“Pleas-” She was cut off as her father struck her, the sound of his hand meeting her skin rang throughout the room.
“You’re no daughter of mine.” His words were cold, calculated.
He was everything she wanted to be, everything she strived to be.
Yet she failed him, all of them.
The room echoed with accusations as she stared down at the floor, they were right.. They were right, they were right they were right theywererighttheywererighttheywererigh-
A flash of light blinded her.
She was still on her knees, as her eyes adjusted she felt a weight on her lap. Warmth seeping into the cloth of her pants.
“Why?” The word was croaked out, she turned her gaze downward to see her twins face. His eyes were dull, but full of pain. “Scarlett..” Tears streamed down his cheeks, they were surrounded by the rage of battle but Scarlett didn’t care. Her heart ached, it burned, as she cradled Jasper. She watched as the life drained from his eyes, what was once so warm now was cold, and lifeless.
She pulled a hand out from under her twin, staring at the blood covered glove. She felt the emotion drain out of her, leaving her an empty husk.
She was supposed to protect him.
His voice breathed in her ear, quiet and full of pain.
“You promised you would protect me..”
~
Her eyes opened slowly as she woke, a shuddering breath escaping her as she stared at the stone roof of her room. Her right hand twitched, she tried to move her left before she remembered it was no longer there.Another failure.
She choked on a mirthless chuckle, her eyes burning with tears she refused to shed. She had to be strong, even if she wasn’t. She sat up slowly, bleary eyes looking toward her bedside table where a half empty bottle lay. She had drank half before she went to sleep, a shaky hand reached out and grasped it. She brought it to her chest and hugged it for a long moment, her lips pulled thin.
Failure.
She uncorked it.
Weak.
She put it to her lips, the warm burn washing away the pain as she closed her eyes. She lowered the bottle and stared at it with empty eyes. Scarlett had promised them she would be responsible, but she failed.
They were right.
She took another drink.