x
If there was one thing I enjoyed more than swimming, it was swimming with a friend, and Charity loved being underwater as much as I did. When you were underwater, you didn't have to worry about the troubles waiting for you on the surface; all you had to worry about was if you'd get to the other end of the pool before you ran out of air.
After several blissful minutes of swimming, diving and playing, we climbed out and sat on the edge, legs dangling in the water. It was set to be another hot day, and the water was the best place to be. It was even better when Aunt Prue joined us, and though her face was like stone as she came out, her expression softened as she sat down next to us.
"Your father is a boneheaded idiot," she told me. "I tried explaining a week away in Preston at the end of the school year would be a good idea so you could take a break and get some good Northern air in you. But he said you were better suited to the city." She shook her head in disgust. "Like I said, a boneheaded idiot."
"You mean a boneheaded idiot who's worried his daughter might get ideas above her station," I said, sighing in my own turn. "You know what he's like, Aunty; he's always looking for reasons to pull me out of school, and if not for the steep fines and "humiliaition" he'd face, he'd have done it a long time ago. As it is, he's made sure Patience and I are in the same classes, and I can't even have a lunch break without her looking over my shoulder and "making sure" I'm not "disgracing the family". As if I could with her and everyone else hanging over me."
Charity put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone," she assured me. "We'll get you out of here one of these days."
I wanted to believe her. But she and Aunt Prue had been fighting for years to try and get my parents to ease up. Still, it was nice to know I had two people who cared about me enough to keep trying, no matter how many times they ran into a brick wall.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNjhAMGXal
That night, Aunt Prue insisted on staying; it'd been a long drive from Preston, and she wanted to recharge her batteries before making the drive home in the morning. Father put his foot down, and I watched the red Beetle take off from my bedroom window, heartsore I hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye. That wasn't Aunt Prue's fault; Father had sent me upstairs to "think about" what I'd done - and as usual, I had no clue what I'd done.
Ten minutes later, I found out when Father came into my room without knocking. He was good at making me feel like I was a jerk for wanting to maintain boundaries, and he'd warned me that if ever I locked my door, I'd come home to find no door at all. Not that the door to the attic actually locked, so I wouldn't have been able to keep him out even if I wanted to. "I can't believe you went against my direct orders," he said coldly. "You know you're not allowed to use the pool during the day, and what do you do? You use your aunt as a weapon against me." He shook his head. "I wonder what she'd think of you if she ever found out?"
I knew better than to protest I'd done nothing of the sort. "I'm sorry, Father," I said meekly. "You said for me and Charity to entertain ourselves..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMxauhhP18
Father held his hand up. "Stop," he told me. "I wanted to pull you out of school, but your mother insisted on allowing you to finish your schooling. Instead, you'll be spending all of your free time doing housework, and you will no longer be permitted to partake in any gatherings. If you want entertainment, you can join the servants. I've half a mind to reassign you to the servants' quarters in any case, so don't push me."
The servants' quarters were almost as lavishly appointed as the rest of the house, but Father would never reassign me there; he'd never let me out from under his eye. And even if he did, he'd make sure Patience watched me night and day to make sure I "behaved" myself, just as she did at school. I took a deep breath. "I understand, Father," I said.
He grunted. "See that you do," he told me curtly. "Now go and get to work. I want this house spotless; I'm hosting the Golden Swallow coven in two weeks' time. You've ample time before your new term starts. Oh, and if you're considering slacking off, I'll warn you here and now; I will remove your wolf from you."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2ZPvWzOWz
I felt a chill go over me at the mention of losing Samba; she, apart from Aunt Prue and Charity, was the only other soul in this household who gave two shits about me, and if I lost her, I'd lose what little standing I had in my family's eyes. Father knew all the ways to separate a wolf from their human - neither usually survived the experience, but Father would likely use unclean methods to keep me this side of the Wheel in the event he carried out his threat. "I'll do my best," I promised, and I meant it.
"We'll see," Father said dismissively, turning on his heel.
ns 15.158.61.16da2
