Chapter 263: Hope

I quickly sat on the floor, Meira still in my arms, and told Mom what I'd done.

Her reaction wasn't what I expected.

"You did WHAT?" Mom was usually pretty pale, her porcelain skin perfect. But now she looked almost ghostly, more like her vampire brother did before he had a chance to eat.

"Theridialis took me across," I said while Meira stared up at me.

"What was it like?" Her voice was low, soft, but I could hear real curiosity. At least I'd distracted her.

"Pretty cool," I said. "He invited me to come visit when this is over. You could come too."

Mom reached out and grasped my hand, squeezing so tightly I jerked free of her with a startled squeak.

"Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle," she said, voice trembling in fear and anger all swirling together, "you and your sister will be doing no such thing."

"Why not?" We asked in chorus and for the first time ever I found myself wondering why we'd never thought of visiting Demonicon before, even when Dad was whole and himself.

"Because," Mom sa