Wilting Violet (Part 1)

Epilogue

January 7, 2016, 9:00 pm, Violet's POV

    "I am DONE hearing about it! Done, Robin!" My Father yells, and I swallow my protests and grab my suitcase with shaking hands.

    "Fine, be done. I'm pretty done with you myself." I say under my breath, and he sighs in irritation, grabs my jacket, and pulls me back in front of him.

    "No, don't take it back, be done. J'en ai fini avec vous!" I snap louder and try to walk toward my gate, but Father doesn't let me go. [I'm done with you]

   "You do not understand the stakes. You do not know the Cost. That is my fault, but you do not get to insult me for not answering your questions in ways you would like." Father snaps, and I nod, trying to tune him out, but my brain stays awake in case he accidentally answers one of my questions.

    "I could understand the Cost if you would say anything more than the Heirs are my salvation!" I hiss, and Father's jaw locks.

    "Tu recommencés," Father says, and I throw my hands up. [You're starting again.]

    "You can't expect me not to ask! Why those Maniacs? How am I to believe if a better offer to your problem came along in, say, the Irish Heirs, I wouldn't be there? How can I trust you to know what is best when you won't tell me anything? Would you blindly trust me?!" I say, my voice raising, and Father glares at me.

    "It has always been expected that you are on an information diet until you are of age." Father counters, and I speak through gritted teeth. 'I didn't just decide to start an argument. Father has been holed up in his Office or on random trips with Bastien. Likely trying to figure out where the folder got to. So any time I asked him a question, he told me, 'Not now'... and now there is no time, he wasted days when he could have brought into the loop of my own future... my own dangers.'

    "If I were a son, I would be well past that age, Sir." I hiss, and Father and I glare at each other.

    "If you were a son, I probably wouldn't have this problem." Father snaps back, and I reel back like he smacked me. Father winces and then tries to catch me when I wrench my arm out of his grip.

    "That is a conversation you should have with your sperm, not the product of it!" I snarl purposely vulgarly.

    "Robin!" Father shouts in admonishment.

    "No, you don't get to tell me what to do. Four psychopaths get to." I snarl, and Father frowns but doesn't deny it, and I feel tears run down my cheeks as I remember how different this goodbye was in August. 'I trusted him blindly in August, but now I don't have that luxury. I can't even trust myself.'

    "I have a plane to catch, Sir." I hiss, turn away, and then stop when Father's hand rests on my shoulder.

    "I am so sorry, Oisillon. I-I, I love you very much." My Father says, sounding like he is about to cry with me. I don't turn back, but he walks around me and cradles me to him like he won't be able to do it again, which scares me more than the unknown. So my arms come up, and I hug him back just as hard as I hugged Mom, Azalea, and Dahlia before we left. [Baby Bird]

    "I love you too, Dad." I say tightly, too scared not to say it, 'What will happen to me?'

    "Kenton, make it a safe flight," Father says as he pulls back and looks at the ceiling until he can compose himself. Kenton nods and takes my Duffel from Father. I stare straight ahead as Father begins to walk away, and then I can't help turning around, feeling my eyes burn with tears as I watch him leave me. I let go of the suitcase and try to run back to him, but Aimon stops me and shushes me as I sniffle.