Chapter 20 Scabior Meets the Parents
Scabior nervously follows Kaila up to the front door of a two story cottage that had dark green vies growing up the sides, framing the door and trailing along the bottom of the windows. She opens the door and steps inside, moving so that Scabior could follow her in before closing the door behind them.
"Mom? Dad? I'm home!" She calls to them as Scabior took in his surrounding. This was Kaila's home…where she had grown up…
They entered into a living room with a soft brown sofa, two matching armchairs and a mahogany center table. The floors were made of polished wood and there was a stone fireplace against the far wall. Over the window was a thick, dark green curtain that blocked out most of the light from outside, but the room was well lit by bright balls of light that hovered close to the ceiling. Scabior hesitated as a man came running into the room, followed closely by a woman who looked vaguely like Kaila. The man was tall and well built, bigger than Scabior. He had short dark hair and hazel eyes, and wore black dress pants with a white button up shirt. The woman had long brown hair and green eyes and was dressed in a feminine sundress.
"Oh, thank goodness!" the woman gasps, throwing her arms around Kaila.
The man's gaze falls on Scabior and he stiffens, drawing his wand. "You fit Arden's description…you're the snatcher…"
"Kaila's not a muggleborn! You had no business snatching her." The woman scolds him, glaring at him and pulling Kaila away.
Kaila frees herself and moves back towards Scabior. "No, wait. You don't understand. This is Scabior…I love him…"
"It's a pleasure, Madam, to finally meet the source of Kaila's beauty. I can see the resemblance." Scabior smiles at her, offering her his hand. Before she can respond, Kaila's father takes her by the shoulders and pulls her away from him.
"Dad, be nice." Kaila scolds him, "This is Dan and Cassidy Wynter…my parents."
"Arden told us all about you. What you did to my daughter. What sort of spell did you use to make her think she loves you?" Dan demands angrily.
"He hasn't cast a spell on me! That's ridiculous!" Kaila objects, "Arden is just bitter that I chose Scabior over him."
"No, Kaila, you're in love with Arden." Cassidy pushes gently, "This man is your attacker. Look at him, Kaila. He has to be thirty years older than you. Why would you choose him over Arden?"
"Why would you want your daughter to be with an unfaithful little bastard?" Scabior counters defensively, "Aren't you supposed to want what's best for her?"
"Of course we do," Dan agrees, "And that's not you."
"You don't know me," Scabior objects.
"What did he tell you?" Kaila asks in confusion, obviously upset.
"Arden told us the truth, Sweetie. This man does not care for you. He's the one that handed you over to that mad woman to be tortured. Arden tried to protect you. He was so upset when he couldn't find you. I'm sure he's still waiting for you. He'll be trilled to know you've survived!" Cassidy explain excitedly. "You go see Arden. He'll protect you until your head is right again. We'll get rid of this one."
"Resor lied to you. He never made any attempt to protect her. Kaila is mine now." Scabior answers stiffly.
"Darling, go get Arden." Dan tells Cassidy who immediately turns around and disappears into the fireplace.
"Dad, stop it! You don't have the slightest clue as to what's going on! I don't want to see Arden!" Kaila snaps.
"You never raised your voice to me before you were captured by that git." Dan points out, "That's proof that he's altered you somehow."
Scabior rolls his eyes. "I'm offended. Do you honestly believe that, had I actually 'altered her', raising her voice to you would be on my list of things to have her do?"
"Scabior, you're not helping," Kaila rounds on him.
"They don't like me, pet. I told you they probably wouldn't." Scabior points out.
"They would if Arden hadn't lied to them!" She objects.
The front door flies open and Arden rushes in, closely followed by Cassidy. "I would never lie to Mom and Dad." Arden grins at her.