The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 15

Lies–2

Despite everything, he had never hit her.

Not once.

Not ever… till today.

She stared at him as if he were a stranger.

“Dad…” she whispered. “Why…?”

Rhys was shaking with fury, his face red, veins standing out on his neck.

“Nick told us everything,” he shouted. “Everything. How he saw you in the forest. On your knees. Pleasuring a boy like some common harlot-”

“That’s not what happened!” Iva cried in shock, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes. “I swear,

it’s not-”

“Silence!” he barked. “I’ve had enough of you.”

Her mother gasped, rushing forward. “Rhys, stop! This isn’t-”

“Rana, not one word!” he snapped, spinning on her. “You spoiled her too much, and look where it

led us. This is your fault.”

Rana froze, tears streaming down her face.

Iva pushed herself upright, her whole body trembling. “Dad, please. You don’t understand. There’s

something I need to tell you-”

“There is nothing you need to tell me, I don’t want to hear any more words from you,” he said coldly. “Effective immediately, you are grounded.”

Her heart sank.

“You will attend the remaining three days of school,” he continued, “because I will not add high school failure to your already disgraced name.”

Disgraced.

“But other than that,” he went on, voice cruelly calm now, “you will be confined to your room for the next two weeks. No leaving the house. One meal per day.”

Rana cried out. “Rhys, that’s cruel–she’s just a child-”

“Stop it Rana! Just stop! In our society,” he interrupted sharply, “a she–wolf must be pure for

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*Lies–2

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mating. And yet our daughter seems determined to ruin herself further than she already has. For

no one to accept her!”

Iva felt something crack inside her chest.

“She wants us to be unable to look anyone in the eyes,” he continued bitterly. “To be mocked.

Pitied. Shamed.”

He dragged a hand down his face, his voice breaking–not with sorrow, but with wounded pride

“What did I do,” he demanded, “to deserve this?”

I am the Messenger, she wanted to scream.

I am chosen.

You’re wrong.

The moment the door of her room closed behind her, the strength drained from Iva’s body.

Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the bed as if the mattress were the only thing keeping

her from shattering completely. The room was silent, cruelly so, and the quiet pressed against her

Hot tears burst from her eyes.

They came fast and violent, soaking the pillow beneath her as her shoulders shook. She curled in

on herself, clutching the fabric of her shirt like it was the only thing anchoring her to this world.

What did she do to deserve this?

Why is Nick so cruel? Why is he doing this?

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