A Hunger to Share ( Book One )

chapter 19

Nora   

"Which one of you let Ada out?" Dad shouted, eyeing Ben and Nora while pacing back and forth in front of them, face etched in fury.

"It was me." Nora anounced, smiling cheerfuly at him.

Next to her, Ben was trying to look as innocent as possible. He was her partner in crime after all. On Nora's other side, Mom was looking at Dad with resentment. They had just gotten home.

"You've ruined us all with your idiocy. Why won't anyone in this goddamned house listen to me?" He shouted again, wearing a hole in the carpet.

Nora opened her mouth to answer but Mom beat her to it. "Because you're wrong and we're done taking orders from you." She held her chin up, eyes defying.

Nora gave her a thumbs up which didn't go unnoticed by Dad.

"So you've all conspired against me. Is that it?" His mouth was a tight, straight line.

"That's right." Nora said, inspecting her nails.

"I thought we had resolved this issue Grace. I told you I was going to release Ada tonight..."

"Release her?" Anger was radiating off Mom in waves. "As if she's some sort of criminal."

"She tried to kill me..."

"Ada stood up to you and rightly so..."

"You can't possibly defend her. She crossed a line..."

"So did you. Long before her."

"Yes I did, and I'm sorry for that, but you still can't..."

"I can, and I am." Mom's tone was final. "I will not let you traumatize this family any furthur, which you're not a part of any more, by the way."

Nora couldn't believe this was actually happening. Mom was kicking Dad out. Nora took out her phone. Ben rose an eyebrow at her. She gave him a conspirational wink.

Father looked as if he'd been struck by lightning. "You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious in my life." Mom stood up, looking confident, and regal, just like old times.

"Grace, honey..."

"Pack your shit, and leave the house. Be grateful I didn't toss your ass to the curb with only the clothe on your back. And take your guards with you."

Ben was looking at her with awe and respect. So was Nora. This was going way better than she'd expected.

"You can't do this. Please Grace. It would kill me to be separeted from you..."

"Not this again Steven..."

"You're not thinking rationaly. You're already in great danger because of Ada leaving, if I leave too, things will get even more dangerous. Please, give me another chance. Let's talk about this. I'm sure we can find a reasonable solution..."

Mom shook her head firmly. "I've given you more chances than you deserve, but no more leniency. You're leaving, and that's the end of it. you have an hour to pack."

"Please, you need to listen to me. I've made horrible mistakes. But I swear, all I did was to protect you. There are some very powerful people out there, ancient vampires, who want me dead. They'll come after you too. You can't let this family be separated. If you don't Bring Ada back, the results will be catastrauphic..."

"For God's sake Steven, will you eever stop?" Mom snapped.

"Why do you think no one's ever bothered us in the past year? Because I've been protecting us. There's a spell. It hides us from our enemies, but only by staying together. You wanted truth. This is the truth."

"I've heard enough." Mom said in a harsh tone.

Dad ran a hand through his brown hair, becoming more desparete by the minute. "Please, you need to believe me."

"Even if I did, we still don't need you here. I can protect my own. And they, who ever they might be, if they exist at all, are your enemies, not ours. This is your mess, clean it up yourself."

"Grace you don't know what you're doing..."

"I'm doing what I should have done a long time a go."

He cleared his throat, and pulled himself together. "If that's what you really want, then I respect it."

"It is." Mom's ton was stone cold. "start packing."

"If you needed my help with anything, call me, I'll come right away."

"As I said, I can manage on my own." She ascended the stairs.

"Come on Nora. Let's go." Ben said, taking her hand.

"Nora, can I talk to you for a second?" Dad was looking at her like a kicked puppy.

"You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to." Ben gave her hand a little reasurring squeeze.

"You go up. I ll join you." Ben did, but reluctantly. Nora stared at Dad. "I won't intervene between you and Mom."

He sighed defeatedly. "I know I can't expect that from you. Although I do wish she would change her mind..."

"You dare say that?" Nora snapped at him. "After you pushed her, and imprisoned Ada? after you made us live in constant fear of you and the world outside? You don't get to wish such selfish things."

He smiled faintly. "It's in times like this I see the true resemblence between you, and your sister."

Nora crossed her arms. "If you're looking for an apology, you won't get it."

"No, you did the right thing. I'm proud of you. At least you're not trying to kill me." He laughed dryly. She didn't. "I kept doing one wrong thing after another, and I have only myself to blame."

"Then don't go after Ada. If you really love her, let her be happy Dad."

He sighed. "fine. I'll leave her alone. I'll leave all of you alone. But please be careful, and take care of eachother. Let's hope I was just paranoid."

Nora nodded. "Thanks Dad. You too."

She watched as he dragged himself up the stairs.