The Mate of the Naga Prince

Chapter 14: Dad?!

Warning: Mild PTSD and panic attacks

"Scarlett?" I freeze when I hear an all too familiar voice speak my name. Slowly, I turn around to see my father struggling to stand a few feet away from Arthur and me. "Who the hell are you?! Get away from my daughter!" He yells, looking at Arthur. "D-Dad?" I question, clinging onto Arthur tightly. Arthur wraps his tail around me protectively, raising an eyebrow with an oddly calm expression. "And who are you?" He asks, staring at my father. "I'm her father!" Dad shouts, glaring at Arthur. "Now get your weird tail off my daughter!" I begin to shake violently, burying my face into Arthur's chest as images of my father screaming flash across my vision. "You are in no position to start ordering people around." Arthur hisses, his tongue flickering past his lips. "So help me, if you don't release my daughter, I'll burn this whole forest to the ground!" Dad shouts. I knew all too quickly that my father said the wrong thing. Arthur's grip on me suddenly disappears, causing me to fall to the ground. I look up and gasp as I watch Arthur's tail wrap around my fathers neck, suspending him into the air. "A-Arthur..." I call out weakly, slowly slipping into a panic attack. "It amuses me how much power humans believe they hold." Arthur growls, showing no signs he heard me. I gasp softly as I feel a hand on my shoulder. I shakily look up to see a confused and concerned Magi. "What is going on?" The lamia asks softly, watching Arthur and my father continuously argue back and forth. I open my mouth to respond, but the only thing that came out was a loud sob. Magi looks down at me her eyes widening as she leans down. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" She asks gently, wrapping her arms around my shoulders as her usual tough, strong attitude melting away and being replaced with a more caring nature. I don't respond as I cling onto her, my body shaking violently as I begin to hyperventilate. Magi gently pulls me closer, rubbing my back as she stares up at Arthur, who now had my Dad pinned against a tree as he shouted something I couldn't hear. "Arthur!" The lamia states, attempting to catch the attention of her brother. "You will not take her from me!" Arthur shouts, tightening his grip around my fathers neck. "Arthur!" Magi shouts forcefully. Arthur whips his head towards us, fury burning in his eyes. Magi gently nods her head down at me, tightening her grip. Arthur's eyes soften slightly as he stares down at me before turning his attention back to my dad. He throws the drunken man down onto the ground, hate flaring in his eyes. "Leave." The naga hisses darkly. My dad fumbles to his feet, staring up at Arthur. "Who do you think..." "Leave!" Arthur shouts, towering over him. Dad stumbles back a bit before glancing over at me. "This isn't over." He growls before hobbling away. I slowly look up at Arthur, who was glaring in the direction my father disappeared. I slowly stand up, my body still shaking. "Scarlett, that isn't a very good idea..." Magi whispers as she watches me walk towards my panting mate. "A-Arthur..." I say softly, reaching out and gently touching his arm. Arthur whips his head down to look at me, anger still hanging in his eyes. I flinch back in fear, my shaking worsening. He stares at me for a moment before shaking his head, slithering off into the forest. I stare at him as he disappears amongst the brush, more tears sliding down my cheeks. Magi slowly slithers over, wrapping me in a gentle hug once more. "D-Did I do something wrong?" I ask quietly, hugging her back. "No, no, no. You didn't do anything wrong, Scarlett." Magi whispers, gently rubbing my back. "Arthur just..." She sighs. "His anger can get the best of him at times, especially when it comes to those he cares about. Just give him a bit to blow off some steam." I nod, unable to respond. "C'mon. I'll take you back to your burrow." She gently helps me up, slowly leading me in the direction of the oak tree Arthur and I lived in. "You okay?" She asks as we slowly walk through the quiet forest. I just nod again. "Who was that? The man that Arthur was yelling at?" I slow down a bit, gently hugging myself. "He's... my father..." I say softly. "Your father?" She asks in surprise. "Yeah..." I nod. "Please, I don't want to talk about it." She nods in understanding as she pulls me close. "You gonna be okay?" She asks as we arrive at the base of the tree. "I'll... be better once I'm in Arthur's arms." I tell her. "Alright... stay safe, alright? I'll try to go talk some sense into Arthur." She smiles, pulling me into a hug. "I will." I tell her, hugging her back. "I'll send Coral over later to check on you, alright?" I nod. "Alright." I whisper. "Be careful." She plants a gentle kiss on the top of my head before slithering off into the forest. I stand there for a few moments, still shaking slightly as I stare up at the giant oak tree. Not wanting to climb to the top of the tree, where our burrow was, I lean against the base of the trunk, curling up into a ball as I waited for Arthur.