Drugs

Chapter XI

That familiar scent that greeted my nose—I could taste it upon my mouth. I made my way out of the bedroom—my lower back ached as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

Before I stretched I was greeted by a small petite puffy cheek child showing me her pearly white teeth. All but one missing space in the middle, she bumped purposely into me with childish glee in her land was an old book which she rested on the table.

"Daddy, daddy," she called as her little hands beat upon my legs excitedly.

I studied her with mixed expressions, almost like a scientist examining his experiment. I saw she carried the viper's eye shape and two nestled amber gems. I placed my hand on her head and rubbed her frizzy black hair. She jumped up and down with her hands outreached to me. Her gestures were simple to read—I picked up this little one to her own excitement.

Her strange amusement made me smile. Seeing in her in my arms, I instinctively kissed her cheek.

"Daddy," she said as she laughed, pulling slightly away.

When I had told Ash, I had a child all she did was laugh at me. I guess I really didn't seem like the father type.

It was there again, but stronger this time, that scent and it was coming from the kitchen. I wondered who was cooking breakfast.

"What smells so good?" I asked her.

Her hands pointed in the direction of the kitchen, "Mommy's cooking."

"What!!!?" I shouted louder than I expected.

She chuckled at my response as I headed towards the kitchen. Holding her tightly in my arms.

My face was set like a stormy sky, but as I made the turn into the dining room everything in me came to a halt. It felt as if someone had hit me with a tranquillizer dart—my mind turned confused and then calm.

I looked at the table there was a plate for me, I presumed, my daughter and two others. I glared at it.

Mallory walked in, placing down the cutlery, "Good morning."

Meeting my stare of curiosity and puzzlement, she responded, "It is for Ralph."

Shifting my eyes to her. "Why did he not do breakfast? "Or one of the other servants?" "Why are you doing it?" I asked.

Alice whispered in my ear as she cupped her hands together. "Mommy does not like Ralph's cooking, she said dinner was awful. Why didn't you have dinner, daddy?"

A secret it was supposed to be, but everyone heard. Ralph entered and gave her a teasing look as he passed by her. He was carrying a visible sidearm holstered around his waist.

"I was busy," I replied to her pouting face.

"Will you have dinner later with us tonight da--?"

"Apologise sir," he said, looking now rather defeated. We both looked down together at the food on display. I gently placed Alice down.

"Mommy said it's your favorite ---"

"Alice," Mallory called as she motioned with her hand, "Come here to me." Alicia scurried across the room.

"Sit," she said to her while Ralph and I also took our seats. This table was designed for an extensive family. The way we sat now the divide was very present on one side, Ralph sat on my right and I at the table head. Mallory mirrored me with Alicia on her left.

Breakfast was quiet, I could hear the police officers chatting outside. The passing and slight steps of the servants inside the house. Alice's fork and knife clanking on the plate.