Page 136 of The Howl
He looked at me, his gaze sharpening.
“Before you were born.”
“No. Before you met Mom. What does that tell you? She’s consumed your life, Dad, and left you nothing. Do you know what else does that? Drugs. Addictions. You know she’s not good for you. You need to leave.”
“You’re wrong. I’m not addicted to her; I’m trying to help her. Your mother has a sex addiction. She’s sick and needs our help. We can sneak her out of this place tonight and take her somewhere quiet. Somewhere she won’t be tempted by other people.”
“Somewhere she’ll be tempted by only you?”
“Exactly. We’re married, so physical relations with me are okay.”
I shook my head, pitying him.
“I wish I could help you, Dad. But I can’t even help myself lately. Want to watch a movie with me? The entertainment room is closer to Mom’s room.”
He quickly agreed, and I spent the next two hours with him, holding his hand like I used to do on the really bad nights. The nights where he cried himself to sleep.
That’s how Mom found us.
“Darlings,” she said, sweeping into the room. “You better go change for dinner. We’ll be late.”
Dad stood and took Mom’s hand, turning her so he could see her dress. It was a long, tight-fitting number and showed her chest almost to the nipples.
“You look ravishing, my love,” he said. “Are you hungry?”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her neck.
“I’m here for whatever you need,” he added.
I quickly fled the room.
Choosing a dress that wouldn’t embarrass my father, if he even looked away from my mom long enough to notice, I changed for dinner. I didn’t immediately leave, though. I stared at myself in the knee-length A-line dress, seeing the image of the innocent girl I’d tried so hard to hold onto. However, I knew what lurked underneath the harmless wrapping. A monster, just waiting to be born.
My vision flickered, superimposing Dad’s fatigued, gaunt look over my features.
Afraid of what I saw, I turned away from the mirror and left my room.
Mom and Dad were already gone from the entertainment space, so I started down the hall, taking my time because I was dreading the meal to come. Now that I knew why Dad was here, I knew what to expect. Mom would try to show me that he was normal and feeding from humans was all peaches and cream. Meanwhile, Dad’s delusions would grow stronger.
Male laughter echoed up the stairs. I couldn’t tell if it was Mr. Quill or Dad.
Resigned to a long night, I entered the dining room then stopped short. Mr. and Mrs. Quill were at each end of the table. Adira, Mom, and Dad were at one side, and only one of the spots on my side was unoccupied.
Two boys I’d never seen before were sitting on each side of my chair. I noticed they were my age and identically cute as they turned to look at me.
I glanced at Mom then Adira.
“Eliana,” Mrs. Quill said. “Allow me to introduce Nico and Nikhil Elestite. They’re family from the Mantirum stronghold in Arizona.”
“Hey, Eliana,” they said at the same time.
The one to the right stood and pulled out my chair for me.
“I’m Nico. That’s Nikhil.”
“Thanks.”
I took my seat and glanced at my dad. His gaze met mine, and I saw a flicker of fear there. For me. For my soul.
