A/N- Did you like the beginning? I hope so. Btw, there's going to be a whole underlying plot to this that I just couldn't find a way to put into the summary. I stink at summaries. Anyhow, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 2

It was nightfall when they arrived at Sage's former home. The lights were burning in the window, and her mother's garden thrived. All looked well…except for one thing.

Sage exited the carriage as Adrian jumped down from the driver's seat.

"Do you smell that?" Sage asked, grabbing his arm as he began to get down their luggage.

He stopped short. Taking in a deep breath, he turned to her.

"It smells like alcohol. Beer, or ale, perhaps," he said.

"Something's not right. My mother never allowed alcohol of any sort into her home. Not even for healing. She used only the herbs she grew. That smell does not belong here. Leave our things, Adrian. Let's go see what's wrong," Sage said, and Adrian followed without protest.

Without knocking, Sage pushed open the front door. The sight that greeted her was not a pleasant one. Empty barrels, smelling to high heaven of ale, littered the ground, not to mention the glass mugs that accompanied them. Adrian and she exchanged quick glances. Sage then advanced farther into the home. She quickly found her father, passed out on the floor in the sitting room.

"Oh, God! Father!" she cried, going to him. She began to shake him. "Father, are you all right? What's going on here? Where's Iris?"

John's eyes fluttered for a moment, but then shut again. Sage growled with frustration. Adrian bent down beside her.

"I'll stay with him. You find your sister," he said. Sage nodded, then rushed upstairs.

"Iris! Iris, where are you?" she called.

As she neared the end of the hall, she heard a feeble voice respond, "Here."

Sage turned into the large bedroom that had been formerly hers. Her sister, dressed in a simple black stitched dress, sat in one corner of the room. Sage approached her. Iris's long blonde hair was down about her waist, and her clear blue eyes were filled with tears.

"Iris? What's wrong? What's happened here?" Sage asked, sitting in front of her sister.

The eleven year old threw herself upon her sister. "It's Papa. Since Mama died, he's been drinking that vile creation Mama hated. I'm so glad you're here, Sage!" she cried.

Sage gently pushed Iris back, so that she could inspect her more closely. The girl's left eye, she now saw, was surrounded by a large black bruise.

"Iris! What happened to your eye?"

"It was Papa. He said that I…offended him by looking like Mama. He's been doing that ever since she died. That's why I'm hiding up here," she said. Then, a pleading look in her eye, she added, "He's just grief struck, Sage. Don't blame him! It's not his fault!"

Sage stood, pulling Iris to her feet as she did so. She was angry, angry that her father would take something like this out on his youngest girl.

"But it's not your fault either, girlie. You shouldn't have to suffer for his grief," she said. "Pack a few things, then we're going downstairs."

Meanwhile, Adrian had dragged John's limp body to a chair in the sitting room. He had also brought some cold water for him. Propping the drunken man up in the chair, he lifted the small bucket of water over his head. He tipped it and allowed it to flow out over him. John awoke with a start, anger etched all over him.

"Who the hell is waking me up?!" he yelled, slurring his words slightly.

"Sir, it's me, Adrian," Adrian said, backing away to give John room to stand.

John, pushing up on the couch, stood. "Adrian?" he asked. "Yeah, I know you. You're the bastard that's gonna break my little girl's heart!"

He tried to take a swing at Adrian, but the half-vampire easily stepped out of its way.

"What do you mean? I would never break Sage's heart," he said, catching the man as he started to fall.

"Let go of me! Yes, you would! You're…what do they call it? I can't remember! Anyhow, it means that you're going to live forever!"

"Immortal?"

"That's it! Yeah, but my little girl won't. And you'll leave her, when she's old and gray. And, because of that immortal bit, you probably won't want to give her any children. Yeah, you'll leave her old and alone."

"I love Sage, John. I would never do anything to hurt her," Adrian said, but he seemed not to hear him.

"Yeah, and you'll be constantly putting her in danger..."

"I will not. Sage is perfectly safe with me."

John heard him that time. "Oh, yeah," he said, "just like that Maria girl was safe with you."

Adrian had had it. He picked John up by his shirt and pinned him up against the wall.

"The only thing that is saving you from my fist in your face is that fact that you are Sage's father. I love Sage, believe me. I would never do anything to put her in danger," Adrian growled.

John looked down at him with wide eyes. "Put me down!" he said.

"Adrian!" came Sage's voice. He immediately dropped John.

Sage approached Adrian, carrying a bag with her. Iris followed her.

"What did he do?" Sage asked.

Adrian, who seemed relieved that Sage was not angry with him, replied, "He swung at me…among other things."

Sage lifted an eyebrow at him but asked for nothing further. Instead, she gestured toward Iris. When she spoke again, it was to her father.

"Daddy, Adrian and I are taking Iris with us. When you prove you can deal with your grief in a better way, we'll bring her back. For now, we're leaving. Let's go, Adrian," she said.

Sage, Adrian, and Iris turned and left John behind as they loaded into their carriage and left.

End Notes: I hope everyone liked this. A bit of the underlying plot shined through. Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter! Please R & R! Bye!