Vanessa's Response to the Shower

Shame. I am a shameful creature. And, apparently everything I did was common knowledge. Vanessa wrote a line that night.

Oh Magnus, how much I would have loved being Maria. She was so delighted with your performance this morning, and then delighted again this evening. She was nonetheless exhilarated to see you...Heather too. I know you hate me now, but that will all end soon enough. You have only seen the beginning, Magnus. I have only begun relieving you of your self-imposed prison. I know it is not impenetrable, but you are far from free. I know that. I know because when you are free, the fear that fills your soul will dissolve. It will melt in a frenzy of passion, my love. Your fight is hopelessly in vain. No more can you resist me than my fingers can resist typing this note. Now they wander below in your honor, because it delights you. It delights me too. At this moment that is your wish, and it is granted.

I could do nothing wrong, apparently, according to Vanessa. I resist Linda and I am a saint. I wander into Maria's room and a (feigned) advance, and I'm a hero. (Maybe the girls were onto me, but I doubt it). She knows she doesn't need to be my mother. I know right from wrong, and I should have rejected the shower situation immediately. The truth is, Vanessa knows I cannot help but be hopelessly intrigued with her.

What kind of woman throws beautiful women at the man she adores? No woman can love and trust a man so much...a man she hardly knows. This is, to me, impossible. She is right. Fear. I was afraid. She was either an angel or Satan himself, and I was desperately afraid to find out.