Chapter 3: To Justify the Ends
Day: 2
~Rinoa's Bedroom~
"At least she was spotted in time." Caraway looked to his unconscious daughter, feeling quite relieved. "This girl is going to give me a coronary," he mumbled, massaging his temple. "Could you take care of her, Joanna?" he asked, heading to the door.
"Yes, sir,' the young woman bowed, approaching Rinoa.
Once he was gone, Joanna changed Rinoa's clothes and tucked her in bed, pulling a heavy set of covers over her. With a sigh, she sat down. "If only you knew how much your father cares about you, Miss Heartily."
"It's all an act," she mumbled.
"What? You're awake!" She was at her side immediately.
Rinoa turned away from her, rolling on her side. "He doesn't understand. He has no idea what he's doing. Not a clue. And he uses his 'caring' about me as a trophy. All he cares about is his job."
"…" Joanna bowed and excused herself, picking up the dismissing tone in Rinoa's voice.
When the door closed, she kicked off the blankets and turned out the sconce that was secured to the wall. She rolled off the bed and walked to the window, pushing it wide open.
Dawn would break soon. She could see the horizon glow with hues of purple and red melting into blue in her field of vision.
Her gaze fell to the ground where the guards did their rounds about the estate. She scowled. Pulling from the window, she slammed it shut. Walking to the sconce, she yanked it from the wall and smashed it against the door, hastily going over to lock it.
As she overturned her room, several attempts of opening it were made. After the first hour, they'd given up and she continued to throw everything in sight.
The run rose over the mess of clothing, books, pages of journals with scribbles in permanent ink, stuffed animals, trinkets and charms that normally adorned her vanity and bedside table. It was a disaster.
She lay against the beige wall, eyes closed but a little swollen from crying. Her hair was in disarray, draped partially over her shoulder. But for the moment, she was the most serene figure in the room.
A key slipped into the lock of her door and turned, clicking free the mechanical obstruction. It swung open a fraction and stopped. Once the figure caught sight of the room's only occupant, it closed softly. Joanna left for the den to update Fury on the current behavior of his daughter.
~In the Den~
"At least her outlets are getting less… dangerous to others," he commented, turning the page of the current book he was reading.
Joanna raised an eyebrow. "If I may, sir, why did you bring Rinoa here?"
"To test her. See if she is capable of having any kind of self-control," he said without looking up.
"There are… better ways of testing someone like that… aren't there?"
He paused. Snapping the book shut, he set it down on the table beside him. Standing, he leveled his gaze with hers. She backed away nervously. "Are you questioning my methods, Joanna Didrus?"
She shook her head, bowing in apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. But… I was just wondering if there was any alternate means to accomplish that… test…"
Fury crossed his arms, glaring down. "Then look me in the eye and say that," he challenged.
Slowly, Joanna looked up. When she was finally at his eye level, she froze. He raised his hand and slapped her across the cheek. "You're fired," he said calmly.
Gripping her cheek, she ran out of the room, trying not to let him see her fear. "Yes, sir," she managed before bounding out of the house.