The First Steps

Fiona forced out a cheeky smile as she looked around. "Uh, I dunno, daddy. I figured we'd just go with it."

I sighed, exasperated. What was she thinking, or was she even thinking at all? "Let me get this straight, Fiona. You led me to the forest that would test me, and would strengthen me, so we will have an easier time in the Forbidden Lands, where NOBODY has ever returned from? I'm flattered, really, but I don't have confidence in getting out here alive, Fiona. I'm also angry that you didn't tell me all of this before."

Fiona pouted at the sight of me shaking my head. "Daddy, if I told you before, you would never agree with me."

I turned to glare at her, my eyes narrowing. She raised her head carefully, meeting my eyes, and lowered it instantly. Her back was as bent as her hands were frigid by her side. She did not differ from a scared, meek kitten.

She's wrong about one thing. I would agree to every single one of her demands is she was lying there obediently in my arms, but back then, I really thought she was leaving me. It was a good thing she didn't, but she left me in a bundle of nerves. How can I bear to stay angry at her when she's docile and tame now?

I scooped her up into my arms and straightened her hair. "There, there, don't be scared. Stay here and daddy won't be angry, okay?"

She nodded, her big, bright eyes blinking at me. It tugged my heartstrings as I felt my resolve weakening. Ahh, she's so cute... what can I do?

I could only mutter in a low voice into her ears. "Just... just stay in there for a little longer. Tell me if you're uncomfortable."

We stared at each other. I counted how many times she blinked her short but cute eyelashes until her lips curled up into a confident, dazzling smile. "Daddy treats me the best," she said teasingly.

I felt defeated. Now that she's aware that she's got me wrapped around her fingers... w-what type of unreasonable demands will she ask? Of course, I would do my best to fulfill them, but...

"Don't tease me. Daddy hasn't forgotten that you've forgotten to tell me about more things. You'll await your punishment when we've gotten out of here," I retorted, unwilling to take losses. Besides, I already knew what her punishment would be. Since she's blinked four times, four hard spanks to the bottom would do!

That's what she deserves!

Fiona rolled her eyes and we both burst into laughter. She knew me well, and that felt nice to know. After we get the hell out of here and solve all of her matters, I will take the time and effort to get to know her, inside and out.

"Don't be stubborn anymore, Fiona," I said, raising her up. The moonlight was shining down on her, making her silver hair glisten and her features more defined.

"En," she replied. Even her simple acknowledgement felt ethereal. My little angel, an angelic kitten, is so sweet and lovable. I hugged her tighter as I walked around the clearing, trying to find a way out.

The forest Fiona came from took up one side of the clearing, whilst a black wall took up the opposite. The green clearing that seemed to have never ended took up the two other sides.

I walked to the black wall and touched it. The material felt like stone, if not for the weird black mist that it emitted. I looked upwards only to find it the same when I looked down the abyss—insurmountable.

"This is the cliff we fell from?" I asked Fiona as worry starting to get to me.

"Seems like it, daddy," she answered. "Shall we try to climb it?"

I shook my head. "Don't even try, Fiona. What if you fall? Besides, everyone who has entered this place must've tried and climbed the cliff to escape, but to no avail. And even if we did somehow climb to the top, I don't want to see you fall back down again to get to the Glendora's side. There's also that dragon around..."

"When did you become so pessimistic, daddy? You were always saying that you'd do anything for me."

I bit my lips. "It's not pessimism, Fiona. I'm concerned about your safety. We don't know a single thing about the dangers that lie within here. At least back out there, we'd survive. Daddy is confident in his experience in fighting and killing."

"But here, things are different. Daddy has never fought with the other races before, and they must have a great hatred for us human cultivators that drove them away and betrayed them. Never underestimate the lengths people would take under hatred, Fiona. This place should truly be forbidden. We'd better try to find a way out quickly before the other races catch us."

Fiona nestled herself comfortably in my arms as she murmured, "I know the lengths hatred can take us, daddy. Right after we somehow escaped this place, the old daddy suffered terrible injuries. Maybe it wasn't mommy. Hatred has led me here... for the truth and maybe... revenge."

Her words made me muddle-headed. A part of me wanted to support her with all my might on her quest of revenge, but another part of me wanted to cut it off, sever all ties with her past and just keep her safe in my embrace. I was leaning towards the latter, even though I knew it was selfish of me.

I gritted my teeth and consoled both Fiona and myself, patting her back. No, I can't let possiveness ruin our relationship. At least not yet. Just endure. Endure this and get this over with.

I drew deep breaths before whispering into her ears. "You've hoodwinked me so well, Fiona. Daddy will fight with you."

I turned and walked into the forest that I had been avoiding. Fiona is a smart girl. She knew I was still hesitant on journeying through here when I kept walking to the sides of the never-ending clearing. Glendora would be on the opposite side of the black wall behind us, which meant I had to walk forwards and into the forest.

The forest I dreaded. The forest that left me traumatised, a nightmare that I would never recover from. I knew it from my heart. My bond with Fiona became closer because of it, but it couldn't go unnoticed. My possessiveness towards Fiona increased. The need, the desire for her. It's a double-edged sword, and it's like another heart demon, one that I wasn't sure if I could surmount this time around.

But I had to. For the sake of Fiona, for the sake of me. I nuzzled my face against hers as we took our first steps into the land of the unknown.