O Felice, Tu Anima Mia Canta Addio*
An open letter and a pair of fine Italian leather gloves rested on Thomas' bed as he paced the room, fingers punching a familiar number into the phone with way more force than necessary. He growled audibly as the phone rang, every muscle tensed as if ready to spring. It took until the fourth ring for someone to pick up, speaking with a voice rich, seductive, and utterly poisonous. Like Merlot and cyanide.
Hello, brother-mine. How’s your little adventure?
You bitch. You conniving, backstabbing, sneaking bitch.
Now really, is that how you should be talking to your big sister, Tommy?
Oh just can it, Lara. You just had to bring her into this. You couldn’t have just found somebody else to do your dirty work. We had a deal.
And what part of that deal am I not honoring, brother-mine? I promised to let Justine stay under our protection in exchange for her skills as my personal assistant and your help when the family needs it. She isn’t a thrall; she can choose whether to come and go as she wishes.
And you just happened to have told her about the producers approaching you? Just happened to have let slip that they might be willing to consider letting her visit? Don’t play innocent with me, Lara. We both know what you’re trying to do, and it’s blatant even for you.
She is her own woman, brother mine. I can’t touch her, as you well know. What’s changed that you suddenly feel the need to call me and sling accusations?
Don’t let her come to this house. Keep her busy. If you keep her away from here… I’ll find out what you want to know.
Honestly Tommy, isn’t this overdramatic, even for you? If you’d just changed your mind, gotten more curious about the experiences of your elders, you could just say so instead of accusing me of some dastardly ploy to force your hand. It’s quite unbecoming for my little brother to be so hysterical when all he wants is an excuse to add another notch to his bedpost.
Stop it. We both know you told her about the producers. We both know you’re doing this because I didn’t want to do your dirty work and seduce Jean-Claude. We both know that I can’t protect her from the others in this house when I can’t even touch her. We both know you’ve managed to back me thoroughly into a corner. You’ve won, Lara. I’ll do what you want, put my neck in the noose for the information you want. Just promise me you won’t let her come.
She’ll enjoy the protection of House Raith, brother-mine, as long as it is mine to give.
Your word, Lara, that Justine will not come to this house. Please.
Tommy Tommy Tommy, why are you so insistent? Don’t you trust your sister? Fine, you have my word that as far as it is in my power to prevent, Justine won’t go to that house. Now I want yours that you will hold up your part of the bargain, brother-mine.
You’re holding her safety over my head and want even more assurance? That’s absurd. But you have my word that I’ll discover whether the St. Louis line can be controlled.
It’s nothing against you, Tommy. Just good business. I’ll talk to you again soon, brother-mine.
I hate you, Lara.
Portions of the conversation had been loud, and the crew was alternately cringing or looking at him pityingly. "Get out," he growled, bristling at the mixture of sympathy, fear, and even excitement wafting off of them. Thomas waited until they were gone, slamming the door behind them, before he sank to the floor at the foot of his bed. The anger was ebbing, leeching out of him along with his strength, leaving behind fear, helplessness, and an aching emptiness.
*O happiness, my beloved one, sing farewell
Hello, brother-mine. How’s your little adventure?
You bitch. You conniving, backstabbing, sneaking bitch.
Now really, is that how you should be talking to your big sister, Tommy?
Oh just can it, Lara. You just had to bring her into this. You couldn’t have just found somebody else to do your dirty work. We had a deal.
And what part of that deal am I not honoring, brother-mine? I promised to let Justine stay under our protection in exchange for her skills as my personal assistant and your help when the family needs it. She isn’t a thrall; she can choose whether to come and go as she wishes.
And you just happened to have told her about the producers approaching you? Just happened to have let slip that they might be willing to consider letting her visit? Don’t play innocent with me, Lara. We both know what you’re trying to do, and it’s blatant even for you.
She is her own woman, brother mine. I can’t touch her, as you well know. What’s changed that you suddenly feel the need to call me and sling accusations?
Don’t let her come to this house. Keep her busy. If you keep her away from here… I’ll find out what you want to know.
Honestly Tommy, isn’t this overdramatic, even for you? If you’d just changed your mind, gotten more curious about the experiences of your elders, you could just say so instead of accusing me of some dastardly ploy to force your hand. It’s quite unbecoming for my little brother to be so hysterical when all he wants is an excuse to add another notch to his bedpost.
Stop it. We both know you told her about the producers. We both know you’re doing this because I didn’t want to do your dirty work and seduce Jean-Claude. We both know that I can’t protect her from the others in this house when I can’t even touch her. We both know you’ve managed to back me thoroughly into a corner. You’ve won, Lara. I’ll do what you want, put my neck in the noose for the information you want. Just promise me you won’t let her come.
She’ll enjoy the protection of House Raith, brother-mine, as long as it is mine to give.
Your word, Lara, that Justine will not come to this house. Please.
Tommy Tommy Tommy, why are you so insistent? Don’t you trust your sister? Fine, you have my word that as far as it is in my power to prevent, Justine won’t go to that house. Now I want yours that you will hold up your part of the bargain, brother-mine.
You’re holding her safety over my head and want even more assurance? That’s absurd. But you have my word that I’ll discover whether the St. Louis line can be controlled.
It’s nothing against you, Tommy. Just good business. I’ll talk to you again soon, brother-mine.
I hate you, Lara.
Portions of the conversation had been loud, and the crew was alternately cringing or looking at him pityingly. "Get out," he growled, bristling at the mixture of sympathy, fear, and even excitement wafting off of them. Thomas waited until they were gone, slamming the door behind them, before he sank to the floor at the foot of his bed. The anger was ebbing, leeching out of him along with his strength, leaving behind fear, helplessness, and an aching emptiness.
*O happiness, my beloved one, sing farewell