A loud silence punched into the room. Mom, Dad, and Luna looked at Lucian like a landmine just clicked under his foot.
Here we go. Even now, mention of "the incident," the reason we moved out of the big bad city, brought tension. I rubbed my shoulder feeling the rough scars underneath. Demons weren't the only freaks that tried to kill me, just the most recent. In truth, they didn't scare me as much as humans. At least hell's natives were upfront about wanting me dead.
After Mom's icy look and an elbow from Luna, Lucian apologized. Dad pulled my hand off my shoulder and held it tight, something he'd done a lot while I'd recovered in the hospital.
I looked around the table. "I'm okay." I knew the damage still bloodying my psyche would take time to recover, but I'd sworn I wouldn't be some pathetic tortured soul just because a bunch of loser friends had gone whacko on me. I smiled at Dad. "Someone once told me that just because you're beat-up … "
"Doesn't mean you're beaten," Dad finished his favorite motto. "Wise man. I'm sure he's devastatingly handsome too." He ignored our snorts of laughter.
Luna said, "So about those seven boyfriends," and we moved on.
Mom shook her head. "They weren't-oh, forget it. Do you remember them, Aurora?"
"Kind of." I mined through the catacombs of my memory. Images flashed. "Did someone have horses?"
"Yes!" Mom nodded. "On a farm. You went riding a couple of times when the class went out on field trips. And there were twins. I remember because I had twins too and, oh, jeez, their mother was gorgeous. Hawaiian or something. Remember, honey?" Dad cleverly claimed ignorance on the hottie mom. "All of their parents kept to themselves, but so did we. I'll bet at least some of them are still around. Want me to find out? You guys could hang out."
"Mom, they could be mutant zombie serial killers by now," Lucian warned.
"Enough with the mutant zombies. No more video games for you."
"Fine. Can I talk about boobs?"
I hadn't told my family about my demonic detecting skills. They're far too normal to understand, and I'm afraid I'd end up in the hospital again. Only this one would have padded walls. But today's encounter had upped the ante in a game I wasn't sure how to play. I needed answers and a plan before I earned myself and everyone I loved a one-way ticket to dead.