Soul Chains

Chapter 45: Unhealed Wounds

"Father," Aislinn says coldly and turns around to face the man behind us, which makes the rest of us who haven't already turned turn as well.

The man before us has wavy inky black hair and cold blue eyes, vastly different from his wife's and daughter's yellow eyes.

"What did I say about returning here?" he raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms in his neat black jacket which compliments his white dress shirt, black dress slacks, fancy dark grey wrist watch on his left wrist, and black dress shoes.

"Mother said--" Aislinn starts and he holds up a hand.

"I don't care what your mother said and I don't care what your reason for being here is," her father interrupts her and she clenches her jaw, "you are not allowed back in this house, nor are you allowed to use our family name or crest in any way shape or form. You are cut off from us. Don't you understand that? Or are you really that daft?"

"Oi," Phoenix snaps angrily and steps forwards, "don't talk to your daughter like that."

"I'll raise my child however I like," Aislinn's father narrows his eyes at Phoenix, "and just who might you be?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Phoenix snorts, "you think I'm telling you who I am just so you can make a call to one of your friends and ruin my life? No. I'm not that stupid, Mr. Frigid. You already ruined my family enough, what more could you do?"

Aislinn hangs her head and clenches her fists tightly before she looks up, anger burning in her gaze.

"Phoenix--" Tsukumi starts, her eyes sad as she glances between Phoenix and Aislinn's father.

"I'm glad your daughter is nothing like your corrupt and crooked family. It's a shame you can't see how well she actually turned out all because she didn't want to be like you," Phoenix sneers and turns on his heel before walking out of the castle, the doors slamming shut harshly behind him.

"Leave at once," Aislinn's father narrows his eyes, "at least Mercury made the right decision."

"Take that back," Aislinn snaps angrily, stepping forwards and Reine's eyes widen while Dimitri scowls and Ciana gasps, covering her hands over her mouth, "you have no right to speak about him!"

"Leave," Aislinn's father waves a hand dismissively and he turns to walk away.

"I said," Aislinn's eyes burn angrily as she draws her longsword and points it at her father, her head held high, "take that back."

Aislinn's father turns to the side and his eyes widen upon seeing her weapon drawn.

"Aislinn, be rational--" he starts.

"I am done with being rational. I am more than you'll ever be and you are not allowed to speak his name. You never loved him when he was alive, so you're not allowed to sully his name by using it when he's dead. You cast me out simply because I refused to follow your orders and your way of life. I have had enough and I will no longer take your abuse!" Aislinn shouts and swings her longsword through the air, sending silver energy flying off of it and crashing into the staircase, which cracks in half, "this house is not a home and it never will be! The only people who ever looked out for me were Hilda and Mercury, and you fired Hilda and drove Mercury to death! You may be my parents, but you have never loved me."

"Aislinn!" Aislinn's mother comes running out from the kitchen, her eyes wide, "stop this at once!"

"I will," Aislinn says firmly, lowering her weapon and turning sharply on her heel, "but only because I'm better than you."