Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 64

**OZ**

Kacia spins towards the door instinctively, her hand flying to her hair to make sure her beanie is secure. I straighten up just in time to meet the sharp, assessing gaze of the woman standing in the doorway. One look at her mother and I know exactly where Kacia gets her terrifying presence from. She doesn’t look much like Kacia, not in the obvious ways. Her hair is a warm chestnut brown, her eyes are hazel, and her face has the kind of softness and roundness you’d expect from a full-blooded human. Kacia clearly takes after her fae parent. But the posture, the unimpressed eyebrow, the way her hands rest firmly on her hips like she’s about to lecture the world into submission? Oh yeah. That’s pure Kacia. Even if they were standing on opposite ends of a crowded room, I could have picked her out as Kacia’s mother without a second thought.

“Oh, Sweetpea! You didn’t tell me you were coming to visit.” Her tone is light and welcoming, but her eyes flick to me like twin spotlights. 

“And I suppose this gentleman with the tail sneaking its way up your skirt is Oz, then?” She asks in an innocent tone. Well. I’ve got two options here. I can jerk my tail back and look apologetic and guilty, or leave it where it is and double down with a smug grin. Either way, Kacia’s going to murder me later. I decide to split the difference. I let my tail retreat, then give her mother a sheepish smile and one of those shrugs that says, ‘oops, you caught me.’ Kacia’s mother just smirks like I’m mildly amusing. Okay, so could be worse. Kacia’s face, meanwhile, has gone the shade of a stop sign.

“You told your mother about me?” I ask, intrigued. Kacia grits her teeth like she’s fighting the urge to strangle someone. 

“Actually, no. I didn’t.” She grinds out. Her mother crosses her arms. 

“I heard from little Mikey. HE still calls me to check in regularly. Even if you can’t be bothered to, young lady.” She lectures. Kacia groans. 

“Mum, I’ve told you before, my phone-” Kacia starts. 

“I know, I know.” Her mother waves her off. 

“I’ve seen you try to use a computer. I get it, phones aren't your thing. At least I never had to worry about you being glued to one.” Then, more softly. 

“Still, would it kill you to visit more often?” She adds. 

“I’m visiting right now!” Kacia points out. Her mother lights up. 

“Good point. You’d better come inside then. But first…” She trails off and opens her arms expectantly. Kacia walks straight into them with a sigh, leaning in for a tight hug. Her body tenses the moment contact is made, and her mother, perceptive as a hawk, immediately releases her and narrows her eyes.

“What have you done to yourself now?” She demands. 

“It’s nothing, just a few bruises.” Kacia lies, far too quickly. Her mother turns to me without missing a beat, eyes narrowing further. I don’t even hesitate.

“She has a cracked rib, several lacerations on her back and arms, some bruising across her hip and thigh, and probably a mild concussion. She was attacked yesterday. We think the wraith used some kind of energy drain-” I get cut off. 

“Oz!” Kacia hisses, scandalised. I shrug.

“What? Your mother is terrifying. And I’ve already gotten in trouble for keeping secrets once this week, I’m not gambling with my life again.” I argue. Her mother nods, entirely unbothered by the drama I’ve just casually unloaded on her front porch. 

“Smart boy.” She declares. Then she extends a hand. 

“I’m Alice. But everyone calls me Allie.” She says in a friendly tone. I take it carefully. Her grip is strong and firm enough to warn me that she hasn’t completely forgotten that she caught me sort of groping her only daughter on her front porch. 

“Ozraed. Most people call me Oz.” I introduce myself. She studies me for a long second, really looks at me. And I swear, this woman sees straight through my skin and into the guilt and longing tucked beneath it. She finally nods once, short and satisfied, and lets go of my hand.

“Well then, everyone inside. I’ll make tea. And Kacia, you are sitting down. Immediately. And if you try to help with anything, I WILL throw you back in that car and drive you to the emergency room myself.” She says briskly, turning back toward the house.

“Yes, Mum.” Kacia mutters under her breath. I smirk as we follow her inside. I’ve met some terrifying things in my life. Hell, I’ve met some terrifying things in the last WEEK! Wraiths, Trolls, Clarence… But none of them hold a candle to a disappointed mother with a tea kettle and an agenda.

