Home-Part 1

1


-flashback-
"You disappoint me.  You useless little bitch."
"Daddy, please."
"You're just like your mother.  Worthless."
"Daddy..."
"Well, now, you're mother isn't here to protect you."
She just looked up at her father, tears in her green eyes.  What had she done to deserve this?  When her mother was alive, she would often be the one to take the beating, but she wasn't.  His hand smacked across her face, making the  five year old girl fall to the ground, sobbing.  
"You worthless little brat.  You shame me.  You shame Haven City."
-end flashback-
Eighteen year old Ashelin Praxis paced the hall.  She was waiting for a visit from the commander of the Krimzon Guard, Torn, who also happened to be her boyfriend.  They were going to head out and patrol the city together.  She hoped he would show up before her father did and they could just leave together without hassle.  It was just then that there was a knock on the palace doors.  She opened them finding just the man she was waiting for.
"Hey, Ashelin." he said, smiling almost shyly.
"Hi, Torn." she greeted, giving a small smile.  Her happiness was short lived, however, as she heard footsteps behind her.  She didn't even have to turn around.  She knew who it was.  
"Ashelin." It was the voice of her father, Baron Praxis.  She turned around to face him.
"Father." she said.
"Ashelin.  What exactly are you doing?  Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to patrol the city with the commander.  We're Krimzon Guards.  That's what we're supposed to do, isn't it?" she said, narrowing her emerald eyes at her father.  She wasn't that little girl anymore, and she was determined to prove it.  She wasn't weak anymore.
"Ashelin, can I have a word with you?" her father asked.
"Torn, I'll be out in a minute." she said, closing the door.  
"Ashelin, I want you to stop seeing him." Praxis said.
"Why?" Ashelin asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"He's bad news, Ashelin." Praxis insisted.
"Why?  Just because he doesn't agree with your views on things?  Well, maybe he's right and you're wrong."
"Ashelin, I want you to stop seeing him." Praxis said again.
"No." Ashelin said firmly.
Praxis slapped her across the face so hard it left her cheek red.  She put her hand on her stinging cheek.
"Ashelin.  I want you to stop seeing him."
"No." she spat, glaring at her father.
This time, Praxis shoved his daughter to the ground and kicked her in the side about four times.  Ashelin pulled herself to her feet, glaring at her father as he walked away.  She opened the door and stepped outside where Torn was still waiting for her.
"Ashelin, he hit you again." Torn said, seeing the red mark on her cheek and the bruises on her side.
"It's alright.  I'm used to it.  I can take it." she said, trying to dismiss his concerns.
"You shouldn't have to take it, and you shouldn't have to get used to it." Torn said.