ROME
Voreni sat spinning yarn as Vorenus burst through the door. She backed toward a dimly light window as he searched a nearby chest.
“Father.” Voreni said in a soft voice, but Vorenus paid no heed. He continued to rummage through the room. “F-father, stop it. STOP IT.” He swiped at a glass, smashing it against the wall. “Stop it. What are you doing? Stop it. Father, stop it. You.“ Finally he found what he sought so ruthlessly. From under Voreni’s bed he pulled a black chest full of the small twisted animals made from twine. He grasped a handful, allowing them to slip through his fingers as he rose from his knees. His jaw protruded as his anger festered and his breathing became heavy.
“Where did you get these?” He asked.
“I bought them.” Voreni said as she inched closer to the window.
“Don’t you lie to me.” Vorenus threw the twine animals at his daughter.
“I did.” Her voice wavered as she produced a lie she knew was feeble.
Vorenus began to raise his voice as sweat slowly started to trickle down his brow. “One of Memeo’s men gave them to you didn’t he? DIDN’T HE?”
Again her voice wavered. She became ripe with fear. “No. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She started to cross the room, keeping a good distance from her father.
“DON’T YOU LIE TO ME.” He pointed a finger at her and his eyes glowed hot.
”I’m not lying.” Voreni made a dash for the hall, but Vorenus followed close behind, leaping a fallen box. He pushed by a curtain and reached for her arm
“You get back here. Get back here.” He called after her. He caught her just before she could reach the door and spun her around. His face was glowing as red as blood. He took a breath as Pollo entered through the door, watching, waiting to see if he would need to restrain his friend. “It was you wasn’t it?” He pointed his finger at her again, almost in her face this time. “It was you who went to Memeo. It was you who betrayed, me.” He clenched his jaw as the surrounding candle light shadowed half of his face, giving him the look of Hades. “You’ve been whoring your self haven’t you? You’ve been whoring yourself to one of Memeo’s men. You’ve been whoring yourself to the whole DAMN CLAN.”
Voreni glowered and her courage rose as she got in her father’s face. “It’s not true. He loves me. He loves me and I love him.” She spat her words.
Vorenus shook his head in disbelief. “How could you be, so, STUPID?” His temper was lost. “He was using you to get to me.”
“You know nothing about it. He loves me.” She threw the spiteful words into her father’s face.
“For the love of this scum, you would betray your own father?” Vorenus furrowed his brow as he asked.
“OH, YES.” Voreni yelled through gritted teeth. “I betrayed you, and I was glad to do it.” She was screaming near the top of her lungs.
Her words were so sharp they nearly cut Vorenus in half. He stepped closer and feigned that he would strike, but nearing tears, instead he asked. “Why?” His breathing deepened. “Why? Why would you do that?”
Voreni was quick to respond, raising her voice as her long earrings dangled. “You killed my mother.” She said. “You cursed us to Hades.” She neared tears as she let her hidden feeling known. “You made me a FUCKING WHORE. And you ask why?” She couldn’t believe her father was so blind. “Because I hate you.” She pushed him, but he barely moved. “I HATE YOU. We all hate you. I wish you were dead.”
She pressed her face close to her father’s and had no time to escape the thunderous SLAP from her father’s quick right hand. Her hair whipped round as she fell face first onto one of the beds and gave a whimper. Her younger brother and sister must have heard the commotion because they came running to see what was happening. The older sister put out her hand to stop her brother from getting too close. Voreni spun back around now holding a knife towards her father. “Go ahead. Try and kill me like you killed mother.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll not go so easy.”
“I didn’t kill her.” Vorenus raised a finger to her, ignoring the blade aimed at his throat.
“Oh, liar.”
“I didn’t kill her.” Vorenus spoke softly while Pollo watched from the doorway.
“She didn’t love you and you killed her for it.” Voreni said.
Vorenus came closer. “Shut your mouth.” He swiped at the blade. “You SHUT your mouth.”
Voreni wore a menacing smile as she spoke, basking in the anguish she was heaping upon her father. “She never loved you.”
“You shut your mouth.” Vorenus swatted the blade from his daughter’s hand, but she was too busy taunting him to notice.
“She never loved you.” She repeated, trying desperately to anger her father further. Finally he snapped. He slammed her against a wall and placed a hand upon her throat, ready to squeeze the life from her.
“Shut. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, HUH.” His grasp tightened. Voreni gasped for air with her tongue out while Pollo approached slowly.
“ Vorenus.” He said in a voice barely a whisper, but Vorenus continued to choke his daughter. Pollo tried again, a little louder this time. “Vorenus.”
Vorenus’ eyes were full of rage, but he turned to see his friend, then towards his two young children who were watching their father in fear. Finally he released his grasp and Voreni fell to the floor, sucking in fresh air. Upset and hurt by his family’s betrayal, he slowly headed up stairs, shaking his head at what he had just done while tears boiled his eyes. Pollo took Voreni in his arms to comfort her, but was more concerned for his friend’s fragile state.
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