Chapter Text
"you really shouldn't be encouraging your sister to run around like an animal. it could have... unintended consequences, for her and you."
vehk's blood ran cold. he looked up from his supper towards the other end of the table, where his parents were sitting. his father, as always, was avoiding eye contact.
"are you listening? speak when you're spoken to." his mother snapped, her nails clacking against the table. it wasn't loud, but it was a threat. she must be in a dour mood today.
"yes, mother," vehk said, clearly yet quietly. he was careful not to let any indignation bleed through. "i understand. i apologise, i should have listened to you. you won't see her in the garden ever again."
he must have looked apologetic, because pythias seemed satisfied with that answer. she looked down at her meal, now disinterested in vehk, and continued to eat. vehk had lost his appetite, but forced himself to stomach the rest of his meal. he didn't want to draw his mother's attention at all.
what was the harm of letting tscilla explore the gardens anyway? there weren't any poisonous plants or dangerous fauna, vehk would know. she was safe when she was with him. he wasn't going to let her get hurt, not by the gardens, and not by pythias lyrkes either.
he would keep his promise, though. pythias would never see tscilla outside, because she'd be asleep when vehk would wake his sister up.
it was easy to get the usually raucous tscilla to sneak out, whispering to her that they were adventuring and needed to avoid waking the dragon lurking in the house. she tiptoed giddily through the house, following vehk like a shadow. they would sit outside and tscilla would tell vehk about the constellations, and vehk would show her the different species of plants that inhabited the shabby grounds.
she'd tell him about all the adventures she wanted to go on until she was too tired to talk, and vehk would carry her inside and tuck her into bed. if she was still awake when he brought her back, he'd kiss her forehead and stay with her until she drifted off to sleep.
he'd slip away to his room once he was sure she wouldn't wake, curling up under his covers and broiling with rage. it wasn't fair. tscilla deserved better than this. she'd done nothing wrong. vehk was already too far gone, but there was hope for his little sister. he wanted- no, he needed her to be okay. himself be damned, he would make sure she turned out okay.