Chapter 3: I am Sorry, Daddy

RIVER

Once upon a time, my family and the Rutherfords got along. 

In fact, my parents were part of something called The Aegis - a group of the most highly respected and skilled warrior hunters specially selected to protect the Royal family. 

The day things went wrong was the day The Fae Fox struck, bringing an army of night creatures to attack the Palace. Back then, the Alpha King of Calmaria was still alive and it was my parents’ duty to protect him. 

But I made a mistake. 

I didn't stay hidden like my mother had ordered me to and when the Fae Fox attacked me, my mother had been forced to make a choice on who to save - me or the King. 

Years later and I still wish she chose the King. 

Just when I thought I had run out of reasons why I did not deserve to exist, tonight topped it all off, giving me the resolve that one of these days, I will end my miserable life. 

A world without River Scarrow will surely be better, right?

A tear rolled down my face as I smiled bitterly. 

My family lived on a farm, half a mile away from the Palace and luckily for me, my room was on the ground floor. 

All I had to do was sneak in the way I snuck out and I'll be fine. 

But as soon as I climbed into my room, I immediately sensed a presence that made my body jolt and my heart skitter in fear. 

Instantly, my dark room flared to life as someone turned on the lamp and I found none other than my father sitting on a sofa opposite my bed. Half his upper body was shrouded in darkness, leaving only his powerful legs revealed and I didn’t miss the large bottle of  whiskey sitting on his lap.

“Where were you coming from?” His deep powerful voice queried and I didn’t overlook the slur in it. 

He was drunk again.

My brain fumbled for the right way to table the truth and that led to me stuttering and shifting from one foot to the other. “Uhm…”

“ANSWER ME!” He suddenly sat up, his twisted face coming into the light. 

I flinched, hot tears pouring out of my face. Could my day not get any worse? Does he not care that today was my birthday?

“I went to the Luna Queen’s Birthday.” I murmured just enough for him to hear. 

Silence.

“And why would you go there?!”

I fumbled for answers again. “Paloma told me I could come.”

“Paloma told you you could go?” My father asked in a way that pointed out my stupidity. My cheeks grew hot in shame. “Haven’t I warned you several times to stay away from the Rutherfords?” He rose to his feet, and I had to crane my neck up a bit to take in all six feet of him. 

I had no excuse. The warning was one that had been drilled into me since I was a kid but my love for Densmore couldn’t stop me from going. I had always felt drawn to that silent god. 

Somewhere in the distance, the skies rumbled while my body trembled. 

“Haven’t you done enough?!” My father’s voice grew increasingly menacing and I subconsciously gripped the hem of my purple dress. “Haven’t you taken enough from me?!” 

The skies rumbled again. 

“You took my wife from me!” He stumbled forward, his voice cracking. “You ruined my reputation. My career! Brought disgrace on this family and still won’t let me have peace!”

Tears spilled down my face. 

The Rutherfords never forgave my family for the death of the Alpha King and my family never forgave me. 

“I am sorry, Daddy.” I burst into tears, my heart pounding in anticipation of what to come. 

One minute, my father stood there, just staring at me, the next the bottle flew through the air and shattered against my head. 

I staggered backwards, panic like thunder in my veins. My vision swimmed and the moment I fell on my hands and knees, white hot pain shot through me. A scream left my mouth as I realized I had knelt on a piece of broken glass and just as I fell on my butt, I saw my father storming towards me, his belt already in his hand. 

“You are a menace!” He growled, and although I scampered back on my hands and feet, I couldn’t get far away enough. 

“Father, please!” I begged, raising a hand to meet his belt and when pain flashed hot on my skin, I screamed again. 

His assault continued and the skies rumbled over and over till heavy rain fell, drowning out my cries. I covered my head, cowering into a fetus, as I endured his lashes and from the blur in my eyes, I saw my brother watching through the crack in the door. 

“Help me, please!” I begged through our mindlink but his eyes grew colder before they disappeared from the door. 

I had no idea my heart could break all over again and as my father kicked and abused me, I prayed to the Goddess for death. My vision got darker as I used every fiber of my being to wish and hope that I would pass away in this moment, never having to see the light of another day. 

But something happened, right before darkness snatched my consciousness.

The door of my bedroom fell off its hinges as if someone kicked it with great force and when lightning struck again, illuminating my room with a bright white light, I could have sworn that the man who swaggered in was Densmore Rutherford.