Sisters in Shadows
The chamber Isla was led to was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of damp stone and faint incense. As the guard pushed her forward, Isla froze at the sight of Seraphine standing in the center, her crescent mark faintly glowing in the torchlight. For a moment, neither sister spoke, the weight of their shared history settling between them like an invisible barrier.
“What are you doing here?” Isla’s voice was low but sharp, her silver eyes flashing with suspicion.
Seraphine’s lips curved into a sardonic smile, her arms crossed casually. “Apparently, rescuing you,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery. “Though don’t think for a moment I volunteered for the privilege.”
Isla stepped forward, her fists clenching at her sides. “If you think for one second that I’ll trust you—”
“You don’t have to,” Seraphine cut her off, her expression hardening. “But unless you’ve suddenly developed the ability to walk through walls, you’ll need me. Malrik’s been careless with me, letting me move freely because he thinks I’m on his side.” She tilted her head, her crescent mark catching the flickering light. “Draven’s coming. All we have to do is make sure he can reach you.”
“You expect me to believe you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart?” Isla’s voice was laced with incredulity, her silver hair shimmering as she moved closer.
Seraphine gave a short, humorless laugh. “Goodness? Hardly. Let’s call it self-preservation. Malrik doesn’t need two sisters around once he has what he wants.” Her tone turned serious, her dark eyes locking onto Isla’s. “I don’t want to die here, and I doubt you do either.”
Isla’s jaw tightened, her distrust clear. “If you betray me again, Seraphine—”
“I know, I know,” Seraphine interrupted with a smirk. “You’ll make me wish I was never born. Or Draven will finish the job he started in the dungeons. Save the threats, sister. Let’s focus on staying alive.”
Isla hesitated, the fire in her eyes warring with the practical need for survival. Finally, she nodded, her voice cold. “Fine. But if you so much as hesitate—”
“I won’t,” Seraphine said simply. Her smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of something almost sincere. “Malrik’s underestimated both of us. Let’s make him regret it.”
As the guard reappeared, Isla and Seraphine exchanged one last look, their uneasy alliance forged in the shadows of their shared imprisonment.
