Page 58 of The Amber Sunburst

“I want to meet Zeno’s new roommate,” Arete screams, and Eudoxia sighs like they’ve had this conversation a million times.

“Arete, you can’t. Alexander is nice, but we don’t know him well enough to introduce him to you.”

“You introduced Ophelia to me, like, five minutes after meeting her,” Arete complains.

“Ophelia is different.”

“So, what? I have to sit here all alone when you’re having fun with Zeno and what’s-his-face? That’s not fair,” Arete says, and her cheeks burn red with anger.

Ophelia has witnessed quite a few fights between the sisters, but recently tensions have been escalating more quickly.

“Ophelia, would you like me to come?” Arete asks, and her sweetness is honey coating barbed wire. Eudoxia scoffs angrily.

“Honey, you know it’s not my decision,” Ophelia says, “and it’s not your sister’s either. This is a tough situation and everyone is doing the best they can.”

“So you’re just going to take her side,” Arete says with a scowl, her voice wobbling. “What about me? Why does no one care about me?”

When actual tears start streaming down Arete’s cheeks, Ophelia is tempted to just give in and let her come. Watching Arete cry is like watching a kicked puppy whining on the streets.

Eudoxia is not similarly affected. “I do this because I care about you!” she yells.

“No, you don’t. You hate me. And I hate you!”

“Maybe I do. But I’m your sister and I’m responsible for you.”

“You’re not my sister. I don’t want you to be. You’re awful and I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! I hope you just die.”

“Arete—” Ophelia starts, but Eudoxia interrupts her, her features settled into calm anger.

“You can say what you want, but if I did leave you’d be sent right back home. Back to him. And, look, if you’re so desperate for me to just die, maybe you should leave yourself. There’s an exit door to the ocean on the bottom floor; feel free to take it.”

Arete’s eyes widen in fear, and Eudoxia’s face drops in regret.

Closing her eyes, Eudoxia whispers, “We’re going, Arete. Don’t stay up too late.”

Eudoxia leaves the room, and Ophelia kisses Arete’s forehead as she follows her out.

“Him?” Ophelia asks Eudoxia once they close the door behind them.

“Our stepfather. He’s why I brought her with me when I came here. It’s complicated,” Eudoxia explains. Ophelia doesn’t ask her to elaborate. If Eudoxia needed to, she would.

“I’m sorry we keep doing this. I’m just always messing up with her and I don’t know how to fix it and she never listens and…”

Eudoxia trails off and takes a few deep breaths, then scrubs at her face.

Ophelia tugs her into a hug.

“You’re not messing it up,” she says. “Empresses don’t mess things up.”

Eudoxia laughs weakly and pulls back. “Right.”

“Do you still want to go to Zeno’s? Or you and I could take a walk instead.”

“No, let’s go. Seeing him always makes me feel better,” Eudoxia responds, then she winces at her choice of words.

“Oh, I’m sure it does,” Ophelia says with a cheeky wink as they cross the hall.

They come to a stop at Zeno’s door, and Eudoxia goes straight for the handle, not even bothering to knock. But before she can turn it, the door flies open, and Zeno barges through, almost crashing into them both.