Flames Of Redemption

96

The rest of their flight passed in tension, with Sirius throwing provoking words on Regan's way, mocking her, her family, her past. Octavia tried to calm Regan down, but the girl was too furious.

"You know, you should better sleep. This flight is not a piece of cake." Sirius teased, leaning back in his seat. "It's not like you're used to traveling in such a manner. And snapping back at everything I say, won't help it either."

"And why should I sleep, huh? So you can take advantage of us both? No, I'm not giving you that," Regan snapped back. Octavia sighed, shaking her head.

"Sweetie, what if I take a nap?" Octavia whispered in Regan's ear, "Will you be good?"

"Yes, mom." Regan sighed. She knew her mother was tired and she didn't have a problem with letting her sleep. It wasn't like she was scared of Sirius. But she was really pissed off.

After a while, Octavia fell asleep, her head resting on the seat. Regan kept her eyes open, not looking at him at all, her hands clenched into fists. The cabin was silent, except for the occasional creak of the plane and the sound of Octavia's soft breathing.

Sirius stared at Regan, studying her face. He wondered what she was thinking, what she was planning. He wondered if she was thinking about him. And he couldn't help but stir up conversations with her even if it meant to end up in fights or insults.

"You know, I've always wondered," he began, his voice low and almost gentle, "what kind of life do you think you'd have, if you'd have your kingdom? Would you be some great queen? Would you be ruling your people, leading them to prosperity?" His voice held a mocking edge.

Regan's eyebrows furrowed, "Why do you care?" she retorted, not bothering to hide the anger in her voice. "You're the one who made us like that. You're the one who destroyed my homeland."

Sirius leaned back on his seat, his expression blank and undecipherable, "Avalon wasn't only your homeland, you know. It was mine too. I grew up there, just like you. But I didn't have it easy like you."

Regan shook her head, not wanting to listen at him, "I don't care. Don't speak to me and don't look at me. Just shut up and mind your own business," she said, looking down at her lap, trying to avoid his nagging presence. She sensed him standing from his seat and walking to her side. She thought he was going to pass by her seat but he didn't. She felt her jaw being grabbed and her face being forced up. He leaned closer, his eyes drowning on hers.

"Listen here, Regan. You're a stubborn little beauty who sees only her own version of the story. But you know what? You're evil and bad in someone else's eyes. They hate you and want you dead, no matter how good or pure you are. They loathe for death. They don't understand you. They have no right nor duty to understand you." Sirius said, his voice rough and low, his grip slightly loosening.

"So, you should know you're a villain in someone else's story. Let's take Vesper, for example. She thinks you're my lover, my partner. She thinks you stole me from her. And you know what? I let her think that."

Regan's eyes widened in shock, "You-you let her think that?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't help but feel a wave of melancholy washing over her, thinking that he had used her to make Vesper jealous.

Sirius smiled darkly, "Yes. I did. And you know what? She's not the only one. There are others who think I'm with you, and I let them think that. Because it's better for me. Because I don't care what they think."

Regan felt the urge to slap at him, her neck hurting from keeping it so high. But his words were true. She was a villain in someone's story. But she hadn't stolen him from anyone. She hadn't even wanted to be with him.