Dad's a Monster - CCC Continued

Continuation... 


Photo credit: ucumari / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

Tom nursed his day old coffee, thankful they'd survived the night with no further incidents. He scented Jill's approach to the kitchen before he saw her but when she appeared he groaned. She entered without a word and headed straight for the coffee, like he'd done, but one sniff of the ancient brew caused her to toss the contents and start fresh. Once a drinkable substance percolated down, she took the cup from his lips, tossed the old coffee, rinsed the cup and replaced it with fresh before she made herself a cup with mostly milk and eight sugars.

"Would you mind changing that shirt?" he asked. 

"Why?" she asked looking down at her ensemble. Over a short black mini skirt, torn fishnets and black knee high combat boots, she wore a white t-shirt painted to resemble a gunshot wound to the heart, complete with bullet hole, spattered and dripping blood and pieces of gore appropriately placed.

"Let's just say if you're shot today, I'd like to be able to tell."

"Fine, whatever," she said as she shrugged out of the shirt. Underneath she wore a tank top made of tied material. A thin layer of cloth barely covered her bra but everything else showed through the holes, even a small bellybutton ring. Tom realized the trap as he watched a smug look cross her face. "Dad, I turn 16 in a few weeks. I'll be a high school sophomore next term. You need to lighten up."

"I also need to homeschool you next year. It's the best way to keep you safe," Tom said. 

Jill lost it. "Dad! I have friends! You can't do this! The only saving I need it to get away from a control freak monster like you!"

She continued her rant as Tom stood and filled his coffee cup. He closed and locked the kitchen door, a convenient feature of the old Antebellum Plantation home. He continued circling the room closing the blinds to hide what was to come next. When he sat again she stared hard and deep into his eyes searching for a sign her tantrum had worked. It hadn't. It was time to tell her.

"I may be a monster, but I promise it is only for your protection," Tom said.

"Well forget it! I'm not going to become some homeschooled freak just because you're a total loser. I'll go live with Mom."

Jill shot to her feet and threw her coffee cup at him. Tom blocked then growled. His teeth elongated and his features shifted. His lips pulled back from dagger like canines as the growling intensified. Bending low, he shifted more until before her he stood as a large Timber wolf. Jill backed away until she hit the door. She wrenched the handle without success before sliding to the floor. Tom ached to see her terror. It felt wrong to throw all of this at her at once but he had no choice. He stalked forward and blocked any chance of escape and when he spoke, she shuddered.

"I may be a monster but I am still your father, Jill. Did you really think you imagined that thing in your window last night? There are worse things out there hunting you right now! I can't stop the chain of events that brought all of this down on you but I can protect you. You have to trust me," he said. Jill's blank stare made her look younger than ever. Tom pulled back his features and pulled her from the floor. He sat her back down in her chair, made a fresh cup of coffee for her and resumed his place. "I'm sorry but you needed to see it for yourself."

"Are you the reason Mom left?" she asked in a small and remarkably controlled voice.
"I don't know."
"I want to go live with her," Jill added.
"You can't," Tom said.
"Why?"
"I can't find her."