cascade | kotlc

5. Curious Discoveries

--- credit to @yureinohana_ for most Faye dialogue. She's way better at writing sassy brats than I am. also wattpad's being weird and STILL not allowing me to ping her lmao sorry---

--- Biana POV ---

"Who on earth are you?" she asked as June opened the door, standing halfheartedly with another girl, who batted her eyelashes and tossed a diamond into the grassy ground outdoors.

"Faye Umeko Kiara," the girl said loftily, eyeing her as if she was a piece of gum stuck to her shoe. "You're Biana Amberly Vacker. The savior of the gnomes or whatever. How was Lumenaria, hmm?"

She gritted her teeth, immediately feeling the urge to throttle the girl -- Faye -- even though they literally just met five seconds ago.

"Is this how she usually is?" she asked June. She nodded exhaustedly, twining her fingers with Fitz's.

"He-ey! Ex-cuse me! I am much better at combat than you!" Faye levitated the diamond back out of the grass and tossed at it her feet before she pranced in like she owned Havenfield. Her brows furrowed as she surveyed the house before she snorted, sinking against a sofa and propping her feet on the counter. "It's smaller than I expected."

A vein was bulging on June's forehead, and Biana sighed. Keefe strolled back from the hallway, looking tired and done with life as usual. His eyebrows shot up when he caught sight of Faye, and he sent them a silent question.

"Don't ask," June told him, collapsing into the sofa farthest away and rubbing her temples, sighing loudly. Fitz stepped over her, feeling her forehead and frowning. "Apparently she's a member of the Black Swan. Don't know what Mr. Forkle was thinking."

"Neither do I. Are you all okay? Do you need, like, a therapist or something? A psychiatrist perhaps? I'm sure I could find a great one for you by pulling a few strings."

"The Black Swan needs personality checks," Biana heard June say to Fitz. She stifled a laugh, watching Faye cross her legs and draw her blade. The sword was completely silver and about thirty inches long. Electric currents zapped through the metal, sparking at the edges as Faye swung the blade, slicing a gash in the silky couch.

"Oops," she said innocently, following up with a giggle.

June snarled, slamming her head against the back wall and drawing her gun, unsurely moving her fingers about the barrel before she threw her hands up in surrender and tossed the gun down. It slid to a stop at Biana's feet, and she wanted to pick it up and shoot Faye multiple times. That probably wouldn't make for great home decor, though.

Keefe snapped his fingers. "I've seen you before! Where was it -- weren't you one of my..." He squinted his eyes like he was examining Faye through a magnifying glass. "What was your name again? Aislynn? No, Faelynn!"

"It's Faye," she immediately corrected, dangling one of her heels on her toes and digging up feathers from the open couch. June shifted on her own couch, clawing at her bloodstained dress. Biana sighed, stepping over and sweeping Calla's ring over the fabric. The blood dissolved, spreading red mist around the room before it disappeared in clouds of green sparkles.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. But that was you, right? The girl that-"

A jolt of electricity shot past him, barely missing his throat as his hair stood on end. Faye's eyes were narrowed, two fingers pointing at Keefe's neck, more electricity discharging between them.

"I'd suggest you not finish that sentence," she said, her voice calm but deadly. "I will know."

He gulped, nervously passing his fingers over his Adam's Apple. "Uh- not sure what that was all about... but okay."