Daddy Next Door

by Tina Lee

  I miss her face, Ben. Forgive me for wishing to see it again.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Elizabeth

  Streaks of white hair fell over her face. In the dull candle light, her wrinkles ran across her face. She wore creases of age and labor. Her rough hands held her feeble body as she shivered in the cold. “Get her a coat,” I told the Sia. “Get her some stew,” I told Ben.

  The guards of the gate stood behind me. They wanted no part in the matter. If it wasn’t for me, they would have locked her out and she would freeze to death.

  The guards were questioning her but she didn’t respond. Her eyes looked around, like she was unsure of where she was, but I knew without a doubt that she knew. No one walks to the Northern gates by accident. The guards tried talking to her again and still no response. Now they were reconsidering if they should let her stay.

  “Do you recognize me?” I asked in my native tongue.

  Her eyes widened, and at last, we got a reaction out her. “No,” she said in our native tongue.

  “What are you saying?” the guard asked me but I ignored him.

  “Do you speak the Northern tongue?” I asked her.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Then why won’t you answer the guards?”

  “I fear them.” She looked at the guard’s scruffy face.

  “No need. Answer them,” I said in Northern tongue.

  “Why are you here?” the guard asked.

  “I had no where else to go,” she answered.

  “Don’t you have a home?” he asked.

  “A pack of wolves took over my village. Most of us were killed. I escaped with a few others. We lived in the woods for a time, then the wolves kept finding us and killing us. So I came here, to give the North my services. I prefer to be a slave than to be dead.”

  I whispered my mother’s name in her ear. “Do you know her?” I asked.

  “The healer? Yes.”

  “They killed her too?”

  “Yes. She was one of the first ones. Wait…” she brought her head closer. “You’re her daughter. Aren’t you?”

  I felt the pain all over again. In my belly first, then it creped up to my heart. A sinking feeling. A bit like drowning.

  Ben and Sia returned with the stew and coat, and I gave the woman a place to stay, a small room that was once a tool shed. Not much, but it was better than being out into the cold. She could eat at the Snake’s Head whenever she felt like it. The owner had also built a make shift fire place. In the coming days, the shifters would put her to use. All humans had to work.

  I didn’t want to sleep alone that night. I was tempted to blow the whistle. It would have been really selfish of me to do so. I knew Leo was busy, and I didn’t want to come between that. I looked out my window, hoping to see Dante watching from a roof top. There was no Dante on the roof tops. Only snow.

  There was a knock on my door. It was Sia to the rescue. We both wrapped under the covers and spoke about everything and nothing. I thought I was over what had happened. I wasn’t. They killed my mother, and nothing will ever change that. It was done, and she was gone, forever.

  Mark my words. I will get my revenge.

  ****

  “Are you serious?” Ben said.

  I watched him as he chopped firewood, then I would stack the firewood in the wheel barrow. I got used to waking up before dawn to train with Dante, and now that the training had stopped, I became bored in the mornings. So I followed Ben while he did his duties. “Yes,” I said.

  “Why? Because some guy had a dream? Come on. You do realized how silly that sounds, right?”

  “I know, and I don’t actually believe I’ll find this ‘Alric’ guy, who supposedly is going to unite the world. I’m going because I owe him.”

  Ben paused and leaned the axe on his shoulder. “You’re going alone?”

  “I thought about asking Dante to come with me.”

  He returned to swinging the axe into the wood. “I thought you haven’t heard from him since that night.”

  “I haven’t, but he shouldn’t be too had to find.”

  “What makes you think he’ll agree to go with you?”

  Good question. I didn’t have a solid answer. I was hoping he would. I missed training with him. I missed his snide remarks, his grunts and his roughness. Some alone time with him would be good for me.

  “I guess I’ll just have to convince him.”

  “Look on the bright side. You’ll get to visit the holy lands.”

  Ben was right. There was no sense being grumpy about the whole journey. I would get the chance to meet people far wiser than me. I could learn from them. Maybe I would leave more in touch with the Gods, and I would understand what it was that they wanted from me.

  “I’ll tell the wise ones to pray for you and Sia. So that she may have many little Bens.”

  “Slow down there. We’re taking it slow. No little Benjamins for now.”

  “That’s a shame. I wanted to be like an aunt.”

  “And you will, in time.” Ben dropped the axe. “Come help me with these.”

  The snow was light today after a heavy night. I had to dig a path for Ben to push the wheel barrow. “While I’m gone, I want you to take care of that old lady.”

  “Of course. I’m working on getting her a proper room. She would have to cook, though.”

  “She doesn’t have much choice.” I stopped. Shoveling snow had left me out of breath. “Do you ever think of our home?”

  Ben sighed, blowing out fog. “No, not really. There’s no use. And don’t ask me this again. The answer will never change.”

  I wanted him to say yes, so I wouldn’t be the only one. My home felt like a distant memory, yet it lingered still. The imagery may fade, but the feeling will never.

