Red Spell

Chapter Fourteen

Hey guys!  Hope you enjoy this chapter!  Let me know what you think about it!  Things get a little tense :)

"What are you doing, Selene," Da demanded, taking a firm grip on my shoulder. I flinched at his ominous tone and squeezed the herbs in my pocket tighter. I could see that he'd already decided in his mind that I was doing something wrong. No amount of explaining would help me.

"I was just walking," I said, with a backwards glance at the forest.

"Why did you leave?" he demanded. "People will notice."

"I—I just needed a little break," I said. I knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say. Da's brow fell.

"Are we so tiresome then?"

"No, I just thought—I just..." I looked away. What could I say. I was already as low as I could get. I glanced back up. There was nothing to lose. If I was going to die tomorrow night, then perhaps I could get some answers.

"Do you blame me?" I asked, more boldly than I felt.

"For what?"

"For Mam," I said. His brow went up and then fell lower while the corners of his mouth tightened.

"Why would you think that?" he asked quietly.

"How could I not think that?" I demanded. "You used to smile at me, but now you don't even want to look at me! Why if not because of Mam?"

"Are you angry about Marta?" Da hissed, his voice thick and strained. "Is that why you're throwing this tantrum?"

"I'm not throwing a tantrum. I just want the truth. For the first time in nine years I want the truth."

"Yes!" Da bellowed. "Yes, you are to blame! I told you to wait inside, but you, in your selfishness and disobedience brought about the death of your mother!"

Both he and I were breathing hard. Tears stung as my fists clenched.

"So that's why you've ignored me and shut me out and now you're marrying me off so you can finally be done with me?" I asked with a shaking breath. "That's the reason the village turned against me?"

"You should be grateful that someone wants to marry you."

"But I don't want to marry him," I said.

"You are being a child!"

"I am being honest!" I yelled. "And no, I didn't want you to marry Marta, but I'm not saying this because of her. I will accept her. I just wanted to know why you shut me out and why I've been so alone in a village full of people who used to like me!"

"Is there anything else?" Da growled between clenched teeth.

"Yes! I don't want you to move the hunt up."

"You're in no place to make demands," he said.

"You wouldn't know that because you don't know anything about me," I said. "Move it back. I'm begging,"

"This is none of your concern," Da said.

"It is. I'm your daughter whether you like it or not and I will be the next Shepherd. I should have some say in the village and I have reasons for wanting it moved back," I said.

"You don't know anything about it."

"That's not my fault!" I said, my voice stretching a little higher. Da scowled even more darkly at me.

"We will go tomorrow night. That is my final decision," he said. I stared at him for several seconds trying to imagine his face without anger.