Forest of Fireflies

Chapter 85

(Daniella's POV)

Father quickly snuffed out mother's question, "Of course not! How would I know her? Anyway, this isn't about the woman, it's about something else. It's about what I have been observing for several days now. You...you have no shred of remorse do you? Can't you see what you're doing? You're teaching our daughter the opposite of kindness!"

There was a moment of silence. Then, mother lowered her voice and said, "Firefly, go to your room."

"Mama-"

"Your father and I need to have a little talk. I'll be up with you in a second."

I glanced nervously between my parents before walking down the steps and off towards the set of doors at the side. Since the hallways were empty, I was able to stay behind the closed doors and listen to their argument.

Father was the first to speak, "What happened to that promise you made me?"

"Promise?"

"The day we returned to the Enchanted Forest. You said that you'd try to stray from your past, to do better."

"I am doing better! Can't you see that I'm not after Snow White anymore? Isn't that what you wanted-"

There was a tone of sadness within father as he cut in, "No, You're not doing what I've asked you to. A few days ago, I was informed of what you did to Daniella. I let that go, because I thought that maybe it was just a one off. But after seeing you punish Snow's guards in front our daughter, and address your people in certain ways, I know for sure that you're not doing what's right."

There was another moment of silence, but this one more dangerous than the last. I could feel the poison in mother's words as she seethed, "Who told you about that incident?"

"It doesn't matter who, and I will definitely not inform you if you're simply going to hunt them down and torture them! Besides, you're now denying that you almost killed our daughter!"

"No! Daniel, I'm not denying but I certainly didn't mean to use magic on her! It was a mistake, she knows that. Besides, she wouldn't have been in that situation if it wasn't for Snow's guards!"

"But you nearly killed her! That's my point. You let your anger get in the way of your rationality-"

"Stop it Daniel!" Mother screamed. I could hear heavy panting. Then, she continued, "I'm sorry! I never wished to hurt our daughter and I deeply regret what I did.  I'm her mother, do you not think that I love her?!"

"Fine, but nonetheless, you still allowed your...your hate to take control of you."

"Daniel...I," Then, her voice shifted to a stronger tone as she replied, "I never meant for it to be this way."

"But you didn't change. You tortured those guards in front of our daughter...who does that?! She's still a child; even I cannot bear to watch you do that-"

"You were spying on me?!"

"You're my fiancee, I have every reason to worry about you, I have every right to know where you are. But every night you keep hiding your feelings from me. Don't you trust me with your thoughts?! I wanted to help you but you kept shutting me down. You think that you know all...so you never listen to what I have to say! It's like as if you don't trust my opinion anymore."

Mother replied in a strained voice, "I do trust you, but I also know what I have to do-"

"So that's your answer then? You don't consider me as your equal?"

No reply.

Father then said slowly, "You keep saying that I am your true love, yet you don't care about my feelings. Has there been one time where you've actually sat down and talked about my day? Or have you just used me to satisfy your pleasures? To keep your bed warm?"