Page 15 of Dry as a Fish
"What did he say?" Sloane asked.
I didn't want to repeat the words, because I knew saying them would hurt her. But I couldn't keep them to myself, because if I did that, if I left them silent, she might stay here, with these parents who didn't treat her with the love she deserved to feel.
"He said that you were a slut," I said. "He said I was a freak and that he was going to lock you in your room until he found a good man to take pity on you for being defiled."
One of the boys giggled and immediately stopped when Sloane's mother glared at him.
"No, he didn't mean that," Sloane's mother rose to her feet. "Just give him time to think about it. He'll realize that a funny-looking fellow like you is a better choice than letting everyone know you've lost your virtue. If we get you married real quick, they won't even know!"
"Is this really where you want to be?" I asked Sloane, ignoring everyone else. "Is this really how you want to be treated?"
"This is where she is staying!" Tom called out from behind me. "Now you get out of my house before I put a bullet in you!"
Everyone gasped.
"Boys! Come with me!" Sloane's mother cried out as she grabbed two of the boys by the shirt, dragging them with her as she pulled them across the kitchen away from me. "Let your father deal with this!"
I didn't look back over my shoulder, even at the sound of metal clicking against metal.
Sloane's eyes went wide as she looked behind me. "Daddy..." she whispered.
"Don't tell me you love this man you damn fool," Tom said. "I swear to God I will put a bullet in him if he ever steps foot on my land again!"
"If I loved him, would it make a difference?" Sloane asked, slowly rising to her feet. I didn't look back at Tom, I just waited for her to answer my question.
"No!" Tom said. "There is no way in hell I'm giving you to him."
"You can't give me away," Sloane said. "I'm a person."
"You're my daughter and I decide what is best for you, and he ain't it," Tom spat out.
"Sloane," I said, pulling her attention back to me. "Is this really where you want to be?"
She looked at me, a shimmer in her wide eyes. "Where else can I go?"
"You can go with me," I said. "You can come home with me. You can stay with my family until you decide what you want to do. I will help you."
"Like hell she can!" Tom shouted. "This is your last warning! Get out of my house! Sloane, you get yourself away from him."
"Do you want me to leave you here?" I asked her.
"No," she said.
I opened my mouth and let my rage flow into my song.
Sloane's eyes grew wider, and a flicker of happiness rushed through me. There was a small part of me that doubted, just because she was a mundane, how could she actually be my heartsong? But as everyone else in the room relaxed, their eyes glazing over, Tom's gun dropping down to his side, Sloane remained unaffected.
When I finished singing, she walked over and gently took the shotgun out of her father's hands.
She carefully unloaded it and set it down on the table.
No one reacted as they all stood there, soft smiles on their face as they were lost to the peace and quiet of the boundless currents of the music in their own hearts.
"How long will it last?" she asked.
"Until we leave," I said.
She reached out and took my hand in hers, and my heart burst with the brilliance of happiness.
