Page 28 of Heart of the Villain

She slid off the garden wall, the heels of her shoes sinking into the moist ground. “And you’re just now coming to tell me?” Marlena held up the end of her skirt, but it had already gotten a splatter of mud from when she’d come out here and trudged to the farthest corner she could find. “You should have led with that.”

The warmth of the Aeris home wrapped around Marlena like a friendly hug. From the change in temperature, a chill shot up Marlena’s and Arlet’s backs at nearly the same time. The girls laughed a little, and Arlet’s teeth began to chatter.

“I have a better idea!” She rubbed her hands together, yanked the plate of muffins off the counter, and hurried for the staircase.

Marlena followed, watching Arlet bound up the stairs.

“C’mon, slowpoke! A fire is calling our names.”

Marlena heard the door to her room fly open and a little “oops” echo down the hall as she made it to the top of the stairs. She watched a muffin rolling towards her and bent as she walked, scooping it up to peek into her bedroom. A few more muffins lay scattered around the room.

“It’s fine! I saved a few.” Arlet smiled, holding up the plate at the same time another muffin hit the wooden floors below her. “Fuck.”

Marlena laughed, and Arlet joined in. The girls fought off a fit of giggles as Marlena started picking the muffins up. It had been so long since Marlena laughed like that. “It’s probably fine. The floors get cleaned almost every day, right?” She put them down on the coffee table in front of the hearth that was roaring with a fresh fire.

Arlet sat the plate down, careful not to lose any more muffins. “I had a fire lit before coming out to get you. Figured you’d be cold.”

Growing up alongside Arlet had taught Marlena one thing: there was still goodness left in her darkening world.

Arlet was sunshine, through and through. Always thinking of others before her own well-being.

“Thanks…” Marlena didn’t know what else to say—she wasn’t used to being cared for. When she and Vega were kids, Vega would do caring, sisterly things for her, but over the last few years, so much had changed.

The sisters were changing, their lives splitting two separate ways.

Arlet waved her off, scurrying over to the fire to warm herself. She shuddered the closer she got to the heat rolling off the flames. “Oh my gods.” She drew the words out slowly.

Marlena watched her with a soft smile. She loved that Arlet was so carefree, never a worry in the world unless something completely detrimental happened.

Must be nice. Marlena cleared her throat and the thought from her mind. “I have an idea.” She walked to her bed and pulled the big plush blankets and sheets to the floor, dragging them in front of the fire. Marlena yanked the pillows from her bed and the couches in the lounge off next, then fluffed them into a cozy pile on the floor. “Get comfy and warm up. I’m going to change.”

Quickly, Marlena left the room and stripped into a satin pajama set with long sleeves and pants that hung off of her hips. It was her favorite sleep set, and it’d definitely seen better days, but she wasn’t ready to part with it yet. She let her hair down, washed her face, and was back in record time.

The crackle of the fire was calling to her. She’d always loved getting lost in the flames of a fire.

Marlena dove into the plush covers, cuddling into the pillows for extra warmth. Once the girls were settled, they split a muffin down the middle. “Vega not coming home?” she asked Arlet, picking at her half.

Arlet’s shoulders bobbed. “Not sure. I haven’t talked to her since before she snuck off today.”

Marlena eyed her. “She’s okay, right?”

Chuckling, Arlet swallowed before nodding. “She’s with Bridger. He’d rather drown himself in a puddle than let anything happen to her. She’s more than okay.” Taking her last bite, Arlet grabbed a deck of cards off the side table and dealt a hand to Marlena without asking if she wanted to play. “The real question is, are you okay?”

Arlet split the deck between the two without looking up. It was a mindless card game popular amongst kids, but it took a certain skill to win. Marlena usually wiped the competition out before anyone else had the chance. It was all about counting the cards and knowing where numbers went and in what order.

She watched Arlet’s fingers graze over the cards delicately. “Of course I am… Why do you ask?” Marlena’s eyebrows pinched together in question.

Arlet finished dealing the cards, wiping her hands together in habit. Khort used to accuse the girls of sneaking cards under their sleeves or hiding them under their wrists every single time they played—all because Vega cheated once, but only to mess with him. “You’ve just been a little reserved lately. I know you’re busy, but sometimes I’m worried you’re checking out on us.”

Shadows from the fire danced across Arlet’s face. Marlena watched them for a bit before replying. “There’s always something to do. I would love a break, but alas, there is no time in my parents’ schedule for that.” Marlena took stock of the cards in her hand and started immediately crunching numbers. What’s missing?

“But you’re okay?” Arlet asked again as her hazel eyes wandered over the cards in her hand.

No. “Never been better.”

Arlet rolled her eyes extra hard and set her cards down to focus on Marlena. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

Marlena drew a card, tossing it to the side to form a discard pile, and then looked at Arlet.