Sinners - The Puppet (currently being re-written)

Chapter 7 - a rueful situation

Nate was well aware of the circumstances he had pulled himself into. Since he first opened his mouth and refrained from listening, he knew what would happen should he continue down that path. But never in his whole life had he ever felt so threatened. Wooden swords that burned and didn't at the same time were...not something he had hoped to see over the course of his short life.

Simply put, he had angered his mother. Him, and his pathetic self, had dragged out the anger she always tried to tame. Their time together may be brief but he knew she was a rather short-tempered individual, and he only ever witnessed her get that angry when her words never seemed to get through to the person she was speaking to. 

Needless to say, that rage had not once been directed at him.

Nate was scared. Well, of course he was, especially after learning all those things he had just found out, but the fear this time was caused by the fact that his mother mattered most to him, and he never wanted to face this...fearsome woman.

"Uh, Grace?" Rosa squeaked, voice surprisingly tiny as if she didn't want to be noticed. Funny. He thought she already left. "Is it okay if I go home now?"

Grace smiled--too quickly despite how empty her gaze was at him. "I'm sorry, Rosa. I didn't mean to show you something like this. But if it's okay with you, will you stay and watch? That way I know I can keep myself in control."

That seemed to surprise Rosa into keeping her mouth shut. This...was also something he never thought he would see. "Of course..." she giggled, nervously at that. "So, what should I do?"

Grace took a deep breath. Finally, she lowered her arm and the flames that coated her sword diminished just a little. "Just watch. Though I would love if you made some tea."

"No prob!" Rosa hurried to the kitchen and was quick to heat up some water. She then reached for the cupboard and got some tea bags. Frankly, she looked like a resident of the house despite being an unwanted guest most of the time.

His mother watched him again, russet brown irises returning to the same empty gaze they had been giving him. Her eyes reflected the orange glow of the flaming sword. He'd hoped that speaking to Rosa would ease her anger somehow...but...well, she was never the type to forget so easily.

"Now then," she cocked her chin towards the garden, "out with you."

A chill ran down his spine.

She was serious. This side of her--the swordswoman side as he liked to call it--was something he only ever saw during their training, moments wherein she had to steel her resolve and look past the fact that she was a mother. Nate glanced at the sword in his grasp, the same weapon as hers, and thought of the many times she brought him to his knees with her attacks.

He never defeated her even once during their short training sessions. He landed blows, yes, but she was quick to counter and knock him off his feet. She always had the upper hand in their little bouts and in comparison he...

He was worthless.

Nate followed her into the garden, his heart heavy as he all but dragged his feet into wearing his slippers and stepping into the grass. As he stood there waiting, he found Rosa peeking in from the glass sliding doors with crossed arms--curious and wary at the same time. But when their eyes met, she quickly retreated into the kitchen, as if avoiding his gaze.

Why?

"Hey," his mother said and he looked at her. The fire coating her sword had grown fiercer--too fierce in fact it should have burned her clothes and the wood if it was even real. Yet it did no such thing. He really couldn't understand exactly what it was. "Eyes on me. Hesitate and you'll get killed."