devil 02 - tween a devil and his hard place by sam cheever

Father.”
    His smile was fond but his angelic blue eyes didn’t match. “Blessed be, Astra. You look well, if a bit tired.” He tilted his red-blond head in silent question.
    “You’re the second person today to tell me that. I must look like hell.”
    He frowned at me. He didn’t like it when I swore. Old habits die very hard apparently. But his natural good humor took over and he shook his head as if I were a particularly naughty but entertaining child. “Not quite that bad, daughter but you do look as if you carry too much of the world’s cares on your delicate shoulders.”
    I snorted in a very unladylike way. Only a father could view a demon-vaporizing, ball-busting daughter as delicate. “It’s not like I have much of a choice. Your boss keeps dragging me into things.”
    My father smiled. “He knows you’ll get done what needs to be done. But I’m afraid He doesn’t take into account your mortality.”
    I could see him settling into the sad posture that had colored much of his life since the falling. Everything in his life weighed on him. The pleasures, the pain, the obstacles, the successes. Somehow it all represented what he’d given up, what was now lost to him. And, though I knew he was proud of my sister and me, we were a painful reminder that he would never again be what he had once been.
    I shrugged, determined to change the subject. “So what’s up with you? Have you spoken to Mother lately?”
    His shoulders almost visibly drooped. Oops. Wrong change of subject.
    “Actually, that’s why I’m calling you, Astra. Myra came to me…”
    “Damnable angel!”
    His angelic face creased in a frown. “Please don’t use that language, Astra. Especially about your guardian.”
    I shrugged again and mentally bit my tongue. “Sorry.”
    His piercing blue gaze stayed fixed on me just long enough to make sure I was truly repentant and then he continued. “Myra is concerned for your well-being. She thinks this current situation may be a little too difficult for you. She’s asked me to help her dissuade you from continuing on.”
    I suddenly realized I had an advantage with my father that I didn’t hold with others. He wouldn’t lie to me. Ever. He couldn’t possibly fall that far. I smiled suddenly and I don’t think it was a nice smile, because my father gave a little jolt and watched me like a particularly scary bug on his arm.
    “Father, I want to ask you something and I know you won’t lie to me, unlike that da…” I cleared my throat and gave him a weak smile. “Sorry again. Unlike Myra.”
    “Myra cannot lie to you, daughter.”
    I flung a hand toward the televisual in a dismissive way. “Of course she can’t lie directly, Father but you and I both know she’s the queen of lying without lying.”
    He looked down rather than having to meet my eyes. A faint flush crawled up his neck to his cheeks. He truly loved Myra but he couldn’t possibly be blind to her faults. Though he gave it his best shot at all times. When he looked back up again he seemed to have his emotions back under control. “What would you ask of me, daughter?”
    I didn’t waste any time. “What secret does everyone know that they’re not telling me?”
    He frowned slightly as if perplexed. “Secret?”
    “Yes. Since I was dragged into this situation I’ve been awash in innuendo, implication and downright secretive behavior. It’s like there’s a big fat secret at the core of this mess and nobody wants to tell me what it is. I want you to tell me what it is, Father.”
    “Your mother.”
    “Huh?”
    “I spoke to your mother today. I’m worried about what she might be up to. And I’m afraid she’s going to cause you pain somehow.”
    I tilted my head at him and bit my lip. “Have you had a vision?”
    His blue eyes widened just the tiniest little bit, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. And I had been. He sighed and his shoulders sagged just a bit more. “I spoke to Deirdre.”
    It