Freed-wrecking havoc | Silas's Sister

6

Perched in her elegant yet ominous lair—a room dripping with velvet drapes and ancient artifacts—Scarlynn lounged in a chair, her legs thrown over one armrest as she cradled a crystal orb in her hands. The orb pulsed with a dim, otherworldly glow, casting a faint light over her face. It reflected the scene before her: Katherine, now masquerading as Amara, was facing Silas for the first time.

Scarlynn let out a low chuckle, her lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, Katerina, you're playing your role beautifully. Almost like you've been pretending to be someone else your entire life." She tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

In the orb, Silas was staring at Katherine, his usually stoic face now alive with an unsettling mix of emotions: confusion, hope, and a vulnerability that made Scarlynn snort.

"Look at him," she muttered to herself, swirling the orb lazily. "Big, bad Silas, brought to his knees by the ghost of a woman who's been gone for centuries. Pathetic."

She leaned closer, watching as Katherine—clearly uncomfortable—tried to maintain her composure under Silas's piercing gaze. "Come on, darling, don't crack now," Scarlynn said, mockingly biting her nails. "You've got to sell it. Think: What would the real Amara say? Oh wait, I forgot. You have no idea who she was."

Silas took a cautious step toward Katherine, his voice a mix of disbelief and longing. "Amara? Is it... is it really you?"

Katherine hesitated, her lips parting as if searching for the right words.

Scarlynn rolled her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake, say something! You're supposed to be his one true love, not a fish gasping for air." She leaned back, gesturing dramatically with her free hand. "I should've written you a script. 'Oh, Silas, my darling, it's been so long!' Blah, blah, blah. Throw in a few tears for good measure."

Katherine finally spoke, her voice trembling just enough to be convincing. "Silas... I... I don't know how this is possible."

Scarlynn clapped her hands once, the sound echoing through the room. "There we go! Bravo, Katerina! A star is born." She laughed, the sound rich and full of mischief.

But as the scene in the orb unfolded, Scarlynn's amusement began to wane. Silas was completely enraptured, hanging on Katherine's every word. Katherine, for her part, was doing an admirable job of pretending to be someone she wasn't. But the whole thing was starting to feel... predictable.

Scarlynn sighed, resting her chin in her hand. "Well, this was fun for about five minutes. Now it's just sad. Silas, you really need to get a hobby. Maybe try knitting? It's supposed to be very therapeutic."

She waved her hand in front of the glowing magical orb she'd conjured, which showed Katherine's clumsy attempts at impersonating Amara. Katherine, dressed in a gown Scarlynn had magicked out of nowhere, awkwardly mimicked the regal posture Scarlynn had described, but her discomfort was plain as day.

" 'Oh, Silas, my love,' " Scarlynn mimicked Katherine's shaky voice, her tone dripping with mockery. "Honestly, if she flutters her lashes any harder, they'll fly off her face."

The image shimmered as Katherine attempted to recall more details of Amara's mannerisms. She leaned toward Silas, who sat eerily still, his expression unreadable.

"Oh, no, don't get up, Katherine," Scarlynn snickered. "Wouldn't want you to strain your acting muscles—what little of them you have."

A soft knock interrupted her commentary, and Scarlynn turned her head sharply. She snapped her fingers, and the magical orb vanished, its light extinguishing the room's eerie glow.

The door creaked open, revealing a wide-eyed young witch who looked as though she'd rather be anywhere else.

"Miss Scarlynn," the witch stammered, clutching a book to her chest, "the... the preparations are complete."