CHAPTER SEVEN

Aideen was tired when she got home, and all she wanted to do was go to sleep. Arnie had decided to swing back by the Berlins' house before coming over for the night.

She was filled with a new energy when she walked into the house and saw her father packing a suitcase.

"Dad? Where are you going?" She asked him.

"I have a lead on the whole 'tomb where the angels go to die' situation," Benny replied.

"Really?" Aideen was excited now. "What is it?"

"One of the witches who used to live here when I was in college lives in California now. He is in possession of some historical documents about a place called l'endroit où les anges vont mourir. That's French for 'the place where the angels go to die.' I don't know if it's a tomb, but if it is, I'd say that's quite a solid lead."

"Definitely! When are we leaving?"

"We aren't," he replied firmly. "You're going to stay here with your mother and sister, Deenie. I am leaving in the morning."

"Dad! You can't mean that!" Aideen protested.

"Aideen, you're fifteen years old, it's the start of a new school year, and this is far too dangerous. I have no idea where this journey will take me. You're not coming with me."

"Dad, you can't leave me here when you're doing something this big," she insisted. "We're a team. We do everything together! You need me."

"Baby, it's not safe. I can't risk bringing you along this time."

"Don't treat me like a little kid, Dad! We always work together. I can handle this."

"Yes, we do, but not this time, Deenie. I know you can handle yourself, but this is different," he insisted.

Clarissa Phillips entered the room where Aideen and Benny were arguing. "I take it you told her?" She asked her husband.

"I did," Benny confirmed.

"I told you she wouldn't like it."

"Mom, tell him he can't do this without me," Aideen said.

"This is technically slayer business and I'm retired. I can't make that call, honey," Clarissa replied.

"Yes you can! You're not just my incarnated mom, you're my soul's mom for God's sake! If you say I can go, then I can go!" Aideen argued.

"And I'm your soul's cousin and your incarnation's father, Aideen. I get a say, too, and I'm putting my foot down on this," Benny said firmly.

"You're being so stupid! You need me, Dad!" Most teenagers didn't get away with talking to their parents like that, but Aideen was furious. She sensed in her heart that she was supposed to go with her father. Why was he being so stubborn?

"What I need is to keep you alive, baby," Benny insisted.

"Stop calling me baby! I'm not a baby. I know what I'm talking about."

Courtney Phillips entered the room and studied everyone for a moment, trying to navigate through the tension and heightened emotions. "What's all of the fighting about?" She asked quietly.

Courtney was Aideen's twin sister. The two were identical, except for the fact that Aideen's blonde hair currently had red streaks in it. They were polar opposites in most ways and fought frequently, but they were extremely close to each other.

"Dad's being an idiot," Aideen said bluntly.

"I'm trying to do what's best for you, Deenie," Benny insisted.

"He's going away on slayer business and he's not taking me. It's not just any business, either. This is important."

"How long will you be gone, Daddy?" Courtney asked.

"I'm not sure, honey," Benny replied.

"When are you leaving?"

"In the morning."

"Dad, you've got to take me with you," Aideen insisted again.

"I said no. This matter is not up for discussion, Aideen. Let it go," Benny said with a hint of anger in his tone. Benny rarely raised his voice to his daughters, especially Aideen, but he'd finally lost his patience.

Aideen cursed under her breath and stormed off to her bedroom. She was furious. How could her father go on a mission without her? He hadn't done that since she'd turned nine, and now, when she was old enough to be considered an adult slayer, he was going to start again? Aideen tossed her pillow against her bedroom door angrily, and then threw herself onto her bed. She was in too much of a rage to sleep. She dialed a phone number on autopilot.

Arnie picked up on the second ring. "Come over. Now," Aideen said. She hung up without waiting for a response.

Six minutes later, Arnie climbed in through Aideen's bedroom window. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Rage," Aideen replied, putting a tremendous amount of power into the single word.

"What happened?" Arnie cautiously sat down next to her on the bed.

"Not yet," Aideen replied.

Arnie nodded and shifted so he was laying beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and began taking on some of her anger. As Arnie drained the worst of the rage out of her, Aideen slowly felt like a weight was being lifted from her. She snuggled deeper into his arms, grounding to his familiar, soothing energy as it wrapped around her and shielded her from the outside world.

"Arn... I'm not happy," she said when she was calm enough.

"Yeah, I picked up on that," Arnie replied with a patient smile. "Are you ready to talk about it?"

"Maybe..." Aideen sighed. "My dad is going on a mission without me... A dangerous mission. He's acting like I'm a little girl who can't protect herself! He needs me! Why is he being such an idiot?" She could feel her rage building again.

"Easy, Deenie," Arnie said soothingly. "You need to calm down. Just breathe."

"How am I supposed to calm down when my father is being a complete and total moron about this?" Aideen snapped.

"You lost your head tonight... You need blood," Arnie realized. "Your temper's out of control because you've got bloodlust issues on top of your justified anger at the situation."

