The Fisherman's Greatest Catch |Book 2

Chapter 7

Peter

I waited until Pa came home from the market. It was two in the morning when I heard the front door creak open, sounds of him groaning in pain and anger filling my ears as I began to feel my heartbeat grow faster with each footstep that made its way towards my door.

I pretended to be asleep as he pushed open the door of my bedroom. He let out a disgusted sigh as he approached my bed, a cry threatening to escape my mouth as he got closer. I was afraid he was going to get mad at me and hurt me again... I never thought he would do something like that in the first place. He was always too old and frail to ever lay a hand on me. That's why I usually stood up to him when he was trying to tear me down.

It's like he knew that he was stronger than we believed him to be. Like he faked being sick so he didn't have to do any work. So I had to support him all of my life. So much time and childhood wasted...

″Should have known he'd be messin' with their kind. He's always at sea.″ He began mumbling to himself. I heard as he pulled out the wooden chair from my desk beside my bed, sitting down near my bed with a deep sigh. I heard some kind of tone of sympathy in his voice when he spoke to himself, his deep voice cutting the tension in the air as he spoke.

″Of course Siren would try to talk to him. That fuckin' kid was always gettin' into stuff he shouldn't have.″

...What? How did he know his name?

″If they haven't banished me and taken away my dignity, I'd kill all of them myself.″

I heard as he pulled himself up from the chair, making his way out of my room. I heard as he practically dragged his feet against the floor, making his way to his room to sleep.

What did he mean by banishing? Banished from the kingdom?

...I have to ask Siren when I see him one day. He will know more about it than I do. I don't have time to sit here and ponder what he's talking about.

I waited an hour for my father to fall asleep. I knew my mother was already fast asleep in her bed, as she always is. I wouldn't be surprised if she slept through Pa beating up on me... or maybe she didn't even care.

I'm beginning to realize she doesn't care one bit about me. I was just a provider for her, and an enabler of her lifestyle. I thought maybe she was just sick, but truly, she gave up with she gained all that weight. She didn't make the effort to try anymore. The only one that is physically ill in this house is Ben.

I'm sure I could get him fixed. Maybe the warlocks could do something for him...

I pulled myself out of my bed, carefully walking across the wooden floor and grabbing the gasoline and lighter I hid under my bed. My hands shook as I carried it in my hands, walking out of my room with one final glance. This place isn't a home for me. It never was.

I walked carefully over to Ben's room, creaking the door open as carefully as I could. I slipped into his room, his eyes meeting mine as I did so.

″Ben... have you slept?″ I asked him. He shook his head in my direction, pulling himself up from his bed. He already wore his coat and had his belongings together, his cane right near his bed as he gazed in my direction.

″How can I?″ He barely mustered out. I frowned in his direction, making my way over to the bed and sitting down next to him.

″Y-You, don't resent me, right?-″