Labyrinth Dancer

Chapter Eight: Father's Truth

Inara couldn't believe that so far an hour into looking for her Father that he wasn't at any of the usual bars or strip joints he usually frequented. As she walked briskly down the sidewalk on Main Street though, she paused; a revelation falling over her as she looked up at the Moon. 

It was full, just like it would've been the night her mother had died. The Moon was a staple in her childhood through both of her parents in fact. 

Walking again she took a turn that would lead her out of town, towards the city's cemetery about half an hour away on foot if she walked. If she ran she just might be able to get there faster. 

Taking a deep breath she started out walking and then transitioned into a jog before picking up her speed to get going faster. 

***

Jareth who was flying high above her watched her intently noticing the change in her demeanor as she started once again running quickly out of town instead of through town.  

He could not understand why until in the distance he could see the Cemetery; and the familiar car her father drove...

***

Catching her breath at the entrance of the Cemetery she stood there for a moment, the path she would take once she stepped inside was one she had taken so often since the death of her mother that she could make it with her eyes closed. 

She knew before she stepped inside that this probably was not going to go well. It had been years since her father had even been able to look at her sober without yelling or cursing at her. It was usually worse when he was drunk since it made his rage looser. She had no idea what situation this might lead to. 

Taking a breath she braced herself and took the familiar path towards the back of the Cemetery, where not only her mother was buried but her family; it was the location of the family plot on her mother's side. 

Walking Slowly between the gravestones and markers she took her time, keeping her senses open to anything or anyone nearby. With only the light of the Full Moon to guide her she knew that he was probably going to be expecting her. 

As she neared the place where the family plots were she centered her eyes on the lone figure sitting before the grave that belonged to her mother. Pausing at the edge of the section she called out to him quietly. 

"Dad, we need to head home now." Her voice was quiet but strong, much like her mother's had been whenever her father drank. Though it had been sometime since that tone had been taken with him, she could tell by how his back stiffened that he was recalling how her mother had possessed the same tone and voice at times. 

It didn't help that she looked so much like her mom, her features, her voice; the overall way she carried herself had led to not only the community calling her the 'witch'; but, for her father himself to believe that she was the demon that would haunt his life because of his own inner demons. 

"Well now, so ya finally find me at the demon's grave?" He slurred, the stench of alcohol reaching her nose as he spoke. 

She wrinkled her nose slightly at the unpleasant smell and her eyes caught the glint of the familiar bottle of his favorite liquor. The same brand and bottle type that he had struck her with the day her mother died to get her to let go of him. 

"Dad, let's head home. I'll drive." She told him calmly, not letting her worry enter her voice. 

When he laughed though, she stiffened; her heart racing as he clumsily stood up and turned to her. 

"You're nothing, (hic) but a damn nuisance like your witch mother you brat (hic)..."   

Inara refused to break eye contact as he walked up to her slowly, he was surprisingly steady for such a drinker, but then again; he had gained quite a bit of tolerance to liquor over the years. None of it had done a thing to quench his rage though. 

"You're just a nuisance and brat...(hic)...Should've...Should've taken care of you too...(hic)" He slurred again as he came up to her, taking a swig from the bottle in his hand. 

Inara watched him though, calculating his movements; the way he was going, this night was not going to go well at best; at worst it was going to be hellish. All of it was up to him though, up to him on how he decided to play how the rest of the night would go. 

"The court clear (hic)...cleared me ya know...(hic) But you, ya never believed a word I said about my innocence (hic) ...Never a damn word...(hic)." 

At that moment he chose to actually look at her face; at the face that haunted him day and night every time she was near; the face that enraged him in the past. Now, that face was his ghost and the very reminder of the demon he thought he had destroyed. 

Inara could see the hatred behind his eyes, the way the darkness swam in the depths of them. The eyes of a murderer and abuser. He knew as well as she did though, that she would never be free of him; because of his new family, he knew she would never leave until she knew the twins were safe. 

Glaring at her he swung his hand with the bottle around; unlike when she was a child though, this time she ducked and twisted away from him, kicking him behind his knees to knock him down. 

When she did that, he slurred at her and passed out from the alcohol with a growl. 

Sighing softly, she stared at him for a moment and then tossed away the amber colored bottle. Rolling him onto his back she stood back up and stepped away, leaning against a nearby tree. 

Pulling out her phone she checked the time and then dialed her stepmother. 

"Hey, yeah I found him. Yeah, I'll drag him to the car in a minute; might be a couple more hours till I get him home."

She paused listening to her stepmom for a moment. "You need help getting him to the car?" 

sighing softly she answered quietly. "No, I got it. Don't worry, you and the kids get some rest." 

Before she hung up though she added another thought. "Hey Karen, this can't keep happening." 

There was a moment of silence on the other end and finally a sigh escaped Karen's lips and she replied softly. 

"I know, I know Inara..." 

As they hung up, Inara quietly held her phone, then glancing at her phone again she stared at it a moment. Glancing back at her Father she swallowed, a soft sigh again escaping her lips and dialed another number. 

Jared...