I delivered the letters quickly and grabbed my suitcase and PoonPoon. I sprinted out of my dorm and rushed to the carriage out front. Bertram sat in the drivers seat and looked at me, "Where are we going?"

I shouted as I ran to it, "We are going back home to visit!"

Before I entered, he spoke. "Wait, Seri. I need to tell-"

"No time! Just go!"

I jumped in the carriage ignoring whatever he was about to say. When I sat down I jumped, "EEK!"

Millie sat across from me with a gentle smile, "Hello Seri."

I blinked in surprise, "Millie? What are you doing here?"

She looked at me calmly, "I'm coming with you of course. It's been a while since I've seen my family."

I frowned, "Are you sure you are not actually a dog? How did you know I was going home?"

She giggled, "No. I just had to follow Bertram and he explained everything."

No wonder Bertram looked so pale just now. She probably threatened him. I sighed, "Alright. You can come with me, but you need to behave."

She nodded, "Of course. Don't worry, I won't bother you or anything. But are you sure you won't get in trouble for skipping class?"

I sat back and grimaced as the carriage started moving. I answered in a strained voice, "I told the headmaster my mother was sick and I needed to go home to take care of her."

Millie giggled and spoke in a sweetened voice, "Oh, Seri. Did you lie?"

"No... Maybe..." I shook my head, "But what about you?"

She spoke casually, "I told the headmaster my sister was getting married."

My face twitched, "So you lied too. What if he finds out your sister isn't actually getting married?"

She shrugged, "Then I will just force her to marry someone. Problem solved."

Why does Millie seem to be getting scarier every day?

I held my mouth as I forced myself not to vomit. Millie pulled out a book and began to read it, "If you think you are going to vomit, please do so out the window. And remember, it only takes half a day to make it back to our hometown."

I'm going to die...

After several hours, we finally made it back to my family home. I had Bertram drop Millie off at her residence on the way to mine. I promised her that I would come over for tea in a few days after visiting with my family.

By the time we pulled up to my house, it was already extremely dark. Bertram helped me off the carriage, "Did you tell your parents you would be arriving this late?"

I forced a smile, "N-Not exactly..."

He frowned as we walked to the door holding the luggage. We knocked loudly. He spoke, "What does that mean?"

I laughed awkwardly, "I may have not told them I was coming at all..."

"Wait!? You didn't even tell them that-"

A servant opened the door, "Just who do you think you are coming this late at night-" The servant shut up instantly as soon as she saw the unique hair. Her eyes lit up, "Young Miss! What are you doing here?!"

I stepped inside and flipped my hair, "I realized I haven't been home in a while so naturally I had to come right away."

My mother stomped downstairs shouting, "Bella! Who in their right mind is knocking on my door unannounced late at night?!"

Bella turned to her with a smile, "It is the young miss! She's returned to visit!"

My mother looked at me with a shocked expression. She scurried over, "S-Seri?" She pinched my cheek, "Oh my... You're real..."

I smiled, "Yes, I am. Now could you please stop pinching me?"

My mother slapped me lightly on the top of my head, "You mischievous girl. What are you doing here?"

I forced out a laugh, "I was homesick mother... What? Don't you want me here?"

She sighed and crossed her arms, "It's not that. I'm glad you're here, but I am worried about your education. How could you just leave the school?"

I spoke with a pout, "I got permission to leave."

"Oh? How?" My mother asked genuinely surprised.

I smiled at her, "I told them you were sick and I had to come home to help."

My mother's face twitched, "That's it. Get back in the carriage right now."

"BABY GIRL?!" My father popped his head into the entrance hall when he heard the commotion. He ran over to me and pinched my cheeks, "Is that really you?!"

I slapped away his hands, "Yes! It is! Why does everyone keep pinching me?"

My mother spoke in a disappointed tone, "It seems our daughter lied to the school in order to come home."

My father ruffled my hair, "That's my girl. I'm proud of you for running away from those wolves."

I smiled at him, "Thanks Daddy."

Let's just not mention the actual wolf who tagged along with me in the carriage.

My mother shook her head and walked away, "You two give me migraines."

My father pulled me along, "You must be tired from your journey! Come! I haven't touched your room since you've been gone. You can stay there. Bertram can sleep on the couch downstairs."

Bertram sighed from the cold treatment. I was left in my childhood room. I was so surprised to see how little everything had changed. I sat on my bed and sighed. Just a few years ago, I had a sleepover in this very room.

I laid back and remembered Dante's adorable face. Ah, he was really cute even as a child... Wait, what am I thinking about?! Didn't I come home in order to forget about Dante?!

I watched as PoonPoon jumped around the room excited to have freedom once more. He no longer had to hide in my dorm room. I spoke to him, "PoonPoon. I don't know what I'm going to do..."

PoonPoon turned to me, "OoAah?"

"Yes... It's about Dante again. He won't leave my mind and I have no idea why. Am I going crazy?"

PoonPoon jumped on the bed and rubbed my head, "OooOoo."

I smiled, "Thanks PoonPoon. Don't die anytime soon, alright?"

"Aah?"

