Bought to be a Tutor?

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

J:

I couldn’t get her off my mind. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke, those beautiful silver gems that shine for eyes. I didn’t even know that someone’s eyes could look like that. Her long wavy black hair fell like a river around her shoulders. She looked and carried herself like a goddess. 

She was a queen shrouded in a mystery. I had endless questions circling through my head. Why did she hide what she was going through? She didn’t think I would notice, but it was obvious she was blind. At least, it was obvious to me. It’s going to be obvious to Michael too. Perhaps that was only because our mother had lost her sight before she died, but it seemed like the kind of thing that anyone who paid attention would notice. Then again, most didn’t notice what anyone went through. 

He walked down the hall and knocked on the door. The amount of rustling told him he would have to give Michael another lecture about keeping his room clean… 

*Sigh*

A minute later the door swung open and a 12-year-old boy with curly brown hair appeared. We shared the same green eyes but that was the only thing we shared in appearance. Most people who met us couldn’t tell we were related at all.

“Let’s go, time to meet your tutor.” He groaned but followed, or rather trudged behind me. “There are some things you should know.” He grunted. “She’s blind.” 

We both froze in our tracks. I knew what he was thinking. Is she like mom? Is she sick? Was she born that way? How was she going to get about our three-story house? As much as he liked to complain, Michael had a good heart and cared deeply for others. I think that’s why he complains about everything so much. If he didn’t, he might explode. If I cared that much about everything, I don’t think I’d have the energy to get out of bed. 

“Her mother sold her to us so she’s not exactly happy to be here so I want you to behave for her. I won't be explaining the situation beyond that. I need you to trust that I have my reasons for this. She is fully aware of the situation. I gave her a chance to leave so her being is... almost voluntary. I know you don't like it but it can't be helped right now. I am really asking you to trust me here."

I waited while he observed me with tears in his eyes. After a very long minute, he nodded his head. We resumed walking and after a few seconds, I spoke again. 

"She can’t chase after you like the others so make sure you keep a slow pace when you walk with her. She came here to save a mother who cares nothing for her and seems to know that fact very well. Also…” I turn to face him and he looked up at me, still teary-eyed. “She seems to want to hide the fact that she’s blind.” He swallowed and slowly nodded his head. I knew he was freaking out but there was nothing I could do. There was no time for either of us to prepare for the situation we found ourselves in. There were two things I knew for certain though. 

One: We were going to make the best of any situation we found ourselves in, including this one. 

Two: We were going to get Lia away from her toxic mother.

When we walked back into the dining room Michael looked stunned. I couldn't blame him. She sat with the most perfect posture I had ever seen in my life. Even the royals I had met couldn't compare to that regal look she had. She looked like a portrait with the flames from the candles on the table casting a sort of dance of light behind her that I had never seen before. It wasn't just the way she looked either. There was an air about her. Something that said she should be adored and respected, that her word should always be held as law. I couldn't imagine that a person like her could be from a royal lineage, but she very well should have been. It seemed like a crime that she wasn't like a serious injustice had been done to the world just because she was not sat on a throne befitting her beauty. 

She wasn't born blind either. I knew because she obviously had a clear idea of where her eyes should be, something I didn't think was possible. I had never realized that someone could have that much control over the muscles in her eyes even when those eyes took in no information. It really showed me how much I took my eyes for granted. How much effort did it take her to do that? Why did she even feel it was necessary to begin with? 

I could only come up with one answer to any of my millions of questions. The answer was that she had been through things that I could never possibly even hope to understand.