Have Hope

Chapter 10

"My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it." Rick Riordan

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Chapter Ten

Olivia struggled to keep up with Kit's quick pace as he walked down to the stable. Being so tall, his strides were much longer than hers.

Kit had thrown his valuables and a few spare garments of clothing into a knapsack and that was it. He was ready to leave his home and his family. 

Olivia could not say that she knew Kit extraordinarily well. They had developed an odd sort of friendship, but they were yet to get to know one another properly. But in saying that, she could have never predicted that Kit would have this sort of anger inside of him.

Kit was frustrated with his father, and that frustration had brought all sorts of repressed feelings to the surface. Kit and Cassian had exchanged words that Olivia was certain they would regret.

On the one hand, Olivia was proud of Kit. He had never stood up for himself before. Kit had stated what he wanted. He had made the decision to follow his own passion, his own ambition, as opposed to his father's ideas of what was best. Even more than that, he had explained his reasons so beautifully to his parents.

On the other hand, Cassian's reaction had initiated the aforementioned unpleasant words exchanged. Cassian had not been able to comprehend what Kit was telling him. Instead, he had been focused on the fact that Kit had continued to see Olivia when he had been instructed not to.

Olivia knew there was bad blood between their families. But she had been a mere child when they had last met. How could Cassian dismiss her without even knowing her? How could she be held accountable for the sins of her parents?

Cassian had said that she was inconsequential, but that was irrelevant. Olivia was guilty by association in his eyes.

Olivia was rarely affected by harsh words. She was used to being called all sorts of colourful names by those who did not understand her choices, but rejection was something that did hurt her.

The wound of rejection never really healed.

"Kit, you really ought to go back there and speak with your father," urged Olivia, who was quickly becoming out of breath as she ran along behind him.

"You heard what he had to say," Kit said dismissively. Olivia could hear the pain in his voice. "I need to go, Olivia. I need to make my own way. I need to be the sort of man someone like you could be proud of."

Olivia stopped in her tracks as a childish smile spread across her face. Kit wanted her respect. He wanted her help on this next adventure. She was valuable to him. Olivia, nor her ideals, had never been much use to anyone.

Reality quickly settled back in and Olivia kept on moving. "Kit, I know you will regret leaving your family like this. I know you love your father!" she called again after him.

It was Kit who stopped in his tracks this time. He turned around and immediately captured her gaze with his intense, blue eyes. He covered the distance between them in seconds, standing only a foot from Olivia as he stared down at her.

"It is true, I do love my father," he confirmed quietly, not breaking eye contact. Olivia held her breath. "All I have ever done, every action, has been to appease my father, to show him my love and respect. I will always be eternally grateful to him. I am not ignorant of where I might be at this moment had he not shown me such kindness. But that does not mean he has the right to dictate my life for me. You, Olivia, have shown me the type of life that I want to lead, an honourable life, and I hope one day my father will accept it, and accept you. But I have no plans to wait around for him to come to that realisation." Kit smiled down at Olivia. "I want you to do this with me, Olivia."