“ that makes sense. ” her eyes sweep the dark walls, the oak pews, the shaky light of the candles. despite the raging storm outside there was a steady calm inside the chapel. “ i’ve never really been one for prayer, not to him anyway, ” she nods towards the crucifix at the altar. “ but i have always admired the imagery of the church. something about stained glass; using light to create art. it’s beautiful. ”
her lips part a little, surprised at the act of kindness from isobel. not that she didn’t think the girl was kind, but because she just never really expected generosity from most people. “ a little ; thanks. ” she peels off her sweater, the skin and blouse beneath cool and damp. she shrugs on the coat, grateful for the warmth it provides. “ not as freezing as the night the rest of the prodigies and i spent outside, but thank you nonetheless. ” it’s a bad joke, the relationship between the prodigies and opals was already strained due to that night, particularly because that punishment was borne of relationships between prodigies and opals, so to speak. she offers isobel a smile, “ sorry, that was a bit of a cheap shot. you don’t really seem like the ‘tie people to statues’ type anyway. ” her lips tighten a little, there is still frustration there — that they were all punished for the mistakes of a few. evelyn had taken the rules seriously ; not that any of the opals had tempted her…
but then the sight of white feathered wings above her catches her eye. a scene in stained glass that she recognised thanks to her time in private school ; the angel gabriel appearing to mary. the angelic figure there is almost feminine and evelyn’s mind wanders unbidden to dark corridors on halloween, white feathers disappearing around corners ; another feminine, angelic figure disrupting all normality for the person they appear before. she closes her eyes, trying to focus instead on the sounds of the storm outside, unsure in the moment whether she wants it to end or if she wants it to continue — to keep her rooted in place here with an excuse not to flee. “ d-do you generally stay at the manor? just in case the rain doesn’t let up, i think my dorm might be a little closer than the manor. ” the words hang in the air after she speaks them, the assumption that ’ if you wanted to come back there ’ or similar sentiments would have followed, without her actually being able to vocalise them. after all, they had nothing to be worried about, surely? no one could think there might be something more there, more than just a prodigy looking out for another member of the society. “ or — i don’t know, i guess it might calm down soon… ”
a breath loosens out of her lungs . discretion is something all of the prodigies have yet to understand . “ careful now , evelyn , for there are always eyes and ears , ” she warns in good nature , “ even on sacred ground . ” and perhaps there are not , but isobel doesn’t leave anything to chance . with their diadem gone along with the secrets poppy has been entrusted to protect , there’s no knowing what is out there except what can be thought of as DANGER —— red and blaring and terrifying . “ where it affects all of you , the sanction holds true . ” she turns in her seat then , to look at evelyn properly , and she holds the girl’s gaze the way a wolf would watch its prey . a fitting metaphor , as isobel whispers ( almost fervently , like a passage of scripture that has been burned into her mind ) , “ the strength of the pack is the wolf . the strength of the wolf is the pack . ” though evelyn might not see eye to eye with her circlet ( and the spirits know isobel does not ) , they are all responsible for each other , in victory and in vain . and it is something to be learned .
at the other’s offer , isobel nearly blanches . she knows what is offered even if it is not spoken . perhaps evelyn doesn’t really know what she wants ( if evelyn knew isobel better , she would not ) . the word sits there , on the flat of her tongue , waiting . it would be in both of their interests , to reject evelyn and draw deeper the boundary of what it means to be an opal and what it means to be a prodigy .
yet she can’t find it in herself to say it . instead she says , “ no , i live on martyr road these days . ” they would be walking away from each other . isobel can feel it —— the blade of a knife against the string that binds them , cutting at the helpless thread , and still the thread doesn’t sever . it is then she realizes that she’s the one holding the knife and it is her hesitation that saves it . there is that want again , real and breathing ( if isobel knew evelyn better , she should not ) , and immediate forgiveness also . she is still in so many parts a girl , and she is a girl who has suffered enough .
“ but i will walk with you . ”
