————
Standing by the door in a bid to leave, Ma couldn't help but look troubled.
"I will be fine," Tara assured her.
"No, you won't. I knew letting you in on the story surrounding your existence would bring hatred to your heart and vengeance to your mind against your biological parents but now you also wish to take on a very difficult task that involves someone you suspect to be entangled in your sister's disappearance. You barely knew her, is this necessary?" Ma said to her.
"I do not do this for her," Tara said, "I am choosing to get involved because somehow, all of this is incorporated. The Petersons, Stark, Alicia, there is more I must know and unless I do, how can my vengeance be successful?" Tara replied.
"Why the vengeance at all?" Ma asked. "Whatever happened to moving on with your life, getting a good job, and someday having a family of your own?" She added.
"They gave me up," Tara said sternly. "They sought to end my life before it even began. Their flesh and blood. I wouldn't be me if you didn't save me. They live their lives so perfectly like they had no dirt on their hands and now they are willing to give Alicia away to be married to someone she doesn't even love. It's all about power for them. Her diary says so much, she hasn't had the best life despite being the chosen daughter. Her diary is like a world of sadness." Tara added.
Ma breathed out.
"Just be careful." She said,
"I always am," Tara responded with a smirk. "Just don't worry about me. You taught me that there is no such thing as a mistake. Charles saving my life that night, bringing me to you, you raising me as your own, and I being alive till date despite my carelessness, is for a reason and I believe that reason involves me putting an end to the cruelty of these people." She added.
"You have always been a go-getter." Ma said with a smile.
"Yeah, just try to go easy on the bottles okay? For me." Tara told her.
She turned to leave after they shared an embrace while Ma couldn't help but worry even in her absence as she returned to sit on the bed.
———
"There you are."
Mrs Peterson's heels could be heard clicking as she descended the stairs. She had just caught sight of Tara who stepped into the living room.
"Good morning." Tara greeted.
"Indeed it is a good one." Mrs Peterson replied with a smile as she got closer. It bothered Tara that she was in a joyful mood.
"What's going on?" Tara asked.
"Oh nothing, just excited." Mrs Peterson responded.
"Excited," Tara repeated. "Why? Is it someone's birthday?" She asked with a curious look.
"Oh, no silly. Your wedding of course." Mrs Peterson said,
"Oh yeah, I'm so sorry, I promised we would plan more towards it this morning," Tara remembered.
"Only for me to be informed you had stepped out so early but I'm not offended, nothing could ruin this mood. Come, sit." She gently pulled Tara by her left hand towards a couch. They both sat next to each other and Tara could see the bright smile that remained resting on her face.
"The wedding is in a few weeks right, what else do we need?" Tara asked.
"Oh yes the wedding is in three weeks but the main wedding is tomorrow night." Mrs Peterson responded.
"Wait–what do you mean the main wedding?" Tara got confused.
"Oh come off it lady. This isn't the time for jokes but preparations. The planning you referred to last night, you meant the other wedding? We are already highly prepared for that one. It isn't the main deal. It's just a part of the norms of this world and we are only trying our best to fit in but tomorrow night is a holy night." Mrs Peterson said,
"How?" Tara inquired.
"Well, you know, it's usually beautiful. I remember when it was my time with your father. There were roses, lilies, butterflies, oh I'm referring to the honeymoon." She replied.
Tara's mind had gotten messed up at the moment and it was implied on her face.
"I know this is new for you, we've all been there but it is tradition. The ways of our ancestors, that during the full moon, the Alpha chooses his Luna. They are joined in the presence of many– Our kind and after which they are escorted into the garden of pleasure." Mrs Peterson explained.
"For what?" Tara had become scared.
"The honeymoon, it takes place right after the ceremony." She replied.
'The what–what?" Tara ran out of words.
"Oh relax my precious. The garden of pleasure is the most romantic place ever. It will assist your body to go with the sensation as he marks you." Mrs Peterson told her.
"Woah-woahh-woah," Tara said, springing up on her feet. "I'm not f*cking him." She added.
"What? You don't get to say the F-word, it's love-making, he would make love to you, that seals the oaths." Mrs Peterson said to her as she got up.
"I am only agreeing to do this because of you and now you say sex is involved? How do I carry on with that?" Tara questioned.
"Just as I carried on with your father." Mrs Peterson's tone had become stern and the smile had faded away from her face.
"You chose to." Tara said to her.
"I had no choice." Mrs Peterson retorted.
"That's not true. We always have a choice." Tara answered.
"Not when the lives of the ones you love and your people solely depends on your choices. This is responsibility. You must realise this, Alicia. I thought we were over this already. I thought you had come to your senses." Mrs Peterson seemed to be getting upset.
"What ever happened to you?" Tara asked softly and with a disappointed look on her face as she paled her eyes.
"Excuse you?" Mrs Peterson's face got serious.
"Try as I may, I could never understand how it is so easy for you to give me up to a total stranger. You are supposed to be the woman who sheltered me in her womb for nine whole months and then pushed me out in so much agony. You are supposed to be the one who values me the most. Supposed to be the one who truly cares! Yet all I see when I look at you is a stone cold-hearted stranger." Tara replied.
There was silence, the two remained standing with their eyes fixed on each other's.
"You think you know me." Mrs Peterson said confidently.
"I think I know enough," Tara replied.
"After the death of your brother, we tried and tried for another heir and then you came. Like the other times, you could have been amongst the ones I miscarried but you–stayed. We didn't force you to be ours, you chose your destiny the moment you were implanted in my uterus and you must fulfil that destiny as the princess of the Phoenix clan. The glory of our clan depends on you and if I was brave enough to make the hard choice when destiny put it before me, why do you shake now that it is your turn? Cowardice? You think of my ways as being cruel, you could have done it better if you had the chance? If you were in my shoes? You would have made a better choice? Well now you have it, what will you do? There is no such thing as a mistake." Mrs Peterson said to her.
Tara's eyes shun brightly and her senses elevated so quickly. She watched Mrs Peterson turn around and then walk back up the stairs till she was completely out of sight. Her lips shivered and her eyes went on to blink uncontrollably while she stood alone in the living room. Quickly, she picked up her purse from the table she had dropped it and dashed out of the apartment very upset.
"Tara?" Ma couldn't understand why she had come back.
"You lied to me again." Tara barged in very bitterly with her eyes buried deep in Ma's.
"What? What do you mean?" Ma inquired?
"Don't play stupid with me. You told me you have visions, you see things, see for yourself now what I mean by what I say! Why did you lie to me a second time!" Tara yelled.
"Just calm down.." She begged. "let me make you understand." Ma said,
"Understand more lies! Who are you? Tell me!" Tara responded.
"Her step-sister, okay! I am her step-sister!" Ma disclosed frightfully.
"You're what? Wow! Great. Just f*ckn wonderful!" Tara said,
"I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want you to think the worse of me." Ma replied.
"Just–shut up!" Tara barked, holding onto her head while she moved backwards. "So, you're what, my Aunt? You raised me as your own, why! And how is she a wolf and you a witch? Where is the missing piece!" Tara questioned.