''Those somners should have killed us,'' Harper said.
Nicholas nodded slowly.
They sat in silence a moment, an unspoken need between them to just be—to breathe in the weight of what had just happened, together.
Nicholas finally spoke ''Do you know where we are?''
Harper managed a chuckle ''You're the one who brought us here, nightcrawler''
Nicholas smiled, glad she could still make a joke in the circumstances.
''I think we're somewhere in Central Park,'' she said. ''Not sure I've ever been to this part.''
''We'll get her back,'' Nicholas said, locking eyes with her.
''Promise me.'' She said. Her eyes sullen.
''I promise.''
''Good. Because I'm ready to litter the streets with bodies till we do, starting with everyone we know has tried to take her from us. First our families, then The Glades''
''Shall we start with mine or yours?'' Nicholas asked.
''Whoever's closer.''
''You're forgetting-- I can teleport now.''
''That'll be very handy,'' Harper said.
She reached up and touched the place he'd been hit.
''You should have a nasty wound here. You were hit pretty hard. You should've had a skull fracture,'' she said, rubbing the dried blood on the side of his forehead.
''You don't feel any pain?''
He shook his head.
Harper wandered off for a second and returned with a sharply pointed twig.
Before Nicholas could stop her, she jabbed herself in the wrist with it.
They both watched as the wound slowly closed up.
Harper let out a scornful chuckle. "So I lose my child, but I get to be Wolverine." She sighed. "I just want my baby back," she muttered, tossing the stick aside and pacing with her hands on her head, tears rolling down her face. Then she crouched, sobbing.
Nicholas reached over and wrapped his arms around her.
"Do you need any help?" a voice called out.
A middle-aged woman in a bright pink jogging outfit stood about fifty feet away.
"We're fine," both Harper and Nicholas said.
"Are you sure, miss?" the jogger asked, inching closer.
"Give me a break," Harper mumbled under her breath.
Nicholas glanced down at the hospital gown she was still wearing. She caught his meaning immediately.
"Oh, don't worry about this. It's a very long story that I wouldn't want to bother you with. Just carry on with your exercise."
"I could call the police," the jogger said, her eyes narrowing at Nicholas as she reached for her phone.
"I said carry on with your exercise," Harper said—her eyes glowing green.
The jogger promptly turned and continued on, not saying another word.
Nicholas blinked. "Your eyes... they just glowed green."
"Yeah, I felt something sort of turn on within me." She sighed.
''You need to change back into your clothes babe. There might be other joggers''
''Of course,'' she said, changing quickly and ditching the hospital gown behind a tree.
''One of the kidnappers was a woman, the one that took Emily. She had a tattoo… two circles interlocking on her left wrist,'' Harper said, touching her own wrist.
''so we have a lead,'' Nicholas said, a hopeful excitement in his voice.
''we have a lead,'' Harper repeated.
She reached over and hugged him tight, like she was trying to fill the empty space where their daughter should've been. Nicholas realized that—and held her gently, stroking her hair.
She slowly withdrew, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
''Let's go to Westchester. I have a plan.''
Nicholas teleported them straight onto the front yard of the gated Winslow compound in Westchester.
Wasting no time, Harper then led them past the manicured lawns and ornate potted plants. Before entering, she pulled a hairpin from her bun, pricked her thumb, and stained the outer wall with some of her blood, muttering an incantation to shield the building from unpermitted supernatural entry. Then she made her way straight to the drawing room.
''Welcome, Miss Harper,'' a slightly stunned servant greeted.
''Get everyone down to the drawing room immediately.''
He nodded and hurried off.
Nicholas took the place in, family portraits, antique furniture, alabaster statues of Greek and Roman gods. A Monet painting sat tucked in one corner.
He looked at Harper. Her features were plain, ready. They'd agreed: she would take the lead interrogating her family. He'd do the same with his. As for how far they were willing to go... well, as far as necessary. And then there was the plan within the plan.
Her mother descended first, followed closely by her father.
Harper let out a sardonic chuckle. ''I see you're still hiding behind your wife's skirt, Finneas''
''How dare you! I'm your father, you will show me respect,'' he blurted weakly, then motioned at a chair, sending it flying at Harpers head.
Unmoving, Harper caused the chair to disintegrate into a pile of dust, wool, and ore.
They gasped. Harper noticed her mother subtly fondling the hem of her long sleeve.
''Don't f*uck with me Finneas, that's the only one I'll give you.'' Harper said.
''Sit. Both of you.''
They obeyed, tense.
She took off the cloaking locket she obtain from one of the men sent to retrieve her from Brooklyn, then gestured to Nicholas, who did likewise.
She removed the cloaking locket she'd taken from one of the men sent to retrieve her in Brooklyn, then gestured to Nicholas, who did the same.
"These belong to you," she said, humming an incantation that caused the lockets to spark as she erased all traces of their blood.
''I haven't seen any of your goons around'' Harper said.
''They're all out looking for you,'' Finneas replied.
''Where's Lara?'' Harper asked
''She's working. Has a job. Keeps herself busy and in good company,'' her mother spat.
''Summon her.'' Harper said.
Audrey Winslow's eyes swept over Nicholas. Taking him in from head to toe.
''The demon in human flesh, hmm… He's goodlooking. I see how you might have charmed my daughter.''
Nicholas stared at her.
''You know how much trouble you've both caused?'' she paused, shifting her gaze to Harper. ''How much trouble you both are in?''
''I won't ask you again,'' Harper warned.
''where's my grand child?'' Audrey said.
''Don't play with me, woman!'' Harper shouted, storming toward her.
Nicholas tensed, ready.
In a flash, Audrey withdrew a gold scepter with a ruby crown concealed under her sleeve and pressed it to Harpers forearm. Finneas grabbed her other arm and did the same with an identical scepter.
Harper screamed.
Nicholas, already primed, started forward...
''Do nothing Nic'' Harper growled.
Harpers eyes glowed dark green as she fought off the influence of the scepters.
She placed her hands on both her parents' heads. Their hair began to singe. Their skin scalded.
''Summon Lara. Now,'' Harper said over their agonized howls.
Just then, Lara appeared in the drawing room with no fewer than ten Reapers, each pointing two somners at Harper and Nicholas.