DESCENDED

GIRL'S HOME

"Are you okay?" I ask Sebastian.

Amariah glances over at me, then back at Sebastian who ignores me. And instead of talking to me, he angrily pushes past me to storm out of the room. Only to be stopped by Darius.

"You and I are not so different, Bass. We both want what's best for your sister. Surely there is enough room in her heart for us both to coexist," he holds out a hand for Sebastian to shake.

"You don't deserve her," Sebastian looks at his extended hand with disgust.

"You're right, I don't. But Amariah and I are happy. And you should be happy for her. She's come a long way since being sent here," he replies. "The way I see it, we can hate each other, or we can be friends like we used to be."

"I'm not ready to forgive you," Sebastian tells him. "You had no right. Nor did you have my permission."

"Fine," Darius throws his hands up. "But let me leave you with this to think about. You and that group of idiots you were sent down here with were spared and given a second chance because you're valuable. Amariah holds no value to the Elders. What do you think will happen to her if she fails? Neither of us will be able to set eyes on her again. Can you live with that?"

I have no clue what Darius is talking about, but Sebastian clearly does. Glancing between Darius and Amariah, who has tears in her eyes, his eyes linger on her sad face for a few moments before he turns his back to them and leaves.

"Bastian," Liz calls after him.

"You," Darius turns his focus on me. "Come with us."

"Yes, um, I'll show you to your room," Amariah wipes away her tears. Then she smiles half-heartedly at me as if it's no big deal that she's hurt.

Offering me a reassuring smile, Samuel motions for me to follow them. So, I do.

"I'm sorry you had to witness our little sibling spat out there," Amariah apologizes. "I'd hoped our first encounter since... since coming here, would have gone a bit differently."

"And forgive me for losing my temper with Sebastian," Darius apologizes too. "We have a complicated history together. I'm sure you probably picked up on that."

"I did," I nod. "And I'll forgive you if you forgive me for what I did to you."

Smiling, he nods. "Consider it done."

He sticks his hand out for me to shake. And though I'm reluctant to do so, I shake his hand anyway.

"What is this place?" I ask. Taking in the Victorian feel of the school. With its arched windows, doorways, and castle-like appearance.

"It's a spiritual sanctuary," Amariah replies.

"Are you really Sebastian's sister?"

"Yes. I'm his little sister."

"What's his deal?" I ask. "He's not an easy person to get close to."

"Don't judge him too harshly. He's got a lot on his plate and a lot to atone for."

"What does that even mean?"

"It means... Sebastian used to be a high-ranking official until he allowed his ego to convince him to help himself to something that wasn't his," Darius confides. "He was subsequently stripped of the privileges he was given, and then he was sent here. Since then, he's had a pretty big chip on his shoulder."

"And he still hasn't learned his lesson," Amariah shakes her head.

"What lesson is he supposed to learn?"