“Fear is power, Arwen. I know you struggle to understand where I’m coming from on most of this, but surely you can understand that, coming from Wrath. To protect people, they must be kept in line.
“Wrath can be a power grab just like Gluttony, and fear can be a tool for maintaining that power, but we don’t hurt the weak and innocent to instill that fear.”
“If you really think that, I would challenge you to look again. You’ve seen no one put down someone weaker to gain more status?”
Her shoulders twitch at my words, but her gaze stays pinned to the floor.
“Universe, Arwen, look at yourself? You’re telling me all was fair for you in your city? That you weren’t treated differently or stepped on because you didn’t have a sin power?”
“We’re not talking about me!” She yells back.
We sit in silence. This is going in the exact wrong direction of how I wanted it to.
“Look, I’m sorry, ok. But can we just agree that maybe we don’t have each other all figured out? That we come from totally different places and we’re not going to wrap our heads around every little thing in a single conversation.”
She takes a deep breath. “I can agree to that.”
“Good, now back on topic. What the hell has been..”
“What does your mother think?” She interrupts.
I stumble over my words. Thrown off guard by a question I wasn’t anticipating. “Wh… what?”
“What does your mother think? Obviously your father encourages these power plays, but I can’t imagine your mother, who birthed you all, appreciates you going around trying to kill each other?” She asks. “Or is she as heartless as you all?”
I look at the ground. This isn’t a subject I’m comfortable broaching. “My mother is not heartless. She’s also not up for discussion. None of us have the same mother, and mine isn’t involved in the family dynamics.”
Her silent response respects my wishes.
Finally, she takes a deep breath and stands. “Look, I’m not saying I’m your friend or that I support anything you do. But if you're truly the better option of the family for the Councilor’s seat, then I will continue tutoring you…because your politics grades are really struggling.”
I laugh as I stand. “I’ll take all the help I can get. Thank you."
As she walks away, I feel a weight lift off my chest. I have no idea how I let this girl under my skin.
18
Thou Shalt Not Forget Who’s Watching
Arwen
The night air ruffles my useless skirt as I walk away from Maddox. It leaves a chill on my legs that matches the chill inside following that conversation.
We were so thankful when Cleo told us her parents were okay. She was able to contact them last week when the grid went back up. Despite that, I’ve kept Maddox at arm’s length. Now Maddox’s words won’t stop circling my mind.
He’s supposed to fight his brothers and sisters.Maybe kill them. And everyone just… expects that of him.
Not because he wants power. Not because he’s hungry for it. But because if he doesn’t, someone far worse will rise, and the faction will rot even further under their cruelty.
He didn’t say those words, but I heard them anyway. Heavy. Quiet.
Maddox isn’t ruthless by choice. He’s ruthless by necessity.
It almost makes me more afraid of him. The fearless Wrath that I am would never admit that out loud….
I stop in the courtyard; the moonlight throwing pale patterns across the cracked stone, and press my hand to the cool wall. I don’t know why I feel so heavy suddenly. My chest aches as if someone has filled it with stones.
Maybe… maybe that’s the truth of all of this.
