Page 52 of A Deeper Blue
Scarlet giggled and did a little dance to dust the salt off. She impulsively hugged Azure before sitting back down with a completely satisfied exhalation and a smile that looked very much like their mother’s.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” said Azure, sitting back down herself. That tiny bit of magic had left her feeling dizzy and exhausted, but the look on Scarlet’s face was worth it.
“I should probably tell you that Liam thinks we should fly home, though.”
“Planes produce too much carbon….” Azure sighed and trailed off. Scarlet didn’t need the lecture. “Whatever Liam wants,” said Azure.
“Stop that,” said Scarlet. “Liam came to help you as much as I did. And he thinks we should fly out of worry for my health and safety. Stop acting like he’s some asshole I picked up at a bar. Oh wait, that was you.”
“I didn’t pick him up. There were Warlocks and… This isn’t about me.”
“No, it’s about me and my boyfriend and how you act like he’s a giant jerk who’s running my life. He’s not. He’s not a jerk. He’s not running my life, and he’s not going to leave me,” said Scarlet.
“I never said he was going to leave you. And he seems nice,” said Azure defensively.
“Over the holidays, it was pretty obvious that you thought I was just a temporary fling for him. But I’m not.”
“Yeah,” said Azure, rubbing her head tiredly. “Sorry. I didn’t get wolves, and I was pissed that he was horning on our holidays.”
“Why didn’t you want him at our holidays?” asked Scarlet, looking hurt.
“That’sourfamily time,” said Azure. “I don’t get to see either of you as much anymore. And I thought, after the protest, that would be our chance to reconnect and talk, and then every time I turned around, he was right there. And you just kept shoving him at me like,see, Azure, I don’t need you anymore.”
“Oh,” said Scarlet, wrinkling her nose. “Sorry.”
“It hurt,” said Azure quietly.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” said Scarlet. “Or I did. But I just meant… I don’t need you to protect me all the time and run my life.”
“I’m not trying to run your life,” protested Azure.
“Azure, you’re my sister, and I love you, but you try and run everyone’s life. I’m not saying you’re not good at it, but I don’t want you to do it for me. Not anymore.”
Azure sighed. “The second sight sometimes makes things… It’s faster if I just do stuff myself or make the decisions for people. That’s what I did for the protest, and I’m sorry.”
“Even with the second sight, you don’t always know what the right answer is.”
“I know,” whispered Azure, hanging her head. “That’s why I’m a witch. That’s why I took the oaths. Because otherwise…” Azure trailed off, looking at Scarlet, hoping that she would understand.
“Because otherwise, it would be too easy to make us all into your puppets?” asked Scarlet. “Evil Azure would come out to play?”
Azure supposed that Scarlet was making a joke, but it wasn’t funny. “Um, yeah,” she said. “That’s exactly what could happen.”
“Thank you for not being Evil Azure,” said Scarlet. “I appreciate the effort. And I appreciate all the times that you made sure I was fed. And all the times you sent me cash in college. And helping me move into my apartment in the city even though you thought it was the worst idea ever and you hated it.”
“You’re my baby sister,” said Azure, her eyes filling up with tears. “I will always help you, even with the stupid ideas.”
“I know,” said Scarlet. “You’d help me get rid of bodies. You’re my older sister, and I know I can always count on you. But I need you to know that I can look after myself too.”
“I know,” said Azure. “I really do. And sometimes, I need you to look after me.”
“Uh, yeah,” said Scarlet. “Obviously. I mean, sheesh. I leave you alone for two minutes, and you go fall for some lone wolf.”
Azure gulped.
“What?” asked Scarlet, looking puzzled.
