Blame The Goth Girl Vol. 8: Fathers, Do Not Provoke Your Children To Anger, But Bring Them Up In The Discipline And Instruction Of The Switchblade Symphony

By Bettina Busiello

Marcel's presence in Philadelphia sends Rome into a panic. His only option is to force Onyx into hiding with a mysterious family whose secrets are only rivaled by the secrets of their dwelling.
While local dangers keep Onyx from her home, the dangers in Japan keep her trapped in unfamiliar surroundings while making Lisbeth's safety her first and foremost priority.
Esben's faltering obedience to Rome is only reversed when Rome chooses to reveal to him his own destiny with Onyx and with the supernatural community.
And just when Onyx begins to move forward with her life, finally accepting her true path, a shocking twist sends her world and the worlds of those around her into complete and utter chaos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bettina Busiello
• Release date: Feb 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370444359

Bettina Busiello

Bettina Busiello is a dreamer by nature with an eccentric sense of humor. She spends most of her waking hours either spinning yarns, venturing online games or cuddling her cat October. She lives in Vermont where she is surrounded by enough fresh air to make her slightly high (which explains a lot).

Book preview

Blame The Goth Girl

Vol. 8

Fathers, Do Not Provoke Your Children To Anger, But Bring Them Up In The Discipline And Instruction Of The Switchblade Symphony

By Bettina Busiello

Copyright © 2017 Bettina Busiello

Smashwords Edition

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Bettina Busiello recognizes the trademarks and copyrights of all publications, music and companies mentioned within this work.

All rights reserved.

Original Cover Titling by Jacob Mathews

Cover Art by Philivix

http://monokuroma.deviantart.com/

Editing by Josiah Davis

http://www.jdbookservices.com/

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Acknowledgements

Related Links and Social Media

Chapter 1

Rome

The barrier was now completely gone, dissolved into the night sky.

Does that mean Marcel is in Philadelphia? Esben asked.

Not necessarily. It wasn’t just the barrier forcing him away, it was the power radiating out from it. He must have had the coven do it.

Leaving him in charge was a bad idea.

"Don’t be so quick to judge, Esben. I have to admit, even I didn’t see this coming. I turned and headed down the stairs from the rooftop garden while Esben followed closely behind. I’m sure he had this planned all along. I just seemed to have sped up the process by giving him access to the coven’s power. It’s a good thing we performed the ritual when we did—who knows what he would have done with that energy if I hadn’t gotten to it first."

But Onyx has that power now.

"That she does. She may be the only one who can defeat him… though she did mention his ability to dampen hers. I stopped and faced Esben. We need to approach this carefully. There are still too many unknowns."

Where will Onyx be able to hide now that her father has access to the city?

I already saw his mind moving a mile a minute with possible solutions, though I could only think of one. We have to get her as far away as possible. She can’t stay in the United States, and Europe is no longer an option.

Is there anywhere he can’t reach her?

No. But there are places she can hide… if only to delay whatever he has planned. And I think I might have just the place—though I haven’t been there in hundreds of years.

And where is that?

I think it wise to keep it to myself for now. It’s not that I don’t trust you… it’s that you never know who’s listening now that our surroundings may be Marcel’s eyes and ears.

Have you gotten ahold of Onyx yet?

No. She hasn’t been answering her texts.

Esben followed as I entered my bedroom. Perhaps I should try.

Before you do that… I have another book for you. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out the Sanskrit book I liberated from Mani’s house.

"Where did you get this?" he asked just as quickly as he took the book from my hands.

I borrowed it from a friend.

His eyes went from a flipped open page to mine. Does this friend know you borrowed it?

He will in due time. I recalled the abundance of clutter and hoarding at Mani’s house, and recanted my thought with a mutter. "If at all. Now, send Onyx a quick text and get to translating that book."

His fingers curled around the edge of the binding and his eyes shifted to the side. My Sanskrit is a bit rusty.

My tongue clicked on the roof of my mouth. I expected more from you, Esben. You disappoint.

Honestly, prior to seeing the Sanskrit texts in Wren’s room, I never thought I’d find the use. I found restoring the chateau’s black roses a better use of my time.

Really? You passed up learning one of the most important languages in the coven to dabble in gardening? Esben….

He sighed. My apologies. If I had known—

"No matter now. I’ll look through it, though I have better uses of my time. I snatched the book back and walked away. I guess it’s up to you to find Onyx… and soon."

Chapter 2

Onyx

Two more stops until mine.

My tears had finally dried, and I was now left trying to compose myself enough to hail a taxi since I wasn’t in the mood to call any friends for a ride. Then I remembered I had no money on me aside from my debit card.

If bar hoppers can manage to do it, then so can I.

For a moment I stared at my phone, dreading what would happen when I turned it back on. Deep down, I knew I wouldn’t be receiving a call or text from Daevan. He was too… busy. And if he’d managed to reach out, I don’t think I could stomach what he would have to say for himself.

Again started to run through my mind: Why was he there? How did he get in touch with his incubi instincts again? Did he know those succubi beforehand?

The tears began to well up again. As soon as the train pulled up to my stop, I snapped myself out of it. Without giving it another thought, I powered on my phone.

