Free A Tiny Bit Mortal by Lindsay Bassett

hour.”
    My rush of excitement was followed by anxiety.  I was worried he’d be mad at me, for getting discovered by his mentor.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I could help but feel ecstatic about seeing him again.  I had missed him so terribly.
    After leaving my dad to his work, I headed into the kitchen.  It felt strange to look through the cupboards even though I was invited to do so. 
    Peering into the pantry, I found some radiatore pasta. There was fresh basil and garlic bulbs in with some fruit in a big basket on the counter.  I stopped and ate an apple, slowly, staring out the window over the sink at the yard.  It was growing dark outside.
    Returning to the pantry, I found some olive oil.  I grabbed a pot hanging from the wrought iron rack that held several pots and pans near the stove.  I had everything I needed to make a meal.
    After putting together the pasta dish, I heated up a baguette that I found sitting on the counter.  Rummaging through the cupboards I found the plates and silverware and set three place settings out on the counter.
    Connected to the kitchen was a long table with benches on the long sides, and chairs on the ends.  As I gathered all the place settings and began arranging them on the table,  I heard the front door open.  Looking over at the clock, I knew it had to be Peter.
    I heard the rustling of a coat in the hallway, and shoes plunking down onto the floor.  He stepped into the kitchen, and found me standing there, holding a plate.  He rushed toward me, and wrapped his arms around me, the plate pressing between us. 
    “Oh Emily.” he said, breathlessly.  “What is going on?  How did Nicholas find you?”
    My dad appeared in the doorway of the room.
    “Nicholas found his own daughter asleep in the doorway of our Jewelry store.” said my Dad.
    Peter let go of me and turned to face my Dad.
    “ Your daughter?” asked Peter.
    I set the plate down at the table, feeling the tension rise in the air.
    “Why were you at the Jewelry store?” Peter asked.
    “She was being hunted.” my dad said. “By the Corrupt.”
    Peter stood there silent, clearly stunned.
    “How…” said Peter.
    “I have been aware for some time,” said my Dad. “That there are some of The Corrupt in this town. They watch us, through human spies.  You’d never know you were being watched.  If you were seen with Emily, then you brought her to their attention.”
    Thinking of our time together, I remembered how we’d gone out to a restaurant for dinner.  I shivered as I thought of some creep watching us.
    “It’s all my fault.” said Peter. “I am so sorry.”
    Peter looked like a wounded man.  He stood there with his head hanging, and his hands together in front of him as my Dad approached him, placing his hand on his back.
    “Peter, it’s okay.” he said.  “I just wish you would have come to me.  She needed to be with us.  She was becoming more aware of her immortal side, and they would have noticed her at some point and found her.  If she hadn’t gone to the Jewelry store and stayed in its protection, she would be with them as we speak.”
    Peter’s shoulders relaxed, and he asked “Can I be alone with her for a minute?”
    “Alone with my daughter?” asked my Dad, sharply.
    Peter stood there, silent, and looked down at the ground.
    “It’s wrong.” said my Dad. “Whatever you’ve been doing with her, is wrong.  I’m thankful you led her to us, but no, you cannot be alone with my daughter.”
    The word “wrong” stabbed through me.  Everything about Peter felt right to me.  I took it as an insult.
    “ You are wrong.” I said to my Dad, angrily.  “Who are you to say what is wrong with me, or him, or us ?” 
    I emphasized “us” because there was clearly an us whether or not he liked it.  I let that hang there, and Peter gave me an agreeing look and said “I love her.  Your daughter or not.  I’m not going to stop loving her.”
    His word