Page 81 of Daughter of the Serpent

“Tara,” Sylvie murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “Can we talk?”

Tara turned slowly, her expression carved from ice. “Are you mad?” she hissed. “I cannot be seen with you.”

Sylvie flinched at the venom in her voice. “Please - ”

Tara stepped away. Sylvie followed.

“Tara, wait!” Desperation edged her tone, but Tara quickened her pace, slipping between bodies as if trying to shake her off.

Sylvie pushed forward, ignoring the burn of humiliation as onlookers watched her chase after someone who clearly wanted nothing to do with her.

At last, when they had drawn away from prying eyes, Tara whirled on her, eyes blazing.

“Why won’t you leave me alone, Sylvie?”

Sylvie’s breath caught. “I need to set things right between us… please.”

Tara’s expression twisted, a shadow of hesitation flickering across her face. “I already told you - ” Her voice wavered, but she inhaled sharply, steeling herself.

Sylvie swallowed hard. “How can I fix this?”

Tara lifted her chin, her gaze unwavering. “After what I saw, I don’t know if that’s possible.”

A heavy silence settled between them before she added, “I saw you sneaking into the forest last night.”

Sylvie’s breath caught. “What?”

“You heard me.” Tara hissed. “I thought I might come find you again, to talk to set things right, but instead I found you slipping past the temple gates, yet again.”

“I - I…”

“Tell me, Sylvie. What were you doing last night?” She asked, her voice shrill, her fist tightening as her eyes burrowed into hers. “I find it hard to believe that it is yet another coincidence that those two men were found dead this morning.”

Sylvie’s blood ran cold. “You can’t think that wasme- ”

“How am I supposed to know anymore?” Tara’s voice wavered. “After everything I’ve heard? After everything you’ve kept from me? After what I’ve now seen!”

“Tara I’ve always been honest with you - ” Sylvie startled, her mouth a loss for words.

“Yet you never told me about your magic,” Tara interrupted, her gaze piercing. “You never told me it had grown. What have you been capable of this whole time?”

Sylvie swallowed hard. “It just happened, I swear - ”

How could she explain it, when she didn’t understand it herself?

“How convenient,” Tara scoffed. “I thought we shared everything. I thought you were myfriend- but you have been keeping so much from me.” Her expression hardened to stone, her gaze doing nothing to hide the fury that bristled beneath her polished surface. “I should have known it was all to get back at those who’ve stood against you. You’ve just been using me, till you could get back at all of those who gave you scorn.”

“The words coming from your mouth sound like Rederick and his poison,” Sylvie argued, her voice tight with emotion. “You know that isn’t true.” She took a breath, searching Tara’s face. “I’ve loved you like my own flesh and blood...” Her throat tightened, but she pressed on. “Everything I’ve done has been for you - for your safety, your success. I would never hurt you, Tara. I have only ever tried to protect you.”

“There always has been some way for you to play the innocentone who can do no harm, and yet I’m starting to see how you truly are like him, the great deceiver -Lafar!” Tara’s lips quivered, emotion beginning to show in her eyes. “Does it give you satisfaction to destroy lives? To know you’ve nearly destroyedmine?"

"How could you even think I'm capable of such things?" Sylvie's voice cracked, her heart breaking in her chest. "You know who I am Tara, I could never - "

"No, I don't know you anymore, Sylvie," Tara cut through her words, her voice laced with bitterness. "I thought I did, but it was all a facade - the village, the people, everyone tried to warn me... you're nothing but amonster."

Sylvie stood speechless, the accusation hanging heavily in the air, her heart instantly breaking with her words.

“If you care for me at all, you won’t try and speak to me again.” Tara’s voice sliced through the silence before she disappeared beyond sight.

---