Chapter 27. Vic POV.
The sun shone in the room where the Vane twins slept, a large window allowing the light to wake them up. There was only one bed and they shared. Feeling the heat, my eyes opened and I rubbed the sleep from them. My elbow hit something soft and fat and a groan escaped the blanket next to me.
Wrong side of the bed again.
Those things had to go. She was taking all the bed space and on top of that, she was also hogging half the blanket. So annoying. I got up and kicked my dear twin, Kathy, in the leg.
A muffled curse came from her. Served her right.
I stretched my arms above my head and went to the balcony to breathe in some fresh air, a cool breeze hit my exposed legs, making me shiver slightly.
But there was a warmth in my heart as I rubbed the earrings papa gave me; a smile crept on my face that I didn’t even try to hide. Today I would spend the day with him, maybe even convince him to continue where we left off.
My insides squeezed at the thought. It felt good...to have his touch on me, to be his princess. His treasure.
“Fuck.”
Why did I not hold my scream back yesterday? It ruined the moment with the others interrupting and then later when I tried to call him, mom was already there like a guard dog.
A hand landed on my shoulder, making me jump. I looked back and saw Kathy, her hair a mess as usual and her eyes half open, a yawn leaving her mouth.
“Vic, the next time you kick me in the morning I will shave off your eyebrows while you sleep,” she grumbled, her voice hoarse from sleep.
I scoffed.
“Says the E-rank, you won’t even be able to reach me.”
It was a bit harsh but she deserved it for interrupting me and papa last night. If only I could find someone with time magic and go back to stop myself from screaming. So careless. She glared at me with her sleepy eyes.
But then she pinched the side of my cheek, pulling at it as I tried to smack her hand away, failing.
“Dad’s going to teach me personally,” she smirked. “Personally, as in one on one.”
“Tck,” my tongue clicked in annoyance, and I swatted her hand away for real this time. Her smugness made my blood boil.
Papa wouldn’t do that. He loved me the most. Kathy wouldn’t have even talked to him if I didn’t push her to drop the silly rebellious act once in a while. She was eighteen not fifteen anymore. A grown adult.
I wanted to retort but, no, I was his princess.
Turning around and grabbing my clothes from my suitcase, I headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me before she could reply. The bathroom was beautiful, with a marble floor and a golden shower head. I turned the shower on. The sound of water splashing echoed through the room.
This was a routine I had developed over the years: wait until papa was watching to strip and make a show out of it for him. Any moment now.
But it didn’t come.
No pop of air, no telltale shimmer in the air, no familiar violet glow of his eyes watching from the void he so effortlessly commanded.
I stood there waiting.
“VIC! Are you fucking done in there?” Kathy banged on the door, making me flinch.
Tears formed in my eyes, the shower ran in the background but all I could focus on was the fact that I was here alone. Papa didn’t watch. The earrings.
I had to rub them.
My fingers went up to my ears, touching the cold amethyst and the word ‘papa’ engraved with his blood.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to push the thoughts away. Maybe I had done something to displease him. Was the scream last night really that bad? I could’ve stayed quiet.
No. It was okay. Papa was just busy with something really important. He’d never abandon his princess.
Letting out a soft sigh, I stepped under the warm water of the shower. My skin getting wet as I washed the sleepiness away and tried to not think too hard.
The tears didn’t come but a knot remained in my chest.
When I got out, I saw Kathy leaning against the wall, a towel wrapped around her body as she waited for me to leave the bathroom.
She didn’t look smug anymore. Just annoyed. My cheeks puffed up slightly and I glared at her. Before leaving the bathroom, I folded the towel. Twice.
“You need to learn patience dear sister,” I said with as much sarcasm I could muster and walked past her into the bedroom, a cloud of steam following me.
The suitcase was on the bed, open. I rummaged through it, looking for a particular set of clothes I packed everytime I went traveling. The white shirt. The blue classic briefs and a short black pants. They weren’t expensive, probably worth the least out of all my clothes to anyone else. But I'd sell Katherine’s bathwater for them if I had to.
Those were his gifts to me from when I was little and they all had papa stitched on the front of them. I smoothed the shirt down. Three times. The number papa checked on us at night when we were small. Putting on the shirt, it was tight on my chest, almost showing the outline of my breasts. So long ago since he gifted me these.
“Hey Vic, I—” Kathy spoke as she walked out of the bathroom, but she stopped mid sentence.
Her eyes were wide. Mouth open and a faint blush on her cheeks. My sister looked like a tomato.
“What?” I tilted my head, acting innocent. She looked like she was about to choke.
“Why are you wearing that...that thing.” She pointed at my shirt.
I grinned and twirled around so she could see the back too. “You need to be more specific, sister dearest.”
The words ‘Papa’s little princess’ were sewn on in bold letters. I did the twirl with my best attempt at grace, and I knew I managed it because Kathy was still gaping. Her mouth closed and opened again, her blush getting deeper.
My chest felt lighter. It was nice to see her squirm, to fight against her fake indifference.
A huff of annoyance left her. She walked over to me, looking up and down my outfit and grabbed the waistband of the briefs.
“You are eighteen. Eighteen, Vic. Not daddy’s little girl anymore. This is weird.” She was tugging at it.
I almost felt sorry for her but I swatted her hand away with a glare.
This outfit was a declaration to everyone that I still belonged to my papa and no one else. I played princess for the world. For him, I simply was one—had always been one, since before I knew what the word meant.
Even my sister should know that. She crossed her arms, her towel almost falling off.
“I’m just going to ignore this because you clearly have problems,” she mumbled, going to her own clothes and getting dressed. But I could see the red tips of her ears. My smile got bigger as I put on some jeans over my briefs.
When she turned around again she was wearing a baggy shirt and some shorts, a scowl on her face still. We left the room together.
The hallway was cold on my skin, it had an air of luxury as we walked towards the elevator. With each step my heart beat faster, he’d be there. My good morning hug and kiss on the forehead. Maybe even on the lips.
A giggle escaped me. My twin gave me a sideway glance and I covered my mouth. She shook her head but didn’t say anything. The elevator doors opened and we entered.
It was going down. Someone else was in it, but I didn't care. I only had eyes for one person.
The elevator dinged, we were on the first floor. I straightened my collar. The doors opened.Kathy walked out and I followed. The smell of the lobby was of fresh flowers, and the chatter of people mixed with the clatter of cutlery. Rich, powerful people. The ones who controlled society yet were utterly nothing in front of my papa.
It was exhilarating. He should just destroy it all, and we’d live alone together, just the two of us. Maybe mom and Kathy could be our servants. That would be good. I didn’t like to clean anyway.
“Earth to Vic,” a voice called me back, pulling me from my thoughts. Kathy waved her hand in front of my face. “Mom and dad are waiting for us at the buffet. Let’s go.”
My smile was back on as we walked to the buffet area, which was packed, but I immediately saw papa. He was sitting with mom at a table by the window and the morning sun hit his black hair making it shine, and his violet eyes glowed when he saw us approaching.
Wait. He wasn’t alone.
My steps stopped. My hand was at my ear before I understood what I was looking at.
Who’s this blonde bitch.