The cold winter air cuts through me as I watch my father throw knives at a target he carved into the tree he was supposed to cut down for firewood. Taking deep breaths he throws another knife, and just like all of its friends it hits the center.
I clap my hands ecstatically. Seizing the opportunity he turns toward me and takes a bow thanking me and the invisible audience around me.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," he says in the most playful tone he can muster.
"Bravo bravo," I cheer him on clapping harder and faster than before.
With a warm smile still on his face he walks over to the tree and one by one pulls the knives out so that he can set them back up on his table.
"Would you like to try, my little warrior?"
Eagerly I nod. I jump off the stump I was using as a stool and run toward him as fast as my little legs can carry me.
"Okay, little one, stand here," he points to the spot where I need to stand and I waste no time in rushing there, "Perfect now you're going to hold the knife like so..." I watch carefully as he demonstrates how I'm supposed to hold and throw the knife.
"Can I do it already," I whine my impatience growing as he adds yet another safety tip to the seemingly endless list.
He sighs and rolls his eyes. "Yes, but please remember what I've—"
"I will. I will."
Pure excitement surges through my veins as I pick up one of the knives holding it the same way he showed me. I take my time perfecting my stance and making sure the knife is aimed directly at the center of the target.
"You got this, my little warrior," he whispers from the sidelines.
I pull my arm back getting ready to throw the knife. Just as I start to bring my arm forward I hear a twig snap next to me swiftly followed by my mother's voice cutting through the air.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!"
Startled by my mother's sudden appearance, I scream and throw the knife but instead of keeping my stance, I turn my body so that instead of going toward the target it flies toward my mother. Screaming she jumps out of the way just as the knife zips past her burying itself into the stump behind her.
"Valerie Bernard!" my father yells.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to," I cry tears flowing down my cheeks and staining the hard ground beneath me.
The leaves crackle and crunch as he storms over to me. He drops to his knees so that he's at eye level with me.
"I have told you countless times never point or throw a knife at anybody you don't intend on harming."
ŞİMDİ OKUDUĞUN
Thorn in the Rose {Book 1 Of The Once Upon A Time Chronicles}
FantastikBelle is a maid living in service of a handsome prince who she falls madly in love with. Jealous of all the other women and angry at his refusal to notice her she curses him and turns him into a hideous beast. For years they remain together in the c...
