Chapter 244

Tessa’s POV

“What was that?” I asked, panic rising in me.

“He’s here. We don’t have time,” Esmeralda said, jumping to her feet. “Rick, you need to listen to me,” she said firmly, staring at my father who was still looking at me with wide eyes as if I had just grown another head right in front of his eyes. “Rick!” She growled through her teeth, drawing his attention.

“What?” He asked, breathlessly.

“You need to listen to me,” she said again, slower. “Lucias is here. You need to tell him that they can’t have her. You must revoke all access to her.”

“Revoke access?” He asked, shaking his head with obvious confusion on his face. “What are you talking about?”

“You have to tell him that he and his coven cannot take your daughter. It’s against the grand council’s parental block spell to take her without your given consent. You’ve given them consent previously; you have the power to revoke it.”

“If Lucias is here, Tessa isn’t safe,” Joseph said, jumping to his feet and keeping his hold on my hand. “I need to take Tessa away and—”

“She’s safe as long as she stays inside,” Esmeralda said sharply, silencing his words. “Witches outside her bloodline can’t get into the house without the house owner inviting them inside. Thanks to Alison and the spell she cast on the house,” she told us, before turning back to my father. “The Grand Council of Witches created a spell a long time ago so parents could protect their children knowing that some covens aren’t good. This spell makes it so covens can’t take the child, regardless of their age, without their parent’s consent. A parent can grant and revoke access to their children. Alison cast that spell on Tessa when she was born which was why the coven wasn’t able to take her until you gave them permission.”

The color drained from my father’s face when she said those words.

My father stood and gave Esme a head nod before turning toward the front entrance and leaving the living room. My heart was pounding against my chest and there was a part of me that didn’t fully trust that my father would do the right thing and revoke access.

Before I could stop myself, I jumped up and my feet were already moving in the direction of the front room and toward the main door. Joseph and Esme were quick behind me. Joseph was so close that I could feel the heat of his body caressing my back and wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

I paused when I heard my father’s strong voice from the porch.

“You need to leave, Lucias,” my father said, angrily.

“Not without Tessa. You know it’s important that we get her trained before she turns 25. Nothing has changed, Rick,” Lucias said in return.

“A lot has changed actually,” my father replied. “She’s not happy there and I’m not going to make her return.”

“Is it because of Esmeralda?” Lucias asked. “Did that bitch say something to you? Whatever she said was a lie. You know we only want what’s best for your daughter. We care about her just like we cared about Alison. No harm will come to her… you have my word.”

“Like no harm came to Alison?” My father asked.

“You know that wasn’t our fault. It was the vampires,” Lucias spat, making me flinch. “I wasn’t even the Coven leader at the time.”

I hadn’t realized I was shaking until Joseph wrapped his arms around me, comforting and soothing me. Willing me to calm down.

“Maybe so, but you certainly didn’t help keep my wife alive,” my father said, and I could hear the disgust and a little sadness in his voice. “I don’t want my daughter to have the same fate.”

“Then let us help her with her powers so she can be even stronger,” Lucias pleaded. “We’ve already had this talk. You trusted me a couple of weeks ago… nothing has changed.”

Having heard enough, Esmeralda shoved past me and made her way onto the front porch; her arms folded across her chest as she stood beside my father.

“Trusting you was a mistake, Lucias,” she hissed. “I know what you are after, and you aren’t going to get her.”

“Esme… come on,” Lucias said, and from the distance and through the cracked doorway, I could see him rolling his eyes. “Stop living in the past.”

“I see through you, Lucias, I always have. Just like Alison saw through you too. You are part of the reason why she left this coven. That’s why I left too. This coven is nothing but a joke; especially since Constance died.”

My mouth nearly dropped at her words. Was it true that my mother left the coven?

I saw pictures in her room of her and me in the coven house. It made me wonder at what point my mother decided to leave the coven.

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach and suddenly, I knew there was a lot more to the story that I needed to know.

“We only want to help,” Lucias said through his teeth. “We’ve been making progress. She’s a very talented and fast learner. Let us finish what we started.”

I heard some more car doors shutting and my entire body tensed as I looked up at Joseph. His eyes were fixed on the door and his jaw was clenching.

