𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖔𝖋 𝕾𝖆𝖑𝖛𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

10: The past, present, and supposedly future

Trigger Warning: mentions of miscarriage. If that bothers readers — please skip over it.

⋅⋆ ஓ๑ ☽ ๑ஓ ⋆⋅

I was finishing my makeup, dark eye shadow, and glossy peach lips when Elisabeth strode over with her mouth pinched to one side.

She threw my cloak over my head with a low giggle. "Oh, no, where did the idiot disappear to this time," she teased. "Charmaine gave it back to me, we are cool again, but if I get another one of those suffocating hugs, I won't be held responsible for my actions.

Luckily my mascara wasn't too close to my eye; otherwise, a big blob on the tip would be there.
I quickly laughed, yanked the cloak off, and threw it on the bed. "I'm glad, but so that you know, I almost poked my eye out because of you."

I was about to stroke my eyelash again when Elisabeth grabbed the ends of my lips with her dainty fingers and forced a smile. "And that's why you're an idiot because only an idiot would allow that to happen."

But it didn't happen, so I wasn't,
I wanted to say. But why deny Elisabeth her fun and royal decree to tease little ole me?

"Right... anyways, besides me being an idiot, how are you?"
I peered at her through the mirror; what little pigment she had from her cheeks faded to a sickly pale. She gulped, and her lips formed a plastic smile.

"I'm fine — why so curious?" She turned away from me quickly, avoiding her true feelings. As her friend, I ought to help her; she needed to let her frustrations out like she did me a few nights ago.

I finished my last stroke with the mascara, fluttered my eyes, and blew myself a kiss. I stepped away from to mirror to face the queen of mean. She sat quietly on the bed, staring out the window; the green lighting from the underwater hue of the lake made her look distant, untouchable. It was like she rested behind glass, and I could only gaze at her pain from afar.

I reached to touch her shoulder; she winced and scooted further away. All her attempts to convince me she was fine faded faster than lighting. I moved to sit across from her, my breathing uneven, wavering while glancing at her worriedly.

"You are not fine. I know what he did," I admitted nervously. "I discussed it, and hopefully, it will never happen again."

Elisabeth continued to look out the window — hugging herself. I wanted to take that pain away, and while I could care less about random people, those close to me... seeing them day in and day out slowly wilting away, knowing no matter how much power I had, I couldn't do anything to save or rid them of their affliction.

But I have to try. Always.

"I don't care what happened with Riddle. That's not what's been eating away at me!" she cried. I bit my lip to keep myself from responding. I watched; it was like a black rain cloud hovered over Elisabeth, pouring down hard raindrops. Eventually, I feared she might float away.

"I didn't want anything to do with the Knights of Walpurgis. I joined because of Abraxas," Elisabeth said, wiping her eyes. " I thought it would get me back in my family's good graces, but of course, I was foolish enough to think that would be enough."

I stayed silent, watching and listening.
She rarely talked about her family and relationship with Abraxas — who I assumed were friends with benefits. But there might be more to it. My heart raced with anticipation; I had wanted to know more for a while. I'd resisted the urge to pry too deeply because of how personal this information was.

I feel oddly privileged to hear something so personal from her.

Elisabeth rubbed her shoulders; tears flowed down her cheek as she spoke: "Last year is where the trouble began." she gulped, and her lips trembled. " Abraxas parents and mine thought about marriage to continue the pure-bloodline. Of course, we liked each other before, or I was into him. I made a mistake and... slept with him. I found out I was pregnant, but they were complications. I lost the baby within four months."