“Listen to me Shino, besides being your grandfather, I’m also your master now. That means you must do everything I tell you without fail. Otherwise you’ll be punished. Do you understand?” The girl stares at him with a neutral expression, neither of spite nor obedience. This scene has played out the same for the past two days, since the night he snatched her from Shai’s cabin.
“Josef, why don’t you stop playing with the child and leave it to the women to handle? You were never suited to be a father; don’t pretend you’re one now. She’s too young to ‘play’ with yet.”
“I didn’t ask for the opinion of a leech such as you Julius, especially considering how you played with your own children and created multiple generations of dysfunctional rejects as a result.” He sighs. “That said, Katia, perhaps you will have better luck. You were good with Nadia after all.”
