Unfortunately it turned out our little town's only Italian restaurant was now a Tandoori place, and all four pizza joints were take-out only. So Nia picked a national chain restaurant next to the big-box plaza that mostly served typical North American style food. They were known for pizza though, along with their selection of pastas.
After one look at the menu I decided to go all-in with the cheese theme and went with a 'create your own' pasta dish, with a cheese tortellini with a four-cheese sauce, baked until the top was crispy. It came with a piece of garlic toast so I had them cover that in cheese too. The waiter probably wondered why my order caused both Nia and Sara to smirk, but he didn't ask.
Speaking of the catgirl, it seemed like I'd inspired her to lean into her beastkin heritage as well, since she ordered a dish that sounded like it'd appeal to a carnivore kitty. Or maybe she just had expensive tastes, considering she got a very rare bacon-wrapped steak filet. Meanwhile Nia ordered a half rack of honey-garlic ribs with a side of fries, her dad got a fancy burger, and her mom tried the chicken and pasta alfredo. And we all had either water or soda to drink, nobody bothered with anything alcoholic.
The food was pretty much what you'd expect for that kind of restaurant chain, everything was ok and inoffensive. Except for my cheesy dish, which turned out to be really good. Although I wasn't sure if that's because I got lucky and ordered the right thing, or if being a mousekin just meant I liked cheese regardless.
As much as I enjoyed my meal I still had that background anxiety of knowing we'd be seeing my dad after we finished dinner. And that made me a little more talkative than usual, which got me in trouble more than once with Mrs. Brennan. Between my nerves and the fact that I was still so new to all the magical realm stuff I kept straying into topics we weren't supposed to discuss in public.
Each time that happened the older witch would interrupt and change the subject, then she'd give both Nia and I a firm look. And in turn I'd cringe and mumble an apology, then try to focus on my food again. Meanwhile Nia would give me a supportive look or gently bump her leg against mine under the table, so I'd know it was ok and she wasn't upset with me.
Fortunately it didn't seem like anyone else was paying any attention to us regardless. The place was busy with what I figured was a typical Sunday evening crowd, and as far as I could see all the other diners were just focused on their own tables and their own conversations.
Apart from that the dinner was mostly fine. We all had enough to eat, and everybody else pretty much finished their meals. I managed to get about halfway through my pasta and garlic bread, and Nia tried a few bites too. Then Mr. Brennan paid the bill, and just like that it was time to go back to the house and see my dad.
I could feel some growing apprehension as the five of us made our way out to the mini-van. Then Nia and I climbed into the very back row again, while Sara had the middle row to herself in front of us. And like usual Mr. Brennan got behind the wheel, while Mrs. Brennan was in the passenger seat.
"Is your dad still living in the same place as before Kiki?" Mr. Brennan asked. "About a kilometre or so east of Nia's apartment, near the river?"
I grimaced slightly but nodded, "Yes sir, same as always. It's just a half block up from Riverview Park."
"I guess it's time to send some texts," I added quietly as I opened my new purse and pulled my phone out.
Nia slipped her arm around my shoulders and gave me a supportive squeeze, "It'll be ok Kiki, we're all here with you."
Mrs. Brennan suggested, "You'd best get started dear. We'd like to time our arrival to coincide with the last of your messages."
"Yes ma'am," I replied as I pulled my phone out of my purse and turned it on.
We had to wait a minute or two for it to boot up, then it buzzed with a couple more message and missed call notifications. All the alerts were from my dad again, and I couldn't avoid looking at his last few texts since they were right there when I opened up the messaging app. Like I figured there were a lot of angry demands for me to stop ignoring him and get my ass home.
He also sent a couple messages warning me to keep away from Nia and her family, which I wasn't expecting. I knew he didn't like my best friend very much, but I didn't know why. And despite whatever misgivings he had about her he'd never actually told me to avoid her before.
For now I put those thoughts out of my mind, and instead took a deep breath before I began composing my coming-out text. At the same time Mr. Brennan finally pulled out of the parking space, which meant we'd probably be at my dad's place in less than five minutes.
"Hi dad," I wrote, "Sorry I've been quiet the last couple days. Been really busy, a lot of really big stuff happened. The first big news is I figured out I'm trans. I'm a girl, I'm your daughter. Please call me Kiki from now on, and FYI I've started using she/her pronouns."
As soon as that was sent I got to work on the next message, "Second big thing is I found out about magic and the crossroads. I know you know about that stuff too, I heard you were there Friday night looking for me. The important thing is, thanks to magic I got a miracle transition. So I've already got a body I'm very happy with. You won't recognize me at first since I look completely different now, but I'm really happy. My new body feels more like 'me' than I ever did before."
I sent that text before I had a chance to second-guess any of it, and immediately started on the third one. "The last big news is I'm moving out. I've found someplace else to live, so you don't have to worry about paying for my food or clothes or education anymore. I'm on my way over right now with some friends to pack up my stuff, then I'll be out of your hair for good. See you soon."
