Finally Ember snapped us both out of our fascination with the TV to announce that our meals had arrived. Mr. Fredrick refused to leave the TV and insisted to eat where he was, but I went with Ember to the kitchen to eat, as it was what she wished. Besides, at that time the boxing had become repetitive. Ember and I sat at the table and ate in silence; a silence which was interrupted from time to time by angry yells from Mr. Fredrick. However, I did not let his outbursts annoy me, as I was enjoying my meal too much to care. Finally, when we had finished our meal, Mr. Fredrick stormed into the kitchen, looking rather upset. I looked at him oddly.
"Alright Ember, it's late and you need to get to bed, right now." He snapped at her. I did NOT like his tone, and stood up.
"Why must she?" I demanded.
"Because it's after nine o clock and she needs her sleep." He snapped at me.
"But Mr. Fredrick, I'm not sleepy…" Ember said quietly.
"I said-"he cut himself off and composed himself. "Ember… It's been a few hectic couple of days for you, and you really need your rest. Come on, you parents wouldn't let you stay up late would they?" She looked at him sadly. I could tell a pain of remorse tore through her little body, as she looked down at the ground.
"oh…okay Mr. Fredrick…Good night Mr. Fredrick…" she looked up at me. "Good night Ecco, see you in the morning." She hugged me gently, and I hugged her back.
"It's alright Ember. You sleep well; I will watch over you and protect you." I said calmly. She seemed relived by this, and squeezed me before letting go and heading up to her room. Once she was out of sight Mr. Fredrick turned and glared at me.
"Stupid lousy Black Target couldn't even win a stupid bloody match…" Mr. Fredrick snarled as he walked to the fridge and flung the door open. I watched him quizzically.
"What happened?" I asked.
"What do you THINK?! I'm just out a hundred dollars because that jackass lost the fight!" he snapped angrily.
"Well, why do you not simply ask for it returned?" I wondered. He snorted and laughed at me.
"Right, like I can ask for a bloody bet back! That's the point of bets, to take a chance!" he snarled as he pulled a bottle of yellowish liquid from the fridge.
"Why did you take that risk then? What would you have gained?" I asked, still not understanding.
"Because I could have won a LOT of money!" he snapped. He picked up a drinking glass, and poured the liquid into it. "Look, you wanna drink boy?"
"No thank you, I am not thirsty." I replied.
"Ha! You're probably just scared of a little booze." He sat down at the table, slamming the bottle and the glass down. "Sit!" he ordered me. I did not like being ordered around, but I did it anyways, to humor him. He took a large drink from the glass.
"What is booze?" I asked. He began to laugh at me again.
"Ain't you never had a drink boy?!"
"I have drunk before. Every creature has drunk water." I said, looking at him as he took another drink.
"No no! Drink is in Booze! Alcohol!" he snapped.
"I have never drank Alcohol." I replied. He once again drank more of this liquid.
He must be extremely parched to consume this much in such a short time… perhaps he has fallen ill? I suppose one could only hope…
"Then here!" he stood up and retrieved another glass. He poured some of the liquid into it, and handed it to me. "Try some!" I picked up the glass, and smelled it, recoiling back as I did.
By the almighty what is this!? It smells foul!
"er… Perhaps later…" I set the glass down. Mr. Fredrick finished his glass and laughed at me while he poured another.
"Are you a coward boy?! Afraid of a little drink?!" he snorted as he drank more.
"I am no coward!" I snapped suddenly.
'Then DRINK!" he snapped back. In irritation I took the glass and downed its entire contents, an act I INSTANTLY regretted. I swooned and gagged as the horrid liquid went down my throat. It burns! What horrid concoction is this!? I have been deceived! I gagged and coughed as I tried to force the horrible liquid to stay down. Mr. Fredrick howled in laughter at me.
"HAHAHAH! Foolish boy! You don't chug it, you sip it! I admit, you got balls though, taking it down like that!" he laughed at me, and I glared at him.
"What sort of… deception did you… do to me?!" I gasped as I finally regained my composure.
"I didn't do anything! You're just a pansy who can't handle a little booze!" he laughed and he drank more. I snarled at him.
"I do not need to drink that foul liquid to prove anything to you!" I snapped. I felt lightheaded and swayed lightly.
"Yeah right you little coward." He said, his voice becoming slurred as he drank more of the alcohol. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. Yet it did no good.
"I am no COWARD!" I roared, flinging the glass at him. He caught it, barely. Mr. Fredrick then poured it full again, and pushed it back at me, a strange grin on his face.
"Then drink, SLOWLY this time." He grinned at me. I snarled back, and against my better judgment, drank some more of the alcohol. "aaahh haaa! Good boy!" he laughed as he drank his. We continued to drink as the night wore on, and as we did I began to feel more and more strange.
What… what is happening… I cannot… cannot think…the room… it is… it is spinning! Round and round and round! What is happening to me!?
I began to giggle uncontrollably. I did not know what was so funny, but I continued to laugh. Mr. Fredrick began to laugh with me. Suddenly, I felt insulted.
"Why… are yyoou laughing at me?!" I snapped, slamming the glass down. He looked at me.
"Cause yooourr funny to laugh at!" he snapped, slamming down his own glass. This infuriated me, and I stood up, shoving my chair back. He did the same, and we snarled and glared at each other. I felt ready to tear this human limb from limb, when the stars upon my head began to pulse, sending a shudder down my body. I stumbled backwards.
By the almighty… what am I doing!? This is not right! This is wrong! So very wrong! I shook my head violently, trying to clear my thoughts.
"I… I need to sleep…" I stammered, cringing.
"Awww you're juuust a pansy!" he slurred at me.
"NO! I need to rest! So… so do you!" I snapped. My head began to spin wildly.
"Ahhahahahahah! Yooou little wuss!" He laughed, slamming down the now empty bottle. "Fine! Fighting youuu would be a waster of time anyways!" He slammed down the bottle and stormed out and upstairs. I watched him go, my head spinning and my mind reeling. I stumbled back to the living room, and lapsed into unconsciousness before I even touched the couch.
Author's note: First off, sorry this took so long to update, I sorta forgot. ^.^; This chapter was sorta done on a dare, so it's kinda weird, but none the less, it DOES suit a purpose. ;) What purpose? Well you'll just have to wait and see…..