His Death

Xenia gripped her dagger, watching the werewolves approach them. She stopped in front of her father, who didn't seem worried at the moment. Still, she stood her ground.

"Stay back," Xenia said with a shaky breath as the black werewolf looked at her sideways. Its golden eyes regarded her curiously. 

"Xeni, it's alright," her father said through labored breath. "They are our friends." The werewolf approached her father, who grabbed its fur to hoist himself up. The black werewolf shifted as her father covered her eyes, and the sounds of bones breaking filled the area. 

"Fredrick, that wound-" 

"I know, but I have to get her to safety. There are more out there." 

"Then we will help." 

Her father uncovered her eyes and hoisted her onto the back of one of the werewolves as he mounted the black werewolf. She held on to his hand. "Papa…" 

"Hold on tight, Xeni. It's going to be okay." She did as she was told but knew it was far from okay. Her father was paler than before, and his breath became more erratic. The werewolves took off at tremendous speed. She could barely look ahead of her. When she did, she tried to search for her father to make sure he was okay.  

She knew they were close to home as soon as they passed the red blossom trees. She looked ahead at her father just as he fell off the werewolf he was riding. 

"No!" 

Xenia let go and tumbled for a bit before gaining her ground. She ran to him and could see the pain clearly on his face. Tears clouded her eyes as her father reached a bloody hand towards her face. She looked towards the town and could see the smoke from the chimneys of some of the houses. She could make it if she ran fast enough. She stood up just as one of the wolves beckoned her to jump on, so she did. They made it to one of the houses in record time. 

"Help, help! Please!" Xenia screamed, banging on the door. People from the surrounding houses peeked out to see what the fuss was about, but she didn't care. She just needed someone's help. The door opened, and she was relieved it was one of the healers in town. "My father is hurt. Please!" 

The healer quickly grabbed her bag and rode the werewolf back to her father. By the time she returned on foot, some of the townspeople had started gathering around. Xenia pushed through the crowd, trying to get to her father. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him. His skin was almost gray, and his eyes were closed. Please, no, she thought. She dropped to her knees and placed her hand on his. The warmth that was usually there was no more. 

"Papa," she whispered as she saw his eyes slowly open and found hers. He smiled weakly as he gripped her hand. 

"Hey there, Xeni." She started to cry. "Shh, shh. It's okay, baby. It's going to be okay." 

A shriek could be heard through the crowd as her mother made her way through. “Fredrick, Frederick! No, no, no." Her mother fell to the ground, crying into his clothes. "Please be okay, please be okay." 

Her father hugged her tightly. He whispered something into her mother's ear, which made her cry even louder. The healer moved back with her head hung low, and Xenia knew what that meant. There was nothing else they could do. Xenia held onto her father's hand. He was alive, at least to her, as long as he held a grip.  

"Listen, both of you. It may be hard to hear right now, but it seems to be the end of the line for me," her father tried to laugh but ended up coughing up blood. 

"Fredrick, no. Please, don't go. Don't… don't leave me," her mother cried. 

"Delilah, listen. You two have been the best part of my life. I wouldn't change a thing…except your mother cooking," he joked, getting somewhat of a laugh from both of them. "Seriously, if I had one wish, it is that you two look after each other. No matter what, ya hear. You have to be strong for one another. That's all I ask. Can you do that for me?" 

Xenia wiped the tears from her face and nodded. "Yes." 

Her father took off his necklace and placed it in Xenia's hand. He tightened his grip on her hand and smiled at her. Then he turned to her mother. "Delilah…Delilah?" 

Her mother shook her head. "No, no. I can't live without you. Please…just please stay." 

Her father used all his strength to sit up and grabbed her mother's chin to force her to look at him. "You…will…not fall apart, do you hear me? I did not marry a weak woman. You will suck it up and be there for our daughter. Do you understand?" 

Her mother's tears flowed down her face like water. After a minute, she slowly nodded at her father's request as he laid back down.  

"I love you both so much," he whispered as he opened his arms to pull them into a hug, and Xenia still held onto his hand. They stayed like this until his grip became loose, and Xenia cried for the last time in her life. 

After her father's death, her mother kept her word. She continued to push Xenia through her training every day. The town helped as much as possible, but times were getting tough. Since her father was the only source of income, her mother had to find creative ways to get by. So, her mother would travel all the way to Ornxville to trade, leaving Xenia alone for weeks at a time. Though with Lottie and her grandmother, Xenia was never alone. 

One day, her mother returned with a gentleman, who her mother said was a "friend." Xenia knew eventually, her mother would get lonely, and it had only been five years since her father's death. Then her mother would bring another friend and another and another. Each one left her with something she would sell for money or something else valuable. 

A year later, Lottie set off with her to Ornxville with her mother right behind them. She felt she could expand her clientele without the town all in her business. As if that would ever stop them from talking. She joined one of the pleasure houses and eventually became a famous courtesan.  

This was no surprise to Xenia. Her mother was beautiful, with fair skin void of blemishes and scars. Long, curly black hair that framed her face just right. Her high cheekbones were sharp and complimented her full lips and dark brown eyes. Her frame was slender but toned, and her stature made her look taller than the 5'6 she really was.  

Her father always said her mother spoke volumes with the way she walked. Xenia never understood what he meant until now. When her mother walked into the room, she demanded attention and always got it. So, it never surprised her when her mother assaulted men that tried to come for me. What surprises her is the fact that they stay after the fact. 

"So," Delilah said, breaking Xenia's thoughts, "who is this man making my daughter all hot and bothered?"