Blood Ties (Ophelia and Allaire)

[Kassia Burke]

"Now I'm confused you're upset because he hasn't tried meeting you, which he has by the way with several dinner meetings with you and father which you always seem to be too busy for, or are you upset because you think that he's obsessed with you and just wanting to marry you without knowing you."

She shook her head and didn't say that perhaps it was best that Fee got married without her husband knowing all about her, she loved her sister but she was really quite vain and stuck up, " In any case, no one is treating you like cattle Fee, for heaven's sake stop being so melodramatic. Our father has showered you with gifts your entire life, anything you've ever wanted he's given to you. You've always gotten the best of the best, because father thinks of you so highly that you deserve the best. When you wanted a pony, he got you a first class thoroughbred, when you wanted a doll house, he had the servants dress up as dolls for you to play with, you have been indulged and spoiled your entire life because you are his princess, and he loves you to his toes. Why do you think Axis wants to marry you in the first place? Father has told him everything about you..." she didn't add that father had been slightly exaggerating in his compliments, " He's convinced Axis that you are the most beautiful, most charming, most precious of all females, and you've proven to be nothing but spoiled in this case. You haven't even deigned to meet the man or try and see things from papa's side, it's all about you, and your feelings, and what this does to you. You've always been about you."

She let that sink in a moment before continuing in a softer tone, " Why do you think Father chose Axis? He's a good man, who would treat you like father does, he would indulge your every whim and do whatever he could to make you happy. That is the man that father chose for you. You're not cattle you're far from it. To father you're the most precious jewel he has, he's raised you from infancy knowing just who you are and what kind of man it will take to make you happy in the long run. So you say you are in love with Tyler...that is sweet and it's romantic, but love doesn't last Fee. It's a fleeting emotion that causes jealousy and hate, and insecurity. Respect lasts. Axis respects you. If he didn't, if he were this callous man who just wanted to buy himself a wife, father wouldn't have allowed it, and believe me there have been offers from men like that for your hand, but Axis is different, he wants to meet you, and he wants to prove himself to you, and you won't give him the time of day. You don't even respect our father enough to do that."

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia rolled her eyes dramatically. Only Kassia could think she was wrong for wanting to have some measure of control over her own life. She did not want to be a doll that her father--and her husband--could dress up and move around while she stared straight ahead with glassy eyes and a blank, serene expression. And that was how they were treating her. If what Kassia was saying was true, they might as well just make her into a porcelain doll, because that was all the value they were giving her.

"I'm being selfish?" she retorted. "I'm being melodramatic? Honestly, Kassia, I don't think you understand at all. This is my life we're talking about! It's not a dress or a doll or a bauble that I want, it's my life... my future! Do I not have a right to be selfish about my own life? Do I not deserve to be able to make my own decisions about what direction my life will go? Shouldn't I be allowed some control over my own life? If this man truly wanted to marry me, why could he not have come to me in the first place and asked me? Why couldn't he have tried to woo me? Instead he made a deal with Father and no one even bothered to consult me! That is not fair, and you know it! You know what I think? I think he's a coward! He's too afraid to talk to me in person, so he arranges things with Father instead. And I'm just expected to be happy about it... to be impressed by him, just because he's got good breeding and a lot of money and a stupid name! Well, guess what, Kassia, I am not impressed and I will not have him!"

[Kassia Burke]

"When are you going to grow up Fee?" Kassia said calmly shaking her head, her hand gripping the fork for a measure of control. She was sick of Fee's princess like behavior, more sick than she could say. "That's not fair and you know it" Kass mimicked nastily "You are a spoiled selfish brat and you always have been. Life isn't fair. Life is work and compromise. The Burke name carries honor with it and as it is clearly been proven you have no honor. Do what you want Fee, in the end you always do regardless of the consequences or who has to pick up your mess. You've never cared about anyone but yourself so why should I be surprised that you would put yourself above everyone else including your family. Did you think it would go any different for me? Or for Allaire? Did you think that our brother might get to choose his bride? No Fee I don't expect you to be happy about it, I don't give a damn about how you "feel" I foolishly expected you to do your duty as a Burke without whining about it like a selfish child. But understand this Fee, you will have Axis Thorne, you will be at that church, and when the time is right you will say yes, and there will damn well be a smile on your face, if you don't then I damn you for a fool and when father metes out his punishment, don't expect me to step in and save you or shield you as I always have. Good luck, for in the end Luck may be the only thing you have."

