Page 23

Unhappily, I cursed under my breath.

Inka was leaving herself wide open, and yet, why should she not? She would’ve never expected rejection from her parents. Inka had only ever known love and kindness from them.

“What do you want?” her father asked in a cold, distant tone.

Inka faltered.

“It’s me, I’ve returned home…” Inka trailed off in confusion as she stared at her parents.

There was no emotion evident in either of them.

“Let’s go,” I said, tugging on her hand.

Sadly, I tried to spare Inka this, but she was adamant.

“Jacques, these are my parents,” Inka replied, pulling away. “Father, what’s wrong? It is me,” Inka repeated with a slight emphasis on ‘me’.

Inka slightly raised her hand towards them beseechingly.

“You are notmychild, so I’ll ask you to leave my house,” her mother snapped.

“Of course, it’s me. What is it? Did Claudias not explain properly?” Inka responded, frowning as she turned to the silent scientist.

“Oh, Claudias explained, along with the council members. My daughter died. She is not you,” Inka’s mother continued, refusing to look Inka in the eyes. “I have grieved for Inka since her death in service to her people.”

“But I didn’t die. Well, I did, but I’m alive again.” Inka frowned. “It is complicated. Do you want us to fetch Marel? He will explain properly.”

Inka stepped forward and took her father’s hand and smiled into his eyes. She tried to hug him.

With a great shove, he sent her sprawling across the floor.

The council members had the decency to turn their backs, but Claudias and his parents watched in undisguised fascination as Inka’s hair fell over her face.

Furious, I knelt beside Inka to help her stand, but she stopped me with a wave. With a shaking hand, Inka pushed her hair back and stared at her father.

“What?” Inka asked, her voice trembling.

“You are not our child. You sully her memory. I told you Inka passed serving her people. You are some type of monster that was created from her remains. Inka’s gone and left her body to go to the Great Plane of Existence.My daughter died!Inka is most certainly not some bloodthirsty creature. A dirty, hungry cadaver.”

Inka paled as each word was spat at her with venom by her mother.

“Leave this decent, law-abiding house. You are illegal, a genetic mutation!” her mother screamed.

Inka shrieked in pain and threw herself flat onto the floor.

Suddenly D’vid was there, and he knelt beside me. D’vid peered at me wordlessly and took Inka into his embrace.

D’vid’s expression was carved of stone as he picked her up and scanned the people in the room.

None of them met his eyes except Claudias, who silently gloated. The bastard was enjoying every sordid moment.

D’vid walked towards the entrance carrying Inka. I stood and began to join him when her mother said one last thing…

“Vam’pir.”

The single word froze the room. Inka froze and then began shrieking and thrashing about in D’vid’s arms. D’vid held hertightly, refusing to let go, and finally, when she stopped, and he left with her.

“Take Inka to the Centre,” I called.