there are things elisabeth will likely never forget in her life but the moment of temporary death that befell her at just seventeen ( at the hands of her brother no less, the first death he'd give her albeit unwillingly ) is a marble of a memory that has never really hazed. even with the passage of time. though it had dimmed for a time, gone ignored and thought little of in the wake of days spent fretting over the increasing gap between brother and sister. she'd half forgotten that, yes, she had met death once before.
it was in a time when she was still ignorant of ash's origins, unaware of just what his power was. it had yet to really develop, that sneering flame of his, and he'd been so eager to train beside beloved older sister. been so insistent in always watching her practice and hone her power of dazzling light, enamored with the crystal-like iridescence that glowed from her palm itself. in an unexpected attempt to play with and perhaps begin slowly introducing him to the same, though different in exact nature, rigorous training he'd undoubtedly go through in time she had taken his hand. helped him into position and then...she can't quite remember much after that.
poor girl had been struck by her own blinding light unknowingly and unintentionally, nearly left behind a boy who'd doubtlessly be haunted by such a moment had death truly sunk its claws into her skin. instead, she'd come eye to eye with death. stared him in the face for a split second before the shrill crying of poor ash rang in her ears. hadn't quite realized then just who or what it was she'd seen in that moment. thought it some illusion brought on by hitting her head when she tumbled to the ground. had told ash later that night he needn't still cry so much in the wee hours for she'd seen an angel when her eyes closed in that moment, told him she was protected to comfort the little boy. a gross mischaracterization and peculiar understatement possibly, chalk it up the youthful ignorance perhaps.
how was she to know it was death that had stilled his breath in place of her own? the god her bloodline was charged with knowing best was one of the void of time, not the underworld and the taken.
elisabeth nearly scoffs at the entity's words, not quite buying the sincerity of them, held firmly in the hand of conditioned belief to never trust the divine and...the unfamiliarity of such words bringing forth something like nervousness. makes her skin break out in imaginary bumps, ruffles her feathers so to speak. something he's a bit too good at. he always comes to her as either haunter or overeager poet.
even with her uncharacteristically undone and messy short hair, the dark blue locks can't hide the out-of-place loss of composure on her face. the twitch of a cheek, her hand trying to pull away his that is much closer to her warm, living skin than she'd like. "i suppose i should thank you for letting me live," should thank you for being so awe-struck you failed to do your job, she near says, but the hollow joke dies in her mouth.
"if only you could have done so again, for my sake," a sick smile graces the woman's face, less smile and more a show of teeth. eyes sharpened by ever-simmering disdain and misplaced emotions. she knows he is not the one who is truly responsible for the death disappearance of her brother, but who else can she rage against? who else can she blame other than herself.
