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We became an inseparable unit ready to face the world if it meant protecting our own, a deep bond that survived any hideous thing life threw our way.
We shared our happiness and losses, for what was theirs was mine, and what was mine was theirs.
Santiago and I drifted apart because we grew a stronger bond with Octavius and Remi instead. We found a connection that was bigger than ours, surprising everyone around us. It happened so suddenly and naturally, we hadn’t noticed, and when we did…it was too late to go back to the way things were.
Nor did we want to.
We both grew up in loving households, and our families adored us, pouring all their affection into us. As such, we had a lot of it to share with our two friends whose parents were less than stellar. They had no idea how to give love or show it without being afraid of being rejected over and over again.
It was Santiago’s job and mine to teach them otherwise, and teach them we did.
Octavius became my truest friend, understanding me on a level no one else could. He accepted all my flaws, never judging me for them or using them to control me and hurt me.
He provided solace in my darkest moments, listened when it mattered the most, and didn’t preach about forgiveness when it came to my mother like everyone else did.
He understood better than anyone what it is like to have a mother who gives no shits about your pain, and some women don’t deserve to have children or their forgiveness.
Although he tried everything to push me away, I never listened, powering through all his defenses until he had no strength left in him to fight me.
Our friendships saved both of us and set us free in a way my friendship with Santiago never could.
We faced our deepest challenge when monsters kidnapped Santiago and broke our unity, leaving us without an important piece in our friendship, and we did everything we could to make sure Remi felt welcome.
We included him in all our activities, all of us living and hoping someday Santiago would come back to us.
I owed it to him and supported his family in any way I could.
Eventually, he did return, shunning all of us and avoiding any contact as a familiar darkness swirled around him, and my heart broke because I knew what happened to him.
When you live through it, it’s easy to see.
He wanted nothing to do with us, and we tried giving him time, but Remi took it the hardest.
Until the day we all became murderers in order to save our friend.
After all, every dark brotherhood starts with blood, and ours formed the minute Octavius took a life.
We are the Four Dark Horsemen.
Only in unity we survive, because in chaos do we thrive.
Florian
“Is it snowing outside?” my godmother asks as I step inside the Cortez mansion, the staff greeting me with smiles and offering drinks. “Or maybe there is a storm?” Removing my jacket, I give it to the butler and shake my head. “Oh, that’s so strange.”
Since my godmother is a worldwide famous artist who spends much of her time locked in her studio, where she creates masterpieces and exists in her head a lot, I’m used to her rather weird questions. “Why is it strange?”
“My godson finally graced me with his presence after finding countless excuses not to visit. So I expect the weather to reflect my own shock.”
“Oh. I think the weather is as stunned about this turn of events as you are, so it hasn’t caught up yet,” I tease her back and hug her as she laughs. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a little busy, but I would have never missed the annual family dinner.” I lean back and wink at her. “It’s tradition.”
After Santiago came back home at fifteen, Aunt Esme decided to host annual parties to celebrate the occasion, but since he hated any parties, she masked them under the whole family reunion thing.
Remi and Octavius were invited as well, of course, and despite everyone being on good and bad terms with each other over the years, everyone still showed up because no one wanted to upset her.
“Finally, everyone is married.” She nudges me with her elbow. “Except you. We’re still yet to meet the girl who’ll capture your heart.”
You’ve already met her. In fact, you gave birth to her.
