I pause. My hand is hovering in front of the door. I push away the thoughts of her thinking I'm lying. I take a deep breath and knock.
"Who is it?" Says a voice from the other side.
"Manu. Slash's private servant," I answer.
The door opens slightly. An eye peeks out at me. The door opens wider and I go in. I close the door behind me. Holly sits before me. She looks down and fiddles with the hem of her white apron.
"Hello, Holly," I say.
She looks up at me.
"You know my name?" she asks.
I nod. I look around the cramped room. A tiny cot sits in the corner, a small dresser, a tiny closet, and a tiny trash can. The room of a lowly servant. The other servant rooms aren't much better, though.
"Did you want something?" Holly asks.
"I have something to tell you, Holly."
I sit down next to her on the cot. Holly scoots over a little.
"Do you know your family?" I ask.
Holly shakes her head, as I knew she would.
"I don't remember them. The woman who took me in said that my parents died in a fire. And all I remember is flames and screams." Holly says, looking down.
"Your parents are alive. Or at least one of them," I say.
Holly's eyes widen. She looks at me in disbelief.
"What do you mean?" Holly asks.
I sigh.
"Holly, I'm saying that I'm your father."
Holly leans away from me.
"But my parents died in a fire."
"No they didn't."
I look down and all the thoughts of her not believing me come rushing back.
"If you're my dad, then what's my middle name?" Holly asks.
"Flora," I answer without thinking.
Holly gasps.
"I've never told anyone that. That means you have to be my father!"
Holly hesitates a little but then she hugs me. I smile and hug her back, burying my face in her dirty-blonde hair. She breaks the hug.
"But if you're alive, that means Mom has to be alive!" Holly says, jumping off the cot.
I lower my head. Holly stops her happy dance.
"Doesn't it mean mom's alive too?" she asks.
I shake my head.
"I don't know if your mom is alive," I admit.
Holly sits back down.
"What is her name?" Holly asks.
"Betty. She was the sweetest girl in the world."
I smile to myself.
"You had a sister, you know."
Holly smiles.
"Her name was Alexa Ruth."
Holly looks at me in a funny way.
"You mean her first name was Alexa and her middle name was Ruth?" Holly asks.
I shake my head.
"She had two first names. She hated it, though."
I stop myself before I start thinking of when I was still with Betty.
"Why do you keep saying was?" Holly asks.
"Because I don't know if they're alive or not."
I look up at the ceiling.
"Well, at least I have you, Dad," Holly says.
I smile at the word Dad.
"We better get back to work," I say, as I stand up.
Holly nods and gives me one last hug. I walk down the hall, feeling like a new man.
YOU ARE READING
The Monster Hero
FantasyIn this mixed up world, there are Wolfums and Humans. Wolfums and Humans are enemies, trying to outdo each other. The royal family of a certain tribe of Wolfums has 19 kids. The youngest, Elliott, is underestimated and gets to feel the wrath of his...