Once again I sent the text as soon as I was done writing it, then took another deep breath to try and keep myself calm. We were practically just around the corner by that point, only a half minute or so away, and I could almost picture the veins on my dad's forehead starting to throb as he read my texts. I figured he'd be on the old sofa in the living-room, with the TV on, a bottle of beer in one hand and his phone in the other.
"It'll be ok cutie," Nia whispered as she gave me another supportive squeeze. "I won't let anything happen to you. Neither will mother."
"Thanks," I whispered back.
That's about all the time we had to talk though, as we rounded the last corner and the house came into view just a few dozen meters ahead. It was a slightly run-down two bedroom split-level in an older part of town, but up until this weekend it was home. It hadn't felt very safe or welcoming lately, but it was at least familiar. And sometimes it reminded me of happier times, back before mom died.
"It would seem that your father already has company this evening," Mrs. Brennan commented as we pulled to a stop next to the curb in front of the house.
Sure enough there were two vehicles in the driveway. My dad's big old black pick-up was in its usual spot in the carport, but behind that was a small sporty-looking red coupe. I was pretty sure I recognized it though.
"I think that belongs to one of my dad's drinking buddies," I sighed. "His name's Jim."
Nia asked, "Another cop?"
I shook my head, "I don't think he's a cop. He's that type though, I think he works at the courthouse. Maybe he's a lawyer or something?"
"Are we still going in there?" I added with some anxiety in my voice again. "Or does this change things?"
After a slight hesitation Mrs. Brennan decided, "You need to have this conversation with your father, dear. And as we've already set things in motion, it's best if we see it through this evening."
"Alright," I grimaced.
With the decision made the older witch emerged from the passenger door, while Sara slid open the side door and hopped out. Then Nia climbed out of the back row, and helped me out as well. Her dad stayed in the car though, and kept the engine running. That kind of felt like he was acting like a getaway driver, in case we needed to make a run for it. Which wasn't a very reassuring thought, unfortunately.
Then my best friend slid the door closed again behind me, and that's when I realized it was just her and Mrs. Brennan and me. The catgirl familiar had disappeared when I wasn't looking, and I had no idea if she was invisible or if she'd translocated someplace or maybe just wandered off. I didn't have a chance to ask though, as my mistress and her mother both set off for the front door of the house. So I scurried after them, then moved slightly in front since it was my home. At least for another few minutes anyways.
When we got to the door I hesitated for a second, then steeled myself before swinging it open. As I led Nia and her mom inside I called out, "Hey dad I'm home! It's -"
That's as far as I got before I heard him getting up off the living-room sofa. It was a very distinct sound that I'd practically memorized over the last few years, because if he wasn't going to get another beer then it meant he was probably coming to yell at me. Or worse. I forced myself to keep talking though, even though he was already stomping his way towards the front hall.
"It's me, Kiki," I continued, "Your trans daughter. I hope you got my text messages?"
A moment later Mrs. Brennan closed the front door behind her and Nia, about the same time my dad emerged from the living-room.
Dad came to a halt in the hallway in front of us, and sure enough he was clutching his phone in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. He was dressed in a white undershirt, his black uniform trousers and a pair of dark socks, which meant he'd probably only just got home from work in the past hour or so. All that was more of an afterthought for me though, as I mostly focused on his expression. Which didn't look good.
He was obviously angry, with his brow furrowed and his face almost as red as his crew-cut hair. He scowled down at me for a moment before his eyes flicked to Nia then her mom. Then he fixed his gaze on me again.
I was almost holding my breath as I waited for the explosion of angry shouting and cursing, but instead of yelling dad actually kept his voice low when he finally spoke. That was even scarier, his low angry voice meant he'd already gone beyond casual shouting and violence. It meant he was serious.
"You ungrateful little shit," he growled as he continued scowling at me. "After everything I did for you? Raised you, looked after you, worked hard to send you to college, this is how you thank me? By dressing yourself up and trying to pass yourself off as a god damned girl? You think a little magic make-over and some new clothes are going to change who and what you really are? Boy?!"
He put extra emphasis on that last word, which made me flinch a little. Then I felt Nia's arm around my shoulders again, and her touch was enough to help me recover some of the fake bravery I'd been practising earlier. I tried to straighten my back and set my shoulders, and even took a breath to respond, but just then dad's buddy Jim emerged from the living-room to stand next to him. And suddenly I had something else on my mind.
I'd seen Mr. Allaway around often enough to recognize both him and his car, but tonight it felt like I was seeing him for the very first time. Because in addition to the tall slim middle-aged guy I knew as one of my dad's drinking buddies, I could also see the faint ghostly outline of him as a tall handsome fae.
Jim's eyes locked on mine for a moment, and I knew he could see the real me just as clearly as I saw him. He'd know how tiny I really was, and he'd see my big mousie ears and long skinny tail. I knew he'd also see Nia and her mother for who they really were too, same as they could see him.
