Page 83Bizarre choice

Seriph wasted no time, as soon as the guns were lowered, she dashed from behind me and danced. There was no other way to describe it. Even though it lasted about three hits, hitting one gun, knocking out the other and finally knocking out the now disarmed guard. Her movements were very fast and efficient, the slow guards not expecting it nor having any chance for defense. My father watched. His face almost expressionless.

Yet I noticed his hidden anguish.

Seriph moved the guards aside easily, relishing in her strength. She didn't waste any time on them but just turned back to Jason again.

"Now, you have a choice. Sign over your company to me, or die." A level voice, devoid of anger or pain. It was no boast or bluff. She meant this. Every word.

Jason laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. You have five seconds to decide."

"Never." Still sounding resolute.

"One." She just watched him, stepping closer with each count.

"You won't dare." Some doubt.

"Two." Nothing but a faint smile on her pretty face.

"No one would let you." His eyes looked around, for any option. Nothing presented itself.

"Three." The steps, the smile.

"They will come after you."

"Four."

"I won't do it."

"Five. I've lost my patience, Jason. Even your daughters presence can't save you. You will die tonight."

She took the last step and lifted him by his throat from his chair. She wasn't tall enough to hold him above the ground, but he was hurting so much that he could only flail meaninglessly. She threw him towards the windows, head first. I was surprised the window didn't even crack even though it sounded like his head did. She was next him in a flash again. I didn't know what to do. Almost automatically I moved the guns away from the guards, throwing them in the paper waste basket. Seriph acknowledged it with a glance. This was her gift to me.

But I wasn't so sure I wanted it.

He'd done horrible things.

But he was still my blood.

Did that count?

Part of me said no. Part of me screamed at me that he deserved to live just as much as the children he had murdered. But I couldn't pass judgement. I wasn't that strong and didn't want to be. The fact that he was my father had nothing to do with it. I just couldn't do it.

So, why wasn't I glad that Seriph looked like she was going to.

The way she spoke didn't make it sound like a bluff. A play. It was real to her, very real.

"You can't kill me. People will come for me, come after you."

"No they won't. They don't like you Jason. They've never liked you and you know it. There is no loyalty among your thieves, just paychecks. And they will receive them just fine." She looked straight in his eyes. "It's over for you."

"Even then, only I know the codes."

She moved his head sideways, exposing his neck. "There are solutions for everything." And bit him.

I wanted to stop her. I wanted to pull her off him. She shouldn't be allowed to do all of this. But I didn't. I was brought her to observe and it felt like that was all I could do. All I should do. I just stood by while she drank. Drank his blood, drank his memories.

And killed him.

No!

I wasn't going to let her do that.

But just before I was about to pull her off, she stopped herself. A smile on her face. No humor, just... A smile. A dark smile.

"I know everything I need to now. Jason, you can die now and the world won't care."

I spoke up. "I will."

Seriph, slightly surprised, turned to me. "Do you want to stop me?"

"No, and I won't try either. But I will care about his death as I cared about his life."

She nodded in acknowledgment of that honor. Honor of the blood if not the actions. But honor along is not enough. If you don't live up to honor, it is meaningless. That was the penny that had dropped in my head.

"You can't kill me. Can you?" Jason's weak voice. Mocking, taunting. Weakly sitting with his back against the large windows.

Seriph grabbed his chair and raised it high. "I won't have to." She threw it at him, but too high. For a moment I thought it would just bounce off the strong glass, but the window cracked, then shattered. It must have happened so fast, but I experienced it so slow. It was pure visual brilliance. Every shard of glass a diamond glittering in the light of the office. So subtle, so intense.

So fascinating I almost missed my father unable to stop himself from falling over backwards.

Outside.

Falling.

Not even a scream as he keeled over. He had lost...

Consciousness, pride, his empire. Everything.

But I couldn't just let him go. In my head everything screamed form all sides. No words, just screams. I had to do something, at least try. To do something. TO be part of this.

I couldn't let someone die in front of me again.

So I jumped after him.

Not the smartest thing to do, really.

High flier diving too low.