I heard Esmeralda scoffing.

“What are you doing here, Patty?” My father asked and I soon realized the rest of the coven was now standing outside.

“We want Tessa to come home to us,” Patty Davis said gently.

“She is home,” my father said through his teeth.

“You know what I mean, Rick…” she said, her voice pleading. “You know you can trust us… I don’t see what the problem is.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I wasn’t going to stand there and listen to them talking about me like I was some object. I had a say in this, and I was going to voice my opinion and concerns whether they liked it or not.

Before Joseph could stop me, I was walking through the doors and stepping onto the front porch, positioning myself between my father and Esme.

Lucias stood with his eyes fixed on me; the others of the coven were standing behind him and Patty stood beside him, staring up sadly at my father.

“Tessa, baby. Come back to the coven so we can talk properly,” he said, reaching his hand out for me to take. “This is all a misunderstanding.”

“Don’t call me that,” I said, shaking my head at his term for endearment. “I’m not stupid Lucias; I know you’ve been lying to me and keeping stuff secret. I’m not going back with you.”

His brows crinkled together as he studied my face.

“I would never lie to you, Tess. We’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you. You must know that. They are only afraid of what you will become once you get the training you so desperately need. They are keeping you away from us for selfish reasons. Come with us and we can show you—”

“My place isn’t with you, and it never will be,” I said through my teeth. “You tried to kill my fiancé and then convinced me that he was dead.”

My father flinched at the word ‘fiancé,’ but I made no notice of it.

Lucias’ eyes softened.

“Let me explain everything to you back at the coven,” Lucias said, taking a step toward me.

Joseph’s arms were wrapped around me instantly, protectively. I didn’t even notice him walking outside but then again, I’m not surprised he followed me out.

Lucias’ face fell and anger replaced his pleading expression.

“Can’t you see what he’s doing?” Lucias asked, anger fueling him. “He only wants you for himself so he can use you! He doesn’t care about you like I do!!”

Before I could say anything, my father was stepping in front of me, shielding me from the wrath of Lucias.

“Stay away from my daughter,” he said in a low growl. “I’m revoking the permission I once gave you. I’m not allowing Tessa in your coven, and you aren’t allowed to grab her without my permission. If I need to speak to the Grand Council myself, then I will do so. But I won’t allow you to come into my home and harass my daughter any longer. I need you to leave my property before I force you to leave.”

Lucias tensed, as did those he came with. Patty stepped forward, her eyes pleading and her bottom lip quivering. I knew Patty had a thing for my father and it was never reciprocated. I wasn’t sure what she thought she would accomplish, but I knew it wasn’t going to work on him.

“Rick… “she said in a soft tone. “You should know that I would never want anything to happen to your daughter. I love her like she was my own… I only want what’s best for her. I’ve told you this from the beginning.”

I had to stifle an eye roll; I knew she was lying. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach just like I could every time she spoke.

For a second, I thought my father was going to give in to her. Despite him not sharing the same feelings as Patty, he did find her to be a rather good friend and he was always there to help her. I believed that he trusted her, and I feared that the trust he had for her was enough to make him cave.

But he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Get off my property,” he spat, turning away from them. “I don’t ever want you on my farm again. Any of you.”

Without another word, my father brushed past me and stormed into his house. I stared at Lucias, and he kept his eyes on me despite Joseph keeping his arms wrapped around me.

The rest of the coven, besides Lucias and Patty, were returning to their cars. Patty had misty eyes and looked as if she was about to cry at any moment. Lucias just looked pissed.

“Come on,” Patty whispered. “We have to go before he gets the grand council involved.”

Lucias huffed but he said nothing as he turned his back on us and stormed toward his car with Patty behind him.

Soon, they were all driving off and I was standing frozen on the front porch, unsure of what to do. Were we supposed to leave? Did my father want us gone too?

I knew this was a lot for him to take in… but if Joseph wasn’t allowed in his home… then I wasn’t going to go inside either. I was going wherever Joseph was going. I took his hand in mine and entwined my fingers, signaling to him that we were in this together and I wasn’t going anywhere without him.

My father cleared his throat from the doorway, drawing our attention behind us and in his direction.

“Come inside, I’m finally remembering everything, and I think it’s time we talked.”