Heart of Dorkness Monster Nine - Mom

Monster Nine - Mom

Monster Nine - Mom

Youre grounded.

I looked up. I had to blink a few tis, since I was in the middle of reading sothing, and my eyes had to readjust. Im what? I asked.

I was in the library with Luciana again. Id finished my training for the day, and had taken my bath to get rid of the sweat and bruises. Now was the period where Id sit down and read until lunch, after which Id sit down and read until supper, then Id sit down and read until bedti. It was going to be a very busy day.

I also had to find so ti to read other things. And maybe I could practice my magic if I had so ti between books.

Youre grounded, the Dark Goddess said. She stood tall next to , back straight, nose tilted ever so slightly towards the ceiling.

Grounded? I asked. That didnt make sense.

In the sense that you, Valeria, are being punished.

I sat there, mouth working open and closed until my brows ca together. Why? I asked.

She crossed her arms under her chest. You are living here, in my ho. I hardly mind that you occupy my ho, eat my food, and use my servants to assist you. What I do mind is you abusing those privileges.

Huh? I asked.

I hadnt tried to sneak any food into the library... ever. I was way too clumsy to trust myself not to spill sothing, and besides, those were the rules and rules were ant to be followed.

Your room, Luciana said. Your room that I so graciously allow you to occupy and do with as you please.

Yes? I asked. This whole thing was a bit confusing.

Have you seen the state of it? she asked.

I felt the confusion leaving, replaced by a warm flood of embarrassnt that rose to my cheeks and made them burn. Is my room ssy? I asked.

I dont know, Valeria, Luciana asked, though it was very much not a question. Is your room, as you say, ssy?

I winced. A little?

Yes, I suppose it is a little ssy. How many weeks worth of clothes are on the ground? What percentage, exactly, of the estates cutlery can be found in your room? And, in my na, how many books would I find tucked away in your room, outside of their rightful place in my library?

Uh, I said.

Therefore, youre grounded. For... I suppose a week should be enough ti for you to muck out the pigsty you sleep within?

Okay. Im sorry, I said. I really was. Luciana was really nice and cool and it was my fault the room was ssy.

She nodded. Good. No books or magic for a week.

Gah! I said as I jumped to my feet. It wasnt even a word, just a sound of pure.... sothing! A week with no books! That wasnt a grounding, that was torture. A-a week! I said.

One of her eyebrows rose up. Do you need a calendar to assist you?

A whole week! Thats too much!

You have been here for nearly six months now; thats how long it took you to transform your perfectly clean room into the state its in now. I suspect a week is how long it will take you to restore it.

Thats too long, I repeated. I added a stomp for emphasis.

Luciana sniffed. Two weeks then. One to clean up after yourself, another to reconsider the rits of talking back.

T-talking back? I asked. I was a little stunned.

The Dark Goddess uncrossed her arms. Yes, talking back. Its what a petulant child does when she refuses to acknowledge things.

I was, for a mont, gobsmacked. I place my hands on my hips, the sa pose she had right then. You cant ground , I said.

Of course I can. Are you implying I cannot do so physically? Perhaps by magical ans?

Now she was just being condescending.

Its just a ssy room! No reading for two weeks is too much.

I could make it more.

No, you cant! I gasped.

Watch , she said.

I glared, sputtered, then finally pointed a finger at her. Youre not my mom, I said. Im not... My words were lost as my throat closed up, and I realized that Id been holding back tears. It wasnt my sadness that choked though.

Luciana was staring at , her expression neutral, but thered been a crack, a mont Id almost missed where shed recoiled, hurt.

Id hurt her?

Im sorry, I said.

Her nostrils flared. So, youll take your punishnt? she asked.

I nodded quickly. Im so sorry, I repeated. I didnt an to hurt you.

Hurt ? What are you--

I dont know what I did, I didnt an to! I said. My voice was rising, levels that were already unacceptable in the library.

Luciana shook her head, What are you speaking of?

Is... is it because I said youre not my mom? I asked. I was focused on her, every sense I had zeroed in on her face. It was a good thing, or else I would have missed that strange, almost impossible to see twinge of emotion.

I crashed into the Dark Goddess, arms wrapping around her waist.

What are you doing? she asked.

Id never actually hugged her before, which now that I realized it, felt wrong. So I squeezed even harder. Im sorry, I said. Im so sorry.

Valeria, what are you doing?

You can be my mom if you want.

Pardon?

Im sure youd be an aweso mom. Youre so cool, and nice, and youre very soft.

I am no such thing, she said.

I buried my face into her. I didnt an to hurt you, I repeated. Im, Im a terrible daughter. Im sorry!

Luciana paused, then her hand patted on the back of the head. No? she tried. She sounded a little confused.

I hugged as hard as I could, but it didnt do much. I never realized how bony Luciana was. Can I call you Mom from now on? I asked.

Lucianas hand froze. Im not your mother, she said, sure and decisive.

I hiccupped, tears coming to my eyes even harder. Oh. Is that how I made her feel? I shook my head. You are. I said so, and so there.

Thats not how it works, Luciana said.

Youre a god, if you say so then thats all there is to it, I said.

Yes, well, not in matters of... motherhood. Thats very much not my domain.

I dont care. You can be my mom, anyway.

I wont let you bully into motherhood, she said. I tugged my head back and looked up to her and-- and was she blushing? I didnt know she could do that! It wasnt a very strong blush, but there was definitely so red there.

I laughed, at first a giggle, then a full blown laugh. It wasnt too pretty, especially with my nose being all runny and my cheeks feeling puffy, but it felt good. Its not bullying if youre doing it because you love soone, I said.

Yes, well, I... Im not... please unhand .

No.

Im not used to being refused, child.

You can call daughter, if you want. Ill call you Mom.

Id really rather you didnt, she said, sounding pleased with the idea.

I was getting good at understanding her, I think.

I pushed my head back down, hugging her as best I could again. Im sure youll be a great mom. We already do all sorts of mom-daughter stuff.

We do not, she said.

I bet you cant wait to scare off boys.

I think thats a fathers prerogative. And its hardly as if I would have difficulty scaring off any boys... please stop changing the subject so quickly. Its uncouth.

We can do dress-shopping, and we can hang out, talk about our books and our day, and you can teach about won stuff.

I would very, very much rather not, she said.

I laughed. Thanks, Mom.

I-I... youre still grounded.

I pulled back. Mom!

Dont Mom , she said. Youre grounded. For... three days.

I dropped the hug. Okay, I said.

Luciana paused, her arms rising, then dropping. There was a complicated bunch of expressions that crossed her face for a mont before she shook her head. Yes, well... yes.

I grinned. No books for three days was a small price to pay for such a cool mom.

***