Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 80
After the encounter on the stairs, the girls headed to Hera’s room.
"At least something here still seems familiar," Astrid muttered and looked around as she entered the room.
"What?" Hera asked.
"Nothing, " Astrid said, exhaled, and then sat down on the bed. Hera and Selene joined her while Iris sat on the chair beside the window.
"Alright," Hera said with glee, looking from Astrid to Selene, "tell us everything."
Astrid chuckled and fell back on the bed while Selene cleared her throat.
"Here we go again," Astrid said and faked a tired sigh.
"Anyways... Where do I even start?" she rubbed her hands together and smiled widely at the girl.
"Any day now," Iris chimed and placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a fake yawn.
Selene scoffed, rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms together. I’m too tired to tell the story," she huffed, "in fact, I don’t want to tell the story anymore. So, Astrid, since you think you’re so much better, why don’t you tell yours?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Astrid sat up and looked at her, "Well, I’m too tired to tell a story." She raised her voice a pitch slightly higher than hers to mimic Selene.
Hera laughed and clapped with delight. Then she rushed to stand stiffly upright with an arm in front of her and between the girls. "We have Astrid versus Selene, who will win this round!!!"
Astrid and Selene looked at each other and tried to hold back their laughter.
"You’re losing to me today!" Asteid declared as she gently pounced on Selene.
Iris sat in the corner, watching the girls laugh with joy, but all she could think of was Penelope. Her reactions were not normal; they were unlike anything she had ever seen. Sisters were meant to protect you, guide you, and shower you with so much love.
But her... She stopped imagining all the horrible possibilities. She wanted her happy, but everything felt much more frustrating because she didn’t know what she could do. Penelope had refused to speak to her, no matter how she tried.
She focused her gaze on the girls again and stood up quietly. Astrid chortled at something Hera had said, and Selene acted like she had been offended, then all the girls began to belly-laugh. Iris slid out of the room and made her way up the stairs.
She walked the length of the corridor, which held the doors to the rooms of the members of the royal family, and knocked.
No one answered.
She pushed the door slightly open and peeked inside. The room was cold and untouched, but the sheets were slightly ruffled.
"May I know why you’re peeking into my sister’s bedroom?" Adonis said behind her.
Iris jumped back in surprise. "I’m sorry, I, we’re really good friends, I promise."
"It’s fine," Adonis said with a chuckle.
Iris bowed and walked away, then went towards the library. She paused in front of the door when she reached, opened the library door, and entered.
Her foot flapped against the floor as she walked in, the sounds reverberating across the entire room. As she walked deeper into the library, she began to hear someone whimper and sniffle."
The sound puzzled her, but it was oddly familiar. Iris searched the library for the source of the sound and finally spotted Penelope, crouched on the floor with her back against the wall and her face buried in her lap.
Slowly, Iris walked up to meet her and sat beside her. Penelope lifted her head and stared at Iris, and her eyes held no surprise.
"What’s the problem, