Page 28 of Their Offering

“That was two days ago.”

Two days? Is that why we hadn’t seen him for so long? Had he been at the lake for two days?

“And?” our father taunted. “If I give you an order, you do it, no matter how long it takes.”

Keir shook his head. “This is ridiculous, Father. I can’t stay down there. Please, I’ll do anything else.”

Our father’s wicked laugh bounced off the walls. “Did I tell you to leave?”

“No.”

“Then get your sorry ass back down there before I drag it down there myself,” our father sneered before turning to Aiden and me. “I ought to send you two with him. You should have sent him back or reported his disobedience to me. You two are just as guilty.”

A throat cleared, and we turned to see our mother in the hallway. Her long black hair was half-up, the rest cascading over her shoulders. The dress she wore looked too much for her, but I am sure it was our father who insisted she ‘dress the part’.

I practically sighed with relief. She was always able to talk some sense into him. Maybe she could come to Keir’s aid this time.

“What’s going on?” she asked softly, her voice sweet—the polar opposite of her husband.

“Business,” our father replied gruffly. “Go busy yourself elsewhere.”

I looked at her expectantly.

“Please, dear,” she insisted. “What's going on? Perhaps I can help.”

Before my father could respond, my twin did. “Keir’s been at the Lake of Fire for two days. Father is trying to send him back for more,” Aiden answered quickly.

Our father growled, displeased with Aiden’s mouth. He took a step toward him, but Keir shifted his feet, standing his ground, earning him a snarl.

“Honey,” our mother started. “Two days seems like more than enough.”

Our father turned to her, his eyes full of rage. “You do not question me, woman. He ismyson, and I will punish him how I see fit.” He stalked over until he was toe to toe with her. “Do you understand?”

She nodded, her body starting to fold in on itself, like she was trying to make herself seem small and insignificant. That wasn’t a good sign.

“Keir, go back to the Lake of Fire. Now,” he commanded, not even looking at our brother.

“But-”

“Go,” our mother said without breaking eye contact with Father. “Listen to him, Keir. Go to the lake. Stay there until your father sends for you.”

Keir’s breathing picked up as he looked around in disbelief. Our mother never sided with our father, especially when it came to overly-harsh punishments. This time, she’d folded. Keir took one look at her and stomped down the hall.

Our father glared at my twin and me. “You can go, too.”

“Please, Arthur,” our mother started. “Not the twins.”

His face twitched as he contemplated how far he wanted to push things today, then he turned to face her. He ran a finger down our mother’s face, and I could have sworn I saw her flinch. He forced out a laugh before turning away and stalking down the hall, not bothering to look at us.

She just stood there, looking defeated.

“How could you?” my brother asked her, his voice breaking.

She looked up at us with tears in her eyes, almost like she felt guilty. “You don’t understand.”

“You’re right, we don’t,” Aiden spat at her before he turned to me. “Let’s go.”

He walked past our mother, and I followed. Her hand shot out and grabbed my upper arm, and I stopped.

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