Page 88 of Taunt Me (Dark Odyssey 2)

I blow out a breath and shuffle to straighten my shoulders.

Regaining my composure, I look over my class and marvel at the view of my students.

I’m a teacher in a room with a bunch of sixteen year olds at Raventhorne Academy. A bunch of sixteen-year-olds who are doing what I tell them and the class is so quiet as they read the poem. They’re all so well behaved and each of the boys and girls look like they want to be here.

It brings a smile to my face and I feel the surge of happiness take me, the kind of happy you get when you accomplish something. A dream, a goal, a wish your heart wants.

In my case it was all made possible by Cordelia and given to me at just the right time to heal me and that aspect of my mind, and … nearly taken from me in the same breath by Tobias.

I want to enjoy all of this but I know I can’t truly relax. I can’t because I know what he’s like and deep down, even though he knows I have Gabe and the Giordanos I don’t think it will stop him from coming for me again with his games.

Blackmail… it’s like food to his soul and he lost at his own game last time. He won’t take that lightly, neither will he take what Gabe did to him lightly.

The boy at the back lifts his head and looks over to me. He’s a dark haired guy whose name I remember because his family are well known, like most of the students at the school.

It’s Patterson, as in congressman Patterson’s son.

“Can I ask a question?” he says and lifts his head toward me.

“Of course.” I try to hide the excitement in my voice at having my first question of the day.

“Is there some element of escapism here too?” He asks and my spirits lift instantly. His brows knit together in thought as he continues. “I mean like the other post-Romantic poems, I don’t know if I’m just seeing what I want to see because Tennyson probably wrote it about Lady Godiva and who wouldn’t dig a chick that rode through the town naked? But the words feel like … escapism to me.”

I smile at him and nod, trying to hold back the memories of all the times I had to escape in my mind when I was in Italy.

“You are absolutely correct.” I take in his brighter appearance at having been right. “It’s medieval and a lot of the poems written by the post-Romantic poets carry that element of escapism. Back in the past, any time at all where they thought life was better, or more exciting.”

“Or free?”

I like this guy. He reminds me of myself at his age. “Or free. Add it to your notes and be sure to write down your thoughts, it will help for your coursework and any projects you may do this semester. ” I look about the class and see the interested looks I’m getting from a few of the students. “Did anyone else get the sense of escapism?”

“Me.” Says the girl in the back row at the opposite corner of the room. “But a little different. I liked how strong Lady Godiva was, and daring and I think Tennyson wrote about her because she pushed the limits and did something that was completely out of character for her time.”

The boy whose name I just remembered is Heath looks at her and she glances over to him. I notice the spark but she looks away, shy.

“That is perfect,” I tell her with a nod and she smiles.

I can’t remember her name but I’ve made it my duty to remember everyone’s name by tomorrow at close of business.

“Does anyone have anything else to add?” I’m glad when I see hands go up in the air.

It’s so good to be teaching again. My first day is definitely going to be a good one. Here at school and later.

* * *

Later came quick.

People say time flies when you’re having fun and I had one of the very best days I’d had in a very long time. In my last class, the discussion we were having about Shakespeare and King Lear was so interesting that we ran over by half an hour because the students kept asking more and more questions.

Principal Carson sat through that one with me and was truly, truly impressed.

That lesson alone made me look real good in front of him and I wasn’t even trying to impress him.

I met up with Cordelia and Ma after for dinner and babbled about the day I had to them. Neither could get a word in and I suspect neither wanted to stop me in my tracks as I gushed on.

Now I’m here at The Dark Odyssey again for another wild night with Gabe.

I’m wearing a satin black negligee and no panties at his request. I have on black heels and a black masquerade mask with feathers and black beads around the eyes. My hair is down and I curled it so it’s extra curly and bouncy, just the way Gabe likes it.

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