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“No! I won’t allow my child to be around people like him. Like you. You’ll be hearing from my attorney.”

He followed her as she dragged Sophie to the car. I stayed glued to my seat, choking on my own breath as I watched Art beg Val not to take Sophie away. Sophie started sobbing, tugging on her arm to escape the grip her mother held, pleading to go with Art. It was a familiar scene. The same thing happened to me when my mom found out my dad was sneaking me into the human realm when I was a kid. She lost it and told him he would never see me again. As a kid, I’d been downright horrified and heartbroken. I couldn’t let that happen to Sophie.

Grabbing my clothes from where they’d been tossed onto the floor, I rushed outside, putting my hands up. Val flinched and screamed, blocking Sophie from me, but I stayed a respectful distance away from her.

“Wait! Please wait! This was my fault. Don’t blame Art. I came on to him. I’ll go. I’ll leave him alone. Just don’t take away his daughter. He loves her.”

“It’s too late for that,” she seethed. “He’ll just crawl into bed with another monster when I’m not watching. You’re sick, Art. I can’t believe I was ever married to you. Sophie, let’s go. Now.”

“No, mom! Please! I want to stay with daddy!”

Val wasn’t listening. She forced her daughter into the car and dropped into the seat with her, blocking her with her body. There was a man in the front seat who watched everything with wide eyes. He looked uncertain when looking at Art’s tear-stained face, but Val barked at him from the back seat and he pulled out of the driveway without a word.

The car disappeared around the block and once they were out of sight, Art dropped to his knees. I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to comfort him, but this felt like my fault. But I also couldn’t walk away. Not now. Not when he looked so heartbroken.

“Art–”

“Go.”

I froze, my hand reaching out for him. My stomach twisted tightly and dread filled my veins.

“Art, I–”

“Just go, Hendrix. I can’t–” His voice cut out as he choked on a sob. He shook his head slowly, dropping forward onto his hands and knees with tears streaming down his face. The image ripped my heart out, but when I touched his shoulder, he jerked away from me. “Go! You said you’d go, so go! Please…”

I meant what I said in the moment. I would’ve left if it meant Art could keep Sophie. But now that he actually wanted me to do it, it hurt more than I thought. It felt like I was tearing my heart out of my chest and putting it through a shredder. I couldn’t breathe around the lump in my throat and I couldn’t move to save my life. All I could do was watch as Art fell apart on the front lawn, his entire world turned upside down because of me.

It took what felt like hours before Art finally moved. He didn’t look at me as he pushed to his feet, his footsteps staggered like he didn't have the energy to walk. I held my breath, pleading internally for him to come to me and let me hold him. But that didn't happen. He walked past me, stumbling once over his own feet, and disappeared inside, shutting the door quietly behind him. I stared at the door, fighting with myself on whether I should follow him or not. But when the lock clicked, I knew I’dmissed my chance. I always said Art would do anything for his daughter. Including ending our relationship, apparently.

I couldn’t stomach facing the band. Not after that. I’d have to explain what happened, and I couldn’t get the words out even if I wanted to. Instead, I let my feet, wings, and magic guide me. And somehow ended up in my dad’s front yard. The lights were on, he was home for once, and when I stepped inside, he took one look at me and jerked his chin towards the stairs. No words were exchanged. He knew what I needed. I headed upstairs to my childhood bedroom, collapsed on the bed, and cried.

I wasn’t sure when exactly I passed out. I’d never been that beat up about a break up before. Even my longest relationship didn’t rip me apart like that. It was sad, sure, but nothing a few drinks with the guys or the band consoling me wouldn’t cure. With Art, it felt like something had ripped my soul from my chest and I was empty inside. I couldn’t get myself to leave that bed. My dad came in every once in a while, tried to get me to eat, but mostly he just left me alone.

I was going on three days without moving when he finally stepped in. “Gotta get up, boy. You need to eat.”

Hugging the pillow tighter against my chest, I tried to ignore him, but he wouldn’t stop prodding me. “Can’t wallow forever.”

“You did,” I mumbled, glaring at the wall. I wanted to be pissed at him so he’d leave me the hell alone, but all I felt was heartache and pain. I couldn’t muster the energy to be mad.

“I did. And look where it got me. An old demon livin’ with his brother, wasting away on booze and wishin’ I could change the past. But wishin’ doesn’t do shit, and you know that. So get up, eat somethin’, and get moving.”

“To do what?” I snapped, shoving myself up to sit with my back against the wall. “None of it is worth it anymore. What’s the point?”

He was sitting on a chair by my bed, his expression actually clear for once. He looked sad for me, but he also looked determined. Like he wasn’t going to let me get away with giving up. I shook my head helplessly.

“I can’t– I can’t breathe without him.”

“So, go get him back, then.”

“Can’t. His ex-wife won’t let him near his kid because of me. I don’t know what she’s more disgusted by. The fact that I’m a male, or that I’m a demon. It seemed like a toss up for her.”

He made a tick sound behind his teeth, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well, that ain’t right. But I’m sure there’s a solution. She can’t just take away his kid.”

I wasn’t sure what the human laws were about kids with divorced parents. The look on Art’s face said it was hopeless. And it wasn’t like I had any power to stop his ex from taking Sophie away. I was a musician in a band that didn’t even have a label yet. I worked several jobs to make ends meet and–

“Stop. Nothin’ you’re thinkin’ right now is gonna help. Come on. Let’s go get some food. It’ll help.”

He didn’t let up until I begrudgingly followed him. Dad always preferred the human restaurants over the ones in the Other Realm, so he marched me through the transport tunnel with a hand on the back of my neck to get to his favorite restaurant. He nudged me into the booth, smiling at the older waitress who stopped by our table.