More missed calls and texts… from who else but Rome… and one from Esben.

Esben: Please call, it’s urgent.

Straight to the point. I dialed, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong while I was away.

Onyx?

Esben, you texted?

Thank goodness you’re alright. Where are you? he asked.

At the train station. Why? What’s up?

You need to get to Rome’s as soon as possible.

That uh… still doesn’t answer my question.

I’d rather not say over the phone. Just get here as soon as you can.

I cocked my hip to the side and put my hand to my forehead. I don’t exactly have a car… or cash on hand.

Then I’ll come get you. His voice sounded increasingly panicked.

Are you sure you can get around? This isn’t France.

I’ll do my best, just text me your location.

I groaned. "Fine. But I want answers. Concrete answers."

Understood. And Onyx?

Yeah? I answered impatiently.

I miss you. With that, he hung up. And I was left with my jaw hanging open and a cold breeze blowing up my skirt.

****

Esben pulled up about thirty minutes later in Rome’s Audi.

Though I moved to get in the car myself, he rushed out and opened the door for me. The gesture brought a smile to my lips, even while I thought it was slightly ridiculous given the circumstances. For someone in such a hurry to get me back to Rome’s, he insisted on being a gentlemen; to hell with the time constraints.

As he drove, he occasionally looked over to me with concern in his eyes. Are you all right?

The question caught me off guard. Yeah. Why?

You look as though you’ve been crying. Also, why were you at the train station at this hour?

It finally dawned on me that I was being confronted with a situation I wasn’t ready to deal with yet: Esben and Daevan. Despite the convolution of each circumstance on their own, together, they proved yet another problem. Was I in love with either of them? Both of them? What did this ultimately mean for my future?

Esben’s hand went to mine and I realized I hadn’t answered him. He took my silence as an answer I wasn’t yet ready to reveal. His soft smile confirmed my theory.

Both Esben and Daevan were understanding of me in their own ways. Rome knew me enough to exploit that same knowledge.

I’ve missed you too, I found myself saying without forethought.

His smile grew some.

The rest of the ride remained quiet until we arrived at Rome’s house. He was waiting for us as we pulled up, though the stern look on his face wasn’t the reassuring image I wanted to see after experiencing the turmoil of the day.

What’s the emergency? I asked as I stepped out of the car.

You need to leave town.

What? Why? I just got back. I threw my hands up. I’m over this bouncing around… I just want to stay home.

It’s no longer safe. This city is no longer safe. He held out his hand to me. Come, let’s go inside. I’d rather not speak out here.

For a brief moment I stared at his hand, before brushing past him and heading into the house.

He said nothing of the gesture and stepped ahead of me toward the basement door. Down here.

If I wasn’t so emotionally exhausted from my experience with Daevan, I’d have come up with some quip about being locked in a dungeon again. Instead, I held my tongue and followed as we moved down the steps, Esben following close behind me. It was when Rome walked into his humidity-controlled book room that I finally spoke up. What’s going on?

Inside. Please. There was an actual demeanor of worry overtaking him as he spoke.

Again, I followed. Once Esben was inside, Rome closed the door and spoke again.

I’m hoping the seals in this room allow me to speak freely. I— He paused and tilted his head at me. Are you alright? Esben said he was picking you up from the train station… where were you?

"New York… and before you ask, I really, really don’t feel like talking about it."

His lips went firm for a beat before he nodded. Very well.

"Just tell me what’s going on this time."

Your father—Marcel—has found a way to break through the barrier preventing him access to the city. If it hasn’t happened already, I’m sure he’s found a way through the protections around your home.

How? I asked.

My brain processed Rome’s words as an echo. As he spoke I felt more and more defeated. I’m afraid that’s my fault—I left him in charge of the coven so I could come find you without suspicion.

It finally sank in… the crushing feeling. Let him come… I don’t care anymore.

Onyx? Rome stepped forward and put his hand to my shoulder.

I couldn’t even lift my eyes to meet his.

Esben moved closer and peered down at me.

I just don’t care anymore. I fell to my knees and started crying. Normally, I wouldn’t have been so weak and helpless in front of them… but I couldn’t help it.

Onyx… you have to leave Philadelphia. I’ve made arrangements—

I snapped my gaze upward, feeling the burn and flush of rage hit my face. What part of ‘I don’t care’ didn’t you fucking get?!

Esben appeared to be genuinely frightened by my response. He was the last person I wanted to drive away, so I took a deep, calming breath for his sake.

This is more than just about you. Think of those you love—think of Daniel, Rome said.

Who’s Daniel? Esben asked.

Esben’s clueless response to Rome’s wake-up call put things in perspective for me. This was bigger than Daevan and myself. I stood back up and wiped my tears. My brother.

You have a brother?

He’s another Tutorea. Before you get confused, he was born a woman and transitioned later in life.

Esben’s eyes went to Rome before looking back at me. And you didn’t think to tell me this? Either of you?

I don’t trust anyone… not anymore. Daniel is my first priority, followed by my friends. I’m sorry Esben, I just couldn’t.

His gaze dipped