âââââââââââââââââââââââââââ xxx"We've all got both light and dark inside us. xxxWhat matters is the part we choose to act on. xxxThat's who we really are."x
Casper clenched and relaxed his fist, attempting to work out some of the anger boiling in him. His other hand traced lazy circles on Amari's back in attempts to be comforting. He doubted it was doing anything for her really, but it was worth it to try. He wasn't really good at any of this stuff. Comforting... trying to cheer her up... He wasn't much fond of people, but... she didn't mind his quirks... and he cared enough for her to try.
At the mention of his father, his gaze darkened. "Amari, you don't want that." He said darkly. "My father... is a much different man from when I was a child; just like yours. He finds uses for people; just like yours. I'm afraid you would be trading one cage for another." He thought a moment. "I can think of one use he might have for you and I'm not even sure what to think of it." He didn't want to share it though. Not in the context in which his father would use it. He worked through the thought until he found a... less traumatizing way to say it. "He may see us married. The heir of heaven and heir of hell. However... you would probably have no power and... your use would be in creating and raising heirs." For his father's opinion on women had changed as well. They were weak. Too weak to be soldiers. So they were to be breeders. No better than livestock some days... His fist clenched, so tightly his hand was shaking.
So he changed the subject. "Do you look like your mother?" He asked, running his finger through the soft strands of gold. "That might very well be your saving grace, Amari. Who could kill the woman he loved a second time? He wouldn't see you dead. It would hurt him more to lose your mother a second time." He paused. "Not that I'm saying you are your mother. I'm just saying that to your father, you're close enough. He doesn't want to see you because you're a reminder, but it'll hurt him just as much, if not more so, to lose you, too."