A/N: I am so sorry for the late update! but please enjoy, and remember: R&R!

After our parents disappeared upstairs, the conversation shifted to school. I kept quiet, not wanting to be a part of it. But I should have known better.

"Hey Anya. Um, what are you doing about school?" Tyler asked, and everyone looked at me.

I shrugged. "Nothing."

"Are you not in school?" Caleb asked, frowning.

"Nope."

"Did you drop out?" Tyler watched me carefully, and I could see a very small bit of concern in his expression. It was. . . nice.

"No, I didn't drop out," I replied. "I. . . graduated last semester."

"Seriously?" Kate said, wide-eyed. "Daaaamn."

"Wow, your pare– uh, adoptive parents must be very proud," Sarah said, her cheeks flushing a little from her stumble.

"They don't know," I said, not looking at anyone.

"Why not? How do they not know if you're not getting up and going to school?" Pogue asked, confused.

"I still got up and pretended I was getting ready for school. But instead of going, I'd drop Kaylee off at her daycare and go work at a breakfast diner."

"Why didn't you tell them?" Tyler asked.

I inhaled deeply. "It's not important." What was I going to say anyways? Because if they knew, they would have found ways to steal my money, and then I wouldn't have been able to save up enough to run away? Yeah, that would go over well.

"Why do you always do that?" Tyler questioned.

I frowned. "Do what?"

"Avoid certain questions about your life."

Because I was ashamed of what I had been through. Because I didn't want people to feel sorry for me. Because I didn't want to burden others with that kind of knowledge. Because I was used to keeping secrets. "I don't know," I replied.

Caleb shifted and leaned toward the window that looked out at the driveway. "Uh, Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"There's a car flying toward the house," he responded, frowning.

Everyone stood and went to look. Sure enough, a dark blue old ford car was speeding toward the house. The closer it got, the tighter my stomach became. Please no.

When I finally saw who the driver was, I sucked in air. "Sonofabitch."

"What?" Tyler asked, looking from me to the car and back.

Ignoring him, I turned and rushed to Kaylee. "Sarah, Kate, get over here." They obeyed quickly, and I passed Kaylee of to them. "Keep her here. Don't let her near the windows or door. Kaylee, you need to stay quiet, okay?" My daughter nodded in understanding and I kissed the top of her head.

"What's going on?" Caleb was watching me from his position in front of the window. Past him, I saw the car come to a screeching stop and Richard climbed out, followed by his three friends.

"Just stay here," I ordered and headed for the front door.

"Anya–" Tyler began.

"Stay here!" I snapped. "Do not leave this house." Because knowing Richard, he was probably packing a gun. And the last thing I needed was for him to shoot someone.

"Why?"

"Stay!" I rushed to the front door and whipped it open. "What are you doing here?" I asked heatedly, stepping out and slamming the door behind me.

Richard stormed toward me, his face scrunched in anger. "I am going to ask one more time, and if I don't get the answer I want, there is going to be hell to pay," he snarled as he stomped up the front steps and stopped inches from my face. My jaw clenched, but I held my ground. "Where is my daughter?"

I lifted my chin, looked him right in the eyes. From my peripheral vision I could see Tyler and his friends watching out the living room window. "Get the fuck away from me."

His face pinched in anger even more, and his hand shot out and fisted in my hair. I gasped in surprise and he yanked me down the steps to the driveway. I clawed uselessly at the hand in my hair. I heard the front door open and felt panic seize me. If anyone came out here now, they could get hurt. Richard rounded on the house, twisting his hand in my hair to make me follow his movements. He pulled me against him, releasing my hair to use that arm to pin me in place. His other hand went behind his back and reappeared with a .45 that he pressed against my temple.

Tyler, Reid, Caleb, and Pogue froze on the porch as soon as they saw the weapon.
"One more step and I'll blow her head off," Richard said, almost calmly.

"Tyler, go back inside," I said, forcing myself to relax. I knew that if push came to shove, I could summon the thing inside me. Richard now knew that too.

Tyler's worried eyes darted from my face, to the gun, to Richard, and back. "Anya. . . ."

"Do what she says," Richard snapped.

"Shut up, Richard," I hissed.

The gun pressed harder against my head. "Keep your mouth shut."

"Let her go," Caleb demanded, but remained where he was.

"Guys, just go back inside. I can handle this," I said through clenched teeth. Richard's grip in my hair was so tight it felt like he was ripping my hair out. But still they didn't move.

"Fuck this!" Richard shouted and aimed the gun at Tyler.

No! Heat shot through my veins and I felt my eyes change. Richard flew backwards and the gun fell from his hand. My gaze met the four boys and they all took an astonished step back. My chest constricted. They were afraid of me.

"You little bitch!" Richard hissed.

I rounded on him, my black eyes narrowed in a glare. "Walk away now. And don't ever come near me or my daughter again."

"Or what?" he challenged with a sneer. "You going to fling me across the yard again? You may be part demon, but you suck at controlling whatever powers you have."

I hated that he knew that. It was true. I had never been good at really controlling my power. But I had to prove him wrong. I focused on him and tried to send him flying into his car, but all I managed to do was give him a little shove.

He flashed me a triumphant grin. "You're pathetic."

Suddenly he was sailing through the air, and he crashed into his car. I blinked in surprise, because I did not do that.