Hercules bobs his head modestly. “Eh, that’s what heroes do,” he replies with a saucy grin. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a hot date with my girlfriend, Persephone.”
“Wait a second. Persephone?” I cock my head. “Isn’t that… ?”
“Hades’s wife?” Hercules laughs. “Well, technically speaking, yes. But what the big guy doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?” He puts a finger to his lips. “Good luck. Be careful. Watch out for the Demon Patrol.” He pushes the boat away from the dock and floats down the river, seemingly without a care in the world. “Adios!” he calls out after us. “Sayonara!”
I watch him go, shaking my head. He’d better be careful, hooking up with the boss’s wife like that. Or I’m guessing he’ll end up with a very special circle all his own someday. If anyone can ever catch him, that is.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Race interrupts my thoughts. “Let’s go see your dear old dad!”
24
We head in the direction that Hercules suggested and soon come to a small but cute split-level home, painted in a pretty powder-blue color. It’s not as McMansion as the other houses on the block, but it’s got a quaint little white-picket fence and a beautifully maintained flower garden out front. Not exactly living large in Vegas, as my dad did while mortal, but certainly not a bad place to spend eternity, especially considering the alternatives we saw in the Circles neighborhoods.
I feel a little sick to my stomach as I force myself to walk up the front steps and knock on the door. The last time I saw my father, he was dying of the iron poisoning he got when saving my life. I hope he has no regrets about making that sacrifice, or this reunion is going to be more than a little awkward. And what if he’s heard about what happened to Sunny? Will he blame me for her death?
I stop halfway up the front steps. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I say, turning back to Race and Jareth, who stand at the bottom of the steps, awaiting my move. “What if he’s furious with me?” After all, Dad and I haven’t always had the easiest father-daughter relationship. What makes me think this will be any different?
“Well, you won’t know until you knock, now, will you?” Race says impatiently, glancing up and down the street. “And hey, better a furious pop than a Demon Patrol, right? So find a backbone and ring the bloody bell before we all get dismembered.”
“Hey, lay off,” Jareth snarls at him, baring his fangs at the rock star. “You don’t know what she’s gone through.” He looks up at me, his eyes filled with sympathy. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he assures me. “We can figure out something else.”
I swallow hard, grateful to him for giving me a choice. But, deep in my heart, I know what has to be done. “No,” I say. “I’ll do it.” I turn back to the door and lift my hand to knock. A moment later, a very familiar voice tells me he’ll be right there, bringing tears to my eyes. It’s him. It’s really him.
The door swings open and I almost fall over backward as I catch sight of my dad on the other side. He’s like the rest, with the weird purple glow, but underneath the translucency, it’s him. My dad. My father. I never thought I’d see him again.
His mouth drops open. “Rayne?” he cries. A moment later he’s hugging me so hard I’m pretty sure he’s going to knock me over. I squeeze him back, rejoicing at his warm arms around me.
“Oh, Dad,” I cry, the tears streaming down my cheeks. “I’m so glad to see you!” The exhaustion and stress, the doubt and fear, all of it seems to fall away at our embrace. And when he pulls away to look at me, all I can see is love in his eyes. No damnation, no regrets. Just happiness.
“Oh, Raynie, my Raynie,” he whispers in a hoarse voice, choked with tears. “I can’t believe it’s really you.” He steps away from the door and ushers us inside. “But what are you doing here? You’re not dead, are you? I mean, you don’t look dead. Are you still… ?” he trails off, his voice filled with hope.
“I’m alive, Dad,” I assure him as we walk up the interior steps into a clean, nicely furnished living room and take seats on the couch. I want to tell him about Sunny, about why I’m here, but the words freeze in my throat. He’s happy to see me. Will he still be happy when he finds out what happened to his other daughter?
“Nice digs,” Race says, checking out some of the photos on the mantle. “How does one score an address like this? We saw some bad neighborhoods on our way out here.”
“This is the Self-Sacrifice subdivision,” my father explains. “Anyone who gives up their own life to save someone else’s is eligible.” He glances over at me and gives me a sheepish smile.
“Well, I’m glad you got something out of the deal,” I mutter.
“I got the chance to save my precious daughter’s life,” he says pointedly. “The three-bedroom in the ’burbs is simply an added bonus.”
The tears spring to my eyes again. “Oh, Dad,” I start to say, then find I can’t continue.
“I was a lousy father in life,” he continues. “Letting my fear always control my actions and stop me from having a relationship with you girls. I’m lucky I had the chance to do something for you before I died.”
I stare at my feet, emotions coming fast and furious. “I just wish it didn’t have to be like this. You stuck down here…”