there was a tingling sensation on the surface of her skin where grace’s hand had clasped hers. ( firm , but reassuring. almost necessary , if anything. ) for even now , there was such a feeling of foreign sensation that came with being touched ; with being given inescapable , tangible proof that she really was real. all week long , and she had been so helium full , hot air ready to simply … float away , that in comparison , the simple gesture felt utterly grounding. there was a part of her that almost missed the ease of false pretenses , but even then ser knew it couldn’t last. no , no it couldn’t. not when there were people that needed better from her , that deserved better from her : her sister most of all.
❛ grace ⸻ i bought it … trust me when i say there wasn’t a single dry eye in that crowd. ❜ and while she couldn’t say for certain which tears had been real , or even sincere in their emotions , she knew that no one would be looking towards her sister with suspicion after that prayer. ❛ i think they’re all too happy to give us a moment to gather ourselves in private , actually. ❜ and the appearance of her white laced kerchief was slow and meaningful as she moved to dab at the corners of her own eyes ; doe eyed and dewy as she went through the motions of composing herself. ( but her feelings were true , were they not ? they were , they would be , and in convincing others , so she too would be convinced. )
❛ do you really believe that … ? that he really might be ⸻ ❜ her words were caught somewhere in her throat , the hitch in her breath nearly painful as it pulled at her lungs. ’ unbelievable ’ was all too appropriate a word it seemed , her sister ever the intellect. her father had always seemed so much larger than life , more omnipresent than god himself in her life. so how was one meant to move on from that ? how was one meant to mourn that loss.
𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 , it’s a reflex to preen beneath her sister’s reassurance. Convincing was the closest thing to real that she could muster when it came to their Father – the highest compliment , then. Especially from her saccharine sister , the living shadow of Grace’s deception. There are times she itches to strike her , to wake her from the doe-eyed coma she inhabits. Moments filter through , however , moments where Grace sees potential. Serenity dabs at dry tears with a handkerchief as pure as she and Grace warms with a reassuring PRIDE ; though she might not admit it , she has a sense of how to pretend , the image to project to the leeches that circle like sharks around blood in the water.
“ I’m sure they are. ” She murmurs her assent , smile remaining downturned , shoulders drawn. Hazel eyes , though lowered , track movement in their periphery , assessing , analyzing , watching. “ Father John’s watching us like a lion , perhaps he thinks we are PREY without Father around ? ” Lips scarcely part for the sneered comment , eyes flashing a private moment of amusement for Serenity only. “ I suppose his eldest son is pretty enough. Bit of a dolt , though , don’t you think ? ”
Strings at the corners of her mouth , tugging her lips into a sly smirk that is dropped instantly at the approach of a church elder. Condolences , which Grace accepts sorrowfully , eyes shimmering poetically above flushed cheeks. “ All we can do is continue to PRAY , Mrs. Denaux , and we will. The Lord will send us answers , I’m sure. ” A bowed head sends the woman away , leaving the sisters alone once again.
Serenity chokes on tears – real tears , this time. Swallowing a sigh , Grace embraces her sister , strokes the back of her head like an older sister might – for she’d always been the oldest , in a way , hadn’t she ? Protective , calculated , forging a path for her siblings to follow to redemption and purity. “ Serenity , ” Breathed into the side of her sister’s head , eyes shut to ward off the watchful stares for a second , a minute , a fucking LIFETIME , if she could. “ He doesn’t deserve your tears , sister. Don’t waste your breath. ” Pulling back , she meets wet eyes with a fervid stare , her own tears ( as precious as diamonds ) escaping her lashes. “ I will protect you , I promise. ”