Acceptance, Adjustment, and Flexibility

Devil by Definition

Standing I look back at Lilly's precious face. 

I smile. Then groan. 

someone's hand lands on my back. I resist the urge to collapse from the new wave of pain.

"So you've not yet cracked." Comes a deep voice. 

I look at the person behind me. Arhin. father by blood. Demon by definition.

I glare at the floor, wanting to beat him to a pulp but knowing that if I do (and god knows I can) then he will have the girls hurt. 

I couldn't do that to them. I've sacrificed too much for them to even think about it.....that doesn't mean I don't want to. He takes his hand off of my back. Then moves to the front of me. towards Lily. My eyes squint. and I am alert of every move he makes. 

"she's a pretty one isn't she." he says as he reaches out towards her.  

"Get away from her" my voice is gruff.  His hand lingers just on her face. His fingers freeze in their place.  I can hear the smile in his voice as he speaks. 

"Oh Dallas why must you speak to me in that tone? Can't you see that I am fair? I only punish those who disobey my rules." He looks at me. " And I am sure that this one has stolen on a number of accounts. Why she has no scars is a mystery to me. And I have a feeling that you have a few scars too many. Can you explain that to me."

I stare at the back of his head.

"How is taking someone from their home Fair."

He looks back at me. His lips pressed into a stiff smile. A shiver runs down my spine. 

"what I am doing has more importance than you think." 

"Oh Like what money." 

"You'll understand one day."   He pats my cheek and walks past me and leaves. 

"Dallas? " Lilly's frightens vice whispers behind me. I look at her. her eyes are open wide. 

"He's gone. for now, don't worry ."

"I'm sorry. " her legs dangle over the bed she looks to the ground. "For what Lilly."

"for stealing. I was the one who stole the bread last night." She slides her hand under the pillow and brings a smashed slice of bread, she holds it in her hand. I look at the bread and I fight the urge to ask her for it. But I know she is hungrier than I am. she is still used to having food at her fingertips. I smile and bend down so that we are eye to eye. I hold her face in my hands. resisting the want to flinch from the pain on my back. 

"Hey, You were hungry. I don't blame you for what happened last night. You now that. Besides " I pat her stomach " Your too skinny"  she wrinkles her nose and looks at my stomach. "But you're skinny too" 

"What? No way. " I tickle her. Attempting to cheer her up. "I thought I was fat." She laughs and hugs me.  and whispers. 

"My momma is fat." she giggles. 

"Oh was she. come on we need to go help the others." she hands me my shirt from the end of the bed and I slide it over my head. Grabbing her hand I notice that she still has the bread. she splits it in half and hands half to me. I smile and eat it in two bites. she quickly eats hers as well. and grabs my hand again. We make our way down the complicated underground maze.