Snippet #2001149

Suddenly she heard her dad’s voice call “Nadelin! Could you come here please?” Nad growled, considering yelling back she was too busy, but instead shouted, “Alright Dad, coming!” With a final, apologetic glance at the elf she turned and walked to where her dad stood. He was as he had been since he had come to such great fortune; surronded by reporters and pressed from answers from all sides. Just the way he liked.

He stood a short distance from the werewolf cage, a couple of feet at most. This was obviously close enough for the reporters to get some good shots of both the people and massive wolves that were caged behind her father. In addition to the eye popping backdrop, this was directly across from the vampire exibit. Since his recent success her dad was as he usually was; surrounded by a throng of reporters. “What's up Daddy?” she asked him in a chipper voice her had instructed her to use in the face of the cameras. He smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a sideways hug. Nad squirmed uncomfortably, her perkiness faultering against his side, but his arm held a vice-like grip on her shoulder. Oh boy, here came the "I-love-my-daughter" speech.

“This is my daughter Nadelin,” her father beamed while Nadelin tried to force her mouth into a weak smile. “I do this every day for her. It’s hard sacrificing so much time to my work but since her mother left us everyday life has been hard.” The reporters kept talking and Nad mumbled answers to the few questions in her direction. Finally her dad’s grip loosened enough she could slip out from under his arm. “Hey Dad, I’m going to go get some cotton candy, okay?” Nad said with a most fake cheerful smile she could compose. “Sure dear. Here,” He replied happily, handed her some money. Then Nad turned to walk back to the elf, the smile dropping from her face like a two ton weight.

“And Nadelin,” his voiced called, making her stop in her tracks and turn back around. The false smile had returned as if it had never left. His voice was light but his eyes were stone serious; the way they always got when he was threatening someone. “Stay away from the elf exhibit please sweetie. You’re upsetting it.” Nad’s shoulder’s stiffed but she couldn’t look away from his warning gaze. Unable to avoid defeat she beamed. “Yes father.” Nad chimed, then turned away. Her eyes were narrowed in anger and she slouched a little, dropping her eyes to the pavement. The accursed smile she had worn was gone as well as the faked craving for cotton candy. Instead she walked in the opposite direction, heading towards the “Vampire” cage in an attempt to get further away from her fame-struck father. If his career hadn't eaten all his humanity, his sudden fame was going to finish it off.