Debtors. The plague of society. Plagued vermin are better than the snakes. 

Slithering, squandering, soul-murdering “people”. When Sion was just a wisp tall, she and her family were frequently visited by their kind. For different reasons of course. 

Back then, she viewed them as hero-like. Giving a chance to the poor, spreading the wealth to the ones who deserved it, and being kind yet firm at the same time. All inspiring traits to a younger Sion. But to her older version, they were worse than disease. 

The difference between now and then was a small but significant change. Back then, her family was the one giving the people loans. Now, she was the one in debt. And that impeccably small, almost minuscule change made her world, quite literally, upside down.

♕

The wooden clock was tortuous. Seconds seemed like hours, and minutes seemed like days. It was always like this. Every time she tried to patiently wait like Orion she would always be transported to a world where time was a cruel and torturous enemy. This was one of those times.

Tap, tap, tap.

Sion tapped Orion on his shoulder, her frigid fingers meeting the warm fluff of his coat.

Orion faced Sion, his face grim and his eyes soulless. It hadn’t always been like this. Once upon a time, Orion had eyes that shone from an exceeding amount of life. That life was gone. It could be returned. But only for moments at a time, never for complete days or weeks like it had once been.

Sion grinned and edged closer to her brother. “You want to play a game?”

Orion’s eyes flickered with the joy it once contained. Before dying again.

“You know Mother would never let me.”

Sion rolled her eyes, her brother’s ignorance was limitless.

“Mother doesn’t need to know.”

“She’s going to find out even if we don’t tell her. She isn’t an idiot.”

Sion raised her eyes at that. How would Mother know if no one told her? It wasn’t as if Sion and Orion were coated with mud every time they played. They were always as tidy as they could be, with not a single wrinkle present. Even when outdoors they maintained their perfectly groomed appearance. The only way for her mother to know of their activities would be… a spy. Or magic. But Mother despised the use of magic. And she was never hypocritical, it was one of the things Sion loved about her. 

Thus, it was guaranteed, there was a spy in their midst.

“Fine, we won’t play.”

Orion scrunched up his face, confused by his sister’s strange behaviour. Normally, it would take at least 5 convincing arguments for Sion to back down. He hadn’t listed even one.

“Okay?”

“Okay.”

Sion turned to her side. Gazing at the amber trees, their leaves falling like petals amid a spring breeze. It was gorgeous. But she had better things to think about. 

If there were a spy that her mother had sent then they would have to hear everything to do their job properly. And if someone had to hear everything, they must always be present around the children. And there was only one person who was always completely around the kids.

“Thaecras!”

Thaecras was Orion's favourite caretaker. He had joined months before her brother was born and Orion loved him from the minute he was born. Thaecras was also with them all the time. Every single second was spent with him. 

He was in the carriage with the children at the very moment. 

Sion didn’t know how to feel at that moment. It was only her first betrayal, after all, emotions usually came after the third or fourth.

The only decision that she was completely certain about was the fact that she would never tell Orion. Never. And that was that.

Some truths were meant to be hidden in the dark.

“Sion?”

Sion flinched at her brother’s wispy voice.

“We’re here.”

It was then that Sion realised that they had arrived. 

The extravagant mansion glistened in the sunlight, the highest tower peaking over the cloud. The colours were gaudy, the statues were excessive and the gates were attentive seeking. It was a lame attempt to replicate the ancient castles. But a child couldn’t see that. Children such as Sion and Orion could only see the pizazz and glamour of the building. They were transfixed. 

So much so that they couldn’t even notice the grandeur sign above their heads.

“Thaecras Debtor’s Society.”