When breakfast ended, they cleared the table and tidied up the kitchen. A certain solemnity set in as his father frowned at Leo. "The chances of us perishing on this mission, albeit low, are not non-existent. I have ensured this house, and a few others, are safe places—with powerful wards. I also have a few anonymous offshore accounts to which you will have access."
"Dad…"
Lane held up a hand. "Let me finish. You do not wish to be treated as a child, so I am treating you like an adult. Do you remember all the codes I had you memorize?"
"Yes."
"Great. Those are for the accounts."
Leo blinked. The long strings of numbers he'd had to memorize suddenly made more sense.
"We will do our best to stay in contact," his father continued, "but if more than six months pass without an update, that means something has happened to us. What should you do in such a case?"
Leo gritted his teeth but still answered. "I'll stay here in Spartanburg until I graduate, or leave and go into hiding at one of the other safe houses under a new identity."
"Good. The identities are all prepared and in a lockbox under the stairs in each safe house. I will not tell you to not get revenge if anything happens, but seeking revenge if you don't have the power to do so is just stupid."
"I…"
"Heh." Lane ruffled Leo's hair. "Don't make that face, son. Your mother and I are strong, not many people can give us grief."
When his dad stepped back and took away his hand, his mom hugged him. This time, Leo didn't struggle and simply returned the hug. "I am sorry, son. Forgive your selfish parents, but we need to find her."
"It's all my fault…"
"Just stop, Leo. Raphaeline—" His mother sniffled. "She loved you." Saphire closed her eyes, and Leo saw a fat tear trickle down her cheek.
"I'm sorry, mom. Forgive me for bringing it up."
"I understand; there is nothing to forgive." His mom gave him a sad smile. "We should move heaven and earth to save the ones we love, right?"
Leo nodded, pulling his mom close and giving her a hug for a change. "Go get her. I can't wait to see my second mom again."
His mother smiled.
"We will." Leo's dad nodded solemnly. "Cherish her when she comes back, but try to avoid dying again."
Leo winced and rubbed his arm.
A grin split his dad's lips. "Enough bad news. I have two pieces of good news for you. First, since you are now an adult… you understand what that means, right?"
"Don't tell me…?"
"Yes. It's time for you to get your pieces back and build your board."
Leo watched as space rippled in front of his dad. A chessboard slowly appeared. On it were sixteen crystal clear chess pieces: eight Pawns, two Bishops, two Knights, two Rooks, one Queen, and finally — one King.
"We'll need your blood for this…"
Saphire pulled a small ceremonial dagger from inside the band of her skirt and handed it to Leo, who took it with reverence. Standing and holding his left hand above the chessboard, he cleanly sliced the palm of his hand with the dagger. Blood flowed across the chessboard, being pulled into each of the pieces before the entire board ignited.
The wound in his hand instantly closed when the flames appeared. The board turned into ashes, transforming into a satin-lined box with all chess pieces in it. Instead of being clear crystal, they were scarlet.
Most devils his age, at least those who were eligible, had received their pieces two or three years ago. The more powerful of them had already started building setting their board and building their Circle. Very few had the privilege of playing the role of King—though what their pieces or Circle called them was personality dependent—bestowing the powers each of the other pieces granted.
The forms of power that could be bestowed varied, though there were rules of thumb. It had been so long that Leo needed to research what those were. Even so, no matter what Power was bestowed, or how many pieces a bestower granted, there was no denying the system was incredibly powerful. Humans would do anything to receive a blessing from a Bestower, and lesser devils were not much better.
"I don't think I need to tell you this, but your future Circle aren't slaves or servants. They are as close as family—a family you choose—and they deserve your respect."
Saphire added, "A Bestower always has to be careful about who they choose to grant Powers with their pieces, but this is even more so in your case. You understand that, right?"
Leo nodded. "I do, and I promise not to disappoint you."
This was a lesson that had been drilled into him since he was a child, even more so after the accident seven years ago. Since both of his moms were in his dad's Circle, there was no way Leo would mistreat whoever he bestowed his pieces to.
Fighting to keep the giddiness from showing on his face, Leo cleared his throat and asked, "So, you told me there were two pieces of good news. What is the second one?"
If the first piece of good news was getting his pieces so he could start his Circle, he wondered just how great the second one might be.
"Well…"
A bad feeling overcame him when he saw the awkward smile his parents exchanged.
"Don't freak out, okay?"
