A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 17 “I mean… there is no biological way that Eric Reid could have fathered you.”

I stared at him blankly.

Was this topic really coming up again? He‘d already questioned this on the night of the charity event. A presumptuous perspective from someone who didn’t know any better.

…From someone who grew up with real parents.

“Yes… I know,” I said, somewhat annoyed. But, for whatever reason, this response took Kieran by surprise. “Wait, you know?” he asked. “Yes…,” I said again. “I should hope he isn‘t. Because if he were my biological father, I‘d imagine that would have made our first meeting very awkward. What with him picking me up from the orphanage and all.”

“I don‘t understand,” he said. “If you know he‘s not your father, why are you being so loyal to him?”

“Why?” I asked, unable to hide my irritation now. “Because he is still my father. He still raised me and took care of me. He rescued me from a shitty house where I was severely bullied, one where I was just another unwanted, unloved six year old in a bad system, and gave me a home. Gave me skills and purpose. Protected me from–.” But I quickly stopped myself from saying the next words before it was too late. Because I could still recall it so vividly; that day when I had been adopted. I could remember because it had been the same day that I‘d committed my first sin.

I‘d been relentlessly terrorised for being different, pushed around and abused by the other kids. They didn‘t know what I was but, thinking back now, they must have sensed it. Realised that I was nothing like them. That I held an underlying threat.

…But it was ultimately that sense of theirs, that treatment, which finally caused me to snap. Or maybe they ‘snapped’ was a more apt way to put it… their arms and legs to be exact.

It was precisely after this encounter that my father then found me….

Standing in a pile of four older children. Covered in their blood. Shaking uncontrollably as I tried to come to terms with what I‘d just done.

However, as he took one look at me, he didn‘t seem even slightly disturbed by the scene before him. He didn’t so much as bat an eyelid. No, he simply approached me slowly, crouched before me… and extended me his hand. He offered me a shelter that I had long since given up on. A vow that if I abided by his rules and helped him, that I would forever be safe under his protection. That I had nothing to fear once I became his daughter. His raven. …An offer which I quickly accepted. At his best moments, it was bliss. His encouragement and affection were the very things that

had been absent from my life up until then. This was someone who saw me for what I was and still loved me regardless. Who wasn’t afraid of the unnatural strength I possessed as a child.

And so when he eventually placed a dagger in my hand and put me to work… I did everything in my power to make him as happy as he made me. To pay him back by being as useful as possible. 1 Only, as I very quickly discovered, he possessed a side to him that was far more terrifying than I could have ever expected.

The day I made my first mistake was the day I learned what it truly meant to fail my father. When I was inevitably sent for punishment at just the young age of fourteen, I learnt my lesson the hard way. A lesson where being complacent and slipping had consequences. Because it was harder to forget the rules when they were painfully reinforced into your mind.

In a warped, twisted way, I now knew deep down that things weren‘t what they probably should be. That it was unhealthy and dangerous, especially with the threat he held to both me and those around me. But… he was still my father. A part of me still wanted to believe that his actions were only in my best interest.

…Which was why I couldn’t figure out his motive for poisoning me.

Why spend the last sixteen years raising me, spending thousands in both money and resources to meticulously craft me into who I was… only to then give me something so toxic? He gave me his name, called me daughter… then tried to slowly kill me?

What was the point?

It just seemed like… a bad investment. Something that I knew my father was more careful about.

Was I just delusional about what was really happening?

“I don‘t expect you to understand,” I said, pulling away from my thoughts. “But he is the only family I‘ve ever known. Just because he‘s not my blood, it doesn‘t mean he‘s any less important. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have their real parents alive.”

“I didn‘t… I didn‘t mean it that way,” Kieran said. “I was just trying to–.”

“I know what you were trying to do,” I interrupted, holding up a hand to stop him.

 mind about everything. That I‘d think that I didn‘t actually have to stay… but it

 said. “He clearly doesn’t love you in the way that you think. Not if he‘s willing to do all those things.

then,” I said bitterly. “But I appreciate the insight from someone

voice quickly stopped me. “…You‘re not the only one with a dead parent, Raven,” he said, his voice strained. And, instantly, I felt a

‘

our records, something I’d already assumed but didn‘t give it much thought. …But that was Kieran’s mother. It

 just a kid when it happened but I was old enough to remember her,” he continued.” Truthfully, I don‘t know if that makes it better or worse… but I can at least

 thing only adding more confusion

 needed to leave before I really did

 and went to take a step over the threshold. “Three days, Raven,” he called out to me.

 make me stop for a moment. But through gritted teeth and, with a final push of strength, I did what I

… I finally left

 Kieran,” I said quietly. And I

 slow. With every second that passed, I was very aware of how it was another second wasted, knowing that Kieran was there. Waiting

of self-restraint I had not

time to cool down and reassess, I was willing to accept now that

 I also equally feared him. It had been that way for many years now, but I‘d become accustomed to it. And so regardless of the motives behind his actions, I had to acknowledge

do much for my present situation though. I was still trapped regardless, helpless to go anywhere. If Kieran knew just

continue to pretend

 blood turn cold. I was called into my father‘s office and saw on his desk the very thing I dreaded

 wait long. I only just heard from Gavin that you wanted to see me.” “My dear daughter,” he said, setting his drink down. “Yes, please…

Oh, no.

was never asked to be seated. Something about this

 I pulled the chair back and did as he

 been hearing… some interesting stories,” he

 body froze, momentarily forgetting how to

 snake, it was as though I could feel my father‘s hold slowly winding

 knew that he‘d

 known better. No, I did know better. I knew all along that secrets were impossible in this house and yet I still tried. “I’m not… I‘m not sure what you‘re referring to,” I said, though I knew it was a dangerous game

 said and proceeded to gesture towards the folder

 more. Just who‘s name would I find in there? Was it Noah‘s? Zac‘s?

…My own?

 reached out… and opened

wasn’t

photo of me getting out of a taxi in front of Kieran‘s

my father was meant to be out of town. Somehow, it looked as though I’d been followed despite taking extra precautions. It meant that my father purposely had someone watching me without my knowledge. “Do you know who’s

had passed, of which I still hadn’t replied,

without waiting

remember him from the Mayor’s Charity event last week… You know, the assignment you failed to gather intel

 I started screaming in my

now, everything would have been for nothing. Hell,

 thrown Kieran in the firing line. Placing the very target I’d tried so