Maybe the most worrying aspect of that new development was how Mrs. Brennan reacted. She didn't seem scared, but I could tell she was suddenly wary, maybe even a little defensive. In fact I got the feeling Jim wasn't just any random fae guy. The way she was looking at him I had a feeling they knew each other. And they weren't friends. Sure enough that was all but confirmed a moment later when the two finally spoke up.
"Seumas Allaway," the older witch addressed the fae man in a cold voice. "So you're the one who sent Mr. Moodie to the crossroads."
Dad's buddy sneered slightly, "Hello Eabha. I see you're up to your old tricks again. And yes, I told my friend how to find Gruffudd's Grove, in hopes that he might have the chance to save his son from the likes of you."
"I'm sorry Carl," he added as he put a hand on my dad's shoulder. "If I'd known earlier your son was associating with those witches I'd have warned you much sooner. It looks like they've already tricked him into one of their pacts. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do, your boy belongs to them now."
My dad didn't say anything to his friend, he was still scowling angrily at me and Nia and Mrs. Brennan. I could tell he was working his way up to something though, from the way the he was obviously clenching and unclenching his jaw muscles. And the way his knuckles were going white I knew he was clutching his beer bottle tight enough I worried it might shatter.
Meanwhile Nia gave me another little supportive squeeze, which helped. Although after glancing up at her I realized she was probably almost as tense as me. She definitely seemed surprised about Jim being fae, and that stuff he said about her mother obviously bothered her too.
After another second or two I decided to try and say something. I doubted it would help, but I wanted to try and dispell some of the rapidly growing tension in the air.
"Dad?" I commented quietly. I was trying my best to keep the anxiety out of my voice, but I was sure everyone could hear it regardless. "I know you might not believe me, but I want you to know I'm happy like this. I never knew what was wrong with me before, but this was it. I'm trans, I was never meant to be a guy."
Then I gestured towards the stairs as I added, "We're just going to go up to my room so we can grab my stuff. Then we'll leave. We're not here to cause any trouble."
Before I could even take a step towards my room dad moved to block the staircase. He kept his eyes on me as he pointed at Mrs. Brennan and demanded, "You think you're safe with that woman? You're not! You know what she is, right? Do you know why she spent a decade here pretending to be human?"
"She was here because that witch is a criminal!" dad stated. "She was banished, exiled from her happy little magical hidey-hole for all her heinous magical crimes. Whatever she's told you, whatever she offered you, it's all lies."
That caught me off-guard and left me reeling, since it hadn't even occurred to me to question why Nia's parents originally came to live in the mundane world all those years ago. Especially when they seemed to prefer living in the magical realm, enough to want my friend to move back there with them.
I didn't have time to dwell on those thoughts though, because the next thing my dad said was what I'd been fearing most.
"We're going to fix whatever she's done to you son," he stated. "I'm not going to let that witch take you away. You're staying here with me, and we'll find a way to fix whatever she's done to mess you up so badly."
Hearing that made my gut lurch, and I took a half-step back closer to Nia then shook my head. "I'm not staying here dad, and there's nothing about me that needs to be fixed. I love my new body, it's perfect. I never ever want to go back to what I was before."
"Don't worry Kiki," Mrs. Brennan assured me in her typical calm confident tone. "There is nothing your father or anyone else can do to take your true form away from you. And don't let him scare you with those lies either. Deflection and projection are among Mr. Allaway's favourite tactics, as they are for many manipulative bullies. I'm quite certain we have him to thank for that fanciful tale of crime and exile."
The fae witch paused to give Jim a hard look, before focusing her attention on my dad instead. She continued, "Speaking of true forms, your beastkin heritage had to come from somewhere. And if it wasn't in your mother's bloodline..."
"Then perhaps you got it from your father instead," she stated as she raised a hand towards my dad.
It was obvious Mrs. Brennan just cast a spell, and Mr. Allaway sprang into action like he was trying to intervene and stop it somehow. It was just as clear that he was too late though. There weren't any sparkly lights or special effects, but my dad's body had already started to change before my eyes.
For a brief second I found myself wondering what he'd look like as tiny mousekin like me, but those thoughts immediately faded. Because instead of getting smaller, my dad was growing bigger. And scarier. There was a sound of ripping fabric as dad's work trousers came apart, and a moment later his socks split too. When it was over dad was left standing there in front of us wearing nothing but a badly stretched undershirt, while his boxers now fit more like briefs. And scary as that was, the rest of him was far more frightening.
My dad had gone from about a hundred and ninety centimetres tall to at least two and a quarter meters. He still had a bit of a beer belly, but his shoulders were broad and muscular, and his legs were like tree trunks. There were two large fangs jutting up from his lower jaw like a pair of tusks. His fingernails had darkened and thickened into tough claws, same with his toenails. And his complexion seemed to take on a slightly greyish cast, while his red hair had become a little brighter than before. His eyes were still blue, but they looked even beadier now. Mostly though he looked angry. Like really angry.
Angry enough that he suddenly let out a roar so loud that it practically left my knees shaking.