#oysterformed

her   laugh   crescendoes   through   the   castle   corridors   as   she   breaks   away   from   audrey   ,   confusing   security   altogether   as   the   onyx   ducks   under   the   cover   of   cobwebs   and   dark   curtains   .   isobel   runs   farther   into   the   time-forgotten   fortress   ,   brushing   past   crowds   of   people   and   up   stairwells   ——   for   her   all   her   inebriation   ,   she   is   always   careful   (   hands   gather   her   skirts   up   in   their   fists   so   she   doesn't   trip   ,   watchful   eyes   see   a   decoration   that   poses   an   obstacle   ——   dodged   )   ——   and   she   loves   it   ,   the   thrill   of   a   chase   .   a   belly   full   of   whiskey   sends   her   in   a   state   :   it's   as   if   she's   moving   through   water   but   intensely   hyperaware   of   every   breath   thundering   through   her   lungs   ,   the   dazzling   lights   crossing   her   vision   ,   the   amalgamation   of   sweat   and   perfume   .   turning   a   corner   ,   she   sees   odile   ,   and   as   isobel   nears   her   she   recognizes   the   face   underneath   the   makeup   .   a   pearl   ,   hard-forged   in   the   depths   of   the   sea   .  

security   yells   somewhere   behind   her   ,   isobel   doesn't   care   ——   they   can   only   dare   to   hope   to   catch   a   serpent   of   her   caliber   ;   even   god   frustrates   himself   at   her   tenacity   ,   her   unrelenting   persistence   despite   being   struck   down   .   an   angel   fallen   from   his   graces   is   still   an   angel   all   the   same   ,   and   she'll   show   all   of   them   the   might   of   her   will   .   tonight   ripens   for   the   taking   .  

a   hand   closes   around   the   pearl   prodigy's   wrist   as   isobel   tags   them   along   into   an   alcove   hidden   along   the   walls   ,   and   she   positions   them   in   such   a   way   evelyn's   back   faces   the   openness   of   the   hallway   ,   acting   almost   like   a   shield   for   the   onyx   ,   and   isobel   tilts   her   head   just   so   ,   falsely   appearing   quite   intimate   with   the   girl   .   isobel   doesn't   breathe   in   the   few   moments   following   ,   not   until   she   hears   security   hurrying   past   their   spot   .   just   like   that   ,   the   onyx   retreats   ,   leaning   her   head   against   the   walls   as   she   looks   down   at   the   girl   ,   triumphant   .   "   fancy   meeting   you   here   ,   seto   ,   "   her   voice   is   breathless   as   a   victory   smile   stretches   over   her   features   .

          despite  ismaya  seto’s  insistent,   not  at  all  obstructive  marching  orders   —   guard  my  daughter  with  your  life,   because  she  is  my  life   —   and  jace’s  inherent  dislike  of  being  told  what  to  do,   he  quickly  found  a  day  of  mindless  retail  therapy  was  just  what  the  doctor  ordered.   as  he  paces  the  cosmetics  section  of  a  high  street  department  store,   his  attempts  to  dodge  the  invasive  stares  of  what  appeared  to  be  the  people  magazine’s  entire  readership  are  to  no  avail.   usually,   the  english  had  the  decency  to  at  least  feign  subtlety  when  scouring  for  intel   (   it  was  part  of  the  reason  he’d  chosen  strathmore  in  the  first  place   ),   but  whether  it  was  the  holiday  season  or  his  newfound  status  as  america’s  most  hated  son,   the  patrons  of  selfridges  had  become  more  bold.   sidling  up  beside  a  browsing  evelyn,   he  engages  tunnel  vision  and  selects  something  called  skin  caviar  from  a  lacquered  shelf.   “   will  this  make  me  beautiful?   ”   he  lifts  a  brow,   glimpsing  his  reflection  in  the  mirrored  lid  and  examining  its  sleek  cobalt  packaging.   “   pamper  your  stress  away.   wow   —   what  do  the  swiss  know  that  we  don’t?   ”

location          :          the  manor  kitchen,  night  of  shenanigans  !

[text] I seriously don’t know what I’d do without you.

[ text ]  when  i  think  things  are  about  to  change  …  i’m  always  proven  wrong.

sms   ➤  seto,  evelyn  :  i'm  assuming  this  is  about  your  parents  ?   sms   ➤  seto,  evelyn  :  what’s  going  on,  ev  ?  i’m  here  to  listen. 

[ text ]  i  seriously  don’t  know  what  i’d  do  without  you.

𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆   ➤   𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐍  𝐒.     /     re:  texts  !

imessage     :     thank  god

chloe : i'm actually in the state of mind where i want to shirk all my responsibilities and ask you to get dinner in town tonight.

chloe : yes, on a monday night. and yes, i am feeling fine.

she waits until evelyn leaves the room with other prodigies , waits until the room is empty , before she pads over to see what book the girl has brought with her . ah , sappho . alert , isobel casts a look over her shoulder to make sure the coast is clear before she takes out her favorite highlighter , a yellow tank-style sharpie in 25005 . the ink glides smoothly over a passage on page one hundred and ninety-one ; a message that she leaves for the cygnet :

           as sometimes at sunset                               the rosyfingered moon

surpasses all the stars. And her light           stretches over salt sea                               equally and flower deep fields.