I dedicate this fanfiction to my girlfriend and all my readers, reviewers and the beta reader wallaceb.

CHAPTER 38 – Half hert

Dark.

An immense darkness all around me.

Tiredness.

All of my bones and muscles are sore.

Sadness.

Because of this life that is not worth living.

Loneliness.

Of those who have been betrayed by the whole world.

Empty.

What is left inside of my heart…

...

I open my eyes, I'm in my room.

The room is in the shade, there is just a thin ray of sunlight that cuts through the ceiling, but it vanished suddenly.

I turned around toward the window; there is a tall man with his back turned with a long dark coat who had just closed the curtains.

"Dad?" I ask him in a tired and sleepy voice.

The man turns towards me slowly.

"You woke up, my little-bat?" He says with a smile, "Did I wake you?"

"W-what happened?"

"Don't worry about what has happened. The important thing is that now you're fine."

"My head hurts…" I conclude by turning around to my side.

My father approaches my bed and gently rests his hand on my head.

"Do not worry my child, henceforth everything will be fine. I promise you." He whispers in my ear while stroking my hair, "Do you want to eat something, sweet-claws?"

Actually I'm hungry, so I look at him and smile.

"I'll bring something to you immediately."

"No, I want to come down with you." I say, my voice is still a bit tired.

"Are you sure?" He asks in a sweet voice.

I get up out of bed, but I do not want to change, after all I love this nightgown; it's lightweight with cobweb embroidered tulle that shows the whiteness of my back. The spiders of the hotel gave it to me for my birthday last year, one of my favorite gifts of all time. Whoever has seen me with this night dress paid me a lot of compliments.

"Miss?" Dad calls me, "This is not a slumber party, you know?" He continued with a honeyed voice, but I know that it's a reproach.

I huff and puff bored, I forgot that since the appreciation of the other monsters about me came to the ears of my father, now he doesn't even allow me to wear skirts with long socks that leave my thighs uncovered because he said it's too vulgar, let alone whether he sends me around the hotel in bare legs and a nearly discovered back…

He keeps staring at me with his scolding-sweet look, so I huff and puff again and prepare my clothes to change.

I leave my room and go downstairs to the kitchen waving to the various guests who seem happy to see me in good condition.

I arrive in the dining room; it's empty, also because it's the day and most of the monsters are asleep at this time. Through the golden lounge I open the door next to the stage to get into my private dining room.

There's my father who was talking with a waiter gargoyle, in front of them is a long table set for three.

I approach my father and I stroke his back, he turns to me and smiles, I give back the smile and move a chair to sit down, but my father puts his hand on my shoulder and said:

"Sit at the head of the table."

I look at him for a moment bewildered; it was rare that he conceded his place to others, even when I was little he preferred to let me sit on his legs than leave his chair.

"What an honor!" I replied before sitting up.

I sighed thoughtfully.

"Is everything okay my baby?"

I raise my eyes quickly toward him; he's staring at me, almost appearing worried.

"Do you want me to accompany you to your room?"

"Oh... no, don't worry." I replied, shaking my head slightly, then I lower my gaze on the empty plate, "It's all okay…" I sigh, doubtfully, fiddling with a fork to distract my thoughts.

I'm lying, and my father also knows this very well.

"Mavy wavy, you know that you can tell me everything, anything you are worried about you can talk with me."

From the corner of my eye I see that he is approaching me slowly, while his gentle fatherly voice always manages to warm my heart.

But I don't say a word.

I do not know why... after all, everything has been going perfectly, I am a bit tired, but I'm fine, there is my father who always takes care of me, I turned one hundred and eighteen and finally I opened my mother's gift, but I feel as if something was missing, but what?...

I nibble the top of the fork's handle and lift my eyes, hidden behind the fringe for me not to notice.

My father is in front of me waiting for my reply, he smiles, but his eyes seem worried; he tried to hide it, but his eyes didn't lie.

I do not know what to say, but I don't want him to worry about me.

"I don't... I don't know, I'm fine, but I feel that there is something wrong... it's as if a part of me was missing."

I rest my hands on my legs and I realize that there is something, maybe a book, I take it and pull it out.

It's my mother's gift; I don't remember taking it.

I browse it quickly and I pause on the last written page.

"Your Zing will come, my love. Cherish it…" I whisper, then return with a look towards my father, he was strange, now he seems almost frightened.

"And where did you find that?" He asked me in a soft, but a little shaky, voice.

Honestly, I had asked myself this question...

"Dad..." I start to say, turning his full attention, "In your opinion, when I find my "zing"?" I conclude with a sigh, my heart is pounding and I feel worried, but I don't understand why...

My dad makes a bitter smile.

"Do not worry my child, all in good time..."

I apologize for the short chapter, but don't worry because I will publish the last three chapters of the story by the end of the year.
Are you slightly confused? Well, that's what I wanted, soon it will all be clear...

See you soon!