Hatred from a Father

She saw the floor first when she stepped into the room. Red marble, which slowly turned to black as the opaque glass doors closed shut. Chandeliers and torches hung around the walls. There were no windows, just a wall of glass looking out into nothing but the sky. No escape except the door behind her.

To her left, a fireplace occupied most of the wall and as she walked farther into the room, Cerys tried not to stare at the thing. It was monstrous, shaped like a roaring fanged mouth, a blazing fire burning within. There was something greenish about the flames, something that made goosebumps fill her skin.

This was her father's study. She was summoned by him to talk about the rite she was to perform. They had only seen each other twice since she awoke and that was to eat dinner and for the physician to get her checked. He did not look as if he was happy that she could see or be alive during the time they met. 

During those times that they had met he had been nothing but cold. He had shared a few words with her and had even berated her about not keeping her head bowed when talking to him. The thing is, Cerys had never seen him act that way toward Izel. From what Tala had said, her father seems to like her stepmother more than her mother. After her mother died during childbirth, it didn't take long before he remarried and had a daughter one year after. 

It was as if he had been waiting for the moment all along.

"I see you have finally been bothered to answer my call" 

The voice was the same. Cold, deep, and raspy. 

"I am sorry father. I should have dropped everything and come instantly"

With her head bowed, her eyes only dared to venture as far as his chest. He was seated at the front of his desk, flipping through documents. His chest seems tightly restrained within a crimson and black tunic. A cape of white fur hung from his shoulders. His hands tapped patiently on the table, his feet tapping in rhythm. It was distracting Cerys' train of thought.

She hated being in the same room as him. He only made her anxious and unsure of what to do. This man was stronger than her. Had killed and fought monsters that have crept onto the lands. Had protected his people. He seemed as if he could break her neck if she stepped on the wrong line. 

"I have summoned you here to tell you to prepare for the winter rite. I believe Izel must have told you what it was since you have lost your memory" He sounded skeptical about her losing her memory. As if it wasn't true.

"She did not explain" 

"Well, as a crystal house. We summon winter. Snow from the sky. The snow serves as running fuel for machinery and guns. Also, be used to decorate the home.  We sell them to boost our economy. The time has come for the snow to be summoned. To prove to the people that you can be an heir you would have to do it"

To summon snow? How can she do that? Never in her life has she done magic. And back from where she came from snow fell on its own.

"But father…" 

"Izel was not born with magic, still she had been able to learn the craft. Though she can't summon snow. She can create ice balls because my blood runs in her veins. It's rare but she did. You as my heir, even when blind could have learned but you didn't. Now you have 7 days to learn and master. Understood?" 

Cerys frowned in annoyance. She looked him straight in the eye and spoke out. "How do you expect me to do that? What am I, a magic-making machine? Even Izel you so much like took years for her to master that technique but you want me to do that in 7 days? Are you insane?"

The room temperature dropped to zero, and the fire that was once on snoozed off. The air was so cold that she started to shiver, teeth clattering together. Her father had stood up, he had a smoldering gaze, the type that could kill you. The coldness was emitting from him. It felt as if they were on top of an icy mountain at the moment.

"You just talked back at me?!" He raised his voice in anger. "You are my daughter and you must do what I tell you to. You will perform the rite and that's it. Izel is taking your place as heir and you are getting married to that imbecile!" he hit his hand on the table and that sent a strong cold wind toward Cerys. 

She had to raise her hand to cover her eyes. Pieces of ice were contained in the wind which cut through her skin. The wind pushed her further pushing her out of the room with ease.

She couldn't balance herself and fell on the floor outside the room. The door shut in her face. Blood trickled down her skin, her lips, and her nose. Her skin felt hot, she felt dizzy, and couldn't help but lay back on the ground to calm herself.

She knows she shouldn't have talked back. But she wasn't as meek as Cerys, she was strong-minded and what she didn't expect was being attacked by the father of the body she resided in.  

Cerys knows that he had taken care of her during her blindness, he had provided her with everything she wanted, something was strange. But why this all of a sudden? Was he so narcissistic that he couldn't handle being talked back to? Even it wasn't enough to hurt her like this unless he had always hated her and could only manage this body because she was blind and couldn't see what he did to her. 

But she is a believer that everything has a reason and there must be a reason for doing this. 

This body was just too weak and without proper training, she had learned to adjust to the lack of breath and strength but it gets harder every passing day. It's as if she is running out of energy. Cerys slowly closed her eyes as she could feel her consciousness slipping. She couldn't stand up, she felt like jelly. Her father did not come out of his study to check if she was dead or alive. No one came. 

"My lady!" 

That voice didn't sound like Tala, it was lighter, and it had a tone of youthfulness and brightness. Cerys could feel a thin arm raise her head to rest on the person's thighs. 

Her eyes were still closed, she could feel the girl's frantic arms moving around her body, her frenzied breath on her face. Cerys wanted to open her eyes to meet her helper but she just couldn't. 

Then she felt an unexpected warmth inside her body. It spread into her veins, her blood vessels, up to her heart. Her heart beat frantically against her chest, and sweat formed beads on her skin. She could feel the person's hand on her forehead, the constant heat was coming from those hands. 

Eventually, it lessened and Cerys fell into a dreamless slumber.