Willow wet her lips, bewildered that he agreed to her request without making a fuss. A sense of loss rose within her heart, but she soon squashed it. It is for the best.
She wrapped herself in the towel once again. She can't be naked beside him. It is too dangerous.
Lothaire too stood, grabbed a pant laying on the floor, and tucked it. He then sat once again on the bed, giving her time to tell her reason.
His musky scent made her want to lean closer, to run her nose along her skin, to taste it. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair once again, feel that stubble over her skin. However, she controlled the urge. With great difficulty.
"My parents," Willow took a deep breath and continued, "they were killed by a vampire."
7 years ago
Willow grumbled under her breath at the unfairness of her parents. They always make her run errands for silly things while they discuss "grown-up" stuff.
As if she is a kid. Willow scoffed. She shuffled the rock with her feet and thought to herself, she is a 16-year-old. Almost an adult. She should be given adult duties. She too must be in the meetings.
But no, her parents look at her as if she is still in her nappies. Oh please! They don't know that many boys flirt with her already. Don't know that they want to get into her pants. As if she would let anyone be her first.
She would decide who her first will be. He will be a beautiful, honorable Fae. He will listen to her every word, wipe her tears, cook for her. He will do all the things her dad does to her mom and many more.
Willow sighed imagining her dream Fae. He would be tall, blonde like her, slim like an athlete, with his eyes changing between hazel or green. He would be mature and understanding.
Willow sighed once again. If only she could meet him right now. She will show them how well she can handle grown-up things.
She hefted the bags in her hands, her eyes drinking on the beauty around her.
Her mom loves nature. Of course, being a car they all love it. But her mom likes the area closer to the vampire border.
And her dad always does what her mom wants. Hence, they settled nearer to the vampire kingdom, their small town sharing the border with the vampire one.
Willow's steps soon led her to the steps of her home. Their home is modern and comfy, something in contrast to what normal Fae ones would like. Because her dad doesn't want her mom to do all the work.
"Mom! Dad!! I bought the things you asked for, ``Willow yelled from the entrance, taking off her shoes.
Her mom abhors yelling. A lady should never yell Willow. She must talk as if she is whispering, all dainty-like.
Willow snorted as if she could pull it off. She is not like her mother who is a girly girl if she saw one. Her mom is all things lady-like. Even while sipping a cup of tea she looks like Monet's painting coming to life.
And Willow looks like a stick beside her gaining all her father's attributes.
Perhaps there is a grain of truth in her parents' words. Willow looked at her chest area. She can do with a little bit of growing. Especially at her chest area.
"Mom!!" Willow heard a shuffling sound from the top stairs.
"Mom, dad are you up there in the bedroom? Come on guys, I know you love each other but it's broad daylight. That's just gross dad. See," Willow scrunched her nose, trying to pull her parents' legs. She knew they won't do anything that she may stumble upon. Not with her coming home soon. But she likes to tease all the same.
"Come on dad, you are not some horny teenagers. You guys have been married 50 years. 50 years. I would think you would be over each other by now. But no... my dad has to jump over my mom at every opportunity, ``Willow talked loudly to herself as she laid the bags on the nearby table and stepped on the stairs.
Her hand lightly on the banister, Willow raised her voice and said, "I'm coming into the bedroom if you guys don't come out. I mean it. I will come. And dad, I have no interest in seeing your naked butt, please cover it."
"Mom? Dad?"
That's strange. They are not normally the ones to keep quiet. Especially when Willow is around them teasing.
"Ok people, the time is up. You had your chance and you blew it. Now go and hide all you want, I'm going to catch you," Willow said, laughter ringing in her voice.
She didn't know at that moment that it would be the last time she would laugh like that. With her head thrown back, her mouth open, laughter tingling and echoing the entire room.
A sense of premonition gripped her. Her laughter died down abruptly within her.
Goosebumps prickled over her skin, her nape tingling in warning to run. Run and hide.
Sweat gathered near her forehead. A single drop trickling from her temple. Her hands started shivering. Her legs failed to cooperate.
With trembling hands, she gripped the doorknob and slightly twisted it.
"Dad?" She whispered, afraid that if she raised her voice then it would be all real.
The door's creaking sound is louder than ever in the deafening silence.
A tremble passed through her. Why is she getting so nervous?
Willow looked at the opened door that still covered the room, only making a small stop visible.
She doesn't want to go into that room. Every single cell in her body is protesting to take cover or better run.
With a deep breath, Willow pushed open the door fully.
The first thing her eyes land on is the deep red liquid that is on the floor. It completely darkened the light wood color flooring.
She took a step dragging her feet as if they were made of lead.
The smell hit her at once. It's rustic, it's the smell of death.
Willow scurried past the door, her feet stopping as she took in the scene before her.
She blinked once, twice. Yet she still saw the same thing. The shock made her rooted to the spot.
She should do something... but she can't move a muscle.
Suddenly, her dad's little finger twitched. That brought her out of the shock.
"Dad!!! Mom!!!" Willow crumbled on her knees, uncaring of the blood, her parents' blood that stained her jeans.
She is afraid to touch. To look. It is gruesome. The most horrific scene she witnessed.
Her mom's body laid like a broken doll on the floor. A chunk of her neck missing, blood oozing out of it, spreading around her like a halo. Her eyes open, never to blink again. Her right hand twisted, broken.
Her dad across from her. He has taken more damage than her Mom. Probably trying to save her.
A choked sob escaped her lips. His torso is brutally cut. As if someone has ripped a piece of paper at many places. Blood flowing freely from them.
His eyes are closed. His leg bent at an unnatural angle. No 16-year-old must witness this. Yet, there she sat between her parents, their blood circling around her as anguish filled scream tore from her insides.
"Ahhh"
"Ahhh. Why!!!!!"
"Why????"
Willow screamed, her voice echoing in the empty house. Huge, gut-wrenching sobs rocked her.
She doesn't have time to mourn. She needs to act. She saw her dad's little finger twitch again.
"Dad... dad... Can you hear me? Can you hear me?" Willow scrambled, trying to be near him, without touching him.
She is afraid. It is evident in her voice.
"I'm going to... I'm going to get some help, dad. You wait for me. Ok? You are going to be an alright dad. Everything is going to be ok," Willow promised, trying to reassure herself more than him.
She then stood and ran as if he'll hounds were behind her. She didn't realize the picture she made- a gangly-looking teenage girl running with her clothes coated in blood, her eyes wild, and no shoes on her feet.
Only when she came out of her house and ran a block did she become aware that there is no Fae doctor near her area. No hospital of any kind.
She ran wild, knocking on neighbors' doors for any kind... any kind of assistance for her dying dad who at this moment may be taking his last breath.
Tears ran down her cheeks, soaking her shirt.
"Please... please help me. Please help my dad," she begged, to anyone and everyone she crossed the path with.
Alas, not a soul was merciful. They ran in the opposite direction looking at her blood-stained clothes.
Fearing that she might miss her dad's last moments, Willow ran back to her home.
She knelt beside her dad, "dad... dad. Hold on dad. Help is on its way. Please... hold on. Just a few minutes more," she begged, lying through her teeth.
She wants to touch him, wrap herself with his scent one more time, one last time. But she is terrified. Terrified she will increase his pain somehow.
"Wil... will... Willow," came a slow whisper.
"Yes... yes, dad. I'm here. I'm here," she jumped, wanting to grab his hand.
"Mo... Mom..."
Willow swallowed the lump in her throat with difficulty.
"She is fine, dad. She is... fine. The doctor is looking at her right now dad. He says she will recover dad. She just needs some rest. She is resting now. You hang on. The doctor will come soon. And then it is your turn. Ok, dad? Just a few more minutes dad," Willow said vehemently trying to make those statements true.
Her dad closed his eyes then, a sigh escaping from him along with his last breath as if he was waiting to hear about his wife.
"No!!!! No!!!"
"No please dad. Don't leave me. Please. Not you too. I'm scared of dad. I don't know anything. Please, dad. Don't leave me here alone. Come back to me. Just one-time dad. I promise I will behave. Please dad," Willow pleaded, her vision blurring because of her tears.
Alas, no one listened to her plea.
Her grief was so profound that it swallowed her whole. She became a shell of herself until the Guild took her in.