TW: CHILD ABUSE

"Mother?" Cordelia called, stepping inside her house. "Thank you, Spalding," she added as the butler shuffled past with her suitcase in tow. Fiona had sent Spalding to pick her up in the car – of course she didn't care enough to meet Cordelia herself, after three months of not seeing her. It had given Cordelia time to think, at least. And besides, she knew there was no point staying pissed off. Fiona was making a point, that much was easy to see. "Mother, are you here?"

Fiona didn't reply. She was either ignoring Cordelia, passed out drunk in her room, or not in the house, and Cordelia didn't really care to find out which it was. Making her way up to her bedroom, she raised her nose into the air and sniffed. The familiar scent of home washed over her. Even if she didn't particularly like it here, it still smelled like home. She didn't think that would ever change – this would always be the house she grew up in, the house where her father died, the house where she had her first kiss. It was too full of memories to not be considered home.

Her bedroom was just as she had left it. Cordelia ran her fingers along the familiar posters – of plants, of birds, and of Audrey Hepburn, who was her first ever crush. She sat down on her bed, and exhaled – she had forgotten how comfortable it was. It was too quiet, though. She'd gotten used to Zoe always being two metres away, and Misty being just down the hall, and the general noise that came with being in a boarding school. Was it possible she actually missed her school? At least there people talked to her. At least there she wasn't ignored.

"You're home." The voice came from the doorway. Cordelia flopped backwards onto her bed, not gracing Fiona with a single glance. "Oh, you're going to be like that, are you?"

"Like what, Mother?" Cordelia said politely, though she knew Fiona could hear the anger bubbling just under the surface.

"Come now, Delia, don't be petulant. I haven't seen you for three months. You didn't even write to me."

Cordelia gritted her teeth, irritation flickering in her chest. She hadn't even been home for five minutes, and already Fiona was on her back – typical. "You could have written to me, mother, did that ever occur to you?" It wasn't as if Fiona had ever shown an interest in Cordelia before, so why did she care so much that Cordelia hadn't written?

"I've been very busy, Delia darling," Fiona said breezily. "We're having a party in two days."

"We are?"

"Yes, and I expect you to be looking your best," Fiona said, her eyes flicking up and down Cordelia's body disapprovingly. "Not like you've just rolled down a hill."

Even though Cordelia knew she looked fine – she'd even brushed her hair before stepping out of the car – Fiona's insult still stung. "Why?"

"There are some… business partners I wish for you to meet." As cunning as she was, Fiona had a tell. Cordelia knew her well enough that she'd learnt to recognise it by now – whenever Fiona lied, the corner of her right eye twitched ever so slightly. What was her mother lying about this time?

"Business partners?" Cordelia asked suspiciously. "What business? You don't have a job."

"Enough!" Fiona snapped. "It's high time you learnt your place, Delia. I would have thought that after three months at that school, you'd have learnt how to be a lady. Did they hit you?"

Cordelia blinked. She hadn't been expecting that question, though she should have known by now to expect the unexpected with Fiona. "What?"

Fiona rolled her eyes. "For god's sake, are you dumb? Did they hit you or not?"

Cordelia sighed. "No."

"Good," Fiona said. Cordelia glanced at her for the first time, and sat up, staring her mother in the eyes. Fiona smiled, and reached forward. For a moment, Cordelia thought Fiona was going to stroke her face, and closed her eyes – and that was when Fiona slapped her across the face.

Cordelia yelped in pain, putting a hand to her already smarting cheek. "What the hell was that for?" she protested.

"For your impertinence."

"I didn't even do anything!" The disappointment in herself stung more than the slap. She had actually thought Fiona was going to make a soft, motherly gesture towards her – what an idiot she was.

"Exactly," Fiona said, sneering. "You obviously don't appreciate how much it's costing me to send you to that school – you've not learnt a thing. Ungrateful child."

Cordelia twisted her face into sneer even better than her mother's. "It's not costing you a penny, Mother. It's Daddy's money, after all."

Her mother's face went still, and Cordelia knew she had gone too far. "Clean yourself up," hissed Fiona, her eyes icy. "I expect you downstairs in twenty minutes for dinner."

