have you lost your way?

    For most inhabitants of the Isle, fighting was second nature. Kastasia, however, was not most inhabitants. While her classmates were partaking in what she could only describe as gang activity, she had to hit the books. With her father around, she barely had room to breathe- there was always something she could have known more about. But as time progressed and the generation only matured, Kas knew she couldn’t strive to be on everyone’s good side. 

    It seemed as if the violence and endless battle of greed only got worse and worse everyday, and she was not prepared. She knew that if she wanted to be more than a speck of sand on this island, she needed to learn how to hold her own- quick. So there she stood, on the front steps of Ursula’s Fish and Chips, hoping her father wouldn’t take notice of her absence. She took a deep breath, opening the doors to the restaurant.

    Various conversations and laughter filled her ears as she entered, plenty of people filling the establishment. And most of them? Pirates. Kastasia took notice of the Sword Check and looked down at her hip, almost forgetting how out-of-place she was in this part of town. Her eyes surveyed the room, looking for one pirate in particular- Gil. If she was going to ask anyone to teach her how to fight, it was him. The Captain and First Mate were both too intimidating for her to approach right off the bat, so who better to ask than the right-hand man of them both? 

    Kastasia almost couldn't believe it, the beloved pirate had been kidnapped. She couldn’t understand why someone would kidnap him, but she assumed it was to draw the rest of his crew out- they couldn’t just leave Gil in their custody, doing only God knows what to him. When the crew came to her, and asked for her help, she was only more perplexed. But the truth of it was, it was hard to find your crew mate- family- when no one knew where he was being held. 

    Granted, while they approached her, it still very much sounded like a demand. Kas didn't mind, though. If she could be of any help, she was happy to come along. There was strength in numbers; and they were down a mate. 

    The young witch was uncertain of what she could to do help, as they appeared to have expected much more from her than she was capable of. Her pendulum, however, did come in handy, aiding them in finding the location. 

    Sharp-tongued whispered shot back and forth throughout the crowd as they argued to find the best approach. Reluctantly, they decided Kas’ plan was the safest way to go. 

    If the enemy was looking for the pirate crew, they wouldn't recognize her. She didn’t dress like a pirate, that was for sure. It would throw them off, giving her a moment to alarm the others. Had they heard one small shout from her they were to barge in, swords drawn, ready for battle. Her step was light, careful not to make too much noise. She wanted to get out of here without a fight, and she hoped that would be the case. As she entered the building, nothing prepared her for the sight in front of her. 

    Within seconds she was by his side, various reassurances leaving her lips in a flurry. She winced as the blood dripped from his lips, gently wiping it away with her thumb. Her eyes quickly looked him over, brows furrowed- looking for any and all injuries she could, trying to figure out the best way to get him out of here. 

    “Can you hear me?” she asked in a hushed tone, still trying to decipher how bad the injured he had sustained were. 

me: YES

you: can i send you an ask abo-

me: YES

you: can i send you a messag-

me: YES

you: not feeling it rn, can we just talk--

    Violet hues fall to the floor, the once bright shimmer in them dimming. What was she to say? The obvious answer would be when her mother left, of course. But that was too easy. Kastasia didn't remember much about her mother, so it didn't necessarily effect her on such an intense level. But what had? Her lips pursed, the tip of her tongue pressing up against the roof of her mouth. 

    “I would say...when I was younger,” she began, her chest tightening as she spoke. “Facilier, well, my father... He had been telling me the stories of all the princesses and princes in Auradon, and I foolishly told him I wanted to be like them.” Granted, she was only a child. She didn't know how her father would react to such a statement, but he certainly wasn't happy. “He said he was disappointed in me, and that he obviously had much more to teach me.” 

    Kastasia may have been young, and she didn’t know much about how their world worked, but she did know what that meant- what that word meant. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint her father. 

    Of course, she left out how for a moment she could have sworn that his amethyst eyes turned as black as coal. She left out how his voice rumbled throughout the floorboards and made the hair stand on the back of her neck. She left out how for the first time, she was scared of him. For the first time, she felt inadequate. 

   But would it be? Would it really be worth it in the end? Granted, good was stronger than evil in most cases, but her father would turn her into a slimey, miserable creature himself if he had ever found out what she might do. She made a promise to him, and she would never hear the end of it if she had broken it. 

   Kastasia wanted to believe that her father wasn’t a bad man; that he just put found himself in poor circumstances, and took what he believed to be the easiest route in order to thrive. But what would it make of her if she broke her promise? It wouldn’t make her any better than him, would it?- breaking a promise that one had previously thought you had the full intention of fulfilling?