  I tightened my gloves and shoveled through the snow. We had firewood to deliver. First stop; that old lady.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Elizabeth

  I sat on my roof and folded my arms, waiting for any sign of him. It was a full moon tonight, so I knew Dante would be out on a roof somewhere, watching it, and praying to the moon God. He once told me that his favorite time of the year was when it snowed on a full moon. Well, here it was, and it was beautiful.

  I started to shiver after an thirty minutes and no sight of Dante. Suddenly, it didn’t seem like a good idea to be sitting out into the snow over a guy. The cold had passed through my thick coat, gloves, boot and scarf. Only thing left to pass through was me.

  I didn’t understand the spiritual connection between the Moon God and the shifters, but I understood why they loved the full moon so much. I looked at it and it was looking back at me. Its allure. It was hypnotic. How could one not love such a thing?

  Two hours had passed. The wind howled at me, then it whipped me with a icy sting. It was scolding me. “He will come,” I told the wind. It must have heard, because suddenly the howling was gone, and there was silence.

  I didn’t hear him as he approached. I wondered just how long he was there. “What are you doing out here?” he said, then sat beside me.

  I felt relived. At last. “Waiting on you.”

  “Come. Let’s go inside.” He lifted me and rested my head on his broad shoulders. He took me inside my room and closed the windows.

  “What took you so long?” I said.

  He put a blanket over me then put his arm around me. “You’re crazy.”

  “If you weren’t so hard to find then I wouldn’t have to freeze myself. Where were you?”

  There was snow in his beard. “I’ve been about. I have a cabin in the woods where I stay.”

  “You traded your luxurious warm bedroom for a cabin?”

  “I needed to get away.”

  “Get away from what?…or who?”

  “Everything.”

  I leaned on him. The warmth of his chest on my face felt good. I wanted to ask if he ever gets cold, but I’d rather just get right to business. “I have
an opportunity to for to get away.”

  “Go on,” he said. His breath brushing my skin was another source of warmth.

  “I’m traveling to the South, into the holy lands. A village called Tao. I want you to join me.”

  He raised one of his eyebrows then scoffed. He thought about what I said for a moment. He held my jaw so I would face him. “Why are you going to the South?” he asked.

  I stammered like I was guilty of something. “I’m going to look for man name Alric.

  He took his arms from around me and stepped away from me, holding his temple as if he was having a headache. “Let me get this straight. You’re traveling all the way to the fucking South to look for a man?”

  “It’s not like that. He’s important.”

  “Oh?” Dante clapped his hands and faked a laugh. “Please, enlightened me! Tell me what’s so important about this man? Does he have a cock the size of a tree?”

  “Maybe. I wouldn’t know.” I said to hurt him. “He’s important because he will unite the lands.”

  Dante shook his head. “Traveling to the South to find a man with a tree sized cock is silly, but hey, I’ve seen stranger things. But to travel to the South to find a man that will somehow unite the lands?” He knelt before me. “Elizabeth, I’m surprised to be hearing such ridiculous things coming from you. Is this a joke? Or have you been smoking what I see the other humans smoke?”

  “It isn’t a joke, and I don’t smoke.” I didn’t believe the story myself. I knew how it sounded and I would have probably reacted the same. “I’m not going to explain why I’m choosing to do this. All I’m asking is; will you come with me?”

  “Just answer me this; what will you do if you find this man?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll find him then I’ll figure that out.”

  Dante walked around the room and mumbled to himself. He would stop for a while then continued walking around. “you would need a horse.”

  “I’ll take care of that.”

  “We also need a letter from the Leo, allowing us full pass into villages.”

  “I’d rather we not tell Leo about Alric.”

  “Alric? Is that his name?” Dante asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Then say that you are going for holy reasons.”

  It felt strange planning a lie to tell Leo. I had always felt that I could tell Leo anything. He was a great listener, and if I were to tell him, I think he would understand. I just didn’t want to add anymore to his already full plate right now. I didn’t want him thinking about me searching for a mystery man. I was afraid of Kronus being right. If I were to find this man who would unite all the lands, then that meant Leo would never accomplish his vision of peace. He would be bested by Alric, and would eventually be ruled by Alric.

  “When do we leave?” he asked.

  “The dawn after tomorrow.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you then.” He headed for the window.

  “I was hoping you’d stay,” I said.

  He turned, walked towards me then knelt. I held his face, his beard pricking my palms, and guided him into my kiss. There he went again, making a heavy grunt, and I had missed it so much.

  Dante was the right remedy for the cold. More than a hot stew or a thick coat. With Dante, I had forgotten that it was winter, or that there was snow outside. In that moment, it was a hot summer night, and every ice had melted.

  He was rougher than usual. Not that I was complaining. He was jealous and he was taking it out on me with every thrust. Release your demons if you must, Dante. Power into me. Burn me with your fury.

  I screamed for more, for his sake and mine. For there could only be peace in his release. I was at his mercy, and vengeful he was. He did what I wanted and expected him to; he punished me. Hard and stern. I was obedient, even after he released seed after seed in me, filling me up. And I found pleasure in his pleasure, because pleasing him was all that I wanted.

