Regrets

Minty

Alador has been down in his lab for about...

Huh, Alador can't remember how long he's been down there. Sighing, Alador put down the abomination goo he was holding and set it back into the cauldron. He needed to head back up to the main part of the house.

Alador rarely ever left his lab anymore, only coming out of his 'dungeon' as his kids call it, when Odalia drags him out to go to business meetings or a family dinner. Now was one of those times when he heard his wife's honeyed voice call out to him. Letting out a huff, Alador headed up the stairs to see what his wife wanted.

It took him awhile since he kept slipping on the still slick abomination goo on his boots, but Alador made it none the less. His wife looked at him in scrutiny, her cold icy eyes stared down on him, like a lion looking at a gazelle, but she didn't dare say a word. Odalia always kept her mouth shut when it came to Alador's appearance nowadays, only ever criticizing him in front of people.

Odalia clears her throat and speaks up with her fake sweet tone she always uses. "Dear, I have a surprise for you." She said with cheer while Alador slightly turned his head like a curious dog. Odalia's eye twitched at that action, it is not how a Blight should behave. She will surely fix that, but now she needed to focus on the surprise.

"As you may have known, I always make our family look and be, the best of the best, so that's why I fixed a problem we've had for a while now. Oh Amity! come down here and show your father your new look!" Odalia called Amity down with delight.

Then, Amity slowly came down the stairs. She looked pained, the dark circles around her eyes from lack of sleep were more prominent now, Amity also looked like she had been crying not too long before she made her appearance. But the one thing that sent the most waves of anger to Alador was the new mint color of Amity's hair.

Alador held his anger, he had been taught this many times in the past. So, instead he just let out a huff and walked over to his youngest child. He gently grabbed Amity's freshly dyed hair and gave her a sad smile.

"It's beautiful, Amity." Alador said in a hushed, gentle voice. "Really?" Amity spoke in a small voice and grabbed a strand of hair with a sorrowful expression on her face. "Of course, you'll look beautiful no matter what." He said to reassure Amity.

Amity smiled at her dad's comment and that brought warmth to Alador's heart. Alador gave his child a bear hug to assure her even more. Now that Alador thinks about, he couldn't remember the last time Amity gave a genuine smile like that. Especially after her tenth birthday, that was the one where Amity got that necklace from Odalia. 'I wonder if that has to do with anything?' Alador wandered to himself.

Alador can feel Odalia's eyes burning holes in the back of his head, that's when he knew it was time to let go of Amity. Giving his child one more warm smile, he walked over to his wife's side. "Now, Mittens I expect you to go back to your room and study." Odalia said sternly. Amity gave a simple yes mother, then sped off and went back up the stairs. Alador needed to head to Amity's room later to check on her without his wife watching over him like a hawk.

Now that Alador was alone with his wife, he could finally voice his opinion about the new mint colored hair. "Odalia, why did you dye Amity's hair?" Alador said while clenching his teeth. Odalia gave him a look like it was obviously. "Well dear, I wanted her to look like the family, like myself and her siblings." Alador scoffed at this and it surprised Odalia since Alador never put up a fight with her ever. So, even the little bit of retaliation was out of character for him.

"There was nothing wrong with Amity's hair! She already looked like the family! Me, Odalia! Me!" Alador said with power, but he made sure that his kids couldn't hear him. They're always frightened by loud noises.

Odalia's face showed surprise, but it quickly changed to anger. "Alador Blight! We are not discussing this, Amity will now have green hair. I'm done talking about this matter." Odalia walked away making sure her footsteps could be heard. Odalia has always ended arguments like this. She always made sure she had the last say and that Alador couldn't press the matter further. Odalia always makes sure she has the final say in anything. Her words were law in the Blight household.

Alador wanted to pull his hair out of frustration. Instead, he tightly gripped his hair to get some relief. He just needs to focus on anything but his wife. The pain from his scalp was helping him ground himself as to not let out anymore anger. Alador always hates being angry at anyone no matter the person.

After a few minutes, Alador cleared his head. He released his hair and tried to make it look more presentable, but it always looks like a mess. Alador started to make his way to Amity's room. He passed his room and a number of different ones too. Alador could see that the lights were still on from the crack underneath the door.

Alador quietly opened the door and peered in. He found Amity at her desk writing away with a stack of textbooks next to her. Alador never liked how much pressure Odalia puts on Amity to study. He wasn't opposed to studying, but it was too much for an eleven-year-old to deal with.

Alador finally walked in and silently walked over to his daughter's desk, but Amity was deep in thought to hear Alador's footsteps. Alador took the pencil out of Amitys hand and shut the textbooks she had open.

That action startled Amity, making her jump in her seat a little. Turning her head sharply, Amity looked at the person who scared her. Letting out a little sigh at the sight of her dad, Amity made a little pout and tried to grab the pencil out of Alador's hand. "Amity it's getting late, you can stop studying for tonight." Alador said in a soothing voice. "But dad, I need to study." Amity whined. Alador speedily swept Amity up and threw her over on his shoulder.

Amity was giggling while playfully hitting her dad's back. Alador did a few spins as to not make both of them sick, then settled Amity into bed. He tucked her in and gave her a little pat on the head. Alador hadn't been this affectionate in years since he never knew how to fix the rift in their relationship, but it brought a smile to his face, nonetheless.

Alador got up and headed towards the door, he flicked off the lights and was about to close the door, but a hushed voice called out to him. Poking his head back in Alador waited for his daughter to speak. "Is it fine if you could read me Otabin before you go?" Amity said looking away in embarrassment. Alador gave a bright smile to Amity and headed to her bookcase.

He picked up the worn book and sat at the foot of the bed. He opened it up and started reading.

———

"Then we'll be your first, the Chicken Witch clucked. Otabin couldn't believe his luck. So, Bookmaker Otabin surrounded by friends, bound a book of friendship and that's the end."

Alador finished reading the final lines of the book. He looked up to see Amity out like a light, Alador let out a quiet chuckle and set the book back in its original spot.

Alador went back to the door and turned the lights off, he gave one finally look at Amity and she hadn't moved a muscle. He closed the door as quietly as he could and walked down the hallway. Alador almost passed his door, but then it opened to show Odalia in the doorway. "Dear, you haven't slept in our room in quite some time, come in." Odalia spoke softly but Alador knew not to trust it, but he wasn't going to argue and walked into the room.

Alador changed into his pajamas and finally got out of his work clothes that desperately needed to be washed. He went to his side of the bed and crawled underneath the covers. He turned to his side away from Odalia, but not long after, he could feel a cold arm wrap around his stomach.

Odalia was always unsettling cold and Alador always hated to be touched by the women. He wasn't going to put up a fight though and he ignored the arm holding him.

Finally drifting off to sleep, Alador missed the times were he and Amity would sit in his library and just read Otabin story's all day by his fireplace. Alador was glad he could rekindle the little relationship he had left with his daughter after years of resentment towards him.