Experimental Magic ✔

Shattered

It had been two days since their parent's sentencing. The Tarby household was heart-breakingly quiet. Their once happy home filled with mischievous laughter was now cold and empty. Each of the Tarby four had found their own way to cope. Whether their coping strategies were working was debatable, but at the end of the day they were just kids doing their best in an impossible situation. 

Meadow spent her days hulled up in her room with the door shut tight and the covers pulled over her head. She would curl up into a ball with her knees pulled to her chest as silent tears streamed down her face. The guilt consumed her and dominated her every thought. Markos, Misty and Millie did their best to convince her it wasn't her fault, but she never believed a word they said. If only...she would think. If only there were a real cure. If only Raina Septon lived. If only I had never gotten sick. If only I had never been born. Everything would be better. 

Millie took to taking long, meaningless walks through the woods. She'd slip out of the house without a sound and disappear for hours, sometimes not returning until well after dark. She would wander around aimlessly hoping the woods would swallow her up and never spit her back out. But she wasn't so lucky. No matter how hard she tried to get hopelessly lost, she'd always find her way home.

It tore Markos to pieces watching his sisters disintegrate into nothing. He knew his family was falling apart and he was desperate to pull it back together. He also knew that with everything they had been through, it would be no easy feat. He couldn't do it alone. He needed his confidant, his partner in crime. He needed Misty. 

But ever since the sentencing she had been acting differently towards him. Before Raina Septon's death, they would spend hours practicing their magic and strategizing ways to make their coven strong. They trusted and relied on each other. Now, everything was different. She didn't want to even look at him, let alone speak to him. When she did look at him, it was nothing but angry glares. Every time he walked into a room, she walked out. He had no hope for affection or admiration from her. These days the best he could hope for was indifference. 

Her change in demeanor towards him filled him with an insatiable anxiety that couldn't be quelled. He'd toss and turn every night unable to get even an hour's sleep. His appetite was gone and his heart raced at every encounter with her. What if...? he thought to himself when he saw her. No, no it can't be. He had to get to the bottom of it.

"Hey," he said as he knocked gently on her door as to not disturb her. 

Misty groaned and slammed the book she was reading shut with nothing short of pure annoyance.

"What?" She said sharply.

"Can I come in?" He asked quietly.

Misty contemplated his request for a few seconds before ultimately deciding to let him in. As much as she tried to ignore it, she knew there was no avoiding it. Might as well get it over with.

"Sure."

Markos opened the door slowly and poked his head in before tip toeing in. 

"Close the door," Misty ordered and Markos did as she asked.

"Missie," Markos started.

Missie. Hearing him call her by that name had always made Misty's heart jump with joy. It was more than just a term of endearment. It was an I care about you, you're my sister, my whole world and I love you. There was never a time when it didn't make her smile. At least until right then in that moment when everything they had shattered to pieces. From that moment on, the use of the nickname felt like a mockery of all that they once were. And it filled her with rage.