Cursed Melody

Chapter 9

Mia

"This is bullshit." I told her as I sat on my bed, folding up the last of my laundry.

"Mia, language." Ma replied.

"Well, it is." I shot back with my hands raised in defense.

Well, there goes my days of peace. I knew something like this was bound to happen but I at least thought they would have the curtsy of leaving me alone until this whole matter was dealt with and I could leave. Unfortunately, it seemed my luck ran out.

"I just want all of us to be together. For a night, is that so hard?"

Yes. I would rather walk through the burning sands of hell then have to sit through a family dinner with Peter.

"Mia, one dinner. Please, just one?" I turn my head away from her as she pleads with me to go through with this. This is the effect my mother has on me. I lose the will to fight her and matters, which before feel massive, become trivial and less important compared to the grief I feel for her.

I really don't want to do this. But my mother wants me to. And sadly, as things are now, whatever she wants from me, she'll get. It's the least I can do before I pick and leave again.

"Fine." I sigh in surrender.

Her eyes light up and she smiles. "We'll be having steak tonight." She says as she turns and walks away.

I close my eyes for a brief moment and contemplate feigning ill. It'll never work but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Opening my eyes, I look around at the room. Like the whole house, it has an ancient feel to it similar to the feeling a person would have walking into a classical library. It looks as elegant as a Victorian style bedroom decorated with fancy wooden furniture could look.

A pinch shoots up my right leg and I bring my hand down to soothe it. Strange, this has been happening since yesterday afternoon. I checked the area plenty of times throughout the night and well into the morning but there was nothing there. Just a small pinch that would occur every now and then.

I chose to ignore it for now and focus on calming myself for this stupid dinner. Just a quick hour and I can go back to isolating myself.

It's pathetic of me, knowing what I do now. That Peter didn't force the change to take hold on me and that only my will to live resulted in it. But even though, I still can't shake my anger towards him. Nor can I rid myself of that disgusting feeling that accompanied my change.

And that alone might be the reason why I still can't forgive him.

But regardless of whatever I feel, I'll try to play civil tonight. For Ma.

*                 *                     *

I was wrong. I was wrong and this is killing me.

The silence is agonizing as we waited for Ma for finish setting the meals in front of us. At this six person table, we sit on either side. Peter and Ma on one side and Merida and I on the other.

But with Merida tense and rubbing at her leg every now and then and with Peter's neutral expression, it takes everything in me not to find someway to get out of this.

I thought tonight would simply be bittersweet with underlaying tensions but something about Merida has me on edge and filled with an unnerving anxiety. For a moment, I feel as if my anger with Peter paled in comparison to my concern for her.

Ma finished placing the large steaks on each of our plates, but we made no move to eat before she sat down. Adhering to an invisible order, Ma begin cutting hers first, followed by Peter and then by Merida and I. Although, I brought my piece of steak to my mouth and ate it before Peter did.