The sisters stood as still as one of their father’s creepy mannequins until the door closed.
“Thanks.” Suki spat, “Don’t expect me to listen to you.”
“I don’t...”
“Good. I’m leaving as soon as he can’t see me.”
“Would you like me to make you something to eat first?”
“I’m not as stupid as I look. You’ll poison me.”
“No, I won’t. You can watch me.” The brunette shook her head, fixing the pink bow in her hair.
“Why should I trust you?”
“We’re sisters.”
“I haven’t had a sister for eight years. I don’t need one now!”
“I-” Genevieve closed her mouth when she could not think of a rebuttal.
“Before I go, I’m going to trash that creepy mannequin.”
“Would you like help?”
Suki could not believe what she was hearing from her father’s perfect daughter.
“WHAT?!”
“I never liked them. Especially their glassy eyes. Staring right through me.”
Suki strode over to the mannequin and jabbed her fingernails into the mannequin’s eyes. Gouging out the supple gelatine material like it was flesh.
“Better?”
“Yes, that is much better. Thank you.” Genevieve smiled, pulling out her Magi.
Even though it was not a dagger like Suki’s Magi, the Halfling swept the sharpened edge across the front of the mannequin. The bodice and the fabric beneath split open. Stuffing poured out of the mannequin’s chest like innards. Suki started laughing. Genevieve joined in as the sisters continued to destroy the room. Genevieve could use a cleaning charm once Suki was placated to avoid punishment.
Suki put up with her new sister since Genevieve explained many things to her that Suki would have not known otherwise. For the first time in her life, Suki was no longer lonely while her father was working with that smug bastard and the Silver Tongue who did not seem right, even by Silver Tongue standards and Silver Tongues were the most eccentric of the fairy folk. Now Suki knew who the spare bed was for and who sang to keep the Will-O-Wisps at bay. Genevieve knew who had been stealing food from the kitchen for all of these years.
One day, Genevieve misspoke to Suki.
“You expect me to behave like you to avoid being sent away?”
“Not for real. Just long enough that I can figure out a solution.”
“Where can they send me that will be worse than here?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure they would figure out a way or kill you in the process. We can-”
Genevieve winced sharply.
“You are nothing like me. DIE!” Suki screamed, slapping her sister across the face so hard that Genevieve crumpled to the floor, clutching her cheek. Suki stood over Genevieve the way that her father used to stand over her in one of his drunken rages.
“I will kill Sheehan! When I kill him, you'll be sold to make babies for wrinkly, old men!”
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“So be it.” Genevieve said resolutely. Her words softened by the swelling of her cheek. Suki cocked her leg back, ready to kick her sister like a rabid, misbehaving animal.
“You’re the same as them. You want to hurt me. I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!”
“Suki!” Her father snapped. “Get off her.”
Despite a hangover, Elliot heard Suki screaming from across the castle and ran to save his favourite daughter.
“I see how it is! One day, I WILL kill both of you.” Suki growled like an animal, flipped her father and sister off with both of her middle fingers, turned on her heel and broke into a sprint out of the dreadful room. She fought back her tears, like she was fighting for her life against Raphael.
***
Suki ran until she fell down in the mud and weeds of what used to be luscious gardens, back when her mother was alive. Suki sat down and wailed into her hands. Her lungs burned. It was not long before her meltdown was overheard by a pale boy with brown hair and green eyes. He looked ordinary, compared to Phillip, Raphael and the other fairies sporting Ebony Sigils. The boy looked human except for his pupils. His pupils were vertically slitted like those of a snake.
“FUCK OFF!” Suki shouted, but her silence afterwards indicated that she did not mean it.
“What’s the matter?” The boy asked, crouching down to her level.
“Are you stupid, Eden? I told you to leave me alone!” Suki shouted.
He spread his arms, inviting her to hug him. She launched into his arms and cried herself to sleep. He sank down to catch Suki. He was younger than her, and she was strong. Even in ways that normal fairies or humans would not think of. Eden rested his chin on top of her head.
Closing his eyes for a few moments, Eden hoped that Raphael’s Bishops and Knights would not catch him. Eden could not bear another beating or one of Raphael’s twisted experiments. Normally, he and Suki would start a fight since Suki preferred to communicate through violence. That was fine by him. He could not speak properly. As a Vita Loquitur, Eden was stronger than the bitter Halfling could ever be. If he wanted to, he could throw Suki across the courtyard with both hands tied behind his back. He could heal himself without returning to the cauldron he was created in. He was not supposed to heal like that. Eden was, like Suki, broken. Almost daily, Raphael Tarzali threatened to make a Vita Loquitur to kill and replace Eden. The only fairy that could kill a Vita Loquitur was another Vita Loquitur. There were no other Vita Loquitur in Other World. Vita Loquitur were sins against the Pantheon, according to Phillip Tranter. Eden existed as a last resort to kill Arthur Sheehan if all the other ranks of Fomorians failed.
The fleeting moment of reprieve in the sea of violence did not last long. Twelve Ebony Knights armoured with Diremonti platemail and cloaks and Twelve Ebony Bishops in their half masks and hooded robes leapt from the bushes with their Magi drawn, having encircled Eden and Suki. Eden sprang to his feet to shield Suki with his body. She was woken by the jostling and a shout to attack from one of the masked Ebony Bishops. Suki might have not been proficient with mana, but she knew a curse when she heard one. The beam of mana struck Eden in the chest. He fell to his knees, clutching the hole in his chest. Screaming in agony as his flesh dissolved.