Page 51 of Hearts Etched in Glass
“You!” She shouts at her parents, pointing in anger. Tilly’s father raises his arm to speak but Kenneth points his knife in his direction, silencing him.
“Tilly, this was all your mother’s plan. I went along but now I’ve been thinking she took it too far.” Her father tries to step around his spider of a wife, but Kenneth places his knife in front of his chest to halt his movements.
Everett explains everything that has transpired before she had arrived, when he finishes, Tilly yells in fury.
“That is, it. I’m done with you both. You are vile, horrible human beings, let alone horrid parents.” Her face is red, her hands on her hips, nails digging into herbody, as her eyes gaze with determination at something in the corner of the barn.
“I want to be branded. I want to be an Afton,” Tilly says as her gaze lands on me.
Chapter 27: Tilly
Hope,NF
Marcus and I rush to Bobby, assessing his body to see if he has any wounds.
“I’m fine. Stop the two of you.” His lips feather over ours, then he looks at me with concern.
“Tilly, are you sure? You positive you want to be branded?” The sides of his eyes crinkle, as I reach for his hand.
Stretching onto my tiptoes, I place my lips on his, sealing a kiss. “I do. I am more than positive.”
Kenneth takes Michael into the other room and begins beating the living shit out of him. Michael’s wailstrail away as I go outside to the roaring fire the Afton Adders have created.
The twins, Jacob and George, have both of my parents in a firm hold, as my mother does her pathetic crying routine. I point in their faces, “You will bear witness that I am no longer yours. I am not your daughter anymore. I am an Adder now.”
My parents peer up in confusion as they plead for us to let them go.
Everett, the leader of the Afton Adders and my future brother in-law, holds the fire iron in one hand then motions for me.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the dedication of Tilly! She has chosen to unite with our family.”
But before he may continue my mother shouts, “No! Tilly get over here this—” Her words are cut off by Gregory slapping his hand over her mouth and glaring at my father, almost daring him to try and misbehave, but my father stands as still as a wooden board.
Everett continues his speech. “Tilly has been a bright light for our baby brother Bobby and our dear brother Marcus.”
Biscuit yells from the side of the fire, “And me too!” Men tell him to ‘shush’, but warmth carries over my chest at the thought of how I mean something, truly mean something to these people. They do not judge me, they do not hurt me mentally, physically or emotionally. They honor my existence and give me the love and protection I have been craving, my whole life.
“Tonight, we solidify her testament to us and bring her into the Adder family. Tilly, will you please come and present the limb you’d like to have marked?” After Everett says this, I proudly walk forward, rolling up my skirt to show my scarred thigh.
“Repeat after me,” Everett bellows.
And everything settles around us as the ceremony begins.
“I vow to uphold my duties to my brothers.”
I vow to uphold my duties to my brothers.
“I vow loyalty.”
I vow loyalty.
“I vow resilience.”
I vow resilience.
“I vow malice and protection when my family requires.”
I vowmalice and protection when my family requires.
