Like Father,Like Daughter - Hugs.And.Kisses (best novel books to read TXT) 📗

His eyes glowed red as he looked up at the girls.

"Good job, Sandy. Leave her here." Sandy nodded and laid Aubrey down on the floor, then stood and turned to leave. A scream echoed through the room as a ball of black energy hit her square in the middle of her back. It ate away from where it hit, leaving nothing of the body left. A small, sapphire ring set in gold fell to the floor, and, of its own accord, rolled over and into the pocket of Aubrey's jeans.

Raphael stood and walked halfway over to the unconscious angel's form. "Nkeawa."

Aubrey's eyes fluttered open and she sat up, putting a hand to her head. "Unnh… where am I…?"

"With me, Aubrey." Aubrey's head snapped around and she stared at Raphael for what seemed like an eternity. Then, she scrambled up and ran over to him, throwing her arms around his chest.

"Dad!" Raphael smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "I though I'd never see you again…"

"Shh… it's alright, Aubrey. I'm here now." He soothed, his eyes glittering oddly in the light of the room, which seemed to be radiating from nowhere. He pushed her away and looked over her. "Look at you, all grown up."

Aubrey's smile could not be wavered. "Well, it's been twelve years since you've seen me."

Raphael nodded. "And it is so good to see you again. Though, I must ask, how in the world did you end up dead?"

Aubrey pulled her shirt up to show him the circular scar below her ribs. "I, uh, got turned into a shish kabob on a broken tree branch."

"I see." He slid his hand into his pocket.

Aubrey's smile fell and she bit her lip. "Dad, I know about… about the night you died." Aubrey didn't notice her father stiffen. "I know it was Oogie Boogie who caused the crash and made you drive over the edge of the cliff. Mom tried to make me and Emily forget, but Emily found out and reversed it." She paused. "And… and I know it was because Oogie wanted the key to Living World that my soul holds."

Raphael began to laugh. "Ah, poor, simple little girl." He pushed part of her bangs out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

Aubrey looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Raphael's laughter died down to a quiet chuckle. "The key isn't IN your soul, child. The key to the Living World IS your soul!" He pulled her into his chest with his free arm. "But don't you worry your little head about it. It won't be for much longer." He pulled his hand out of his pocket, revealing a glinting dagger clutched in his fist. Aubrey saw the glint of the silver blade seconds before her father plunged it into the scar that was the cause of her death.

Aubrey looked up at Raphael's face, confused. "Dad…?" She whispered before collapsing to the floor, her eyes closing. Raphael looked at the fallen form before him for a moment before snapping his fingers. A heavily armored cat demon walked in.

"Take her to the dungeon." He smirked. "Chain her up with her 'friends'." As the guard walked out, another figure walked in. Raphael smiled. "Vanessa."

The girl smiled. "Hi daddy."


Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Misplaced Affection

Lock nearly cursed again as he lost sight of the torchlight that Cay was carrying. The stairway they were walking down had so many twists and turns it was more like one of Oogie's labyrinths than a staircase! A soft orange glow cast flickering shadows from around the turn ahead of him and he sighed in relief. He was going to have to stay closer, dangerous or not.

Finally, they reached a large, circular room that had several pairs of, here, Lock grimaced, shiny new steel shackles hanging from thick metal nails high up in the wall. Jacob handed Shock to Cay, who chained the witch up. Shock's toes didn't even touch the ground. Cay grunted as she reached up to close the second shackle around Shock's wrist.

A large hand reached above her head and snapped it shut. Cay smiled up at Jacob. "Thanks Jake. You go chain up the boy, and then let's get out of here."

Lock winced. That smile was the same one he had always strived so hard to get from Aubrey. He sunk back around the corner as he heard chains jingling, then the two walked out. Lock waited until they had turned the opposite corner before bolting into the room.

The room seemed to be alight from some invisible, ethereal source that radiated from everywhere. Lock grimaced; the light only made the room seem worse. He walked over to Shock and patted her cheek. "Shock?" He whispered. "Shock, wake up!"

No reaction. Lock frowned and pinched her thigh. Her eyes flew open and Lock had to clap a hand over her mouth to muffle the loud curse that she was about to yell out. "Be quiet!" He hissed.

Shock glared at him but nodded. Lock pulled his hand away. "That hurt!" Shock growled.

"Hey, it isn't my fault you're a deep sleeper." He walked over to Barrel and did the same, pinching his arm instead of his leg.

Barrel, who was used to this kind of treatment from Lock and Shock, woke up less… violently than Shock. "If I'm bleeding, I'm going to get you."

"Sure, sure. Just let me get you down first." Lock muttered, reaching up to fiddle with the cuffs around his friend's wrists.

