Page 223 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
She didn’t know what that meant, but she didn’t have time to think about it as he continued.
“But what of you, Eviana? What do I do with you?” He spun in his chair, and she remained still. She could feel his eyes on her as she stared straight ahead. Heard him shift and reach for her hair, winding it around a finger. “Your betrayal was the biggest of them all,” he said, his voice too low and calm. “Death is too merciful, but I also need a Source I don’t have to question. Don’t have to wonder if her loyalty has been swayed. Even so, I had a feeling this day would come. Realized my mistake all those decades ago leaving you to grow up at that Estate alone. Never spoke to you or visited you until you were old enough to claim.”
Eviana wanted to vomit knowing exactly why he was telling her this.
“I realized I need that loyalty to be there from the very beginning. Not something forced later,” he continued. “I’d say it’s working quite well, wouldn’t you?”
As if on cue, the door opened, and Priya came skipping into the study. Her hair was falling out of its ponytail, and her face had a smudge of dirt on her cheek. In her hands was a small potted plant, and she was alight with excitement.
“Hello, Valter,” she sang, not even glancing at Eviana.
“My sweet Priya,” he said with a smile, dropping Eviana’s hair and pushing back from the desk. “What do you have there?”
Priya came around the desk, passing so close to Eviana, her little arm brushed against her. She couldn’t hide the sharp breath she sucked in, and Valter didn’t miss it either.
“You were right, Valter,” Priya said, that excitement growing. “I was able to bring this plant back. Do you think it will grow a flower?”
Valter pretended to study the plant as though unsure. “I don’t know,” he said with fake confusion. “But you know who does know a lot about plants?”
Priya’s brows pinched. “Who?”
“Eviana,” he said, gesturing to where she stood. “Eviana has a special gift for plants and flowers, just like you.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “She does?”
“Tell her, Eviana,” Valter said, and with Priya’s attention on her, Valter gave her a sharp, knowing smirk.
But she couldn’t find the words. Her daughter was staring up at her, not knowing who she was, and this was crueler than anything Valter had ever made her do.
“Eviana,” Valter said in warning, that finger tapping on the desk again.
She swallowed thickly, squeezing her fingers where they were still clasped in front of her. She had no idea how to speak to a child. “Yes,” she managed to rasp. “I find plants and flowers fascinating.”
“Will this plant make a flower?” the girl asked sharply, holding the pot up for her to see.
She glanced at Valter, and he nodded once, his eyes narrowed. Unclasping her hands, she ran her fingertips along the leaves, her power weeping at being separated from what it could use to save them.
“Yes,” Eviana whispered, knowing exactly what type of plant this was. “It will produce the most beautiful and bright flower.”
Priya’s face lit up, and she turned back to Valter, Eviana already forgotten.
“Did you hear that, Valter?” she asked excitedly. “A flower. Maybe it will be like the ones in the woods!” Then she paused, and Eviana could just make out the small frown from her side profile. “When will we go back there? I miss my friends in the woods.”
“Ah, I’m afraid it might be some time, my Priya,” he said. “Remember we are staying safe right now.”
“But there aren’t even trees here,” Priya said in confusion.
And Eviana’s eyes fluttered closed in heartache. She was so powerful, her magic was already starting to make itself known. Priya would feel drawn to nature, find comfort in the trees and soil. She was already feeling the effects of being away from her gifts, too small to understand any of it.
But Valter would make sure he was the one to help her discover all of that. He would ensure that everything that little girl came to love was associated with him in one way or another. It was already starting with this simple potted plant. He would never stop. He would find every possible way to make sure Priya was his. Take her. Break her. Be her savior. Repeat the cycle.
For the next hour she stood in silence, listening to Priya chatter on and tell Valter one thing after the next. How her favorite food was vanilla pudding. Her favorite color was green. How a Spryte had taught her how to call a bird to sit on her shoulder and how the trees had once caught her when she slipped while climbing one. She sat on his lap, drawing on a piece of paper while he continued to flip through ledgers, and she sang and kicked her feet because this is what she knew as happiness. What every child on the Estates dreamed of having.
Someone who cared.
Or appeared to.
Too young to understand the world was full of villains who survived on innocence.