The tea is good and Allie pours it like she’s done it a thousand times, with practiced hands and a watchful eye on Kacia, who obediently perches on the couch beneath a blanket her mother insists that she needs, nursing her mug like it might bite her if she lets it go. Or maybe her mother might bite her. I’m not clear on that. Me? I sit quietly beside her, doing my best to shrink into the background, even though it’s not really in my nature. But this doesn’t feel like my moment. I can feel it in the tension in Kacia’s shoulders, the way her mouth twitches like she’s not sure what words will come out next. Finally, she sets the mug down and straightens. 

“Mum… I need to ask you something. About my father.” Kacia says tentatively. Allie actually drops the spoon she was stirring sugar with. It clatters against the side of her mug, and she stares at her daughter like she just sprouted a second head. 

“Well, that’s… New.” She says slowly. Kacia raises an eyebrow. 

“New?” She echoes. 

“You’ve never wanted to talk about him before, you used to shut down any time I even mentioned him. What changed other than your look which by the way we will be talking about shortly.” Allie asks, sitting back in her chair, eyes scanning her daughter’s face as if searching for something deeper. Kacia glances at me for half a second before looking back at her mum. 

“I think I might need to know. Someone’s been trying to… Hurt me, and I think… I think it’s related to the fae. If a fae IS after me, then it’s probably because they know more about my family tree than I do.” She explains. I don’t miss how she downplays things. Someone wants to ‘hurt’ her, not several people have tried to kill her. But I let it slide this time, I suspect Allie is bright enough to read between the lines. Kacia’s mother goes quiet. Her fingers tighten around her mug. After a long moment, she sighs and leans forward.

“Alright, you deserve to know. And I’ve never been particularly opposed to telling you. I just sort of thought you didn’t care to know.” She answers. 

“I didn’t… Until now.” Kacia responds. Although I can’t help but think she doesn’t quite mean that. I think she’s been curious for a long time, this is just the push that she needed. I can see Kacia bracing herself. I slide my hand across the couch and grab hers. She squeezes it nervously. 

“I met him in the oddest of places. A bookshop, if you can believe it. He looked like he’d wandered in by mistake. Stuck up, stiff backed, way too clean to be anywhere near a second hand paperback. Honestly, I thought he was a bit of a prick at first.” Allie starts.

“Sounds promising.” Kacia mutters. Allie smirks. 

“He kept coming back. Never bought anything, just browsed. Or watched me. Which should’ve been creepy, but he was always polite. Curious. And he had this way of listening when I spoke. Like he was taking notes in his head, recording every single word. Then I started seeing him in other places too, the grocery store, the gym… All places where he had no reason to be.” She explains. 

“So he was stalking you, but politely?” I offer, trying to lighten the tension. Allie snorts.

“Something like that. He was… Weird. Beautiful, but weird. He definitely didn’t belong here. Eventually, he asked me to dinner. I said yes, which I know sounds crazy but after seeing him so many times, I felt like I knew him. Eventually he told me about magic, the fae, all the supernatural things out there. He was never a typical partner. Heck he was always dressed like he was going to some kind of a royal function. And he never stayed the night. But he was kind. And always honest…” She trails off. 

“That makes sense. Fae can’t lie.” I point out. 

“Not being able to lie and being honest are two very different things.” She answers meaningfully and I drop my eyes. Shit. How much has Mikey TOLD her? So much for a good first impression. Kacia watches her carefully. 

“And then he disappeared.” Kacia comments flatly. Allie’s lips tighten. 

“He used to visit in secret. Said his family wouldn’t approve, especially his father. Always made sure no one saw him. He said it was to protect me.” She answers. 

“And you believed him?” Kacia asks doubtfully. 

“I did. Because he never treated me like a secret. Just… Like someone he wanted to keep safe.” Allie sighs wistfully. I feel sort of bad for her. I can’t help but glance at Kacia. That tracks. Her whole life is secrecy layered on more secrecy. Maybe it runs in the blood.