She pushed herself away from Valerius as a phantom wind whipped through the room. It tore through the house with a vengeance, hurtling lamps, plants, and anything small around.
And as it touched the Daimons, they fell one by one with nothing more than a gasp.
Clutching Marissa to him, Desiderius, who was still in Ulric's body, ran past her and Valerius into the living room.
Tabitha followed, intending to reclaim her niece.
"Desi!" he cried as his son fell and then vanished into nothingness. "Desi!"
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
Tabitha turned to face the voice she knew so well.
It was Acheron.
He walked slowly through the shattered doorway as if nothing odd had happened.
Marissa stopped crying the instant she saw him. "Akri, akri!" she called, reaching out for him.
"What the hell are you?" Desiderius asked.
Ash held his hand out and Marissa was torn free from Desiderius's arms. She floated across the room to Ash, who cuddled her close to his chest.
"I'm her godfather, with a heavy emphasis on the god part." Ash placed a kiss on Marissa's head.
"Rissa want her mommy and daddy, akri," Marissa said as she locked her tiny arms around Ash's neck and squeezed him tight. "Make them get up."
"Don't worry, ma komatia" Ash said soothingly. "Everything's fine now."
Shrieking, Desiderius lunged at them and rebounded off what appeared to be an invisible wall.
Valerius stood beside Tabitha as Acheron approached them.
Ash held his hand out and Kyrian's sword flew into his grip. He handed it to Tabitha. "Have at it, Tabby. Desiderius is all yours."
"Stryker!" Desiderius called as he pulled out what appeared to be an ancient amulet. "Open the portal."
"There is no portal," Ash said with a sneer. "Not for you, asshole."
For the first time since the whole horrendous night had started, Tabitha smiled. "Eat steel, you sorry bastard!"
She ran at him.
Valerius went to help her. In her current mood, she wasn't thinking straight and he wasn't about to see her hurt. She'd been hurt enough.
While Tabitha attacked the Daimon, Acheron paused on the stairs beside Kyrian's body.
"Close your eyes, Marissa, and make a wish for your daddy to hold you."
She clenched her eyes shut. "Daddy, hold me."
Valerius paused as Kyrian took a deep breath and blinked his eyes. The Greek looked as dazed as Valerius felt while he helped Tabitha fight the Daimon.
Ash handed Kyrian his daughter, who squealed in happiness that her father was alive. Then the Atlantean continued up the stairs.
Valerius didn't have time to contemplate the total bizarreness of that as Desiderius lunged for Tabitha.
He pulled the Daimon back. "Forget it," he snarled.