Holy shit.
I swear to god my alarm is one of the loudest things ever.
I click stop on my phone and sit up in bed.
My room is everything I have ever wanted, but at the same time it feels so empty and soulless, like no one lives in it.
My dad's house tended to be like that.
It was this giant estate; it was grand and beautiful.
But not a good place to live in, just a good place to look at.
It felt very oppressive and sad.
My parents got divorced when I was 6, and now I am 18.
I used to swap every week, but then my mom got remarried, and she didn't want me there anymore.
Which sucks, I guess.
Following soon after, my dad got married, and now I only see my mom on holidays and days like this, when I change schools and special circumstances when the court forces her to be here.
I change into the uniform that my dad has hanging on the door.
I have no idea how to tie a tie, so I am just going to ask my dad.
Blackthorn Academy.
I read the brochure as I walk down the 3 flights of stairs.
I don't think I am ready for this.
"Hi honey, did you sleep well?" I smiled.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, my dad got remarried to a man.
Like threw us all for a loop, but they have been together, uh, I think it will be their 9th year together, married for 6.
Pretty cool.
"Uh, pretty good," I mumbled and sat down on the island.
"Where's Mom?" I asked, and Theo had this unreadable expression.
Theo was my stepdad, by the way.
He was a small horn and really balanced out my crazy ass dad.
"She's here." I felt my shoulders drop.
I was really hoping she would miss today like she did so many others.
I turned around.
There my dad stood, with my mom, her husband, and their three kids.
The house feels even less safe now.
She had married a man that looked a lot like my dad; it was scary.
Just more personable.
"Are you excited?" she asked with a fake smile.
"Less excited now that you are here," I said.
She rolled her eyes.
I felt Theo sit next to me and rub my shoulder. "Please be more respectful."
"Sorry. Uh, not really."
"Why?"
"It's a new school."
"Cass is going to another school? How come we can't too?"
Because your ass split apart a marriage, I didn't.
"That's a great question, Cass Why don't you ask your dad?"
"Keyword, my dad."
The kid's crying now.
Do I feel bad?
Eh.
It's not the kid's fault; it's my mom's, but at the same time, I don't care; he is going to be grouped with her.
"Can we talk about what we need to talk about? I need to get back to work." My dad said, frustrated.
"Cassidy is starting at a new school. And because I am paying for it and he lives with me full-time. This is not up for debate."
Because I am 18, I can either stay at the school I am at or be transferred to an elite academy or vocational path before college. It's this three-year thing that helps demons prepare for adulthood and society.
"I think it would be best for him to go to one of these schools, as he is part demon."
But unlike my mom's bastard kids, I don't have horns, and I don't even have the one thing that makes you human.
Life essence.
Bullshit, I am part demon.
"At Blackthorn he will be close to here, and Theo can take him to school every day." I turned to Theo, who was giving my dad these googly eyes.
Gross.
After some more back and forth, my dad started to escort them out.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Theo rubs my shoulder. "Sorry you had to do that, court orders."
"It's fine."
"I am sure you will make friends at your new school; you don't have your dad's pissy attitude," Theo mumbled, and I started to laugh.
"Yeah, hopefully I do. Uh, by the way, can you tie my tie?"
"Of course, honey."
He started to tie my tie.
"And if you find someone nice, make sure they actually like you and aren't just trying to eat you," Theo said, laughing.
I nodded.
I don't even know how to tell the two of those apart.
"A nice demon girl, maybe a small horned one. Or a nice demon boy, your choice."
"Preferably a demon girl," I heard my dad say.
Here comes the most homophobic man I have ever met.
YOU ARE IN A GAY RELATIONSHIP; HOW CAN YOU EVEN BE HOMOPHOBIC?
"And we will let him figure that out, okay, Lucien?" Theo said, turning to my dad, who looked angry.
He normally does, though, so it's okay.
My dad, like most big horns, thrives off fear and the energy the life essence gives off.
I think that's why he and my mom got together; don't tell him I said that though.
His horns are giant, and they get bigger with fear.
Sadly, my stepdad isn't afraid of him, and I don't give off anything, so they are only big because of my mom's family being here.
Theo and my dad locked eyes.
"And he will get cut off if he figures it out the wrong way," my dad said angrily.
I watched as my dad's horns grew a little bit.
"Dad," he turned to me.
When a demon's horns grow, it means they are feeding on someone's life essence.
There are two ways I know it can be done.
Physical touch, like kissing and sex.
And eye contact, like my dad is doing now.
"Trying to instill fear in your husband is lowwwww," I said, and he rolled his eyes.
"I don't care."
"And you should." I stood up. "Before he leaves you just like Mom did."
I slowly started to walk away as my dad screamed after me.
I love being an instigator so much; it is so fucking fun.
I went to my room and packed my bag with my computer and pencils.
I put it on one shoulder and put my phone in my pocket.
And they are kissing; that's disgusting.
"Theo, let's go, please."
My dad quickly got off of him and looked at me with this horrified look.
Seeing my dad scared is so funny.
"Of course, I'll be back, baby," Theo said and kissed my dad on the cheek.
Now he is blushing.
Weird.
So fucking weird.