Chapter 269: Dying

It was a sad procession, returning Dad back to Mom's room, settling him in the bed. Was it pure Hayle stubbornness on my part I refused to give up? We'd been through so much, survived unbeatable odds before. Why should this be any different?

And yet, it felt different. If only because it seemed all of our avenues had been explored. But this couldn't be it, the end. It couldn't.

My dad couldn't just die.

I hovered at the doorway, not sure what to do, torn between rushing off to look for another answer-where I had no idea, only that my feet wanted me to run-and sitting next to my mother in vigil.

I couldn't bring myself to mourn just yet.

The house wards quivered and Erica's power entered. I stayed where I was, feeling her as she passed through the kitchen, down the hall and up the stairs to come to stand beside me.

"I need to talk to your mother." Erica looked like she had been crying, her perfect makeup missing, long, blonde hair in a messy ponytail.

"Good luck with that." I gui