Or at least that’s what I wanted to believe, as it was easier to swallow than the truth.The truth that he was doing his job, scaring the kid to stop her—and me—from accessing magic.
And it was working.
Even though it was only Farrow sweeping through and rattling the house, fear quickened my heartbeat and lifted the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck.Bunny jumped on the sofa and bounced off, running into the kitchen where she or Farrow knocked over what sounded like a chair.Something shattered on the tiles.
I swore and left the mess in the living room, running into the kitchen to catch Bunny before she destroyed something else.
“What is going on?”My father grumbled as he stomped down the stairs.
I cursed again.Why couldn’t he have stayed in bed?“Bunny is being an idiot and tearing around the house.”
I’d done my best to avoid him since learning my mother was murdered—getting stabbed eleven times wasn’t an accident.How did I ask him what had happened and why he’d kept it from me without him demanding how I’d found out?
I grabbed Bunny’s collar as she tried to run past me.She yanked my arm, but I kept hold as I surveyed the damage done in the kitchen.A barstool was on its side, and the vase of flowers had been knocked over, sending glass and water and flowers everywhere.
My father flicked on the light.“Why didn’t you stop her sooner?”
I blinked and squinted as I turned to him, holding a struggling Bunny.“Because I was asleep.”
Lies.I’d much rather be doing whatever Farrow told me.I almost wished he hadn’t told me about the money, or my unexpected monster porn stardom.It had been simple before.Or at least I’d thought it was simple.Lust, voyeurism, a little kinky…
Somehow, I’d started to like him.How the fuck was I so gullible, so dumb, to start catching feels for a monster whose job it was to scare kids and stop sorcerers?
Right now I was both, and I didn’t want to be either.
My father narrowed his eyes as if he was aware of the pale blue jock beneath my pajama pants.“Look at the mess she’s made.”
“I can see it.What do you want me to do?Let her go or clean up?”
“Don’t be smart.”
Something banged upstairs, and Taya screamed.My father glanced up.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, Farrow.I get it, you’re pissed, but now I was going to get my ass chewed out for no good reason.
“It has been quiet for a month, and now all of a sudden this.”My father turned his suspicious glare to me.“What have you been doing?”
Slutting for a monster.“Nothing.”
“Stop bloody lying.You’re too much like your mother.Acting innocent while always scheming.”
“Am I going to end up stabbed, too?”The words tumbled off my tongue before I could stop them.Bunny whimpered.“It’s alright, girl.”
My stepmother comforted Taya, and the house went quiet.Too quiet, like the eye of a storm.Only this time, my father was the storm.
My pulse slowed and became heavy.I knew what was coming.Tonight was a night for bitter truths and opening old wounds.My mother had a name for those times, but I didn’t remember it, only that they were important and it was best to do a thorough job to allow the healing to begin.
My father stepped back and scowled.“Where did you hear that?”
He thought I’d been talking to someone.My mother’s dangerous friends, no doubt.“I read it.At first, the cops thought she’d run off to be with a boyfriend, but she never touched her bank account, so a year later, they got suspicious.They thought you’d killed her.I remember talking to the cops.”
His nostrils flared as he took another step back.“You don’t know anything.You were a child, and I was trying to protect you.”
The silence swelled, and my father wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“What did you do to protect me?”Bunny sat at my feet, done with chasing monsters and destroying the house.
“She was…” He shook his head.“It’s the same as now, all the noises and banging like something was creeping around.”