  I lost count of how many times I came. The sheets were wet and so was our bodies, as we lay, watching each other in silence. Our bodies were getting cold because of the lack of movement. We couldn’t allow that to happen. His hand gripped my throat, and I was ready to be punished again.

  ****

  “So, what do you think?” I asked.

  Leo did the thing he always did. Which was to stare out at the city from his balcony while barely paying attention to me. “Why now?” he asked.

  “I think I need it now more than ever.”

  “There are people here that need you,” he said.

  I joined his gaze, watching the vendors move about, the kids throwing snowballs, the shovelers shoveling, wheel barrow after wheel barrow of firewood pushing through streets. The sun was out but you could barely feel it. There was no wind, no snow falling. Just a calm, which everybody tried to made the best use of.

  “My assistants are good. Almost as good as me.”

  “I never took you for a religious person.” Leo turned to me and held my hand. “I want you close to me.”

  I smiled. “I wonder if your whistle could work down there.”

  He tucked away my loose hairs behind my ear. “I’m afraid I can’t reach you there, and that’s what worries me.”

  “I’ll be fine. And I’ll have Dante with me.”

  His blue eyes pierced into mine. “You’re traveling alone with him?”

  “Yes.” I was still a free woman. Free to do whatever I please.

  “Now I really don’t feel comfortable about you going. Why him? Out of all the guards I could have accompany you, why him?”

  “You know why.”

  There was long silence.

  “I can’t tell you what to do. I can only accept your choices. If you believe the holy land will heal you spiritually, then go. Go find the Gods, then come back to me. I’ll be here waiting on your return.”

  Our lips met, and stuck together with electricity. Suddenly, I didn’t want leave anymore. I didn’t want our lips to separate. I could stay like this, frozen in time, a feeling that could never die.

  Leo had a pull, like the earth pulling the moon. It was an attraction that I could feel and yet couldn’t fully describe. It was Leo’s gravity, and I could not break free.

  “When will I see you again?” Leo asked.

  “Ninety days.”

  Leo kissed me again. “I don’t know If I can wait that long.”

  I loved his smell. I wish I could have carried it with me. “You’ll be so busy that you won’t remember me.”

  “I’ll think of you everyday, as I always have.”

  “I’ll think of you too, Leo. You’ll always be with me, even when you’re kingdoms away.”

  He kissed my forehead. “Be safe.”

  “Always.”

  He wrote the letter that I needed. I looked at his face, trying to capture it in my mind, to keep it with me. Then I left him on the balcony, looking out, as usual. What did he see when he looked out? What was he looking for?

  I saw Kronus in the King’s castle as I was heading out. He stood by the portraits, conversing with the maids. He gestured to the maids to hold on one minute, then half ran-half walked after me. “Hey, everything set to leave?” he whispered.

  “Yeah yeah, I’m going.” He walked with me out the door to the gates.

  “I know what you’re thinking. You’re doing the right thing, Elizabeth. You might not believe in the Gods, but they believe in you.”

  I nodded. “I just want to get it over with.”

  “I’ll be gone when you return.”

  My heart skipped a beat. Something I didn’t expect. I didn’t know what to call my relationship with Kronus. We weren’t exactly friends, and we weren’t anything more. “You’ve got a kingdom to rule,” I said.

  “More than just to rule. I have to prepare.”

  “Prepare for what?”

  “A war.”

  “We’re attacking the East?” I whispered.

  “I can’t say anymore.”

&n
bsp; Just as I expected. Leo was planning to take the war to them this time. I must find this Alric—if he exist—and hurry back. “Thank you, again, Kronus.”

  “Farewell, Elizabeth.” He walked away. It crushed me how our friendship ended. In this dark world, I was starting to find a lot of good in people. I would never forget him.

  “Did the Gods tell you if we’ll see each other again?”

  He paused. “We won’t.” I could tell he was just as crushed about it as I was.

  I waved. “Hopefully the Gods will change their minds.”

  He smiled, waved, then walked back to the castle.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Leo

  Diana slammed her glass on the table, breaking the glass in her palms. She watched her hand bleed. Everyone around the table took a quick glance at her then return their eyes to me.

  I was discussing my plans for the city with the council, who all seemed tired, after all, they were mostly old men. They have been hard at work since the attack, and because of their hard work, we have seen great progress.

  “King Leo, I suggest we build an underground safe house, where the women and children could hide if such an attack were to happen again.”

  That wasn’t a bad idea. We lost too many women and children the last time. Still it hurt me to think of it. They called themselves men and attacked children who couldn’t defend themselves. The East was a threat to everything good in this land, and I would see to it that they are wiped out. Maybe it was time I took some advice from my brother, and be as ruthless as my enemies.

  No. I could never stoop to their level. That would make me no different. I would do things my way.

  They rambled. Some argued of the cost to build an underground safe house while others argued of how many lives it could save. I raised my hand and silenced them. “Build it,” I said.

  Half of the council groaned.

  “Your Grace, there is another issue.”

  “And that is?”

  “A queen, Your Grace. The North needs a queen.”