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Bia

Thalia teased me about how giddy I was when Gabriella walked inside the house with a package from Cillian. He sent not just stuff for me but stuff for Thalia and Maya too with a note saying thank you for taking care of Bia while I’m not there to.

How is it the same man who was so cold and cruel toward me is now the same thoughtful man who sends gifts and is so vulnerable to me in his letters?

I start walking back toward my bedroom, but not before Thalia yells to me, “Go read your dirty letters.”

“Thalia. They are not dirty letters.”

“Boo, that’s no fun. We could always mail him a dirty picture.”

“THALIA!”

“What? It’s an idea.”

“I doubt he wants to see me like that.”

“Bullshit. You are sexy as hell, and any man would want you. Especially your perfect tits.”

Maya stops the banter.

“Bia, you said he has been vulnerable to you. Maybe think about being vulnerable to him, about why you think he wouldn’t want you. You don’t have to do it, but it is something to think about. Now, go read what he has to say.”

I shut my bedroom door and climb on my bed before I open the envelope and read his letter.

After I finish reading it, I sit down to write back to him.

Cillian,

I’m glad you look forward to my letters like I look forward to yours.

I love hearing about your wonderful childhood, it sounds like your parents gave you all the love a child needs but also the firm hand to help you learn right from wrong.

I wasn’t lucky enough to be raised like that, my mother always hated me.

She always reminded me how useless I was, and that the only useful thing I would do would be who I would marry.

How my husband would help my family.

While my father was alive, Leonidas and my father loved me.

I know Leonidas has had to keep me at arm’s length because my Grandfather would use his love for me against him.

You have been open and honest with me.

Now it’s my turn.

When I was five years old, I was out in the garden with my father. He was telling me about why he chose my name. He believed I would be the one to break away from the darkness in our family.

I know what my father was known for, but when he was with me, he spoiled me and loved me.

I was his princess.

Anyway, that day, some of my grandfather's soldiers dragged us into the house where my grandfather was waiting for us.

He told my father that he had told him to stop spoiling me and letting me out of my room.

That I was to be kept in my room and remain there until I turned eighteen and could finally be useful.

My father argued with him, saying I was his child, and he couldn’t tell him what to do with me.

My Grandfather aimed a gun at us, and my father tucked me behind him.

My Grandfather made my father choose between his life and mine.

My father selflessly sacrificed himself for me.

The look of satisfaction on my Grandfather’s face when he realized he was finally able to kill my father is something I’ll never forget. I had heard the men talking about how he wanted to kill him before.

I will never forget my father’s final words to me, to never trust my Grandfather but to always do as he says so I wouldn’t get hurt.

I remember crying when he killed my father, and my Grandfather made me sit and watch as they got rid of his body.

He sat and watched as I scrubbed the blood off the floor for hours until it was to his liking.

The best part of my childhood were the times I was allowed to spend with Thalia.

No matter how down I was, she would always be able to put a smile on my face.

I don’t have a favorite flower, but I do love aster flowers, they are like purple daisies.

They are beautiful, and they look like they could make someone happy.

My favorite food is gyros.

Before my father died, I had a nanny, and she was a wonderful cook.

Just remembering her gyros makes my mouth water. We would have lots of conversations while she cooked. She was the one who got me interested in castles, especially old castles.

One day I would love to travel the world and visit old castles.

I love that you can see the history in the walls and with each crack and dent there is a story behind it.

I’m sorry this letter isn’t a happy one, I’m trying to be open like you.

Maya suggests that I tell you more personal things.

Thank you for giving me the time I need to heal.

I’ll be waiting for your next letter.

Bia