hurt. So you do what I say, when I say it, and you do it because you don’t want to kill someone. Or you can die. That was our deal, and you agreed to it.”
She said nothing. Her anger had faded from her face, but that sullen trace of rebellion remained.
I narrowed my eyes, clenched my fist, and hissed a single word. The fireplace flared up in a sudden, fiery cyclone. Molly flinched back from it, one arm lifted to protect her eyes.
When she lowered it, I was hunkered down right in her face. “I’m not your parents, kid,” I said. “And you don’t have time to play teenage rebel anymore. This is the deal. You do what I say or you don’t survive.” I leaned closer and gave her the look I usually save for rampaging demons and those survey people at malls. “Molly. Is there any doubt in your mind—any doubt at all—that I can’t damn well make you do it?”
She swallowed. The hard knot of defiance in her eyes suddenly shattered like a diamond struck at precisely the correct angle, and she shivered in the blanket. “No, sir,” she said in a tiny voice.
I nodded at her. She sat there shivering and frightened, which had been the point of the exercise; to knock her off balance while she was still unsteady from recent events and drive home the notion of what she faced. It was absolutely necessary that she understand how things had to play out until she got her power under control. Anything less than willing cooperation would kill her.
But it was hard to remember that, staring down at her as she shivered and stared at the fire, its light turning tears to gold on her cheeks. Heartbreaking, really. She was still so damned young.
So I crouched down and gave her that hug. “It’s all right to be scared, kid. But don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right.”
She leaned against me, shivering. I let her for a moment, and then got up and said, “Get dressed and get your things.”
“Why?” she asked.
I arched an eyebrow at her. She flushed, took the robe, and hurried back into the bedroom. I had my coat on and was ready to go when she was. I led her out to the car and we took off.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“I hope so. It’s going to take you a long time to learn if you can’t.”
She smiled a little. “Where are we going?”
“Your new digs,” I said.
She frowned at me, but settled back in her seat. “Oh.”
We pulled up to the Carpenter house, ablaze with lights despite the hour.
“Oh, no” Molly muttered. “Tell me you’re kidding me.”
“You’re moving back in.”
“But—”
I continued over her as if she hadn’t spoken. “Not only that, but you’re going to do everything in your power to be the most respectful, loving, respectful, considerate, and respectful daughter in the whole wide world. Especially where your mom is concerned.”
She stared at me with her jaw hanging.
“Oh,” I added. “And you’re going back to high school until you’re finished.”
She stared at me for a long time, then blinked and said, “I died. And this is Hell.”
I snorted. “If you can’t control yourself well enough to finish a basic education and get along with a houseful of people who love you, then you sure as hell can’t control yourself enough to use what I need to teach you.”
“But… but…”
“Think of your homecoming as an extended lesson in respect and self-control,” I said cheerfully. “I’ll be checking up with your parents at least weekly. You’ll do lessons with me every day until school is back in, and then I’ll give you reading and homework for the—”
“Homework?” she half wailed.
“Don’t interrupt. The homework will only be on weekdays. We’ll do lessons on Friday and Saturday evenings.”
“Friday and Satur…” She trailed off into a sigh and slumped. “Hell. I am in Hell.”
“It gets better. I take it that you’re sexually active?”
She stood there with her mouth hanging open.
“Come on, Molly, this is important. Do you boink?”
Her face turned pink and she hid her face in her hands. “I… I… well. I’m a virgin.”
I arched an eyebrow at her.
She glanced up at me, blushed more, and added, “Technically.”
“Technically,” I said.
“Urn. I’ve… explored. Most of the bases.”
“I see,” I said. “Well, Magellan, no baserunning or boldly going where no man has gone before for you—not until you get yourself grounded. Sex makes things complicated, and for you that could be bad.”