XVI: Lost Battles

Rebecca was startled out of her trance by a knocking at the door. "Rebecca darling-- it's time to eat? Won't you come down?" she heard from the other side of the door"

"....coming..." the girl replied. She trudged her way out of her room and followed her grandmother downstairs to the dining room.

"I had chef make your favorite," Elsa said, taking a seat at the head of the table. Rebecca sat towards the other end, far away from her grandmother. Once one of the kitchen staff brought in the food, Elsa immediately began eating. "Mmm, delicious. What do you think, dear?"

Rebecca only took the smallest of bites. "It's terrible."

"What? Why-- this is your favorite dish!"

"It's not how Mom used to make it..." Rebecca replied quietly.

"You'll just have to deal with it," Elsa replied harshly, "In case you haven't caught on yet, your mother isn't coming back."

"Thanks for the reminder." Rebecca said dryly, now picking at her dinner with her fork.

"Oh-- and I almost forgot. I'm taking you to the courthouse tomorrow--"

"Why?" Rebecca interrupted, " so you can take custody over my soul, too?"

"Don't give me that attitude, young lady. I would think you would be grateful for everything I've done for you!"

Rebecca angrily threw her fork down onto her plate, rose from her seat and glared at Elsa. "My mother was killed, and what did you do? You forcefully took me away from the only real family I have left! Why in kriff's name should I be grateful for anything you just did?!"

"I just saved you from being forced to live with a killer!" Elsa shrieked, also rising from her seat. "That man you call your father is a no good swine, incapable of compassion, and unable to properly care for you the way I can!"

"Don't you dare talk about my father! He's a great man! You're the only one too thick-headed to see that!"

"I'll hear no more of this." Elsa hissed. "Regardless of what your twisted sense of the truth is, you are coming with me and getting your surname changed to my own. I'll have no more references to that bastard in this estate-- and any future mentioning of his name from you will get you punished. Is that clear?" She waited for a response. "IS THAT CLEAR?"

Rebecca began to tremble, and unable to keep her emotions in check any longer, she stormed out of the room without a word, and ran back upstairs, slamming her bedroom door as loud as she could behind her.

Elsa slowly sank back into her seat with a wicked smile on her face. "Oh it's clear alright...."