Chapter Eleven : Hoodoo Rage
Corinne
“It’s such a pity that Dimitri couldn’t join us for breakfast before we left.” My mother pouted at the kitchen table. She had said a variation of the same thing every single morning, and every morning I shrugged, explaining that Dimitri worked long hours. It was at this point in the conversation that my father would jump in, agreeing with Dimitri’s work ethic.
It was my own personal groundhog day, with Emily Rand starring as the villain.
But today was the last morning. We tolerated my parents for the next two days, skirting around those uncomfortable conversations that my mother revelled in pressing upon us. Dimitri worked longer hours, and I knew it was to avoid my mother. In truth, I was surprised he’d even tolerated her at all.
“I’m just so happy that things worked out.” My mother gushed. “Before Dimitri came along, I was trying to set you up with Joshua Penn. I was speaking to his mother the other day, and can you believe that he’s still single?”
“Thank goodness for Dimitri then.” I smiled weakly, counting down the minutes until her and my father were whisked away to the airport by Dimitri’s driver.
My father ran his fingers over the exterior of his suit jacket as he patted his pockets down in confirmation that he had everything he needed before they left.
It was a good sign.
“I expect a picture of the ring, Corinne.” My mother’s voice was a jarring reminder of her expectations - expectations that she had all but laid at Dimitri’s feet. I didn’t know what to make of the fact that he had all but agreed with her.
I grunted, making an unbecoming sound of noncommittal.
“A nice picture.” My mother continued. “Something I can show my friends and be proud of.”
And there it was - she needed some material apparition so that she could be proud of me - as if it wasn’t simply her natural response as a parent.
“Of course, we’ll set up a proper engagement shoot for the official photos, but you need a decent photo of when it actually happens.”
My mother continued her ramblings, completely unaware of where my thoughts had wandered to.
“Sure thing, Mother.”
Those last moments with my parents stretched painfully long, yet I seemed to be the only one suffocating from the awkwardness of it all. How I had been born into this family was beyond me. I often thought the gods of old simply gave me to the Rand's so they could get their kicks and giggles from this situation alone.
As if governed by my panic alone, Dimitri’s driver opened the front door, informing my parents that it was time to leave in order to arrive on time for their flight. In front of the staff, my mother made a huge production of hugging me as she bid me farewell, whilst my father informed me that he would see me far sooner than expected, due to the ‘business’ he had with Dimitri.
As the front door clicked shut, my parents firmly whisked away on the other side of that piece of wood that separated me from the world, I sagged in relief.
I unclipped my hair, allowing the strands to hit my shoulders as I ran my fingers through it, working out the small snags and knots. I kicked off my shoes, leaving them in the kitchen, wanting nothing more than to change out of my dress - the thing was more suited for a brunch meeting than a day at home.
Home. There was that word again. Only this time, my parents believed that this was my home - that I belonged here, with Dimitri.
Since the night on the rooftop, Dimitri had been scared, and I actually needed to speak to him - needed to tell him what Lauren’s relative had said - the threat she posed. I thought I would have been able to tell him that night - even if it was while we were lying in bed, but Dimitri left five minutes after we returned home, stating that he had some business he needed to take care of.
It was infuriating. Was he avoiding me because of what my mother said? Did he think that I expected a marriage proposal from him? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that even our night-time activities had been halted, and I ached for him. It was almost better not knowing what I missed, because after having him repeatedely, to not have him was absolute torture.
My fingers slid across the screen of my phone as I stormed to our room, typing out a frenzied text. I needed to speak to him. Now.
I changed into a pair of cutoffs and a black shirt with The Empress Tarot card plastered on the front. I knew it was tacky, but when I found a witchy shop down the road, I was simply unable to not buy it.
With my parents finally gone, all of my tasks that had piled up seemed to flood to the surface. Without waiting for Dimitri’s reply, I dialled Charl, needing answers desperately.
He picked up on the third ring, and he sounded just as out of it as the last time he spoke, slurring his words as he greeted me.
“When last did you sleep?”
Even when I hated Charlain, I still cared about him - he was still my family in ways that my parents failed at daily.
“The Empress.” My title was an exhale against his lips, and I shuddered at the knowledge of how much he was teetering over the edge.