Axel

I saw her tears fall on the blanket. For some reason, she couldn’t look me in the eye. Whatever nightmare she had must’ve really scared her. I held her in my arms to calm her down. I’ve seen my sister cry before, but not like this. She was crying her eyes out. She held onto me real tight, like she was never going to see me again.

“Oh, Destiny, shhh. Shhh, it’s okay. The nightmare’s over, your big brother’s here,” I said softly in her ear. I broke the hug and held her face wiping away her tears. I smiled at her and she smiled back.

“Feel better?” I asked softly. She gave me a slight nod and hugged me again. I rubbed her head and smiled.

“Hey, how about I help you with breakfast? Grandma told me what happened between you and mom.”

In an instant, she looked at me. Her eyes were red from crying. “I know that mom can be difficult, but don’t forget I’m here for you. Grandma, too. Okay?”

She let out a small smile, “Okay.”

“That’s better, now get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed my sword and left Destiny to get ready. I waited in the kitchen for her, since I already took a bath. This was the time of morning father and I would go hunting, so it was normal for me to bathe before anyone else. Destiny came down a little while later in her daily attire. She showed me where the ingredients were and we got to cooking.

Destiny made the porridge, while I made the eggs and cut the bread. By the time we were done, father came down and told me it was time to go hunting.

“Axel, let’s go,” he said putting his arrows on his back.

“Coming!”

I left the kitchen with my hunting supplies, but not before messing up my sister’s hair. I ran out the door before she could throw anything at me. I hopped on my horse then rode off with father to the forest.

My favorite part of hunting was not the actual hunting, but rather riding my horse. I would take Destiny riding when she needed cheering up. She seemed to love it. I even let her drive the horse, she got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Father and I soon reached the forest and prepared our weapons. When we were ready, we tied the horses to a tree and left to go into the forest. Normally, we have our father-son talk, which is when I would bring up Destiny and how unfairly she’s being treated.

“Hey, dad,” I said as we walked.

“Yeah, son,” he answered.

“Why do you hate Destiny?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, I’ve seen the way you look at her. In fact, you ignore her, act like she’s not there, and you don’t even bother to defend her when mother punishes her.”

“Whatever your mother does is her business, not mine. Besides, I have no reason to defend someone who can’t even use the simplest of spells.”

“You know she didn’t choose to be this way. It’s not her fault she born without magic.”

“That may be true, but she is most certainly not my daughter.”

I flinched, and at that moment I snapped. “You’re a sorry excuse for a father.”

My statement stopped him in his tracks. I clearly hit a nerve. He turned and looked me in the eye with anger. I only stared back with the look of anger. How dare he talk about Destiny like that?

“Watch your mouth, boy,” he said holding back his rage.

“Why should I? I mean, you just called my sister, your daughter trash. What kind of father does that?”

“Quiet, Axel.”

“No! Destiny deserves to be treated like a person. Dirt would make a better parent!”

“Axel!”

“Destiny’s human, you, however, are less than human. You’re the scum of the earth.”

BAM!

His fist hit me so fast and hard I slammed on the ground. My cheek was swollen with a big bruise and when I spat blood came out. I held my cheek and looked up at him. He stood over me as if he thought he was superior.

“I’ll say it again, watch your mouth, boy. One more outburst from you and you won’t even be able to feel your face let alone the rest of your body,” he declared with a cold voice and hardened stare.

He walked away leaving me to wallow in my shame, but it was really his shame.