__________

I spent the next few days playing with Oliver after he returned from school. Other than that, I helped my father with work and spent time with my mother. However, no matter how busy I tried to keep myself, I couldn't get the dream off of my mind.

My mother spoke, "Seri. I need to run some errands in town today. How about you tag along with me today? It might be good for you to get out and exercise."

I nodded, "Alright. I will come along then."

We rode in the carriage to town and I stared out the window feeling nauseous and distracted. My mother noticed this and frowned. She muttered to herself, "There is something wrong with her. She's been scatterbrained ever since she just magically showed up... Could it be... Boy troubles?! Yes! It has to be.... Oh, I wonder which one it is!"

As she whispered to herself, I didn't hear a word. I was too distracted thinking about other things.

My mother turned to her other side and held her chin deep in thought, "In this case, doesn't a daughter usually come to her mother to ask how to solve the situation? Perhaps she's trying to decide just who she likes... In any case, as her mother I should help..."

She fidgeted in a panic, "But what if she doesn't want my help?! No! No. I have to try. Baby steps, Sharon. Baby steps. You wanted to be a better mother, this is exactly how."

My mother made up her mind and turned to me. She cleared her throat, "Seri."

I snapped out of my daze, "Yes?"

My mother looked at me with determined eyes, "I can tell something is wrong with you. Is it boy troubles? If so, I can help you." She held her chin up proudly, "You wouldn't know this, but your mother also had her own share of boy troubles when she was younger. I might be able to help you."

I hesitated as I looked into her eyes who looked at me in anticipation. I could tell she really wanted to help... But should I tell her? Well... What do I have to lose?

I nodded, "Alright, mother. I will tell you. Perhaps you can help me after all."

My mother nodded, "Yes. I will try my best."

I spoke quickly, "Well, I had a wet dream about Dante a few days ago and I can't get it out of my mind."

She nodded, "Ahh. So it's about Dante. Wait. What is a wet dream?"

"You know, a dream with a sexual fantasy."

Her face turned pale, "S-Sexual...?"

I continued, "In my dream, Dante had me tied up in a dungeon. Then while I was tied up, he was kissing me and touching me all over. And it felt really good. Like. REALLY good."

As I went into more and more detail, my mother's face began to twitch as she forced herself to listen to every sordid detail.

"During my dream, he kept telling me to admit I liked him. I don't care too much about the other part of the dream, but I can't get my mind off of him trying to get me to admit it... Why do I keep thinking about that line?"

I stopped and looked at my mother with expectant eyes. She snapped out of her stupor when she noticed I had asked for her advice. She cleared her throat and forced herself to be calm, "Let me ask you this. What do you feel whenever you look at Dante?"

I thought back, "Well... My heart races and my face blushes. I want to run away, but I also want to stay and annoy him as well."

She pressed on, "And what do you think about him? Do you think of him as only a friend?"

I blushed and looked away, "Well, I do think he is rather handsome... His golden eyes make me shiver and I constantly want to touch his muscles... A-And I don't really dislike kissing him or anything. In fact, it really is quite nice. He's surprisingly a good kisser..."

My mother was dealt another bombshell, but refrained from showing it. She continued, "If you like kissing him, then you can't think of him as a friend."

I frowned, "But couldn't I just be attracted to him?"

She nodded, "That's true... But what would you think if Dante suddenly started courting another girl? How would you feel?"

My eyes turned cold, "I would destroy her until there was nothing left."

My mother blinked, "Oh... That's rather... Dark..." She cleared her throat, "If that is true, then don't you think you love him?"

I looked at her in surprise, "L-Love? Love is a bit too much..."

I'm a modern girl. Saying love in that context to someone you aren't even dating is waaaay too soon.

My mother smiled, "Can you imagine your life without him? If something happened to him, what would you do?"

My eyes widened as I was taken aback, "No... I can't..." If Dante was killed... Well, I probably would be more cruel and terrible than I am now. I felt everything start to click.

The reason why I never rejected his kisses...

The reason why I got so mad at Mary for an obvious misunderstanding...

The reason why I went crazy from being ignored...

The reason why I had that dream...

The reason why I always felt relieved when he was by my side.

I blushed as I realized my feelings. I shook my head, "S-Still... Love is too strong... However, it's obvious to me now..."

I looked up at my mother with a slight smile, "I definitely like him much more than a friend."

I looked back out the window and realized I would need to go speak to Dante about my sudden realization as soon as possible.

My mother silently cheered to herself, "My daughter actually spoke to me about something so important!!! She trusts me!! She actually trusts me!! Does this mean I am becoming a better mother to her?!"

I glanced at my mother, "What was that?"

She looked at me with an innocent expression, "Nothing dear. I was just talking to myself." She smiled at me, "If you ever need anyone to talk to, please feel free to consult me whenever you need help."

I nodded, "I will Mother... Thank you."

She fist pumped to herself in success as the carriage rolled to a stop. I opened the door and paused in the opening. I turned to her with a gentle smile, "Thank you for your help Mother."

She nodded happily, "Anything to help."

My grin turned more sinister, "For that, I will help you get your revenge."

"Huh? Revenge?"