A Hunger to Share ( Book One )

chapter 13

Ada    

Seconds after she closed the grand ebony door, Father was there, shouting in her face. "What in all seven hells do you think you're doing?"

Ada stared at him. "Closing the door. Is there a rule for that too?"

He tried to keep his voice down. "He's human for god's sake."

Ada walked past him. "They should give you a prize for being so observent."

"Why do you keep doing this?"

"Because it pisses you off."

He blocked her way, face cold with suppressed anger. "It's been a year. When are you going to stop acting like a brat?"

"When you stop acting like a heartless, cruel tyrant, so probably never."

Father ran a hand through his face, exasperated. "I might have been a bit harsh on you..."

Ada laughed dryly. "Might have? A bit?"

He grabbed her arm tightly. "Don't talk back to me like that..."

Ada wrenched it out of his hold. "Or what? What are you going to do?"

"I'm tired of your attitude."

"You'r just pissed because you know I'm right."

"All I've ever done has been for the good of this family..."

"What family?" She scoffed. "Families are supposed to be loving, and supporting. This shit is anything but..."

"Ada be quiet, or I swear to God..." He tried to grab her again.

she pushed him back. "Don't touch me."

He stumbled, cought by surprise. "You better be careful what you do next, or what comes out of your mouth." Her Father righted himself.

"Fuck you."

"We need order to survive." His brown eyes were blazing with fury. "Otherwise we'll be easy prey for our enemies, hunters, and other things that are much worse..."

"Oh please..."

"Everything I've ever done, has been to protect you, all of you, like I promised. If you stopped hating me for just a second, then maybe you'd understand."

"There is nothing to understand. You've become a paranoid, abusive father, and husband, and you dare tell me to stop?"

"Ada." He growled threateningly.

"Of course I hate your guts. Why wouldn't I? I'm sure Mom and Nora feel the same. They're just too scared to say it to your face..."

Ada felt a searing pain on her cheek, and realized her Father had struck her. Blood trickle down where his wedding band had grazed it. Ada touched it, staring him down.

He at least had the decency to look ashamed, but the hard, angry look didn't leave his face. "Don't make me do that again."

"Why stop there? I know you hate me too. I bet you wish you'd never turned me in the first place..."

He grabed Ada's neck with one hand, and hissed in her face. "I would never leave my family behind..."

"I wish you had..."

"Enough." He snapped.

Ada didn't try to open his fingers. She needed to know how far he was willing to take this. His hold was not strong enough to chocke her but it would probably leave a bruise.