"I don't want to feed right now, Arnie. I want to knock some sense into my dad!"

Arnie tilted his neck toward her and traced his vein with his index finger. "Come on," he teased her. "You know you want it."

Aideen grumbled in response, but Arnie's pulse was calling to her. He was her vampiric human servant, which meant that feeding on him sated her bloodlust faster than feeding on anyone else did. Arnie had been taking care of her need to feed since they were toddlers.

With a sigh, Aideen gave in and sank her fangs into Arnie's neck. The intense rush of power that flowed between them quickly focused her mind. She fed enough to calm the bloodlust but didn't do any harm to Arnie. She quickly healed the puncture in his neck.

"Thanks, Arn," she said softly.

"Always, Deenie," he replied. "Still angry?"

"Yes," Aideen admitted, "but I'm more rational about it. I'm furious, but not rip out everyone's throats furious."

"That's an improvement!" Arnie smiled at her, "Now, it's time for me to hit the off switch on the rest of your rage."

Arnie started stroking her hair after pulling her back into his arms. Aideen didn't really want him to calm her down, but he was always able to do it, so it didn't surprise her when he managed it yet again. She fell asleep in his arms without even realizing it.

Aideen soon registered that she was dreaming. She found herself in Lewis Ashford's office. That immediately comforted her. Lewis wasn't part of Salem's supernatural community, but he worked with two of Benny's best friends, and Aideen often visited the office. Although Aideen had never met Beth until that day at Alex's, she knew Lewis well. She also knew his son, Kevin, because Kevin was a slayer.

Lewis smiled at her and Aideen felt completely safe as she hugged him. On paper, Lewis was her lawyer. In truth, he was much more than that. She didn't understand why she'd gotten so close to him, but she knew their souls must have karma.

It didn't surprise Aideen that this was where her subconscious went to find sanctuary from the turmoil she was feeling. After all, it was often where she went for sanctuary when she was awake, too. Lewis was mortal, but in so many ways, he understood Aideen more than anyone except Arnie did. Sometimes, it was nice to escape from the expectations of the supernatural community.

The dream suddenly shifted. Aideen found herself alone in a field. A disembodied voice said, "You are united. It has begun."

Aideen was suddenly startled awake. Arnie opened his eyes and looked at her. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I don't know," she admitted. She paused before asking, "Do you hear that?"

Courtney's hysterical sobs traveled up to the bedroom. Aideen and Arnie exchanged a glance before heading to the stairs. They sat just out of Courtney's view and watched what was happening.

"Daddy, you can't leave," Courtney insisted. "Please!"

"Baby, it's okay. I'll be home soon," Benny replied soothingly.

"No! I have a really bad feeling, Daddy. Please don't go."

"I'll be okay, sweetheart. I'll check in as often as I can, alright?" Benny paused. "I have no choice, Courtney. I have to do this. It's very important. I'll come home as soon as I can, okay? I love you, baby."

Courtney flung her arms around her father. She didn't let go for several moments. Her panic was enough to really concern Aideen, but at the same time, she knew Courtney could be overdramatic at times. She was probably overreacting.

You feel it, too, she reminded herself. Aideen shook her head. It was the bloodlust making everything heightened. If Dad wants to be stubborn and go off alone like an idiot, that's his problem.

She tried to ignore the nagging sensation in her chest. It was probably just her twin's emotions hitting her.

"Shouldn't you go say goodbye to him?" Arnie asked Aideen.

She looked at him with daggers in her eyes, and that was enough to tell him to back off of the subject. Aideen was still too furious with her father for not taking her along to speak to him, and she couldn't deal with her sister's overwhelming emotions in top of it. It was better that she stay away from them.

Aideen stood up and walked back to her bedroom, with Arnie trailing along behind her. She watched from her window as her father got into his car and drove away. When she could no longer see him, she turned from the window and went back to her bed.

Arnie curled up next to her and held her, and only then did Aideen allow her emotions to hit her. She hated fighting with her father, and she began to silently cry.

"It's okay, Deenie," Arnie said soothingly. "I've got you. That was a huge amount of rage you channeled last night. Let it out. You'll feel better once you do."

"I hate fighting with him," she said. "I hate being mad at him, and I hate him for making me feel that anger, and I hate myself for hating him." She flung her hands up in frustration and cried, "Ugh! This sucks, Arnie!"

"I know, Deenie. You know, it's okay to be mad. Your feelings are valid. Yeah, the bloodlust made the fight get a little out of hand, but he'll understand that. You two just need to talk and you'll be able to get by this."

Aideen nodded. "You're right. Dad and I have always been able to talk things out. I'm sure we can get through this, too." She snuggled against him. "Thanks for everything, Arnie. You're the best."

"You're better," he replied with a grin. He hugged her tightly and continued holding onto her, stroking her hair until she fell asleep again. This time, she didn't have any dreams.