His Nepenthe | complete

19. First

F I R S T I M P R E S S I O N S

*

"If you would like to enter, this is my humble abode."

I rolled my eyes at the girl as she grinned, taking my hand and pulling me inside with her.

"Dad!" She called out into what I thought was an empty house, "Dad? T'es lá?" She spoke in a fluent language, French, I think.

Before I could ask her anything of it, a strong male voice called back, "Oui, dans la cuisine!"

She looked up at me for a fraction of a second before saying, "This way," and tugging on my hand once again so I would follow her.

We turned the corner into a classic looking kitchen, where a rather intimidating man stood with a heavy-duty kitchen knife. Just as I was about to have a heart attack, I also noticed the reading glasses, cooking book and vegetables around him.

Brandy scoffed from beside me, "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?"

He looked up to her, emanating the same smile she usually wore, "Rein de spécial, je fais á manger."

She rolled her eyes, walking around to the other side of the counter where he was and opening a pot. She instantly reeled back from it, scrunching up her nose and coughing slightly, "Mais c'est quoi ce truc!?"

The man gave her a playful glare, poking her arm, "C'est pas trés gentil, ce que tu me dis lá."

"Blâme mum."

He chuckled softly, "Bien sûr!"

She smiled up at him before meeting my eyes again, "Dad, this is my friend Christian," She introduced, finally speaking in a language I knew.

He looked at me, raising an eyebrow as she usually did to judge my character, "Nice to meet you," He said with a strong trace of an accent. "Ton nouveau chéri?" He asked Brandy, making her cheeks flush bright red.

She pushed him slightly, shaking her head, "Mais n'importe quoi, dad!"

"My name's Erik Lucafont." He held out a large hand, which I took to shake as firmly as I could. Erik was a large man, in height and in build. He reminded me a lot of Heath in that manor, but was completely different otherwise. He had dark skin and short black hair, dark hazel eyes shining through his glasses. His nose was similar to Brandy's, but larger to fit his face.

"It's good to meet you, sir."

"Just call me Erik."

Brandy cleared her throat from behind her father, gaining his attention, "We're gonna go to my room, if you're all good with everything?"

"One thing, what's this word in English?"

"Citron? Dad, it's lemon. Citrus."

"You never know!"