped Barak's hand in a grip that was cause enough to wince. "Nice to meet you...Mr. Kashman..." Barak grimaced. "Er...same to you Mr. White". When his hand was released, he timidly rubbed it against his pants leg, trying to ease some feeling back into it. Alina touched his mind gently, and he let his guards down. "I need to talk to you...in private....my dad will be Ok down here..he wont hurt anyone....just let them know he has a three drink limit" "As long as he doesn't shake my hand again he can have as many as he wants..." She smiled faintly and turned to look at her father. "Daddy, I need to talk to Mr. Kashman about the upcoming Charity event Im doing for his bar....behave wont you?" Artemis was already slinking towards the bar. "Hmm? Oh..sure...be good". She glanced back at him and nodded. Barak led her up to his office, shutting the door and locking it behind him. "Your father is a beast". She chuckled softly. "He's all right..." He shook his head and then moved up, pulling her against him, and kissing her deeply. "I have missed watching you prance about the bar...its not as lively...." She smiled and rested her head against his chest. "Hmm..today is defiantly a very lively day". He pulled back to look down at her. "Why do you say that?"

I ran a hand through my hair, a habit I have noticed. "My father may have drunkenly given the knowledge that Im a very powerful hybrid out to an unknown demon in the underground...now said demon really..really...REALLY...wants me". I felt him stiffen against me. "All those attacks then....are because of your own dad?" I nodded and his jaw became hard. " Fool...what would possibly make him think he should slur such things...even drunk.." I sighed. "You should have seen what my mom did to him". His red eyes crinkled at the corners as this possible thought drifted through his head. I helped by lending him the images as I had seen them and his mouth quirked into a tiny smile, before he wrapped his arms around me again. "Your not safe then...not with him...not at your home...not even with Haze..you will come stay with me...in my house.." I stared up at him. "Wait a second Barak...I can't stay cooped up in your house..." He shook his head. "You wont be..you'll leave to go to work and do your concerts and then come home..." I snorted. "Right...I have to be a doll...not live like one..." His fingers tilted my chin up so that I was looking him in the eyes. "You would not be a prisoner Alina...you would still be permitted to come and go as you pleased...but It would do me good knowing your safe....and not some demons slave". I bit back the retort that technically..what he wanted of me would make me a slave..and he had me a contract...that was pretty damn close. I returned his gaze evenly. "I'll be fine...my dad's staying at my place...he won't let anything happen to me...after I let Haze know what's going on...neither will he." He stared down at me for a moment longer, then sighed and let his fingers slip, trailing them down my collar bone lightly before letting it fall back to his side. "Your the most stubbornness woman I have ever met". I grinned. "Thats me....Stubborn extraordinaire". He chuckled and hugged me tightly before turning his attention to his security monitors. "Your father is a heavy flirt", he commented dryly. I peeked around him to see my dad doing his best to get one of the girls numbers. "Yea...Artemis has always been one for the ladies..hence why he and my mother split..." Barak shook his head slightly. "I still don't get why he would leave you knowing what you are...did it not occur to him you could be in possible danger the older you got?" I shrgged lightly. "No, but then we also never figured he would blab about me either. My mom made him swear to never saya word..but..well..." I glanced at the screen again. He had dissapeared from the bar and was currently sulking in a corner, obviously having failed to retrieve the girls number. "He is my dad, i can't fault him for what he did... mean...if he hadn't met my mom to begin with I wouldn't have ever been concieved....him leaving her just added to the person I am now...he's a good guy...he means well.." He looked at me in a way that made me think he really didn't consider my dad the saint of demons. I couldn't exactly blame him. With a sigh, he pressed hsi lips to my forhead then led me back down the stairs. "I'll see you soon then Miss White". I nodded and beckoned for my dad to follow after me. He glanced at Barak who returned his gaze evenly, then snorted and followed me out.

