THE LEGEND.

there was something lurking behind that sugary smile katherine kept trained on him , her eyes piercing his skin like a predator waiting for its prey to make its next move. this wasn't the first time they'd spoken , more like the third or fourth , but each time left the two of them with more questions. he wondered how old she was , if she'd ever come across one of his kind before , considering how rare oracles were. his tongue prodded against the backs of his teeth , before ducking his head with a slight shake , sagging beneath the comfortable weight of her stare as he weighed his next words. she had secrets , too. it wouldn't benefit her to out him as anything other than the human he was pretending to be.

her suspicion — her curiosity — doesn’t show.  but it grows and grows each time they speak.

another thing so strange about him——— if he is aware of what she is, a living dead girl who is tearing through town with her teeth, he shows no fear.  not so much as a flicker of fright in those eyes.  not much of anything, she has noticed.

everyone fears her, once they know.  is it ignorance, or indifference?

katherine hums.  “breaking any spell is quite difficult, from what i understand, without the witch who put it in place present.  given your lack of success, i can only assume she is absent.”  tilt of the head, doe eyes studying him from head to toe.  innocent enough; inwardly, she is noting everything possible about this strange man.  “but where there is a will, there is a way.  it may be worth speaking with emily, anyway.”

bringing the book to her back, she clasps her hands and walks a slow, half-circle around him.  floor length dress just barely grazes against the ground as she moves.  lithe, like a cat tracking a target.

this time, she smiles with her teeth.

AFTER THE STORM, THERE IS CALM.  AFTER THE DARKNESS COMES DAWN ———— AND AFTER LIGHTNING, THERE IS THUNDER.

you really don't hear yourself when you talk, do you?

i don't know who you think you are, but it's not impressive.

you love playing the victim when it's convenient.

don't look at me like that. you made this choice.

you always say that, and it's never true.

i'm tired of pretending you don't know exactly what you're doing.

funny how it's always someone else's fault.

you don't get credit for almost doing the right thing.

i trusted you, and that was my mistake.

you don't listen, you just wait for your turn to talk.

say it again, slower this time, maybe you'll hear how stupid it sounds.

you don't get to rewrite what happened just because it hurts.

you're not misunderstood, you're just wrong.

i don't owe you patience.

you love control more than you love honesty.

stop acting so surprised, this was always coming.

you really think that excuses what you did?

you don't get to be angry about consequences.

i expected better from you, and that's on me.

you're exhausting, and it's not charming anymore.

every apology you give sounds rehearsed.

you only care when it affects you.

you don't actually want the truth, you want validation.

don't pretend this is about concern.

you cross lines and call it curiosity.

you never ask how i feel, you just assume.

you're cruel when you're cornered.

i see right through the act.

you confuse confidence with arrogance.

you just don't know when to stop.

you keep pushing until something breaks.

you don't get to play innocent here.

you really thought i wouldn't notice?

you always need an audience.

i don't recognize you when you're like this.

you're not brave, you're reckless.

you say you're honest, but you're just mean.

you enjoy this more than you admit.

don't flatter yourself, i stopped believing you a long time ago.

you don't fight fair, you fight to win.

you're not protecting yourself, you're attacking me.

you keep confusing silence for forgiveness.

why do you make everything a competition?

you don't get to decide what hurts me.

you act like being hurt gives you permission.

you only hear what supports your narrative.

you don't respect boundaries, you tolerate them.

you always push until i snap.

is this the part where i'm supposed to feel sorry for you?

you keep calling it honesty like that makes it noble.

you enjoy being cruel when you think you're justified.

you've been waiting to say that, haven't you?

i know you always choose pride over people.

you don't know how to back down.

you don't listen when the answer isn't what you want.

you treat everyone like they're disposable.

after what you did, you don't get to talk about loyalty.

you always take more than you give.

you never stop to think who gets hurt.

you only care when you're exposed.

you don't know how to sit with discomfort.

you poke until something bleeds.

you love being right more than being kind.

you don't know when enough is enough.

you keep digging and wonder why you're alone.

you don't see people, you see leverage.

no, you don't get to speak for me.

you twist everything until it suits you.

you don't actually care about the truth.

you always need the last word.

you don't know how to be gentle.

you don't care who you hurt if it proves a point.

stop calling it honesty like it absolves you of anything.

you don't know how to lose gracefully.

you don't fight fair, you fight dirty.

you make everything personal.

you don't know how to let things go.

the truth is, you just enjoy tearing people down.

you don't care how this affects anyone else.

how convenient, you only show empathy when it benefits you.

you don't see how far you've crossed the line.

you always think you're justified.

you don't know how to stop hurting people.

don't act like you actually want answers.

you always think you're the smartest one in the room.

you care about winning.

Carmilla & Laura