Chapter Text
Eda sits at the top of the hill in the snapdragon field, taking in the feel of the light breeze and warm air against her skin. She hopes the breeze will help ground her racing heart and thoughts. Raine had been acting strange all week; they seemed to be avoiding her, would barely take her crow-calls and seemed…depressed. It was unusual for Raine, and it worried her. She didn’t know what to expect when Raine asked to meet at their hill, but she knew it couldn’t be good. She knew she was hypocritical on asking them to just talk to her, but she just wanted to know if they were okay, if something had happened—
Eda hears a soft noise behind her and turns, watching Raine sit on the grass beside her. She can feel her skin prick with tiny feathers and runs her hands over her arms for good measure, willing the feathers to go away.
“What’s been going on with you, Eda? “
Edas heart catches in her throat, and she can’t reply for a few seconds before she steels herself to respond.
“What do you mean? I’m fine.” She curses herself, willing herself to tell the truth.
Raine shakes their head, looking down. “Eda, please, just tell me. I want to help you—I want to be there for you.”
“It’s fine, Rainestorm. I’m fine,” She lies through her teeth, a smile painfully fake.
They sigh sullenly, wrapping their hands around their biceps, an old nervous habit from Hexside. “You’re lying again,” Raine starts tapping their finger. They were aggravated.
“I'm not.” Eda replies faster than she would like. If she could kick herself, she would. Guilt pulls at her mind immediately following the lie. She can’t bring herself to tell them, so instead she tells herself she’s doing it to protect them.
No use having a repeat of the incident with her father. Guilt gnaws at her even more, and she shakes the thought of Raine hurting and in pain at her hand.
“It’s like I don’t even know you anymore, Eda. Which is why..I’ve made a decision.” Eda stares at the grass in front of her, her heart pounding in her ears as she feels the feathers come back. She turns from them, staring at her hands, which have begun to become a different color. Eda stands, eyes focused on her trembling hands. She feels as if the world is shrinking too fast, she’s dizzy and can’t breathe—
“Eda? Are you okay? Is this the curse?” Raine worries, standing quickly, reaching for her. Eda shakes her head, clenching her eyes closed in an attempt to calm herself.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” Eda lies and she isnt sure if it’s to herself, Raine, or possibly both.
“Eda, Why are you lying to me? I’ve only ever wanted to help and be there—“ They pause, taking a breath. “But that’s your decision. I’ve made mine. I’m joining the bard coven.” Eda stops breathing. “I think we should see other people. It’s over, Eda. I'm sorry.”
Her arms break out in more feathers, continuing to become more grotesque by the minute. Eda feels a silent sob force her way out of her chest.
“Go.” Eda whispers. “Just go, already.” She shoves back a sob, a bubbling feeling in her chest like a weight was stacked on her chest. The only indication that Raine left, was hearing their footfalls move the grass and snapdragon fields around them.
Eda was alone, wracked with guilt and her own sobs and a scream breaking the silence. She fell to her knees, clutching the sides of her face in anguish and an attempt to block out the sound of the isles. She couldn’t be bothered to stop the owl beast as it took over her consciousness, letting her tired mind be overcome with darkness.
Raine was still nearby when the owl beast flew over them in the direction of the castle.
They had heard her sobs and scream, and dejectedly walked as they watched the owl beast disappear into the horizon.
Eda wasn’t sure how she wound up in a castle holding cell, but that’s where she was. It was quiet, save for the sobs of prisoners awaiting their fate, and the drip drip dripping of water somewhere in the general vicinity. Her brain was fuzzy, her head was pounding,and her eyes were puffy. She didn’t like the fact that she couldn’t remember how she got here and how she had no idea how she was going to get out.
“Edalyn?”
Eda’s head snaps up at the sound of her name, her eyes wide at seeing her older sister. She hadn’t seen her since she left for the Emperor's coven. Lilith now sported black, straight hair, and had no glasses. She looked…Sophisticated, instead of nerdy like she had at Hexside. It was weird, but not a bad kind of weird.
