The Beast

Chapter Twenty-Nine
The Long-Lost Twin

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HANNAH

   It took a few moments to process what Daemon said.

   My dad is in that room.

   The same room where my dad was staying. So, unless there was another man with him and my sister, that could only mean...

   I shook my head, unable to wrap my mind about what his words meant. Too lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized that Lev shot out of bed until he stood in front of me.

   Keeping his back to me, his voice dropped several degrees as he addressed Daemon. "Bring him."

   There was some shuffling before someone stopped in front of him. Since Lev blocked my view, I leaned against the backrest and waited. However, as Lev reached his arm out, grasping whatever was given to him, I stiffened. Then he lowered his arm, and I felt like I couldn't breathe all over again.

   The glint of metal was all to familiar now.

   Once the door clicked shut, I knew we were alone. My vision blurred while Lev moved around the room. After a minute, Lev stopped in front of me again. I noticed that he swapped the hospital gown with clean slacks and a tee-shirt. He still held the gun. 

   He must have read something on my expression because his eyes softened a degree before he cupped my cheek with his free hand. I wrapped my arms together, goosebumps rising from the mere touch. Again, my reaction didn't escape him.

   He held my face a little tighter, almost possessively, before he dropped his chin. A dark shadow covered his face, creating a foreboding mask of indifference and blood lust. Yet, his words soothed the anxiety and confusion forming in my chest.

   "Just to be safe, kukolka," he murmured, his watchful eyes studying mine.

   My mouth pulled into a small but wary smile, but he waited until I nodded before tucking the hair behind my ears. His touch lingered on the strands, and I almost released a real smile—until the door creaked open.

   As if shocked by lightening, he abruptly released me, whirled to face the door and flicked the gun's safety off in one breath. Noise saturated the room. When I realized from whom, I tensed again.

   "—Do you know who I am? When the church finds out what you've done, you future will be tarnished in the hands of God!"

   I was all too familiar with dad's authoritarian voice. Hard, powerful and cold—at least, to me. No one could make Max Elliot cower; he thought he was powerful, simply because he believed God would protect him. 

   After distancing myself from the family in December, I didn't want to admit how relieved I was that dad wasn't reaching out. I barely managed slipping away from mom and Melina's manipulation. But dad always knew how to keep me feeling guilty. To keep me wanting to help the family, to help Melina, when they never wanted to help me. Love me.

   It's funny how a man who worked with children could never be kind to his own.

   Yet, despite knowing how he treated me in the past, the moment he looked over Lev's shoulder and met my gaze, it felt as if my heart dropped to my stomach.

   His eyes, the same ones I inherited, lit with fury.

   "You ungrateful child! First you neglect your duties as a proper daughter and sister, now you speak to the devil and wish your family harm?"