Chapter 016

TALIA

Mother and Tessa were talking about me. I had heard them whispering while I was coming down the stairs.

They were sitting at the dining table with their heads close together. Now as I entered the dining room, they stopped and sat back.

Tessa, picking up her spoon, poked at her bowl of cereal. Mother gave me a smile and for a minute, I wondered if I were in the wrong house. Or maybe having a repeat of the strange dream I had yesterday.

"Talia," mother said, waving me over when I just stood there. "Come and sit. You must be hungry." She loaded some food onto a tray and pushed it over to one side of the table. "Go on. Eat."

"Morning, mother," I mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

I completely ignored Tessa who was now stabbing at her cereal as though it had done her a personal wrong.

When I sat, I sat on the edge of the chair, sure that something bad was coming. I was right.

"Your sister and I have been waiting for you actually," mother continued.

I froze in the act of uncovering my breakfast. "For me?"

"Yes, dear."

My ears caught the slight pause before the word dear. Mother never called me pet names. It was either 'Talia' 'girl' or something unprintable when she was in a bad mood.

Folding my hands over the table, I waited for mother to come to the point.

Still with that forced smile stretching her lips, she nodded at my breakfast tray and said, "Go ahead. It's one of your favourites."

"Why were you waiting for me?" I said.

"Yes... that. The trouble is Professor Cassian, who is to tutor your sister, insisted that he will not take the job unless you get to be tutored too," mother explained.

I took a sip of water and it felt like acid in my throat. So this was why mother was trying to act nice and why Tessa wasn't making snide comments as she did every morning? I should have known.

"I have no idea why the professor said that," I told my mother who seemed to be waiting for me to give her some sort of explanation. "I promise I have nothing to do with it."

Tessa snorted and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. Her lips were tightly pressed together with the effort it was taking her to keep quiet. Mother pressed the inside of her wrist and she scowled at her plate.

"Oh really now," mother said. "I thought you might have... but never mind. The important thing is to get him to tutor your sister. Why don't you tell him that you have a very busy schedule and won't be able to make out time for a literature tutor?"

"And why would I do that?"

Mother's smile froze on her face. "Did you just ask me that?"

I looked at Tessa who was now breathing hard, holding herself rigid.

"Yes," I said, feeling a savage burst of pleasure at the angry flush creeping up her cheeks. "You both know I do not have a busy schedule. Why don't I deserve a tutor too? Isn't my education important?"

"You see, mother?" Tessa said, fist pounding the table. "You see how she is?"

"You silly, ungrateful girl..." mother spat in a low, cold voice of fury. "We do everything for you and yet you throw our kindness back in our faces! You dare talk back at me."

My lungs constricted. I could feel the blood rushing to my head. Kindness! Mother spoke of being kind to me!

When had that ever happened?"

"What exactly should I be grateful for mother?" I shot back, my voice rising. "The neglect? The abuse? This family has done nothing for me!"

Mother jumped to her feet. I did too.

Jabbing a finger in my chest she said, "You ought to be thankful, girl that your father and I have not thrown you out even though all you have brought us since you came into this world is bad luck!"

"I am your daughter," I shouted. "And this is my home!"

Tessa stood up suddenly, nearly sending the breakfast trays crashing to the floor.

"Father will hear this," she threatened, shaking her fists at me. "He will hear and he will-"

Mother held up a hand, silencing her.

"Listen to me, Talia," she said. "I might have given you the impression that this is a request but if is not. If you do not convince the professor to tutor your sister without you in the picture, I will throw you out of this house. Do not imagine I am bluffing. You know me too well. Now, what is your answer?"

Mother's face was hard and set. From the time I was little, she had been looking for an excuse to get rid of me and I couldn't get that she was bluffing.

Behind her, Tessa grinned and gave me the finger.

"I'll do it," I said in a tiny voice.

"Good," mother said at once. She sat and turned her back on me. To Tessa she said, "What lunch would you like me to pack for you, honey?"

Shoving a chair out of my path, I stalked out of the room. I was so pissed my head was throbbing like an infected tooth.

Still, what mother had asked me to do had just given me another opportunity to talk to Cassian.

*******

"Don't tell me you are thinking of lying to Cassian," Ruby groaned. "Talia, please don't."

I waited until a group of students approaching had passed us then I said, "I just said yes but I have no intentions of doing what my mum wants."

Ruby slapped me on the back a little too hard. I winced.

"Good for you," she said heartily. "What's your plan then? You did mention something about talking to the professor."

"Yes. I want to talk to him about something."

Ruby's eyebrows went up. "About what?"

I nodded. "I haven't told you. I had a dream last night..."

I felt my cheeks start to burn as I recalled the dream. It had not faded at all as dreams do.

Instead it had gotten clearer. Even now, I could fancied I could feel the brush of Cassian's warm hands against my skin, on the inside of my thighs.

Ruby gave a little squeal. She put out her arm, catching me in the stomach and my steps slowed.

"Slow down. Slow down," she shouted in a whisper. "Class isn't going anywhere. I know that look. What was the dream about? Spill, girl, spill!"

"It was about Cassian," I said, blushing furiously. "It was so real, Ruby I'm still doubting if it's a dream."

Ruby hopped impatiently from one foot to the other.

"You're killing me with the suspense here," she complained.

"I dreamt he came to my room through the window while I was asleep. He wanted me so badly. He could barely hold himself back. I know because I could see his... you know- his-"

I stole a glance at Ruby. She was biting her lips, shoulders trembling with the effort not to laugh.

"His dick. Was it as big as you imagined?" Ruby said and giggled madly.

She clapped her hand to her mouth, but another giggle burst free. I rolled my eyes.

"Ruby!" I hissed, elbowing her in the ribs. "Anyway he came to my bed. He made me take off my clothes and asked me to touch myself."

Ruby's eyes widened. "Ooooh."

"And I did. I touched myself until I came. Hard."

"Damn!" my friend exclaimed, still laughing like a maniac. "That was one hell of a steamy dream. What happened next?"

"I woke up," I sighed.

"You-" Ruby suddenly broke off and stopped short. In a whisper, she said, "Well, speak of the-"

"Miss Westwood," Professor Cassian cut in.

I looked up to see the professor walking towards us.

"Miss Westwood," he said again, stopping in front of us. "I want to speak with you now."

Surprise robbed me of words. My heart was pounding somewhere in my throat.

Why did he want to see me so urgently? Perhaps because of the tutoring thing.

Ruby's nails dug into the flesh of my wrist. The pain cleared my head for a bit and I got my voice back.

"Okay," I said, exchanging a look with Ruby.

Cassian gave a curt nod, gestured for me to follow him. We got to his office where he waved me into a chair.

I kept my hands firmly in my lap, resisting the urge to fuss with my hair and blouse. Cassian laced his hands together and gave me an assessing look.

Then with the air of a man making a sudden decision, he said, "I am going to ask you a few questions and I want you to give me honest answers. Can you do that?"

Wondering where this was going, I managed a nod.

The professor's questions was, "How are things at home?"