My brother, Lucien, pushed open the door to a nearby rest room. the bathroom is lined with sinks and polished mirror stone, the scent of mage cleanser faint in the air. The moment the door closes behind us, the silence becomes suffocating.
I walked up to Lucien with my hands crossed behind my back, bowing my head respectfully.
"I don't get a thank you?" Lucien said, his voice calm and steady.
"...Thank you."
He stepped in closer, "You didn't bow either. "
A sharp cruel smile tugged at Lucien's lips.
"You're right. You don't have to bow." Lucien grabbed me by the back of my neck, his strong grip jerking my body downwards, my knees hitting the cold tile hard.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stay silent.
Lucien glanced around, calmly stating:
"You live in luxury out here. Laughing with soft boys, playing make-believe. Don't forget where you belong." Lucien's hand traveled up from the back of my neck to my hair, his fingers digging deep into my scalp, grabbing a fistful of hair, yanking my head back so harshly my neck snapped.
"You eat because we allow it. You breathe because Father finds you useful, although Mother says otherwise. The moment that changes-"
"I haven't forgotten the rules," I replied through clenched teeth.
"Then stop pretending. You make me sick. Laughing and running around with these regular kids like you matter. But you don't though. You're just a dog with a collar... we just inbreeded. Its unfortunate, really."
Lucien lashes out again - one clean, sharp punch to the stomach, another to the ribs and a chop to the neck. My body folded over completely, biting into my lips to avoid crying out. Drool and spit came out of my mouth, while I gagged in pain.
"You're lucky it's school hours. I wanted to temper your ribs some more."
I stayed on the floor, one hand on the tile, my body shaking from the force of pain from Lucien.
Lucien straightened his coat, washed his hands. "Get up. Fix your face. Next time, bow before I even have to speak." He walked out, not sparing me a single glance. I stayed kneeling for a bit, dragging myself behind one of the stalls and fixing my clothes. After few moments, I slowly stood, washed my hands, fixed my collar and finger combed my hair.
I looked into the mirror - and smiled.
small, hollow, perfect
***
In the last stall, hidden and frozen, Renn had stopped breathing ten seconds in.
He hadn't meant to hear. Hadn't meant to see anything through the slim stall gap—but he had.
He saw the way that guys hand twisted Sawyer's hair.
He saw the look on Sawyer's face.
Not pain. Not anger.
Just resignation.
When the door shut, Renn waited. Ten heartbeats. Twenty.
Then, quietly, the stall opened.
Sawyer was still at the sink. Wiping blood from his lip. Tucking his shirt back into place. His reflection didn't flinch as their eyes met in the mirror.
Sawyer says tonelessly:
"Say something, Renn."
Renn said nothing.
"Didn't think so."
He fixed his collar. Smiled faintly at his reflection. A mask settling into place.
And walked out.
Renn stays in front of the mirror.
He doesn't sketch.
***
Later that afternoon, the group is on the practice field. Sunlight glints off steel and spell-bound wards. They're mid-break after paired sparring matches.
I jogged back from grabbing water, still catching my breath.
Kael, grinning, held out food in front of my face.
"You didn't eat after class again. I'm starting to think you just like watching me feed you."
I flashed a grin -
"I'm flattered you noticed."
Nessa snorted,
"You're not charming, just hungry."
Sawyer laughs and sits beside Theo, wiping sweat from his forehead. His sleeves are rolled up, but he's careful—too careful—with how he moves.
Theo: "You alright?"
"Nothing big."
Theo: "…If it was something, you'd tell me, right?"
"Of course."
--
Renn doesn't join the conversation. He just watches Sawyer.
He sees the bruises Theo doesn't.
He hears the silence Sawyer wears like armor.
And for the first time, he draws not spell diagrams…
but a wolf in a collar.