Court Of Shadows and Lies

8. Behind The Vines

As I continued down the hallway, Kaelen’s laughter faded, but his words lingered. He was right, of course. I thrived on pushing people, especially those who thought they could control me—like my father, like Evalise. They were all so used to bending others to their will. But not me.

The tension from the confrontation began to ebb away, leaving me oddly energized. Just as I turned the corner, I heard soft footsteps behind me. This time, I didn’t have to look to know who it was.

“Big sister…” Elliora’s voice was timid, hesitant.

I halted my steps but didn’t turn around. I wasn’t in the mood for more of her fragile innocence. “What is it, Elliora?” I snapped, my voice sharp.

“I... I just wanted to say thank you again. For earlier,” she murmured. I could almost picture her standing there, hands clasped in front of her, eyes cast down. Always so meek. Always so afraid.

Sighing, I turned to face her. Her pale blue eyes were wide, filled with that mixture of awe and fear. It was almost irritating how much she idolized me, how she saw me as some sort of protector. I wasn’t doing it for her; I just couldn’t stand Evalise and her smug, entitled behavior.

“Elliora,” I said, softening my tone just a fraction, “I told you, you don’t have to thank me. I didn’t do it for you.”

She flinched at my words but nodded, looking down at the floor. “I know… but still. No one else stands up to them. No one else cares.”

I frowned. “You’re not completely powerless, you know. You could stand up for yourself.”

She shook her head quickly, fear flashing across her face. “I can’t. I… I don’t have any magic. I’m not strong like you.”

I studied her for a moment, remembering what it felt like to be in her shoes. Cast aside, deemed useless, just because I wasn’t favored or gifted in the ways my father valued. But unlike her, I found my strength elsewhere. I learned to survive, to manipulate, to fight back.

“And you think that’s an excuse?” I asked, crossing my arms. “You don’t need magic to defend yourself. You just need to stop being afraid.”

Elliora’s eyes welled up with tears, and she shook her head again. “I can’t. I’m not like you.”

Frustration surged within me. It was maddening how she accepted her fate, how she let everyone walk over her. But I also understood the truth: she didn’t have the same fire I did. She was soft, and in this family, softness was a weakness.

“Well,” I said after a long pause, “you have me now. So if they try anything again, you know where to find me.”

Her face brightened slightly, but doubt lingered in her eyes. “But what about Father?”

“What about him?” I shot back, raising an eyebrow. “He’s not going to do anything. And even if he does, I’ll handle it.”

Elliora bit her lip, clearly torn between wanting to argue and fearing the repercussions. I could see her internal struggle, the fear that had been drilled into her for so long. I couldn’t change that overnight, but maybe I could show her she didn’t have to be afraid forever.

“I’ll be fine, Elliora,” I added, my voice firmer now. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

She nodded, though I could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced. “Okay… big sister. Thank you.”

I nodded back at her. She offered a small, grateful smile before turning to walk away. But something stirred within me; I didn’t want her to go. I wanted to know her better, to show her my world—the reason I felt protected even without a traditional family.