Leo had always suspected that the witch had tricked Wren. It would have been stranger if she had not. Perhaps that was why Leo had never asked until now. It felt better to think than to know.
Leo knew now.
She regretted ever asking. She regretted not asking sooner. Leo wished Wren knew that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows. She hoped he never found out.
The witch had not lied. To either of them. It was just that Wren had been too good. He had always been too good. He thought the best of others. He sacrificed willingly. He had believed the witch had good intentions and so he had seen goodness in her words. Leo had seen the truth from the start. It's hard to trick the paranoid. So, when the witch said shadow, Leo had understood. The halves of Wren's heart must always be in opposition.
It had all been easier at the beginning. Children are inherently neutral beings. Morality is built over time. Acts of generosity are tinged with greed. Every saintly act is balanced by one of naughtiness. They had both been equal parts good and bad. And while, yes, Leo had edged more towards mischief, it had never forced her to cross the line.
Until that night in the garden. Until Wren had chosen peace over self-defense. Until he made the decision to eschew all of life's pleasures in defense of Leo's virtue. That was the first time Leo had ever hit someone. She had made it so long without resorting to such violence. She had made it all those years since the witch without being forced to the extreme. But, in that moment, Wren had chosen his path. He had chosen the path he believed he had to take. And it had driven her to darkness.
She had fought it. She really had. She'd fought it so hard. Her head had pounded like it would explode from the trying. She'd spent weeks in bed from the sheer effort of it. But it hadn't been enough. Wren had matured and became more righteous. Leo had felt herself sinking. She gave into temptation more and more. She had given up. She didn't care anymore. The only times she felt a glimmer of herself were the nights Wren disobeyed the lord's commands and spoke to her through her bedroom door at night.
And then Eileen. Stupid, perfect, beautiful Eileen. Eileen who would be Wren's wife. Eileen who Wren allowed himself to feel the sin of desire for. Eileen who Wren was willing to abandon Leo for.
It had been just enough. Just barely enough. It had given Leo a chance.
And so Leo had taken it. She'd run.
She wished that Wren had never come after her.
YOU ARE READING
sparrow and lion
Fantasya noble & an orphan meet in an alley & make a promise they were always doomed to break. new chapter every thursday. random letters at random times.