"L-Lock?" Barrel asked in a quavering voice.

"Shut up and let me concentra-"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Lock whipped around, losing his balance and falling against the wall behind him.

Standing in the open doorway was a mirror image of Aubrey, only in place of Aubrey's white hair and ruby eyes were ebony black hair and eyes. Lock glared at her. "Who the hell are you?"

The girl giggled. "Ooh, you said a bad word." Lock raised an eyebrow. The girl started walking into the room. "Sandy said there were three of you; I was starting to wonder if she lied to me." She stopped in the middle of the room, swinging her arms like a five-year-old. "My name's Vanessa. What's yours?"

Lock decided that this girl was definitely insane and it would definitely be best to play along with whatever little game she was playing. "Lock."

Vanessa's eyes lit up. "Oh! So YOU'RE my little sister's boyfriend."

All three's eyes widened. "Little sister?" Barrel asked. "Wait, you're Aubrey's sister?"

Vanessa's smile widened. "She's my twin, actually. Of course, she never knew."

Lock glared at her. "Where is she?"

"Oh, I can't tell you that." She giggled again. That was getting REALLY annoying. Vanessa's eyes traveled up and down Lock's form. "Though I must say, she's got really good taste. You're cute." Vanessa smiled. "I'll make a deal with you. If my daddy finds out about this, not only will YOU be in trouble, but so will they." She gestured behind him at Shock and Barrel.

"What's the deal?" Lock growled.

Vanessa walked over to him. "Dump Aubrey. Be my boyfriend, and I'll keep this little rescue attempt under wraps."

Barrel and Shock looked like they'd just been told Lock had to cut their heads off. "Lock, you aren't seriously going to listen to her, right?" Shock asked.

Barrel looked over at her. "Of course he's no-"

"Shut up, Barrel." Lock growled. If he could've, Barrel would've drawn back away from him. Lock looked back at Vanessa. "Fine." Vanessa grinned. "But on one condition. Show me Aubrey first."

"Why?" Vanessa asked, pouting.

"If she's not okay, there's no deal."

Vanessa sighed. "Well, I don't know where she is, so I really can't do that." She paused. "Stay here." She walked out, and returned five minutes later. "Found her." Vanessa smiled at Lock and clapped twice. The wall opposite of Shock shimmered, and a figure appeared there.

Shock gasped. "Oh god…"

Lock stayed silent, staring at Aubrey. Her hands were bound directly to the wall, spread apart in a 'v' shape over her head. Her ankles were chained together with a heavy steel ball hanging from the chain and just barely resting on the ground. Her shirt was all but destroyed, missing from just below her ribs down, and the pale skin was stained red from the blood that was still oozing from around the dagger stuck in her chest. Behind her, her wings were spread to their full lengths, a silver nail hammered into the middle of each to keep it that way.

Barrel glared at Vanessa. "That's not right! She's your sister, why would you do that to her?"

Vanessa smacked him. "Shut up!" She glared at Aubrey. "She has something I need."

Lock's fists clenched. "No…" Vanessa turned around, her eyes narrow slits.

"Come on. We had a deal." She grabbed Lock's wrist.

The devil wrenched his hand out of her grasp and ran toward the locked up angel. "Aubrey!" He choked and fell back as Vanessa's arm looped around his neck.

"Tegrof reh." She whispered in his ear. Lock's struggles stopped and he stood still for a moment. Vanessa pulled her arm from around his neck and took his hand. "Come on Lock. Let's get out of here."

Lock blinked and his gaze passed over Aubrey. "What about Shock and Barrel?"

"I'll have someone unlock them a.s.a.p." Vanessa assured him.

Lock looked at his friends, who were utterly taken aback, unsurely. "I don't know, maybe I should stay…"

Vanessa pouted. "Please, Lock?"

"I guess…" He muttered, letting her lead him out.

Barrel looked over at Shock, horrified. "What just happened?"

Shock's head fell to her chest, tears starting to blur her vision. "She used a memory spell. Lock doesn't remember a thing about Aubrey. Instead, all he remembers is Vanessa."

"But… shouldn't he remember that she wasn't in any of those memories? School? When he killed Oogie? 'Cause he sure as hell didn't do it to save her!"

Shock shook her head. "No. Memory spells are the most difficult form of black magic that there is. It actually alters the memories so that even if Aubrey was in it, it erases her and then bends and twists the memory to make sense."

"But… there's got to be a way to reverse it, right?"

Shock looked up at him, and Barrel saw the tear tracks on her face. "Not unless we can find the spell book she got it out of. You can't make up a memory spell on the spot; you have to get it out of a spell book. And the only way to reverse it is to use a white magic spell."