Chapter Seventeen
Love is a Knife to the Heart
Okay here's the deal with my parents, appearance aside for now, they're crazy. Like psychopath killer crazy. Every year when I would make my annual visit back to the family home, I had to watch every move I made or risk getting a knife in my back.
You could also say that they're the reason why Jafar "found" me. I was up in that tree to escape the throwing knifes and random death traps that were a constant threat at the house, so I guess in a way, Jafar saved my life, although comparing life under Jafar with life under my parents, my parents were saints.
So if my parents are crazy and out to kill me, then why would I visit them every year? Here's why, because in their own way they actually loved me. I had six brothers but none of them made it past adulthood, they died by natural causes, so I guess it kind of sent them over the edge with me. They are firm believers in reincarnation, apparently thinking that if I die, I can bring back Othello, the oldest and obvious favorite. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I know that it doesn't work that way.
Knocking on the door, I was greeted by my mother, who was hiding a filet knife behind her back, "Iago!" she said as she opened the door, "Please come on in" Reaching around for a hug, I grabbed the filet knife and threw it on the floor, "Now you know that we're not a hugging family" she exclaimed after I broke the embrace, "I know Mom" I answered, "I just missed you so much" She smiled at me, the only thing that was ever warm about her, the reason that Dad fell in love with her to begin with. "Your father is out I'm afraid" she said as we began walking through the house, I was making sure to avoid the trip wire that was placed in the middle of the floor, the pressure sensor on the couch where we sat and ducking as a large swinging blade of doom came towards my head.
After inspecting the room for any more death traps, I felt comfortable enough to touch things in and around the house. It was then that I heard Mom sigh loudly, "Why can't you just die like the others? I want my Othello!" She began crying, she was very upfront about that, for Othello was attempting to follow her and Dad's footsteps and try to kill me. But then he got sick, and never got better. Mom and Dad never really healed after that, they were only shells of what they used to be.
I nodded and let her cry it out, the only thing I would let Mom do without raising my suspicions of an attack, they be crazy, but they weren't cruel. "I know Mom" I whispered softly, "I know. I miss him too" Othello was the only one who actually showed me anything that was close to affection. I think deep down he didn't want to kill me, but rather he wanted to make Dad happy, and if that meant serving my head on a platter, then that's what he would've done. Now I think about it, if I was a bit younger at the time, I probably would've let him do it, because he would make it quick and utterly painless and I knew that he would cry his eyes out afterwards.
"It makes me proud that you're in music" she said as I moved a little closer, "There's nothing here" she raised her wings, showing me nothing but that, "I just want to hold you dear" So I let her embrace me. We are not a hugging family by any means, but when Mom gets emotional, she just needs someone to hold. But I kept one eye wandering the entire time, watching for any signs of her making a move for a dagger or a poison dart. Nothing happened.
Standing up, I took this as my cue to leave. I wanted to be gone before Dad got home. Who knows what kind of crazy thing he would try and kill me with, I was just about to open the door, when I saw a large tree truck on a rope swing towards me. Getting out of the way just in time, I watched as the tree destroyed the door, property damage could only be caused by one person-Dad.
Rushing outside I looked around, I could Dad perched on the tree that was still standing in the front yard. "We failed again dear" Mom yelled through the house, causing my Dad to fly down from the tree and meet me. "You're a hard bird to kill" Dad stated firmly, "That's good. It means you're smart" I embraced him, I hadn't seen him in years, also taking the knife that he had hidden in the fold of his back and throwing it across the yard. "It's good to see you Dad" I said as I broke it, "It's been too long, Iago" Dad replied, "We missed you" I laughed, "I could tell. But it looks like I'll be sticking around a bit longer" Dad laughed, "It appears that way. We won't keep you any longer. Go out and experience the world" That he way of saying goodbye, sounding like the wise old man that only gave mentoring advice once and never appeared again for the rest of the story. But unlike that wise old man, he was Dad. He would appear whenever I needed him, to try and kill me once again.
That is why I went to my parents place. I needed a refresher course in Survival 101. I was now ready to take on what I would, and so headed towards Agrabah.