Jade Fern Grove everything costs

He knew the moment her breathing quickened, like his had quickened so many times before, that he had said something wrong.

Oh no.

Ophelia, wait -

But his voice was too small, and she whirled like the tempests she had once danced for.

Oh, why had he been the one to find her! If only he’d been Tybault! If only he’d been Athens! They’d have the brazen nerve to steer her, the quiet voice to soothe.

But all he was, was Everett. A puppet master’s fool. He felt numb - sick, even. His paws rooted with that same terror he’d felt when he’d watched his parents beat her with their cruel, scorching words.

Ophelia, his voice cracked when she turned on him and ran.

He was not rain, but fire. And fire only made things worse.

But would not watch this time.

He could not sit back and watch her die.

Dammit Ophelia!

He sprung forward with anger and fear, with love and grief, with a hurricane of emotions that battered him like the waves against the worn ocean stones he’d walked upon only days before. I don’t need you for my problems! an ugly cry marred through his words once tempered with perfection, we just want you as whatever you become without our damned parents and that damned gilded sea!

His vision blurred, and he did not realize he was crying.