Culling

Part II • Chapter XI

Instead, he paced back and forth angrily while he muttered something in another language under his breath. I peeked at him through the gaps in between Owen and Sean, and what I saw terrified me.

Gone was the funny, soft-spoken man from before, and in his place was someone who was hardened and ready to go to into a battle. He didn't look fierce at all before, but now he appeared to be deadly.

But didn't Darius say that his father didn't bite? Why was he angry?

"Mr Gentreau." Owen snapped at him, but my uncle ignored him and continued to pace and speak in that other language. "Mr Gentreau!" Owen tried again to get his attention.

"Lucas! Calm yourself, you are scaring Sang!" Owen all but shouted, but it worked this time. At those words, Uncle Lucas froze mid step and stopped his ranting. His fists were still clenched, but he took a deep breath and while it took a moment or two, I could see him gradually regain control over the threads of his temper.

As the anger faded, his devastation began to show through. He covered his eyes his his hand as he wearily took the seat that Owen had been in previously. "I'm so sorry. I didn't find her. I didn't find you in time. The things you've been through, and now you are a tribute... I'm so profoundly sorry. I'll do whatever I can to fix it Sang, I promise."

He still wanted me?

I realized that he looked like a man broken. He really did care... I couldn't even imagine the stress and worry that he had been under all these years. However, despite that he had never given up looking - and accepted me into his family without question. He had nothing to be sorry about.

I pushed past Owen and Sean and stood in front of my uncle and tried to look intimidating, which probably looked ridiculous because of the paper gown. "Uncle Lucas."

He slowly raised his head and looked at me, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

I put my hands on my hips. "Were you the one who physically tied me in a shower? Did you force me to drink lemon juice and vinegar?"

He flinched, but slowly shook his head.

"Did you kidnap my mother or ever give up looking for her?" I asked.

Uncle Lucas sighed. "Sang, you don't understand. It was my-"

I stepped forward and pushed my hand against his mouth. He blinked up at me with a shocked expression. "Stop blaming yourself for things that are not your fault. You are going to cause yourself to get more grey hairs. I read that blondes go grey the fastest, so you don't want to tempt fate."

He laughed, grabbed my wrist and held my hand instead. "We have more than blonde in our hair, you know."

"It's all the same!" I told him, shy about my outburst but happy that he was smiling again. "Can I go sit down now, I've been standing here in this awful gown..."

"No, you can stay there a little longer if you want." Sean's voice came from behind me. "I don't mind the view-"

I barely noticed Sean's yelp of pain as I screamed and held the back of the gown back together. I turned to look at Sean in horror, but he was crouched over against the examination table trying to catch his breath. Owen must have hit him. I raised my eyebrow at the scene and glanced at Owen, who was trying to avert his eyes from my general direction.

However, it wasn't very successful as he noticed that I was watching him. "I didn't look at you the whole time, Miss Sorenson."

What, did he want me to give him a reward or something for being a non-pervert? Thank god I had kept my underwear on for this appointment.