#serilee

“Congratulations on being my most consistent partner,” they chuckled.

“Same to you. Though I doubt I’ve had as many as you. It was hard to get away from home.”

Hikari nodded and gave a sympathetic grimace. “Overprotective father?”

“You could say that.” Thinking of their father, how angry he’d be…how he probably had half the army out searching for his two errant children…it was definitely something. But it was liberating to not be associated with their father for once, to not have to be royal or perfect or even have to worry about either of the above. The only person who might know about their royal background was Gil, and he hadn’t said anything so far. It was probably alright. “Well, I’d better go check on Seri. She’s…having a rough time.”

“She does have a lot on her shoulders, it seems. She’s not really letting any of us in.” Vandita shook her head.

“She doesn’t really trust that easily, and I’m trying to get her to loosen up. But it’s definitely not working.”

“Well, time’ll do it. Go take care of your sister,” Hikari told them with a reassuring smile. Vandita nodded and left Hikari’s chambers in favor of Serilee’s. As they walked back, Vandita thanked the gods that she and Seri had a room on the far end of the hallway, nowhere near Hikari’s. They certainly weren’t having the loudest sex that had ever been had…but it was absolutely not quiet, and Vandita didn’t want to scar their sister.

The room was silent when Vandita made it there—maybe Seri was already asleep? But no, when they knocked, they could hear Seri moving to open the door. When she did, she looked tired, a little bit beaten down. It hurt Vandi to see their big sister looking this way. She’d never looked so lost, so dead inside. There had been a light in her before the contract, and now it was seemingly extinguished. “Hey, are you okay?” Vandi asked, knowing the answer but wanting to give her sister an opportunity to talk.

“Not really,” Seri said softly. “Just…worried. Thinking about a lot of things. Concerned about even sleeping, honestly. I don’t know how much control he has over me. I’m worried that I’ll end up hurting you in my sleep.”

“But Codell said that he wouldn’t be able to hurt you unless your powers were used. Or at least, that’s what he saw in your future, right?” Seri nodded.

“I know, I know, but…I’m still concerned. Like Codell said, the future is certainly not set in stone. And…I’m worried about Da, and the kingdom, and everything we left behind. I’m feeling as if I was too rash, perhaps I didn’t think this through enough, and we’re going to suffer the consequences of that soon. It…it isn’t good to think about. It’s been hard to sleep.” Vandi gave their sister a hug, and then moved to their bed. They patted the side of it, motioning for Seri to sit next to them.

“Hey, I know it isn’t easy. But let some of the people with us help you, okay? Trust them a little. They’re here to give us a better chance, and it’s gonna help a lot. Let them know some of your worries. Maybe it’ll help you to hear from a sensible person that it’ll be fine, instead of from a disaster like me.” Seri chuckled a little, but Vandi could still see tears welling in her eyes.

“But how do I know I can trust them? I’ve misplaced my trust enough, Vandi. I don’t like trusting people when I have to trust them. That’s what got us here.” Vandita held Seri close when she finally sat.

“Trust went bad one time. But that was someone you barely knew. And these people…they seem good. Honestly. You knew that contractor for two seconds, and…the decision wasn’t something that you really got to make. I mean, it wasn’t…a decision, to you I guess. These people offered to help you. Besides, like I said. If they hurt you, I’ll kick their asses. It’ll be fine.”

“You can’t do that if they kill you,” Seri murmured softly. “I thought I was going to lose you. I can’t do it again, Vandi. I can’t.”

“And you won’t. Trust me a little. I know what I did wrong last time. And your contract…well, it helped me realize that I’m not the only one who has to suffer for my dumb decisions. I don’t make those dumb decisions with just…me, you know? So I’m gonna do my best to not be as dumb, to think a little more for myself, and you’re gonna try to put trust in everyone else a little bit, alright?” Slowly, Seri nodded.

“Things won’t be easy. Remember how the contractor said before that lots of people targeted those with power? What if…what if that’s why the bandits attacked us? And what if worse things come from it?”

“We’ll figure out how to combat it. I know that’s not that reassuring or anything, but we’ll figure it out. Trust me. Trust yourself, trust us. Think about it, Amber’s pretty badass—”

“Language,” Seri chuckled, more as a joke than anything. Vandi elbowed her and laughed.

“—She’s pretty badass, and Hikari’s pretty good at what they do, and Rose! Rose could do some pretty amazing stuff too. And there’s me. So I think we’ll make it. Remember, Codell saw some futures where we made it, so it’s definitely possible. We’ve just got to make it happen, and from what he said, we’re doing all the right things. I think it’ll be alright.” Seri sighed and nodded, but the anxiety didn’t leave her countenance, so Vandita decided to try another tack.

“So, Rose is definitely pining after Amber,” Vandi proposed with a mischievous look. Seri smiled and sighed.

“You know I’m not as invested in gossip as you are. We’re not teenagers anymore,” she lightly chuckled.

“But am I wrong?”

“I’m more concerned about whether or not I’ll have a new sibling-in-law,” Seri teased with a wink. “How many nights have you spent with Hikari since you met them?”

“Technically no nights, we don’t sleep together or stay overnight. I don’t want romance, and neither do they. Nothing’s going to happen, honest.” Seri gave the type of teasing grin that only an older sibling can manage, and settled back onto the pillows.

“I don’t know, I’ve never heard you talk about your one night stands before like you talk about Hikari. Didn’t you say last night that they were one of the best partners you’ve ever had, how you hoped you’d get to be with them again?”

“Purely from a sexual standpoint,” Vandi objected, fighting back the little bit of anxiety that this discussion brought. If they did develop feelings for Hikari—and that was a GIANT “if”—there would be a lot of complications to deal with, not least of which was that Vandi was technically a princess. They’d never be able to go back to the palace if they decided to remain with Hikari. And granted, the palace was never their favorite place, but…it might be where Seri went, and Vandi wouldn’t abandon Seri. Seri always, always came first.

“Well, if it isn’t, and they do end up hurting you, I’ll do my best to avenge your feelings.” Vandita snorted.

“You? I’ve never seen you do so much as insult anyone, much less kick their a..butt,” they amended.

“I thoroughly object to that, I insult you all the time.”

“But that’s different. You’re my sister, that’s what sisters do.”

“Regardless. If you do end up being with them…maybe it’ll be more incentive for me to stay away from the palace.” Vandi raised an eyebrow.

“Would you want to?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. It’s just…I don’t belong out here. It’s hard adjusting. I didn’t realize that I was as coddled as I am, and at first, I certainly hated it and was counting down the days until I could return to the palace. But freedom, the ability to do what I want, when I want to…I just…I feel like I can be someone who I want to be. I don’t feel like I have to be a princess, or like a princess is all I am anymore. I just…I don’t know. Right now, I don’t know what choice I would make.”

“Well, you have time. I really doubt we’re going to get everything fixed when we get to Betewsy, so there’ll probably be even more time than that.” Seri nodded.

“I…I’ll try not to worry about it too much yet.”