Chapter 211: CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN

Alaric's pov

The journey back was swift, yet I wished it was longer. I wasn't sure if I could put all my angst together enough to put up a fight against my father; I had just reconciled with Aria, and nothing else mattered.

If I could, I'd rather stay with her and ensure she was fine but I needed to clear this situation before she was done with the Fallen. I couldn't have her getting involved in my family drama; hopefully, this could be resolved with a conversation. He at least owed me that.

I stopped at the estate entrance where I lived and parked; I could feel the energy shift in the security system I'd put in the house, and I couldn't bring Octavio within arm's length of the situation about to unfold.

I called Max to look after him before I walked in, my mind in turmoil.

I expected his anger; after all, he'd already shown that earlier when he locked Octavio and me in the airlock without even saying a word, but what I didn't expect when I walked into my sitting room was my father with tears in his eyes.

“You can't do this to me, Kaiden,” he sputtered, looking disheveled; “I've got nothing else. If this prophecy comes to pass, we'll lose everything! She can't succeed, you have to see she's using you while pretending she's some naive, ignorant girl!”

“Father, you're not making any sense. Can you stop referring to my soulmate in such a ridiculous way? She's not about to do anything like that, okay? Besides, if we actually stay in her good graces, she would never have any reason to… do whatever it is you're scared of,” I reasoned.

He looked offended by that statement.

“You would have me subservient to some little, human girl? Just because you were stupid enough to mark her at the peak of your power like a stupid, inexperienced lower demon? I've no plans to live by the rules of such a weak being!” He exclaimed, angry.

“Then you'll have no qualms letting her be. She's definitely not stronger than you so I don't even know why you're doing all of this; taking my city away from me, trying to get her to leave me, and even now, everyone thinks you are trying to kill me or something equally terrible just because of a human who's not even old enough to challenge your youngest demon halfling!”

“That's the problem Kaiden! We don't have halflings anymore! Our only hope of increasing our population and maintaining strength above all other denominations down here is being impaired because, for some reason, the relic you gave at the bridge isn't coming back at the proper time, and now some little girl is fitting the description of an impossible prophecy. You can't blame me for panicking!” He yelled, showing his true feelings for the first time in a while.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down the hostile energy in the room; if push came to shove, I wouldn't be able to beat my father in a direct war, and I'd avoid that if possible.

I picked my battles when possible.

He stood across from me, in his usual regal black, looking beat down and sad, a combination I never thought I'd see in him.

It sort of humanized him in my eyes for a bit.

But then I remembered who he truly was, and I shook that thought off my head.

“I know things are changing, and maybe you should slow down on your world domination plans for now until you figure them out, but I can promise you Aria isn't going to be a problem. Just let us be,” I placated, hopeful.

But he shook his head and began pacing about the large sitting room, deep in thought, or at least he looked like it.

Anyone who knew him well would understand he was simply prolonging the inevitable so you'd be tense when he eventually dropped the bomb on you.

And drop it he did

“The only way I can do that is if she loses her powers. We both can't figure out how that'll happen anytime soon, so the next option is for her to come down to hell, and he must queen,” he said with a straight face against my shocked ones.

“Are you fucking mad?” I shot at him, the thought alone driving a nail through my mind.

“I know you have already gotten attached to her,” he replied in a dismissive tone, increasing my anger, “I'll have a more suitable demoness for you. You wouldn't even realize she's gone. You can bring her to me in six hours, so have all the fun you want with her, I'm sure that's not enough time considering who you truly are but I can't spare more than that time. That's all I can promise. The alternative would be to go to war with your own father, and I'm sure you're not going to make that choice,” he finished with a smirk.

“I will do exactly that!” I swore, enraged.

The shock on his face satisfied something in my core.

“I'm not hearing you clearly, Kaiden; you mean you're going to fight me? Your father?”

I let Kaiden have half control of my form to respond, he was more angry than me anyway.

“You're everything but a father. You've hated, hurt, and belittled me for centuries, I've tried to make you happy for that amount of time, and nothing is ever enough! I've finally found a being created specifically for me, and you still won't let me be, so if you want a war, then yes, Lucifer Morningstar, a war you're going to get!” we roared, our voices loud enough for anyone in the next building could hear us.

His shock morphed into a smirk like he'd accomplished something by getting me angry.

“I'll ignore all of that dear son. I'll see you in six hours,” he finished, disappearing before I could get another word in.

I stood there, raging, angry, and fucking terrified.

I'd just accepted a battle challenge with the devil himself and I didn't even know what to do to ensure my victory.

So much for wanting to clear up the drama before Aria got back home.

The alternative was unacceptable; I couldn't give up my soulmate to become my father's next victim; I'd rather die.

But to ensure that reality doesn't come to reality, I needed to make plans.

It was time to start collecting all my debts, even the ones beyond the land of humanity.