Chapter 13: Panic-Stricken

"My father, coming here?! Why? I haven't seen him in years! How does he even have a clue where I am?"

"Calm down, calm down, it will all be alright. If he comes here to start anything, you know I will always protect you, my love."

"But, but how does he kn-"

Dante cut me off, "Darklings have many powers, Victoria. Your father is your father of course and he knows when you were born, he knew that yesterday was your nineteenth birthday and he knew it was coming. He can feel it in the blood that runs through his veins. As you can, if any other darkling comes of age."

"Okay, but why is he coming here? Why does he always have to ruin everything? My whole life, all he has ever done is ruin everything and now he's ruined it by first of all giving me this monster blood and second of all, he's coming to kill you, isn't he?!"

"Shh, it's going to be alright, you're being completely irrational right now. Take a deep breath."

I did as Dante said and actually felt a little better. Hopefully my father wasn't coming here to split us up, but then again, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if that was his plan.

"He probably just wants to visit to explain himself, after all, you are older now. Maybe he thinks you'll understand, maybe he wants to be a part of your life again. Give him a chance."

Anger overwhelmed my thoughts again, "How can you side with that…that demon, Dante? He ruined me! You think he wants to come here to explain himself?! Well I won't listen!"

"Victoria, you're being completely childish to say the least. He is your father, no matter what he's done, he will always have that unconditional love for you."



"Psht, unconditional love, my ass! I will never listen to that man! He abandoned me and my mother! For god sakes, I can't even remember what he looks like!"

Dante finally looked defeated. Good, he deserved it for siding with that bastard. I don't care what anyone says, I will never love him again.

"Fine, think what you want, but he's coming and there's nothing that you or I can do about it, got it?" Dante stood up, leaving me alone. He walked up the long staircase, never looking back to me.

I shrugged. I shouldn't feel bad, he doesn't understand what happened to me, what that man did to me. He's the whole reason I have problems trusting Dante in the first place, how could he side with the man that almost ruined his and I's relationship?

None of this is making sense right now. Why would he wait until now to come and see me? My mother and I had never moved, we lived in the same house he abandoned us in, he's known where we were for how long now? Not one visit, not one phone call, so screw him.

I find myself to be completely rational at this point in time when I say, I don't care about him or whatever the hell he has to say.

I sat on the couch for at least an hour before I wandered off, looking for Dante. I walked into our bedroom to find him curled up on the leather sofa, looking at himself in the mirror.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, afraid I would startle him.

"Thinking."

"About what?"

"You, of course."

"Why me? I've been a complete jerk today and I can understand if you want me to leave."

Dante shot a quick glance at me, anger filling his beautiful emerald eyes. "Shut up, you know I'd never ask that of you, no matter how annoying you are."



I rolled my eyes. "Oh, sorry I'm so annoying, I'll try to be better next time when you take the side of the monster that created me into this," I pointed at my face.

Dante slowly rose from the couch now, walking over to me and pulling my waist around so I could look at myself in the mirror.

I gasped as I saw myself for the first time since my transformation. I walked closer to the mirror, taking in every inch of my new face.

My auburn hair sparkled in the moonlight and my eyes had turned an even brighter sapphire. I hadn't even thought that would be possible. I was pale but with a hint of beautiful rose to my cheeks. I didn't believe it was myself but when I noticed a flaw I'd never forget-the slight bump on the bridge of my nose-I knew that I was really looking at myself. I sighed loudly as I came to the realization that I was beautiful, completely and utterly gorgeous. I'd never thought of myself in this light before now.

"How can you not realize that you are stunning, my dear?"

"I….I hadn't looked at myself since Vincent took me hostage."

"Believe me now?"

"I hate to say it, but yes, I believe you now. How could this happen? I didn't know I went through that much change!"

"Only subtle changes, my love, you've always been beautiful, since the first time I laid my eyes on you."

I blushed. "Thank you."

Dante took a breath of air and then exhaled loudly. "Allison said Damien will be arriving tomorrow afternoon."

My stomach began churning again. Tomorrow I will be reacquainted with my long lost father.

I lie next to Dante all night, pretending to sleep but feeling sick to my stomach with worry. I think he could tell I was faking but he decided to leave me to my thoughts.



What am I supposed to say? What will he expect of me? I wonder if he knows all of the answers to my questions.

Finally, I felt myself drift off into a very deep sleep.

I looked down and saw myself in a wedding gown once again, looking more beautiful than I had in my first dream. The setting was the same except one small detail; my father was sitting in the front row.

I looked at him in shock and as I looked at his face, all I could see was darkness; I'd assumed it was because I couldn't guess what he looked like after all of these years.

"Dad?" I asked, walking down the aisle.

"Victoria! You look beautiful, kid." My dad walked to greet me, arms spread out, ready for a hug.

I ran past him and into Dante's arms as he held me tightly.

"Stay away from her!" Dante growled through his teeth.

"She's my daughter! Let go of her!" My dad tried to pry Dante's arms from around my waist but there was no use.

"Dad, this is my wedding! I'm marrying Dante! Besides, you're not a part of my life, what are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you, to explain myself. Don't marry him, Vic, he's not a good person! Please, come home!"

"My home is with Dante now, leave!"

"You're making a mistake! You don't understand! He's setting you up!"

I woke up sweating, tears in my eyes, searching once again for Dante's cool body.

"Bad dream, again?"

"Yes. My father was in this one. But I couldn't make out his face. I imagine it's because I haven't seen him in so long."



"Well, tomorrow's the day."

"Yeah….guess so."

I don't know why, but this dream made me think. Why had my father told me Dante wasn't a good man? Why had he told me I was making a mistake marrying him? What does it all mean?

I glanced at Dante's eyes, one after the other, over and over in complete thought.

My mind consumed me and I heard a slight crack come from the mirror beside the door. As I panicked more, little by little, the mirror shattered and fell to the floor with tiny bell sounds.

"Victoria, calm down. You broke the mirror, what's wrong?" Dante took me by the shoulders, inches away from my face.

"I'm sorry," I acted as though everything were okay, "must have just been the dream, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, love, just tell me if something is wrong, I assure you, it will all be alright, okay? Do you believe me?"

"I believe you as much as I can right now, Dante."

He backed his face away from me, wrinkling his forehead in confusion.

"As much as you can? Victoria, I've told you all I know, how can you not trust me?"

"I told you, my father has messed me up, and he's at it again."