Chapter 3

"Mira, where did you learn to do that?" Wanda demanded with a look of complete disgust on her face.

"Great Uncle Jeb," I reply calmly, remembering our sessions on weekends together. My parents thought that he was teaching me History, and (in a way) he was. We were discussing the greatest wars in human history when he suggested that I get an up-close look at the weaponry. He let me fire a few shots of an old gun, and that was when he decided that I needed to learn how to use it properly.

Ian's look of shock turned into a smile when he saw the box. "I knew you were a quick learner!" I wasn't too surprised that my father would approve.

Jared playfully punched me in the shoulder and stared at my art. "You're a better shot than your father was when he was your age!"

"Jared!" Wanda cried out, infuriated. "This is serious! I never gave Jeb permission to teach our daughter how to fight!" She directed the last part at Ian, giving him a death glare and silently urging him to say something in her defense.

Instead he said, "You let her learn Taekwondo!"

"Not willingly! I only agreed because you kept pushing for it."

"She needs to be able to handle herself. We might not always be around to protect her from danger. Learning how to properly shoot a gun is a necessary step."

"You know how I feel about this, Ian."

"Wanda," Ian pleaded.

She shook her head and said, "Fine, you can deal with her unnecessary training. I'll be in our room, and I want to be left alone." Wanda stormed off. She was usually quite level-headed, but her human emotions were probably making her frantic. I didn't blame her, though, either. She was a pacifist, and everyone was quite aware of that.

I turned to Ian once Wanda was out of sight. "So, daddy…can I please see the soul now?" I begged, clasping my hands together and giving him my best puppy-dog face.

My father shrugged his shoulders and said, "As long as you've got a gun with you at all times."

I flashed him a bright smile.

"Deal."