Memories

XXXVII

MARS 

'She was only seventeen
Had the saddest pair of eyes that you ever seen
Wore them lips in the cold, it was matching green'

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Instead of joining the others downstairs, Thalia and Kevin decided to stay in his room. They talked about life at Castle Evermore, and what could have been if Thalia had stayed. She didn't have many regrets, and leaving definitely wasn't one of them, but leaving Kevin behind was probably one of the only ones she held.

"So, after I left, Jean got there, and Riko went batshit crazy," Thalia said. Kevin sighed and nodded. He looked down at his hands and Thalia moved hers over, intertwining them. He looked up at her and she smiled. "Sounds like a great guy."

"You liked him," Kevin said. Thalia frowned but didn't remove her hands. "He was nice to you, to make you like him. He was making you some sort of servant. You'd do whatever he asked, whatever he demanded. And you did it without hesitation because afterwards he'd go back to being kind to you. He wanted your trust." Thalia hummed, interrupting Kevin. 

"I don't really want to talk about Riko right now." she said. Kevin looked at her and she put a hand on his cheek. Kevin closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. 

"Then can we talk about what happened yesterday?" Kevin said softly. Thalia removed her hand and looked away. "I'm sorry, you don't have to. I just want to know how I can help you through whatever you're going through." She looked back at him, more vulnerable than she'd been in months. 

"Well I'm not grieving, if that's what you're asking." she said. Kevin shook his head. Thalia sighed and rested her head on his chest. He pulled her into a hug. "I don't know, Kevin. I'm fine, really. I'm not the one who got hurt this time."

"This time, maybe. But you have been," Kevin said. "And there won't be a next time. Not ever again. Not by him." Thalia clutched Kevin's shirt and he pulled her closer. She started crying without realising, and Kevin rubbed her back to calm her down.

"I know," she said eventually. It was quiet and didn't sound like Thalia, but it was her, and she had to compose herself. There was no time for showing insecurities when you were busy trying to stay alive.

"Come on, let's go downstairs. You need some food, and it might make you feel a little better." Kevin said. Thalia nodded and pulled away. His shirt was stained with her tears, so Kevin changed out of it and put on a new one. Thalia tried not to stare, but years of training to be the best of the best made Kevin one of the most attractive people Thalia had ever seen.

Once the two were downstairs, Thalia heard a knock on the door. She muttered that she'd get it and walked away from Kevin's side. Thalia opened the door, widened her eyes and shut the door again.

"What was it, Thalia?" Kevin asked. He looked scared. Thalia shook her head and swallowed. She sighed and opened the door again.

"You're not coming inside this house." she said and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. "What the fuck are you doing here, Cass?" Thalia crossed her arms in front of the woman that was only slightly taller than she was. Cass shifted from foot to foot. She wasn't wearing any makeup and looked like she'd been crying. She probably had.

"I came to see you." she answered. Her voice was small. "And to see Drake."

"You mean Drake's body? He's dead, Cass. You need to accept that." Thalia spat and headed back for the door, but Cass reached out and took Thalia's arm. She reacted without thinking and lashed out. Thalia didn't hit Cass, but it was a near miss. "Leave us the fuck alone."

"Where's Andrew? I want to see him too." Cass said and looked to the ground. "I know it's been years, but I want to make sure he's okay." Thalia flamed with anger. She stepped up to Cass and glared at the woman.

"He is not okay, Cass." She started. "Your son attacked him. Hit him with a wine bottle. Then he raped him, and probably would have killed him, too, if I hadn't realised what was going on and sent Neil and Aaron upstairs. You know, Aaron. Andrew's twin brother. Andrew's identical twin brother." Thalia crossed her arms. "He's the one that killed Drake. I'm not letting you in there because it is a safe space for everyone involved in this attack. Andrew won't want to see you, and quite frankly, neither do I. So get the fuck out of Columbia and leave us alone."

"Please, Thalia." Cass pleaded. She ground her teeth and grit her jaw. There was no way Thalia was letting Cass inside Nicky's house. 

"I hope you see the monster he really was when you look into his cold, dead eyes." Thalia said. Cass closed her eyes for a moment before walking down the driveway and getting into her car. Thalia let out a sigh and stepped back inside. She slid down the door and put her head in her hands.

"Thalia, who was that?" Kevin asked, now crouching in front of her. Thalia looked up. She didn't have to say it for Kevin to figure it out. He hugged her, and Thalia didn't pull away until there was a faint laugh from the stairs. She looked up and Kevin moved out of the way.

"Does the great Kevin Day have feelings other than obsession over exy?" Andrew said, manic smile in place. "That's a first."

Thalia stood and looked behind Andrew to the two official looking people. At the base of the stairs was Betsy, and Wymack stood off to the side. "Kevin," Andrew said, and Kevin obediently stood in front of him. Andrew pat him down for any injuries. Neil emerged from Nicky's bedroom, where Thalia imagined they'd been talking about what had happened. 

"Not injured," Andrew said when he was done. "That's a first. But for how much longer, I wonder. Bee, you know I don't think this is a good idea." Thalia frowned.

"What's wrong?" Kevin asked. Thalia looked over to where Neil was shuffling in place. He knew something. She could tell. But Thalia wouldn't say anything unless she had to.

"Oh, but you don't know," Andrew said. "Time's up, off we go. She's going to get rid of this for us." Andrew wiped a thumb across his lips and laughed. "Someone should tell the doctors what they're in for. They'll lock the door and throw away the key by the time I'm done with them."