Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Erica, you say… How curious. A name you never heard before."
Kain turned back to the window. "Heard of or not… a woman is still a woman after all. And you know what you have to do."
His voice lingered in the air and he added in a quieter, almost hesitant tone, "What do you think about your mother, Annie?"
The question caught Julian off guard. So he's taking this route… he thought, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Lets begin our show.
"Mother? She's… well, she's my mother. She's kind, gentle, and always worries for me. Why do you ask, Father?" he answered, his voice carrying an innocent honesty, as though the thought had never crossed his mind.
Kain smiled faintly at that, though his eyes remained sharp. He stepped closer to Julian. "Yes… she is kind. Too kind. Don't you ever notice how much she sacrifices for you? The way she looks at you, the way she carries your burdens as if they're her own?"