"I don't see what you do in that guy Alina". I rolled my eyes, raising one leg delicatly out fo the bath water. Artemis was perched on my counter, his eyes averted as I bathed. Demons were not nerely as shy when it came to nudity, but as he was my dad I did draw some lines. He had refused to talk to me through the door, and I had poored enough bubbles into the water to hide my nakedness well enough. Not that he would have cared. In the old days fathers fucked daughters and mothers fucked sons, but I was not going to follow such a tradition. "Baraks a perfectly nice man daddy...he wouldn't hurt me...considering I have three times the power he does.". He snorted and propped his chin on his hand, staring at the tv through the open doorway. "I just don't see it.." I smiled faintly, taking the time to scrub myself. "And You wont...cuz your my dad and even if I was to take Lucifer himself, you would still see an issue with it". He scoffed. "Lucifer...ha...everyone knows he's as bad as they come...really now Alina..." I shook my head and tugged the shower curtain into place, standing up and lettign the water drain out before turning the shower on to rinse the bubbles and soap away then turning it off. A towel was thrust through and I took it, wrapping it around myself before stepping out. Artemis glanced at me then sniffed. "I bet you he can't even get it up". I almost choked at my fathers blunt words and shook my head when he offered to pat me on the back. "Daddy! Leave Barak alone...I'lll have you know he can get it up just fine...and no I will not elaborate", I finished, spotting his look that showed he was intent on continuing the conversation. I padded into my room and managed to shimmy into a pair of jeans and my favorite tank top. Artemis came out of the bathroom, every bit the glowing demonic god he pretended to be. Sometimes I wondered what would have happened if I had been a boy...would I look every bit as unearthly? I mulled this over as I tied my hair back and out of my way. He followed me into the living room/ kitchen and plopped down on my couch. "All right....I'll leave him alone....but ONLY because he's helping you". I rolled my eyes, and set about scrounging up lunch. I was thankful my vampire and demon genes were balanced enough that I didn't have to worry about wanting to kill people...either for mere satisfaction..or to feed from them. "But you know, he's not the hot shot he pretends to be". I bent to peer into my mostly empty fridge, silently reminding myself to go shopping. As it was, I only had peanut butter, a few slices of turkey, a half eaten jar of pickles, and some mustard. I pulled out the peanut butter as well as a spoon and padded over to the couch, plopping down next to him. "Im starting to think a lot of demons aren't as they seem dad...I mean...my own father ratted me out". He made a face. "I said sorry, jeez kid. Give an old man a break". I stuck the peanut laden spoon into my mouth, sucking the thick goop off until it stuck to the roof of my mouth and throat. "Your not that old", I pointed out, giving him a sideways glance. He shifted so he could look at me point on. "You know, some days I regret leaving you with your mother". I smirked. "I don't...mom still loves you dad...she just wishes you would show up a little more then every few turns of the century....and to be honest...so do I". His harsh expression softened slightly, and he sighed. "Yea..I know...and Im sorry about that. Not that I don't keep tabs on you mind..Iv never missed a concert..your real big in a lot of the underworld bars". I rolled my eyes, recalling a time a shoot for playboy had gotten a little racy when a demon had broken onto set and practically stolen the lingerie right off me. Needless to say, more had been exposed then I had intended. I was sure a copy was floating in some underworld bathroom somewhere.

