Break Through My Walls... If You Can

Chapter 10

Morning came too early.

I groaned as the first ray of sunshine hit my face.

Suddenly, I sat up and got out of bed frantically, not even bothering to pull on my robe. I scrambled down to the hallway in just the pale flimsy nightgown I had on.

I groaned as I looked at the time. Only five minutes to ten. Only five minutes to get ready. I could never make it, and I was so hungry. I turned around and screamed.

“I’m sorry to startle you, Miss Feldspar” his voice was smooth and amused. I looked down, blushing with embarrassment. I did not want to been like this in front of Ael- Master Otho.

I bit my lip, and refrained from saying anything.

“You are late” he stated. I looked up at him and saw his eyes raking down my body. My inner feline snarled.

“And you are making me more late” I snapped at him, stalking past him. I never made it too far because he reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards him.

My breath caught in my throat and I stared at my pale feet.

“Surely, you can afford to be late” he whispered in my ear. I shivered slightly before tugging away from him. His hand slid off my hand, leaving a burning sensation.

I took a few steps towards my room, watching him the whole time. Before I shut the door, I addressed him.

“Master Otho?”

“Yes, Miss Feldspar” he replied, looking up at me. My heart throbbed at the way he said “Feldspar”.

“Don’t touch me again” and then I shut the door, and cursed at myself for not sounding convincing enough.

I was late for my class. Carmela was seated, twiddling with her fingers.

“Morning” I said breathily, taking my seat. She looked at me.

“Good Morning, Madam Cordierite”

“Call me Cordierite”

“Why?”

“Madam Cordierite is too formal”

“You’re my teacher”

“I thought you said I was your friend as well”

She shrugged.

“What is it?” I asked, confused.

“Why were you late?”

“I woke up late and your Father delayed me”

“Delayed you how?”

I gasped. “Carmela Otho! I just had an argument with your Father! How dare you get any silly thoughts in your mind?” I said indignantly.

“You’re in love with him”

“I am not”

“Then why are you so flustered when I say that?”

“You snide child, what has gotten into your head?”

“You’re going to fall in love with him”

“I demand you stop immediately” I said, suddenly seething. What on earth?

“Alright” she said, but I couldn’t ignore the smug look on her face.

I sighed and we got on with the lessons.

It was a long day and Carmela was very trying. By the time the lessons were finished and the sun was down, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Will you not tell me a story tonight?” Carmela spoke up. She’d clearly foreseen my intentions. I had wanted to have a quiet dinner, then read my awaiting letters, write a reply and go to sleep.

“Must I?”

“No, you mustn’t. But I enjoyed it a lot last night”

“Alright, then. One story”

She smiled at me and skipped away to her room. I stared after her for a long time. I heard footsteps approaching me and immediately, I picked up the books, stacking them away on the bookshelf, not wanting to give myself an excuse to stay.

“She never liked me this much” he muttered softly. I turned to him. It still took my breath away just to look at him.

“I bet you’ve never told her a story” I replied. He shrugged and walked over to a window, a faraway look in his eyes.

“Her mother was beautiful. Ruby Evans”

I stared at him. Why was he telling me this?

“I think I actually loved her”

Him? Love? What foolishness.

“I actually courted her”

He was a committing type?!

“2 beautiful years. I was smitten by her”

Where was this going?

“I didn’t leave her because of my ways. I had long changed them”

So he’d lied to me.

“She didn’t want a burden this big”

Carmela, a burden? What type of a mother was that woman?

“She tried to smother Carmela once, when Carmela was a mere baby. She’d kept Ruby up all night”

What on earth?!

“I kept this from Carmela… It would hurt her to know. I sent Ruby away after that. She faced imprisonment. But alas, the lady had money”

She was a true witch.

Ael- Master Otho turned to me. I was taken back at the emotion on his face.

“I love my daughter so much. But she reminds me of her mother. And I can’t bring myself to truly hate Ruby”

“So you distance yourself from your daughter” Understanding dawned on me and a new level of hatred sprung on me. He was taking Ruby’s fault out on his own daughter.

He shrugged and shock overcame me as I looked at his glistening eyes. This man could actually feel. He had a heart!

“I don’t know what to do for her.  I’d never been under parental love myself. My mother died when I was born. My father was always too busy for me. And he blamed my mother’s death on me”

“Do you blame Carmela?” I asked suddenly. He stared at me.

“Do you think Carmela is the reason Ruby left?” I persisted. He pressed his lips together before speaking.

“Have a good night, Miss Feldspar” and he left me alone to ponder on my own thoughts.

Despite so many swirling emotions in my head, I was sure of one thing.

I hated Ruby Evans.

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