He rolled his eyes. "Telling someone to not freak out is the best way to make them freak out. You know that, right?"
Saphire elbowed her husband and hid a grin behind her hand, knowing that Leo was right. She did her best not to laugh, knowing what was coming. There was no way she would be the one to share this news.
"Well…" Lane coughed into his hand. "You remember I once told to you about the one who trained me after I came into my own, right?" Lane asked.
"I do." Leo answered. "You told me her training still gives you nightmares. You brought it up every time I complained you were being too hard on me… and that I should be grateful you were the one training me, rather than a battle maniac like her."
"Well…" his dad chuckled. "Promise not to tell her I called her a battle maniac, okay?" Lane's voice was almost pleading.
Leo couldn't help but wonder who had traumatized his dad so much… or why his dad was worried that Leo might spill the beans to whoever it was.
"Now then, you will need someone to help you keep this place up—and who can serve as a bodyguard in a pinch." Lane spoke rapidly, as if pulling a band-aid as fast as possible to lessen the pain. "We have someone coming this evening to serve as your cook and maid."
Leo blinked. Why would he need a maid? "…I beg your pardon?" What the hell was his father talking about?
Saphire laughed at his dumbfounded expression while Lane adjusted his glasses. "I want to make it clear that this is not because we think you can't take care of yourself. I just know how you get sometimes… and we don't want you eating pizza for dinner five nights out of the week."
"We also want to give you an additional layer of protection," Lane added. "The lady who is coming over this evening is my trainer's daughter—so you can have every confidence that she can do what we expect of her. While your existence is not well-known, it isn't really a secret. I believe that, even if you do not share your identity, it will be revealed eventually."
Saphire nodded. "And while I am sure you can protect yourself, and you'll find that Spartanburg is filled with more allies than enemies, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Right?"
He understood the seriousness of the situation. Leo's father had been quite… active during the last war. And while he was revered as a Hero by many, he had made many enemies, as well.
Silence settled between them for an instant before Saphire hugged Leo again. "I really don't want to let you go. But I can't tie you up in my apron strings any longer. No matter how talented you are, you will not grow stronger if I continue to smother you."
Lane approached them and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "I am proud of the young man you've become. You could have given up after everything that happened seven years ago… but you didn't."
His voice didn't break, but the emotions in it were clear. "We have not always been the best parents, and as much as your mother thinks she held you back, I might have pushed you too hard. Besides, we robbed you of your childhood with of our own selfish goals. And for that I apologize…"
"Don't." Leo shook his head. "I am thankful for everything you did, and I know I am blessed to have you as my parents." He sighed and laughed. "Well, enough sappiness. It isn't the last time we'll see each other, right? Go out there and come back with Mother."
He gave them each one more hug before checking his phone for the time. "Anyway, I'll see you later. I can't afford to be late on my first day back in school." After placing the dishes in the sink, grabbed his bag and hurried out the door.
Both Lane and Saphire watched with love-filled eyes as their one and only son turned to leave. When he returned from his first day at this new school, he would be alone for the first time in seven years.
Leaning back in his chair to look down the hall so he could watch the front door close, Lane shifted to look at his wife once the door clicked shut. "Dear, did you warn him about the Dean at the school?"
"Hmm? … Ah…"
Lane arched his eyebrows at Saphire.
Silence filled the room, and Saphire refused to meet her husband's sharp gaze. In the end, she could only make excuses while stuttering. "W-well… It's been a few years since I've been on the east coast. You know I haven't contacted my family since then. Hahaha…I think the current Dean should be… Clarence Beale? I am sure everything will be alright. Either way. Leo is a big boy. He can take care of himself. Yep!"
Her husband shook his head. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter. His instincts might have dulled in Colorado, but he never really stopped training. I can't sense anything that could actually threaten him in the city."
He looked out the window, in the direction of an abandoned church a few blocks away. Taking a deep breath, Lane blew it all out at once and shook his head. "Whoever is in charge of Spartanburg must be pretty lazy, to let things go so much."
"He will be alright, won't he?" Saphire asked, wringing her hands.
Lane laid a comforting arm around her shoulder. "We trained him well, and now that his soul is completely healed, he will quickly regain his former level of power… even surpass it. All we can do now, is ensure we come back to him in one piece."
His eyes became cold slits, his pupils taking a more reptilian shape. Their upcoming mission would be dangerous, but he would make those bastards pay and ensure they both made it back to their son.