Welcome to the cult, baby.
Penny
It’s after dinner on Sunday by the time I arrive at Jack’s to sit for Zella. With everything that’s going on with Terrence trying to get custody of Zella, it’s even more imperative I look after her in case Jack tries anything stupid, like kidnapping her.
I raise my hand to knock on the door, but it opens before I get the chance. Jack is a mess. His hair hangs in his eyes, which are bloodshot, he needs a shave, and he smells like liquor.
Lovely.
Apprehension crawls up my spine. Last time he was drunk didn’t end well. As much as I want to run in the other direction, I enter his home when he steps aside to grant me entry.
“Get your shit together, Jack,” I grumble. “You’re a mess.”
He hangs his head in shame. I’d much rather him feel sorry for himself than get angry. I walk through the living room toward the kitchen. Zella isn’t there.
“Where’s my little buddy?” I ask, keeping my voice light.
“Her room. She’s in trouble, so I sent her to bed early.”
My blood runs cold. I start in that direction, but he stumbles my way, blocking me.
“Stay and have a drink with me, sweetheart.” He sways and places a hand on the wall. “Please.”
I curl my lip up, unable to stop myself. “Pass.”
His eyes flash with anger. Fuck. I don’t mean to rile him up, but he pisses me off and disgusts me.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He gently bounces his fist off the wall. The constant, obnoxious sound immediately gets under my skin, sending flares of irritation itching through me. I want to yell at him to stop.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“They’re going to take my baby away,” he murmurs, choking on a sob. “She’s mine. I’m her daddy.”
I lift my chin, facing off with the dragon. “What are you talking about?” I know. I just need to hear him say it.
“That man,” he growls. “The one who fucked my daughter.”
Stepdaughter. Get your facts straight, moron.
“The real father,” I implore.
“I’m the real father!” He rams his fist through the wall, sending hunks of drywall crumbling to the ground.
I don’t move or flinch. I give him my most bored expression I can muster so he doesn’t see the terror in my eyes.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I ask, keeping my voice even.
“I need a fucking drink.” He storms past me, clipping into me and nearly knocking me over.
Once he’s gone, I rush down the hallway to check on Zella. I find her under the covers, trembling. I close the door and then kick off my shoes. After setting my keys down on the nightstand, I peer down at her small form.
“You awake, Princess Zella?”
She pretends to snore and it’s the cutest thing ever. I walk over to her bed and curl up beside her, teasing the covers away from her face.
“Boo!” she whispers.
I gasp, acting as though I’m shocked to find her awake, which makes her giggle even more. I pull the blanket away so I can look at her face, assessing her for any cuts or bruises. Big brown eyes peer up at me, twinkling with happiness.
Not from him.
Me.
I hope she can tell I’m happy to see her too. I toy with a blond curl of hers with my finger, admiring how adorable she is. Terrence is going to be pissed when he finds out I’ve been coming here. He’ll get over it, though. I did what I had to do to keep her safe.
“Can you finish the story?” she asks.
“Which one?” I tease. “Goldilocks and her bears?”
“No, the Knight Penny one.”
“Ahh, where were we?” I grin at her. “Oh, that’s right. We were at the part where Knight Penny teamed up with the king.”
“Is the king nice?”
“Very nice. Handsome too.”
“What does he look like?”
“Remember the man who came with me the first day we met?” I ask, waiting for her to nod before I continue. “Like him.”
“He got hurt,” she tells me, her brows knitting together.
“Yes,” I agree. “Because he’s a brave king and fought another monster before. That’s why he was in his deep sleep.”
“His eye makes him look sleepy,” she tells me.
I think about Terrence’s eye that droops when he’s stressed or tired or has a migraine. I use it to gauge how he’s feeling. Sometimes you can barely notice, while other times it’s nearly closed with fatigue.
“It does make him look sleepy. And his scars make him look fierce.”
“Does Knight Penny have any scars?”
“Hers are inside her mind,” I say, tapping on my temple. “Scars aren’t always on the outside, but they usually tell a story of a battle the person has fought and won.”
“What are Knight Penny’s scars from? Did her daddy hurt her?”
“No, Knight Penny’s daddy is a doctor. He heals all the people in the land.”
She smiles. “What about Knight Penny’s mommy?”
“She gives money to the people and cupcakes.”
“Sounds like a queen,” she says with a giggle.
“Knight Penny has a sister and a brother too. The brother is like her daddy. He helps heal the sick and the wounded. Her sister fought the same monster the king did.”
“So she has scars too?”
“Plenty. Both inside and out. She’s beautiful like a princess, but tough like a knight.”
“Did the king ever find the princess and the queen?”
I let out a sad sigh. “He found the princess, but she was locked away in the dragon’s tower. I was hoping you’d be able to help me tell the rest of the story. Where do you think the queen is?”
“She went to smell the pink roses. Those were her favorites.” She frowns. “But she got lost and never came back.”
Her eyes well with tears. I hug her to me, kissing her forehead. “Shh. This story has a happy ending. We’re just not there yet. I promise we’ll get there, Zel.”
We both grow quiet as my mind wanders. I wonder how quickly her happily ever after will come. Samantha is working on helping Terrence, but it’s taking forever. Eventually, her breathing evens out. Soft and rhythmic. It’s a soothing sound that lulls me into my own sleep.
A loud, grinding sound drags me from my peaceful slumber.
It sounds as though it’s on a repeating reel. Each time it reaches its peak, my hair moves in tandem with the softer part of it. Then, my hair seems to get sucked into the louder, more intense part of it.
I’m dizzied and confused by it, trying to make sense of it as I blink my eyes open.
Warmth surrounds me, making me sticky with sweat. I’m fully dressed, but a hand cups my breast beneath my shirt over my bra. The scent of stale alcohol assaults my senses.
This is a bad dream.
I turn my head slightly, earning a bright stream of sunlight straight into my eyes. It’s enough to wake me out of my daze.
The scent.
The man holding me in his sleep.
Oh my God.
I’m in Jack’s bed.
Panic consumes me as I slide out of his grip. His snoring continues as I stumble out of the bed, my ass hitting the floor with a hard thump. I jump to my feet, shoving my hand into my hoodie pocket, searching for my phone. It’s missing.