Chapter 17 - Family Issues II

The moment I woke up I knew I was still in the attic. Through the window, I could see the night sky, dull if stars some brighter than others.

The moon shone onto the land with a beautiful cold grace. its light was calming and almost wise. The stars and moon were the only things keeping the abyss that was the endless night of space at bay.

Right next to me was Aroura sleeping under the same blanket as me, keeping each other warm from the winter storm that was the human disguised monsters around us.

I had never felt so safe in my own mother's embrace, but with Aroura it felt like not only my body was being protected but also my mind. Such affection and safety were simply not something I deserve, yet I didn't move a single inch away.

After putting my head down after checking the door was locked, I went to sleep almost instantly.

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The next day we woke up at almost the same time before I finally decided to go downstairs. I had been sent food made by my father when he came to meet me upstairs but I couldn't miss out on eating Aurora's food and not coming downstairs, forcing her to stay upstairs with me.

When I came downstairs I tried to ignore all the noise coming from the two cockroaches In front of me so I wouldn't lose control and 'accidentally' move the neck in a direction not meant for the human bone structure.

We usually sat on a rectangular brown table near the kitchen and cried in the living area. I sat in between my father and Aroura before savoring my sister's food and wolfing it down.

While I was busy eating, my mother was trying to form sentences and to make both excuses, and ask for forgiveness.

Too bad for her, I wasn't listening to a single thing and it seemed to be clear to everyone but my mother.

My father told her to stop when she kept speaking when I was not listening and told her to wait until I finish my food so she can start.

They waited and sat in silence for quite a while before she started speaking again, and this time I could hear her.

"Pandora. I want you to understand why I did what I did and when you understand I need you to stop acting like a spoiled child" she said with an angry tone yet a worried face that contradicted her tone.

I narrowed my eyes at her sentence. I would have accepted her apology no matter how it sounded or how she portrayed it, but she was making... excuses?

My eyes went cold and my voice went monotone. I would honestly be terrified if my child looked at me that way, but well, never had any.

"Yeah, don't worry about it mom, I'll make sure you're never wrong about anything again... no I make sure you're always right." I said while I could feel a shudder in the soul flame of everyone in the room.

"This isn't about being right or wrong, this is abo-"

"I know that very well mom. if this was truly about right or wrong we wouldn't be having this conversation would we" I cut her off as I closed my eyes while smiling at her.

Unbeknownst to me, I sent a pulse of killing intent towards everyone except the two next to me, making their soul flame flicker and shrink as if they were hiding.

"I lost my appetite. I'll be in my new room if anyone wants to chat"

I looked away from everyone and jumped down from my seat and walked towards the attic. When I got there I couldn't help but sigh before going ahead with my natural routine.

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Deros' (Atlas'/Pandora's father) POV

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"What the hell was that? You said you would apologize for being an a*s not stroke your own ego?!" I said while clutching my fist closed with enough force to destroy a boulder

"How is she supposed to learn from her mistake-" Said Ava before being cut off by Aroura

"WHAT MISTAKES?! I can't see a single thing she has done wrong in the story dad told me and you weren't even there half the time! You just made an assumption and your petty prideful attitude won't let it go!" Argued Aroura

"Mind your mouth young girl if you don-" she said before being cut off by me

"If she doesn't want what?" I said with a voice just as cold as Pandora's and a gaze just as frightening.

Honestly, it's quite frightening that a child can emit killing intent, but I don't care. She's my flesh and blood and I always knew she would be special. I don't care if she is a monster or a human, I'm going to treat her like my child to the best of my ability.

"Are you going to make her isolate herself from us like Pandora? or are you going to punish her physically because I f*cking dare you?" I said before releasing a bit of killing intent that I withdrew when I realized that Zack and Zarch were shaking like a vibrating metal pole.

"Gods, I wish your mother was here to see what you have become. Maybe she would have slapped some sense into you" I said while leaving the living room followed by the rest of the kids leaving their mother pale and dumbfounded.

The last thing I heard her say before leaving the room was "gods am I an idiot" before resting her head on her hands.

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Atlas'/Pandora's POV

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Over the last few months, before granny would come back, I spent time with my father at the end of the day on weekdays while spending all the weekends with both my father and Aroura.

The situation with my mom didn't improve. We would be at the same table but we wouldn't talk unless necessary.

When it was finally summer/ autumn break and everyone was home, my sister decided to plan a 'family out night', for the lack of a better translation.

We had decided to go into the city from dawn and only return at night. While I didn't kike the idea, I went because Aroura wanted to while my father only went because he wanted to get this family drama between everyone over with. These twins were forced to go while my mother was desperate to fix the broken-up family.

Everyone had their agenda for going, but in the end, there are only two results to this trip. Either we forgive and forget or we remain a hollow divided family.. I honestly didn't mind, but the thought that either my sister or my father would become affected by the long-term implications of any of my mother's problems gave me the resolve to go ahead with the plan.