A heavy rush of air came out of Emily. “Zane, I don’t know what to do with her. She’s five now and flies everywhere but she’s been electrocuted twice by running into power lines and mercifully survived because she’s so strong. Like you. But I can’t control her.” She pulled a kerchief from the long sleeve of her gown and blew her nose. “I think … no I’m sure the Goddess is punishing me for what I did to you. But, if you can see it in your heart to forgive me -- or if not to forgive me then at least to help in this situation -- I would be so grateful. I’m afraid Tiffany is going to do something foolish and then she really will die.”
Zane worked hard to process his new, completely unexpected reality. Part of him was furious with Emily for what she’d done. The rest of him felt numbed out with shock. “Just give me a sec.” Wisely, Emily remained silent.
He had a daughter and it seemed like the little girl was in trouble. She was a powerful vampire child without proper support and guidance from those of her kind.
He blinked a couple of times, then said, “She sounds like she might take after me.”
Emily lifted her head. “Oh, she does. She has the worst temper and is always disobeying me.” She fell silent for a moment, then continued, “I mean, I guess that’s not much of compliment to you and I really shouldn’t speak badly of my … I mean our daughter … ” She trailed off.
“But just to be clear, she is a vampire and not fae?” he asked.
“Very much a vampire.” Realm genetics always picked sides. Tiffany would have some fae characteristics, but mostly her vampire nature would take front-and-center her entire life.
He had a vampire daughter.
Emily dabbed at her cheeks once more with her kerchief. “Will you come home with me, both of you, and meet her? I’d like you to see for yourself the difficulties I’m facing. But only if you want to. I would never force anything.”
She looked hopeful, yet completely desperate. And he could see she harbored a concern he wouldn’t want to meet his child.
“This is all a shock, but of course I want to meet our daughter. You know I always wanted a family.” His anger threatened to surge once more, especially because she’d robbed him of the early years of his daughter’s life, but he suppressed it. Olivia was right; a show of temper would be of no use in this situation.
He could give vent to his rage later, maybe punch a block wall a few hundred times. Right now, however, his daughter needed him. He took a deep breath, letting his anger go. He knew it would take time for him to truly forgive Emily for what she’d done, but for this moment, he’d be grateful. And he’d help in any way he could. “How about I meet her now.”
Her head bobbed several times in acknowledgement. “Good. Okay. Good. She’s with a new flight instructor, the fifth one this month. Now would be wonderful.”
With that, she turned and set about closing up the gallery up for the night.
Once outside, he held his arm wide for Olivia. She took up her now very familiar place on his boot and he flew them both above Freeport. He tracked Emily’s car as she drove to her home on the outskirts of town. He thought he understood; there were fewer electrical lines to interfere with a difficult young child, who apparently had a will of granite.
As soon as he headed up the long driveway, he saw Tiffany flipping back and forth through the air at the back of Emily’s two-story home. She darted this way and that, clearly with the purpose of tormenting her fae teacher who kept shouting, “You’re too close to the trees again. You’re going to hit the branches. You’ll get hurt!”
Zane dropped to the ground and had his arm around Olivia as together they watched Tiffany’s antics. Emily parked her car and joined them. “See what I mean?”
“I do.” But he couldn’t help but smile, if a little. He was looking at his daughter, his own flesh and blood.
The child definitely needed discipline, but not the kind a sensitive fae could provide.
He could, however.
He left Olivia beside Emily and levitated slowly into the air, taking his time until he was fifteen feet from Tiffany. He began to match her movements, flipping as quickly as she could, back and forth.
When she realized what he was doing, she froze midair, levitating easily, something most youngsters couldn’t do. Yes, she was definitely his daughter.
He became as still as she was now and returned her fierce gaze with one of his own. She wore jeans and a red-striped t-shirt. Her long black hair was a mess. She looked like a street urchin.
Emily rose into the air to join him on his left.
The child looked from one to the other.
To Zane, Tiffany called out, “Who are you?”
“Sweetheart,” Emily began, “I have a surprise for you.”
Tiffany pointed at Zane. “Who is this man? Another teacher?”
“No. He’s your father. He’s come from Swanicott to see you.”
Her blue eyes widened. Once more, she looked from one to the other, finally landing on Zane and sticking. “You’re my dad?”