The rest of the day passed by fairly normal. Artemis popped in and out of existence, wether because he was summoned, or merely needed to move around. Every time he returned from a summoning though, I could only imagine the poor beings on the other end. "They like it when I show up as you", he told me on one such return, grinning. I shuddered, not wanting to imagine the poor sap murdered by my hands...or rather..not my hands. Summoning a demon was a common practice, completely legal, but frowned upon in most human communities. The demon often brought along a contract, on which the contracted signed...in their own blood.These were usually idiotic collage frat boys who were to high or drunk to know what they were doing, or power hungry richies wanting to get rid of competition in the business world. The demons payment was a soul..one way or another. My dad had a small Harem going for his own devices, and, from what I understood, was a rather successful business man in the under world. It didn't surprise me. He had often hinted he was in need of a secretary, but I always refused, deciding I wasn't safe, nor cut out for work there. As it was, he was gone on just such a collection when the sudden pressure coming from my circle room had me coming out to see. I figured it was him returning, since I hadn't felt comfortable leaving an open circle for him to travel through. Every time he returned, I had to stop what I was doing to let him out. Unfortunately, this time...it wasn't Artemis standing in my circle...it was the man who had followed me from the gothic store. He was staring around..until he spotted me. The red eyes that peered at me from over the top of his glasses glinted in amusement and he stepped forward, only to be brought up short by the circle. "Well well...Miss Alina White...what a pleasure...a pleasure indeed". I stared, slightly open mouthed. "Er...Im sorry..but...who the hell are you and how the hell did you get in my circle?" He examined the enclosure with interest, reaching out to test it, then jerking his hand back when a jolt of energy leapt across its surface. "Very nicely done...You see Miss White...when I realized none of my men were doing their jobs...I simply had to come see why so many were falling. Iv only ever seen you from a distance you see". I blinked, his words taking a moment to register. "You?! Your the idiot who's been sending all these freaks after me!?" I couldn't believe that this..this wimpy looking creature in front of me was the one making my life a living hell. He chuckled, the sound deep and throaty. "Now now Alina...no need to be rude. You see...ever since that idiot father of your let slip he had sired a very rare breed of hybrid who had actually lived to adult hood, I was very intrigued...very very intrigued. I couldn't understand why such a demon hadn't locked you in as his damon. Since dear Artemis didn't seem to think such a thing was important...well...to say the least..I became obsessed...with making you mine". His red eyes glimmered. "And you WILL be mine, dear Alina". I stared a moment longer, before suddenly throwing myself to the side as my circle suddenly collapsed in on itself then blew outward, sending shards of energy springing around the room. I rolled over, only to find the man on top of me, his teeth bared in an evil grin and his hand reaching for my throat. I panicked and suddenly dropped the shields on my mental thoughts...and screamed. His face contorted into one of pain. Unbeknownst to me, across the city, every magical being and creature was gasping and clutching their ears, their mental shields shattered. All that filled their minds was my scream. It screeched through the connecting lines that ran throughout the city, jolting up into every unprotected thought. It forced its way through the barriers that separated the underworld from the real world. Most of the demons in occupancy fell to their knees. Artemis dropped in the middle of his office, tears streaming down his face. At the bar every were, vamp, demon, and mystical creature alike was in pure agony, the sound they heard one of pure despair, a creatures dyeing scream. Barak's glass shattered in his hands, his teeth gritting. My mother and Dallas both cried out with me...everyone was crying out, feeling my every emotion, my despair, my panic. The demon stumbled away from me, eyes shut. I wasted no time in suddenly springing up and forward, tackling him. We landed in the middle of my circle and I tapped it, cutting off the scream and shouting", FANTASIA!" I released him and jerked back, shoving myself out of the way just as the shields came back up, cutting off access to my emotions and slamming shut on all who had felt them. It was like the last drops of water being sucked form a river bed during dry season. The circle clouded over and I could hear the man screaming on the inside, as I forced him back to the underworld and locked him from the circle. The circle shattered into a million tiny sparkling fragments..leaving a scorch mark where he had stood in its wake. I sat up, breathing hard and staring at the spot. Within seconds it had reformed, now trapping my father inside this time. I quickly let him out. His eyes scanned the room, then landed on me. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALINA!?"

I stared up at him, confused. "W..what do you mean?" He strode forward and yanked me up. "You shattered every psychic shield I had on my mind. You shattered every psychic shield OTHERS had on their minds...we could hear you SCREAMING Alina...Screaming like you were in agony...dyeing!" I blinked, my mind going numb. I had decimated other peoples shields? My knees gave under me and I sank down, my father, who still had a hold on me, following. "Alina...do you know how powerful someone has to be to do that?" I swallowed. Yea...I knew...but I didn't want to.