“Lilith? I—Do you know why I’m here? I don’t know how I got here, lily—“ Eda implored Lilith, hoping she could answer why she was there.
“You don’t remember? When you got here you were the owl beast, or so I was told, I didn’t actually see you.” She pauses, motions to someone outside the cell, and the guard outside unlocks it for Lilith, who hurriedly walks inside and hugs her sister deeply. “I haven’t seen you in forever, Eda. Are you okay? Why did the owl beast bring you here?”
“I-I don’t know,” Eda stutters, still disoriented from waking up in the castle. “It’s good to see you though, Lily. I’m..not. I’m not doing okay.” Eda closes her eyes as the memories before blacking out flood back. Edas breath catches, and she breathes shakily. “Do you have a room we can go to? I really don’t feel like being in a cell. I-I’ll be complacent for once,” she pleads quietly.
Lilith looks to the guard to her right, and motions to un-cuff Eda. “Are you finally joining the Emperor's coven?” Lilith questions, reaching a hand out to help Eda up. She stands on shaky legs and thinks for a moment.
“I don’t know. I guess birdbrain figured I needed somewhere to go. Thankfully it wasn’t moms.” Eda jokes, laughing weakly. Lilith doesn’t respond.
They walk in silence with the guard close behind to Lilith’s chambers, and the guard is dismissed when they enter.
“What happened?”
There’s a silence before Eda responds. “Raine broke up with me. I guess I fucked up pretty bad. They’re finally joining the bard coven.” She rolls her eyes. “What a nerd.” Owlbert flies in through the open window, and lands on Eda’s shoulder. He coos comfortingly and nudges her cheek. Eda scratches the top of his head and he coos again.
“Oh, Edalyn. I’m so sorry.”
Eda walks over to Liliths bed and sits, hugging her knees to her chest. “I wish they would’ve given me more time to open up. I wish I hadn’t pushed them away. I don’t know why I keep doing this,” Eda laments, idly petting Owlbert. “I always do this. I want to open up to people but—“She stops, breathing shakily. “You’re the only person I’ve opened up to about the owl beast,”
Lilith averts her eyes. “It’s been lonely here. I’m sorry I haven’t written, or called, or visited—maybe you would’ve been more open,”
“No, this isn’t on you,” Eda quips, quick and decisive. “I made my decisions. You made yours. “
Lilith nods. “So what are you going to do?”
Eda shrugs. “I don’t know, honestly. I felt..guilty, at first, when they broke up with me. Now I just feel angry,” she pauses. “And really bitter that they didn’t want to stick around for my character development.” She might have been at her worst, but she could get better. She would get better. She had to.
“Y’know what, maybe I will join the Emperor's coven. Besides, I get to use all kinds of magic! What better way to show them it was their loss than to rise above them? At least I don’t have to be stuck with bard magic for the rest of my life.” There’s an underlying bite to her words. Lilith perks up at her words.
“Really? You’re actually joining? Oh Eda, this is wonderful news!” She grabs her sister's hands, grinning wide. “We get to be in the Emperor's coven together, just like we wanted when we were girls!” She gasps. “Eda, your curse! Emperor Belos has mentioned before that he could help heal you if you joined the coven,” She squeals excitedly. “Eda, this is probably the best decision you’ve ever made.”
“Hey! Rude. I’ve made plenty of good decisions. “
Lilith shakes her head. “I’ll let Emperor Belos know. Before I go, are you positive? I don’t want you to back out at the last second.”
“And make you look like a fool, I got it,” Eda rolls her eyes. “Yes, fuck it. I’m going to be better than them and make them eat their words.”
Lilith claps her hands. “Wonderful. You’ll probably get your room assignment today, too. There’s a room open across the hall, so you’d be near me!”
“Oh, joy, right next to your snoring.”
Lilith glares and stands, smoothing her dress. ”I’ll be back.” Eda lays down dramatically on her sister's bed, stretching out.
“I'll be taking a nap.”