I looked at her graceful appearance and suddenly thought of that Winter Solstice long ago.
She stood in the snow, the cuffs of her down jacket leaking cotton, yet hugged roasted sweet potatoes to her chest, afraid they would turn cold.
“Keagan?”
She noticed my silence and moved closer again.
That gardenia smell grew even heavier.
Fritz suddenly dashed out, staggering as he fell into Rosalie’s arms.
“Sister Rosalie!”
“He had people hold me down and cut skin straight off my body…”
“Didn’t you say you would keep me safe forever? It hurts so badly now…”
Rosalie’s breathing clearly broke.
She looked at the bandage wrapped around his chest, then at the smooth skin on mine, and her eyes chilled.
Her voice dropped low.
“Keagan, how did you turn into this?”
“So… heartless?”
Fritz cried softly against her shoulder, but the glance he sent my way carried nothing but challenge and pride.
“He’s still so young, with such a large mark on his body, how will he live later?”
Rosalie’s voice grew cold. “Do you need to ruin him before you feel content?”
I watched the way she blocked Fritz behind her.