Page 95 of Ferocious Nightmare

Clenching Aster to my side, I stared down at my father.

For the first time in my life, he looked weak and helpless. His face was pale, too pale. He was so weak he couldn't even get up and try to escape.

I suddenly realized that I felt nothing for this man.

"They're not going to help you." My voice was filled with a cold hardness. "They no longer belong to you."

"What did you do?" Blood ran down his chin, pooling under his jaw. Black, liquid holes spread out from his chest in a dark, inky contrast to the white of his starched, pressed shirt.

I gave him a feral grin. “It doesn't matter.” I pointed my gun at his head. “Now get up."

"I can't."

I leaned over, shoving the gun into his wound, and he screamed out in pain.

"Get the fuck up, or I will make sure your death takes as long as possible."

He groaned, breathing heavily, his face filled with anguish. Then, slowly, he began to move.

"I want to see you on your knees."

He raised his head, painstakingly turning to place his palms on the ground, sneering. "Want me to bow before the new King of the city?"

"No."

Heaving, he finally climbed to his knees and straightened. His head falling back to stare up at me, his eyes filled with pain. "What is it you want then?”

What did I want?

I wanted him to suffer. To feel the pain of everything he’d ever done to others.

To feel guilt for his sins.

“I want you to beg Aster for forgiveness."

His lips twisted. Scoffing. “For what?"

Absolute loathing filled me. "Beg her for forgiveness for disrespecting her, for trying to kill her." My voice lowered, my rage barely contained. I wanted to blow this motherfucker’s face off. "Ask her to forgive you for raping her sister."

"I never touched Rose.”

"I'm not talking about Rose!" I was suddenly screaming, unable to contain my fury. All the events of my past, the suppressed emotion, the anger and rage and pushing it all down, now roared to life. Surfacing like a raging, burning fire. "I'm talking about Lily. Admit your sins to Aster, Father, and I'll let you die quickly."

He stared up at me, heaving, his face filled with incredulity.

Even with his own death before him, he was still a stubborn asshole.

"Beg her for forgiveness," I hissed.

His jaw working, he turned towards her. “I’m sorry."

"Kneel before her. Press your face to the floor and beg her to absolve you of your past.”

He moved sluggishly, with mutiny on his face, but did as I commanded, and pressed his face to the floor. "Please forgive me."

I looked at Aster and she nodded. Not at him. At me. It was okay.

With one arm hooked around her neck, I pulled her close, tucking her face into the crook of my neck protectively. With my other hand, I aimed my gun, and fired.

It only took the one bullet to the head, and my father no longer existed to torture us.

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