The Devil's Daughter

Chapter 1

"Marie!” I heard Daddy’s loud voice over my headphones. I pressed pause on my iPod to hear if it was me he was calling. “Marie!” Yep.

“Coming, Daddy!” I called to him, ripping out my headphones and scooting off my bed I was so relaxed on before. I made my way through the narrow hallway and peered out from over the railings, looking down onto the first floor, my arms resting on the railings. I clasped my hands together as Daddy tilted his head up, glaring at me.

“Hey, have you seen Fluffy?” He asked me, moving his hair to the side. I thought for a moment, but shook my head.

“No Daddy, I haven’t seen him. You should ask Maximum or Vanessa.” I replied, but he shook his head.

“I haven’t seen them, either.” He replied, and I glared back at him. “I haven’t seen them since last night.”

“Are you saying you love your dog more than your daughters?” I asked more rudely then I think I should’ve. “Thanks.”

“Marie, stop.” He ordered, and I listened. “You know you wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love you. And especially more than Fluffy.”

I rolled my eyes. Okay, it was true. “Well then, why don’t you go off and find them?” I asked, but I knew I was wasting my breath. Daddy doesn’t do anything but his job.

“I would, but I’m just so busy.”He replied, but I knew Sarcasm was laughing at him. I was saved from speaking when I saw two figures appear from the doorway.

“Daddy! We’re home!” Vanessa exclaimed as her and Maximum arrived with Fluffy.

“I see that.” I heard Daddy say as I made my way downstairs and approached the group. “And you didn’t tell me you were going out because…?”

“You weren’t home, so we told Marie to tell you!” Maximum explained, and they all turned towards me. Oh crap. Sometimes, I can be so forgetful, but I had a good reason to be.

“Marie!” Daddy yelled angrily, snapping his hand across my face. I yelped softly, but Daddy’s skin faded from tan to red quickly, showing his anger. I had tears forming in my eyes, tried not to show my fright, but I was failing. Daddy does need to show his true self more often, especially as he gets older. I mean, he’s only forty-two, but it gets harder for him to be his true self. I just wish it wasn’t at me.

“Daddy!” I cried softly, clutching the spot on my cheek that he slapped. My skin, however, stayed the same tan color. I was saved by his rage when Fluffy jumped onto him, knocking him backwards and onto the black carpeted floor, licking his face multiple times. I slowly backed away from my laughing sisters and slipped back upstairs to my room. It’s almost impossible for Daddy to get mad at me, especially since I’m his favorite. Well, favorite daughter, anyway. But he can get angry so easily.

I approached my full length mirror and stared at my blood-colored cheek, rubbing it lightly. I couldn’t even remember the last time Daddy yelled at me, let alone hit me. I tried to push it from my mind and started to brush my always-frizzy blonde hair, reaching halfway down my back. I usually start brushing at my ear, but today I started as close to the root as I could without brushing right through the short, pointed red horns that grew out of the top of my head. My hair usually covered them, considering how thick it was, but I liked my horns to show. I was proud of them, and it showed what I really was.