A few hours later, Violet sat sulking the school gym by the punch bowl. Her eyes fixed downward, refusing to look for joy of any kind. Normally, she could've cared less about a stupid school dance. Normally, she would've tried to stick with Celeste and ignore the gossiping cheerleaders. But normally her dad would've been there alternating between dancing with his daughters and embarrassing them.
Violet let out a sigh as her Uncle Chase crept up beside her. "Judging by the look on your face, I'm guessing no one has tried to spike the punch bowl yet. They're probably afraid the school's star kicker will remind them why the girls' soccer team has been undefeated the last two years."
Violet rolled her eyes. "Sorry, it's just . . . I'm so mad Dad bailed on me again."
"I know, but you should also know that both you and Elizabeth are always on his mind." Chase said. Violet was sat there like a statue. Chase sat down beside her. "From the day you were born, all he wanted for you to be safe, healthy and happy. You two are his world. That's why he's stepping down next month."
"What?" Violet jerked her face towards Chase and looked dumbfounded at him for a moment. "The Guild is Dad's life. He's the best hunter our town has had. Maybe even the entire region. He can't just walk away from that."
"Except he feels he has to. When you girls were younger, he could bend his schedule to yours. Becoming head of the Guild, he couldn't do that and the attacks over the last year . . . Hunter hasn't been acting like himself." defended Chase. He didn't want to say that Hunter was worried about putting them in danger. "He sees you two girls, he sees his life, everything he's ever loved. He knows that next year, you'll be off to college . . ."
"Army bootcamp." Corrected Violet.
"So you say, but the point is he realized how much time he's lost these last few years." Continued Chase. "Hunter puts everything and more into whatever he does. He always has, but when he realized that in being the great Hunter he was being a neglectful father he told me this case would be his last as Head of the Guild."
"Why didn't he tell us?"
"You were getting irritable and restless. To be fair though, he was the same way at your age." Answered Chase. He took a sip of punch. "Yeah, this needs something. Something strong."
"I'll give you that. Wasn't I born when Dad was 17?" Replied Violet. She smirked in spite of herself.
"And the world was never the same!" Mocked Chase. Violet laughed. "At least his wasn't. He really did want to be here. Geez, he even made me wear this lavender tie to match your dress when he asked me to take you. No offense; it matches your eyes, but me not so much."
Violet paused and then laughed again."Do you think Granny will let me stay up until Dad gets home . . . Assuming he doesn't make it to the dance? I mean, he did help me buy this dress for the dance. He should at least get one dance with me in it, right?"
"Mom's pretty strict, but since the school year just ended and you don't have an early shift at the Cauldron tomorrow . . . I think she'll be okay with it." Answered Chase.
"Well, I'm sure Elizabeth wants one too. I can tell she's missed him too." Violet added. "We are his girls after all."
Suddenly, Chase's phone began to vibrate. "This is Chase. What's up?" His eyes widened as he put it down. "Violet, find Elizabeth. We need to go!"
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Your Dad's hurt. Bad by the sound of it. They're taking him to Melody Grove Memorial."