Chapter Twelve - The father – daughter quarrel (part two)

“Earth to Ariel” Her father was waving a hand on front of her eyes; she had zoned out. Glad for the distraction Ariel smiled her most innocent smile at her father. “I’m sorry – what did you say again?”

Her father was about to answer when the waitress came to take their order. Ariel placed hers, and to now surprise her father ordered steak and potato. Once the waitress left their table her father leaned back against the chair, his brows knitting together while looking at his daughter. Ariel knew the look all too well; it was the one where he prepared himself for what she was about to say and coming up with reasons to disagree with her. It was best to just jump right in and say what she had to say.

“Dad. I have decided to move out. I’m 26 years old, and it’s about time I stop living at home. I should have moved out a long time ago” Ariel pause when the waitress came over with their drinks. “We both know it’s long overdue, and it’s time” Ariel took a sip of her water, avoiding her father’s eyes. He studied her for a long time, allowing her to almost finish her glass of water before speaking. “No” He said simply. “No. It’s not long overdue. You’re my daughter, my baby girl – I don’t see why you should need to move out”

Ariel had expected this, it was the reason why she had avoided the topic for so long. Why she had slowly moved her clothes and necessities out of the house, replacing the toiletries with other products. One set at home, one set at Kieran’s. It was just easier that way. And it could have continued to be like that if Kieran hadn’t answered her phone. Damn him. Or maybe not. Ariel loved Kieran, had loved him for a long time now. She knew that he was the only one for her, and he reminded her frequently that he was hers.

“Dad. It’s not up for discussion. I’m a grown woman now, and I need to live my own life. I need to have privacy, to be my own person, to not be expected at home at every hour of everyday” She gathered all the courage needed to look at her father, to look him in the eyes and be frank.

“I’m moving out, whether you like it or not” Though she expected him to disagree, she didn’t expect him to turn all red and slam the fist in the table. There weren’t many guests at this hour, but the few that was seated jumped in their seat, turning their attention to the table in the middle. Ariel wanted to look down, to sink into a whole in the ground and disappear. She had never seen her father this angry before.

“No, you’re not. I’m not allowing it. You are my daughter, and my word is law” His voice was loud, too loud. He was mad, mad beyond reasoning. She could even see the vein in his neck pulsate. “We don’t live in the 1800s” Ariel shouted back. “You’re not the boss of me!” She rose from her chair with force, making it clutter to the ground.

“Yes, I am!” Her father stood as well, palms slamming into the table as he leaned forward. His face was turning even redder, the blood rising to his head, veins threatening to burs. “No” Ariel glared at him before turning around, nearly bumping into the waitress coming with their food. “Sit down” Her father commanded, but she didn’t listen. “I’m sorry – but I have to leave” Ariel apologized to the waitress, who gave her an understanding nod, before she scurried out of the restaurant and towards the park.

She had expected her father to react, to have something to say, but she hadn’t expected him to cause a scene in public. Her father was overprotective, had been so since birth, and even more since her mother had passed away.

Not wanting to go home just yet Ariel decided to take a walk around town, trying to clear her head before facing Kieran. There was no doubt in her mind that her father would blame him. She didn’t put it past him to march over to the apartment and chew him out. Luckily Kieran wasn’t at home. In difference to her he had opted for an academic education, gone to university, and landed himself a good job when finished. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he was the reason Ariel rebelled against her father and learned how to hunt for the darker creatures, he would have had the outmost respect for him, just as he had for Jezebel’s husband.

It saddened her to see him so enraged at the thought of her moving out. Sad and mad. He was supposed to support her, help her spread her wings and fly. Instead, he cut of her wings and tried to lock her in a cage. Too scared to let her move out of his hand. The frustration was eating at her, clouding her mind. She had to catch a break, clear her head. Sitting down on a bench she leaned her head back and released a scream so loud the birds in the nearby trees flew away. She screamed her heart out, a technique she had learned from her mother.
When angered, scream. Scream until every tiny bit of anger and frustration leave your body. That’s what she had said, and it helped. It helped then, and it helped now. “I miss you mom” She whispered, tear welling up in her eyes. Her mother had been the voice of reason, someone to protect and hold on to for her father, and someone to guide him in the role of parenting. Ariel knew he was the way he was because of his own childhood, and she couldn’t find it in her to hold it against him. But sometimes she wished he would see that she was a grown woman and no longer a baby girl in need or protection.

Once the anger and frustration had left, and the bird once again was settled in the trees in the park, Ariel rose to her feet. She missed her mother, and it was only one place on earth she could be close to her now – the cemetery. Taking the shortcut through the park she walked into the far end of the grounds, her legs now walking by memory alone, she could find her way to her mother’s grave with her eyes closed. But before she could reach her mother’s grave something, or rather someone, caught her attention. She’s seen those blonde curls before – but she had never expected to see them again.

“Talia!?”