With that final say Kassia gave her sister one last pitying glance and left.

[Ophelia Burke]

The emotions that Ophelia went through during her sister's speech cut far deeper than Kassia could ever have imagined. After all, almost no one seemed to believe Ophelia was capable of stringing together a coherent thought, and they obviously believed that her emotions were shallow and flighty. But she felt them, deeply. First there was seething anger, which moved to searing pain, and finally, pure, unbridled hatred for her sister. Though she remained silent while her sister spoke--no, bellowed--at her, her face showed every changing emotion. Tears filled her eyes, which blazed with fury, and her beautiful face, normally the color of pure white porcelain, turned red and blotchy. And she didn't care how it looked, or about the fact that people were staring. Her sister had made this scene, not her. Let her suffer the consequences of so loudly airing their family's private business in a public location.

But by the end of Kassia's speech, Ophelia was just about to leap across the table and smack her wretched little sister until she pleaded for mercy. But even this was denied her, as Kassia had the nerve to get up and walk away like a queen dismissing a wayward servant.

For a moment, Ophelia remained speechless, staring in shock at the door through which Kassia had just exited. Then she let out a furious shriek. "That..... b*tch!" she cried.

Ophelia did not use such language. It wasn't dignified. But in this moment, dignity had just been tossed out the window and shattered on the ground.

Turning to Allaire, who was still sitting at the table, Ophelia's eyes filled with tears again. She was breathing very hard and very fast, and it was making her feel lightheaded.

"Do you believe her?" she gasped. "What right does she have to say those things? She doesn't know me, not really. She never even tried, she was just too busy feeling and acting better than the rest of us! How can she possibly think it's right for me to marry some... loser... I've never even met? I mean it, Ally, I will not have him. I will die before I marry Axis Thorne. If she thinks he's so great, she can have him!"

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire sat quietly through the entire conversation. It was pure chaos, but only the calm, quiet, almost deadly chaos that only Kassia could make. Her sister was very willing to follow whatever their parents said. Allaire would do almost anything her parents wished, but she never wanted to be on the shelf like Ophelia was. Fee was fighting as hard as she could. The bad thing was, Allaire could see from both sides of the argument, however, she didn't think Kass should have handled it the way she did. Allaire felt like shrinking down in her chair.

Seeing Fee starting to freak out caused Allaire to move and hug her sister. "It'll be okay Fee. Maybe not at this moment, but things that are meant to happen find a way to happen." She gently stroked Ophelia's hair. "Kassia is just, she's just too wrapped up in everything. She goes along with our parents, but she'll eventually see, hopefully anyway." Allaire wasn't even really sure what to say in this situation. She had never seen her twin the way she was at the table. In all honesty, it was a bit scary. All the more reason for Allaire to keep her mouth shut for the time being.

"We'll figure something out Fee, don't worry."

[Ophelia Burke]

After the harsh, cutting words from Kassia, Allaire's gentle understanding was all it took to push Ophelia over the edge. She broke down into heavy sobs, feeling as though her heart was breaking.

Kassia had it all wrong. She might have thought that this was just another one of Ophelia's legendary temper tantrums, but it was actually a lot more than that. In this occasion, getting what she wanted wouldn't cause her to become more spoiled... it would save her. She felt like she was standing at a precipice, and if she took the wrong step, she'd be ruined forever. If she got to marry the man of her own choosing, she would be happy. She would have true love. But if she was forced to marry Axis, her heart and everything that made her special would die. She'd become cold and empty and hollow inside--just a pretty little doll with glassy eyes and a frozen smile. She was literally fighting for the kind of person she wanted to become. Why was that so wrong?

"I mean it, Ally," Ophelia choked out. "I'll die before I marry Axis. If Papa makes me do it, I'll kill myself."