She shouldn't be here. Arsenic souldn't have returned. She knew better. Oh, how she knew better. There's an island shaped ache, right where her heart should be. Mother was... gone. In what way, she didn't know. Separated. Separated, splintered. Hell, she'd never liked Arsenic anyway. When Mirage left, trying to find herself, Arsenic shouldn't have tagged along. Shouldn't have tried to make her way in the world with the woman whose life she'd stolen. It wasn't fair. It wasn't until now that she realized how unfair it was. She'd dulled her mother's shine, in a way that Mirage had never quite recovered from.
There's another hole in her chest. Arsinoe was here somewhere, if she had to guess. Still out here, still living up to everyone's expectations for her. Arsenic found herself jealous, even if she didn't mean to be. Glued to the side of their father... her mother had left, but it was for the better. Maybe Arsenic would have turned out okay if Mirage had been the one to disappear. If Rafe had been the one to raise her, and raise her right. If only he'd been the one to see her, truly see her--
No. Pushing the thoughts down, Arsenic's expression is grim as she makes landfall. It was getting late, and the autumn sun was setting earlier. Hopefully, she'd make it to the Meadow before night truly came on. Daylight already beginning to fade, she shook the seawater from her coat and hurried inland. The chill is... well, it's to be expected at this point.
we’re dressed in black from head to toe
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