Timeweaver

Revenge Is Sweet

That night, Lyss and Tabitha ate dinner alone. The grimy fish they had brought home and been washed and cooked quite nicely and was served with some of Lyssandra's exotic vegetables. They ate in silence, neither one of them finding anything to talk about that wouldn't lead to a quarrel, which Tabitha didn't have a problem with. It gave her more time to work out her plan.

As Tabitha put the dishes away, Lyss filled a plate and brought it to the door of the guest room. Before she had even lifted her hand to knock, Griffin pulled open the door, yanked the plate out of her hands, and shut it firmly.

"Goodness, what are we going to do with him?" Lyssandra muttered to herself.

"Has he always been like that?" Tabitha asked, rinsing off the dishes they had used.

"Like what, dear?" Lyss asked, "Hot-tempered? Impulsive? Disrespectful?"

"All of the above," Tabitha answered.

"I'm afraid so, although I haven't seen him around much lately. I wonder what he's been up to." Tabitha nodded nonchalantly, hoping Lyss couldn't read minds because Tabitha did have an idea of what Griffin had been up to. "Well, Tabitha," Lyss sighed, blowing out the roaring fire with only a small puff, "I am off to bed. I'll see you in the morning." Maybe, Tabitha added in her head.

Tabitha had trouble falling asleep. She kept thinking about Lyssandra. Would she be upset? Would she come after her? She tossed and turned in the large bed. Griffin's bed. Did she really want to do this? Would he even care if she was gone? She sighed. Probably not. What did it matter anyway? It had been two days, and no one had even thought about getting her home. She hadn't even thought about it. But after today, she knew it was what she had to do.

So it was settled. She'd leave early in the morning before anyone else woke up, get Catalina wherever she was, and find some way home.

Tabitha woke with a start. The sun was high in the sky, and there was clattering in the kitchen. At that moment, a door slammed across the hall, and she heard heavy footsteps trudging towards the kitchen.

"Ah, so you've come out of hiding, I see," Lyss's voice rang out over the clang of pots and pans. She was answered by a sleepy grunt, which Tabitha assumed was Griffin.

Tabitha had slept in too late, but it was only a minor setback. It was time for Plan B, and Tabitha had a feeling it would be much more satisfying than Plan A. She changed into the sturdiest pair of clothing she could find, although they weren't very comfortable. She felt like a walking sack of potatoes. She pulled her tangled hair into a ponytail and looked in the mirror. The faint bruise from last night had darkened into an ugly shade of purple, but she smiled nonetheless. Revenge was coming, and it was going to be sweet.

"Good morning, everyone," Tabitha strode in confidently. Lyssandra and Griffin eyed her suspiciously, but she didn't care. She laughed giddily. Maybe the mental instability of this family was starting to rub off on her. This is gonna be so good, she thought as she sat down at the table and devoured everything on the plate. She knew this would probably be her last real meal until she got home, so she made sure she was completely full before starting anything.

"So, Griffin," she said, dropping her napkin on the remains of her breakfast. He looked up at her, his once friendly eyes now cold. His stern gaze warned her to be careful, but she paid no attention, although she probably should have. "Tell me about your dad," she smiled, resting her chin on her hands.

Griffin swallowed nervously and looked up at his mom, and his mom looked at Tabitha, wondering why Tabitha was asking when they had talked last night. Tabitha enjoyed how uncomfortable this was for them. "There's nothing to tell," Griffin finally answered, looking her in the eye.

"Oh, really? But you made him seem like such a wonderful man. Remember those precious fishing rods he made? He must have been a very loving father." Her voice dripped with sarcasm and mock sympathy.

"I barely knew him. He died when I was really young." He replied stiffly, trying to figure out what game she was playing.

"And do you know how he died?" Tabitha sensed Lyss shift uncomfortably, but kept her stormy eyes locked on Griffin's. "Well, I'll tell you," she said without waiting for his reply. Lyssandra began to protest, but Tabitha's gazed remained trained on Griffin. "What's that, Lyssandra? Were you going to tell Griffin the truth?" Griffin looked up at his mother, utterly perplexed, but she stood frozen in place, her lips clamped tight with rage. Tabitha expected her to use magic on her soon, so she talked faster. "Well, if you won't, I will."

"What is going on?" Griffin asked at the same time Lyssandra warned, "Tabitha..."

"That's right," Tabitha leaned closer to Griffin and whispered, a wicked smile plastered on her lips, "Your mom, sweet, old Lyssandra, killed your father."

Lyssandra looked about ready to pounce as Griffin asked shakily, "Mom, is this true?" Lyss shook her head, but Tabitha answered for her, "Yes, Griffin, it is true," and he knew she meant it. Now he looked about ready to pounce, but Tabitha stopped them both.

"But...," she relished in the satisfaction, "Lyss isn't the only one with a dirty little secret. She isn't the only one who's killed someone." Griffin's face twisted with rage, and Tabitha wondered why neither of them had moved to stop her. Lyssandra, however, believed that Tabitha was the one who killed someone and looked shocked. Tabitha began to reassure her, "Oh, don't look at me. Your son is the other murderer. I guess now we know where he gets it-" but she didn't get any further because Griffin leaped clear over the table and tackled her to the ground, knocking the chair over with a loud bang. Tabitha held her arms over her face.

Lyss let out a cry of surprise then swiftly grabbed Griffin's arm, which was pulled back to hit Tabitha. With surprising strength that could only have been the result of magic, Lyss pulled Griffin to his feet and held him back. He struggled to free himself, but it was no use. Tabitha stood up and brushed herself off. "What was that for?" she asked incredulously, although she already knew the answer.

"You promised, Tabitha!" Griffin yelled. Lyssandra looked very confused, but she did not loosen her grip on her son. Griffin continued to yell. "You said you wouldn't tell! You made a promise to keep it a secret! How could you?"

Tabitha simply pointed at her black eye and whispered, "It's a little thing I like to call revenge." Then she darted around the two and out into the brilliant light of the Golden Forest.