Chapter 4

Piano lessons

The next month was boring. I did my schoolwork, and no, I was not in private school. My education got fucked with when Puck granted my wish. I have no memory of my old life, much less what I learned in school. So, Owen was bringing me back up to speed.

Unfortunately, that meant David was in charge of my learning. And he thought learning how to play the piano was important. I can't play! I don't think I've ever been able to play.

I smacked a bunch of keys and it made a loud sound. "Talia, please refrain from doing that." Owen said.

"I told you I'm no good at piano." I snarled.

"Perhaps we should go over the keys again." He thought.

"No, Owen. I… Can I have my snack now?" I sighed.

"Of course, Talia." He left.

I summoned an opened bottle of whiskey and took a swig. I hated piano, I hated David, and… I'm sure there were a few more things, but I don't want to think too hard for them.

"Talia, you never struck me as a young drinker." Puck plucked the bottle out of my hand and took his own swig.

"Well, you know how it is. Teenage rebellion." I said, gulping down another drink from the bottle. "At least David gets the good stuff."

"Of course he would." Puck made the bottle disappear.

"I wasn't done with that." I frowned.

"You wouldn't want him to notice, would you?" Puck asked.

"Another glass wouldn't hurt." I smirked as I drank.

"You have your father's confidence." Puck said with a twinkle in his eye.

"David is not my father!" I snarled.

He ignored me. "Such a shame you pout all the time."

"I don't pout!" I huffed.

"Then why aren't you trying to learn to play piano?" He sat at the bench and played a little tune.

"I don't want to. I mean, what do these even mean?" I jabbed at the book.

"You know, I bet you could really annoy him if you wanted to." Puck smiled.

"As tempting as that sounds, I won't fall for your tricks, Puck." I sniffed.

"Tai, he doesn't know how to play. Don't you want to better than him at something?" He asked.

I raised my eyebrow. He didn't know how to play piano? "I'm good at plenty of things."

"Like pouting?" He posed.

"No!" I said loudly.

"Then what are you good at?" He insisted.

"I, I- I don't know! I don't know. All my memories are gone. Hidden because you decided twist my dying wish and make me live a second life. A life that's not my own. Whatever I had before, gone, gone because you decided to save me from my peace, Puck. Because you wanted to play savior. You, Puck and you alone, stole my memories… And whatever I had before I became a "Xanatos." The last word dripped with venom and hatred.

"Bravo, Talia!" Puck cheered and clapped.

"What?" I asked.

"You've got a bit of a poetic streak in you." He laughed.

"What? No! Weren't you listening? It's your fault I don't remember." I said flustered.

"So much emotion packed into a single word." He chuckled.

"Shut up! This is all your fault! I'm not a Xanatos. You stole everything from me, Puck! You played God and messed up your miracle!" I yelled.

"Talia, what the hell is going on?" David looked in.

"Um…" I looked around and saw Puck was gone.

"Darling, I heard yelling." Fox told her husband.

"It seems Talia has a dramatic flair in her." David said.

"Pu… Where's Owen? He said he was getting my snack." I asked.

"I'm sorry, Talia. I was delayed." Owen came back and gave me my snack.

"Owen, that's so unlike you." Fox frowned.

"It won't happen again." He said.

"You missed Talia's soliloquy. It was quite dramatic." David told him.

"I'm sure it was something to be heard." He said in his monotone.

This is all Puck's fault.

"Talia, did you eat enough? You get cranky when you forget to eat." Fox asked.

"I'm not cranky." I growled.

"I apologize, Fox, this is my fault. I kept her waiting." He said.

"Eat your snack, Talia." David told me.

I ate my apple slices and then I had to try to play the piano again. I didn't really think about it. I was too mad at Puck to get mad at my piano lessons.

"You've been holding back." David smirked.

"That's an old song." Fox said.

"What?" I asked, blinking hard.

"Talia, you played the piano quite well." Owen explained.

I tried again, finding that I had played a dramatic and woeful piece. And I was good? I switched into the tune Puck played earlier fairly easily as well. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Maybe it's time to stop for the day." David said.

"Yeah, ok." I went to my room and wondered what happened. When could I do that? Does Puck know something I don't? Is that why he wanted me to play?

I didn't understand. I looked at the toy fox and frowned. Things have gotten weird.

Talia's POV End

David's POV

There seemed to be a gap in the footage from when Owen left Talia alone to when we checked on her. What happened? I know Talia was upset with me, but what could make her yell at nothing? Or was there someone there with her? "You played God and messed up your miracle?" Who played God? What miracle was she referring to? Why after so many weeks of Talia refusing to play did she change her mind?

"Sir?" Owen asked.

"There seems to be a malfunction in the music room's camera." I said.

"I'll go check it right away." He said.

"Owen?" I asked.

"Yes?" He paused.

"Do you know why Talia suddenly started playing again?" I looked at him.

"Maybe she finally stopped pouting about it." He said vaguely.

"I see." I hummed and let him leave.

David's POV End

If you're confused, Talia always knew how to play the piano, she just refused to. And since Puck made a magic flute, I'm guessing that music is another way to do magic or something.