Section 3: Willow's Decision

Willow's Decision:

I lay back on my bed for what seemed like ages, wondering what I was gonna do. I didn’t even know a single thing about this guy so the obvious answer was to just not go. But then again…I turned to stare out my window at the busy streets of Daath. The golden sunlight shimmered off the cobblestones and made everything sparkle. Even the birds were out singing away without a care in the world. Why is this town so damn happy? Not that I’m complaining, it’s just that, nothing needs to be done around here, its so boring. So maybe I could go away for a while, it’s not as if anyone would miss me really. Well, except for Marco, but even then, I doubt he’d really mind if I went away for a while. After all, I would be going to see the world, he probably would think it’d be a “good experience” for me, and it “builds character”! I yawned and stretched my heavy limbs; they felt like lead from last night, dancing and drinking, wow, imagine that. I smirked; perhaps this new guy would even take me to more bars and let me drink anytime I wanted.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, “Willow, may I come in?” Marco called softly.
“Uh, sure…” Why was he being so quiet?
“So, who was he?” Marco walked in nervously and closed the door behind him. Leaning against it he stared intently at me, as if expecting me to tell him I was getting married or something. Suddenly a pit fell in my stomach, if I did want to leave this place with that other guy; I couldn’t tell Marco that I knew nothing about him.
“He’s um…a noble from Malkuth, he said that he was here on business. He heard that I…knew a friend of his and stopped by!” I don’t know where the hell I got this but I hoped it would work, “But dad,” He gave a small smile, “I…need to go away for a while. From Daath, from this….” I thought back to what that guy said earlier, “…cage.”
Marco raised his eyebrows, “Cage? That word is a bit strong for a city such as Daath Willow…” He pondered what I said for a moment, “However, I do think that some time outside the city would help you grow as a person…”
“So I can go? Great!” I jumped off my bed and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
“Hold on there,” He held me gently by the shoulders, “Willow, did that man ask you to come with him?”
“Yes, he did. But as I said, he’s a noble and he knows a friend of mine. I’ll be fine dad, trust me!” I shrugged out of his hold and went to my closet.
“Willow you’re only sixteen…I do not approve of this.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at me, “You don’t even know if this noble really is who he says he is!”
I took out a light blue dress and laid it out on my bed, kneeling down I fumbled with various items underneath, looking for shoes, stupid things, “Look, if you really don’t trust him then you can meet him tonight when he comes again, ok?”
This seemed to please him well enough, and sighing, he walked over to the edge of my bed, bent down and found the missing shoes. Laying them on top of my covers, he kissed my forehead, “I’m just worried about you Willow, as a parent I’m a bit overly protective.”
I smiled back up at him, at the face that I might not see for a long time after tonight. Marco was 45, although he looked to be in his late thirties. He had pale skin and short black hair, touched occasionally by silver lines. His emerald eyes were full of kindness and caring behind his glasses and long brown and dark red robes draped over his thin figure.
“Thanks dad,” I chirped as I threw on my blue overcoat with white trimming, “I’m going to go for a walk.”