Fiona left the room, gently closing the door behind her. Cordelia laughed at that – after all that had just happened, Fiona hadn't even slammed the door. It was intentional, she knew that, just to piss off Cordelia. But it was something that would sound ridiculous if spoken aloud, so Cordelia couldn't even complain about it. God, she hated her mother. She flung a pillow at the door, and bit back a scream of fury.

How am I meant to last two weeks with this witch? Cordelia thought. Well, she wouldn't tidy herself up. There would be no more doing what Fiona wanted. Soon, she would escape with Misty, and she'd never have to talk to that bitch again.

Her goal for the break was to steal enough money for her and Misty to live off for at least a few months without Fiona noticing. But maybe – maybe she could find something that proved Fiona had killed her father. Maybe she could make things right for him.

0o0o

"How are your classes?" Fiona asked.

"Good."

"Have you made friends?"

"Yes." Cordelia knew what Fiona was trying to do – make her nervous. There was no other reason why she would be asking so many questions, prying in Cordelia's business – she didn't care if Cordelia had made friends or not. It was best to keep her answers short.

"Good."

"How's Marie?" Cordelia asked. Marie Laveau was one of Fiona's many friends, and the only one whom she saw regularly. Cordelia didn't like her much, even though she had never done anything to personally offend Cordelia – it was just that she was so similar to Fiona. As a result, the two of them were constantly arguing about something or the other, acting more like mortal enemies than close friends.

"She's well."

"And Delphine?" Delphine was another one of Fiona's 'friends' – if she knew the things Fiona said behind her back, Cordelia was sure Delphine wouldn't call it friendship. 'Old money gone poor… desperately clinging to her wealth with her talons… pitiful, not deserving of charity…' Cordelia would almost feel bad for Delphine if she wasn't a terrible person from the bottom of her soul.

Fiona shrugged. "Still a piece of shit."

She'd run out of safe questions. It was time to be quiet. Cordelia took a bite of food. She had to admit that she'd missed homecooked meals – they tasted like heaven compared to the utter bile they'd been served at the academy. "Did you hire a new cook? I didn't recognise him."

"Yes. I did."

Cordelia cleared her throat, shuffling in her seat. Dinner with Fiona was a special kind of hell – she had almost forgotten what it was like, after three months of eating dinner in the crowded dining hall with her friends. She ate her food quickly, desperate to get away from her mother and up to the safety of her bedroom.

"Slow down," Fiona snapped, "you'll bloat."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologise. Just stop being a pig."

"Yes, mother."

Fiona reached for the wine bottle and poured another glass, red liquid sloshing over the side and onto the white tablecloth. She seemed not to notice, and took a long sip. She would probably find some way to blame Cordelia for the wine stain. "I am taking you shopping tomorrow. You need a new dress."

Cordelia frowned – she didn't need any new clothes. She also didn't want to spend a whole day with Fiona. "My dresses are fine."

"You don't have any suitable for the party."

"I'm sure I can find something."

Fiona slammed her hand down on the table, making the plates rattle. Cordelia jumped. "Stop talking back. Am I not allowed to take my only daughter shopping?"

"I didn't talk back," Cordelia said, realising too late that it would only anger her mother more.

Fiona smiled – which was rarely a good thing. "You did it again."

"I'm full." Cordelia let her cutlery clatter onto her plate and stood up quickly. Her chair screeched against the floorboards. "Thank you for dinner, mother."

"Sit your ass back down."

Cordelia crossed her arms and began backing towards the door. "No."

"I said, sit down!"

"But I've eaten enough."

Fiona moved so quickly she could have won gold in the Olympics for 'evil mother speed walking'. Cordelia cowered as her mother raised her hand above her head. Fiona sneered. "Are you going to stop being disrespectful?"

"Yes, mother," Cordelia whispered, her throat suddenly dry. She dug her fingers into her palms, savouring the sweet sting of pain as her nails cut into her skin.

"Pardon?" Fiona asked sweetly, tipping her head to the side and putting a hand to her ear. "I can't hear you."

"Yes, ma'am," Cordelia said, raising her head. God, she hated herself. What would Misty say if she saw Cordelia like this, letting Fiona walk all over her?

"You are dismissed," Fiona said, turning away. Cordelia didn't want to wait around for her to change her mind, and walked from the room as quickly as she could without running.

Shopping tomorrow would be fun.

Chapter title comes from 'Edge of Seventeen' by our lady and saviour, Stevie Nicks.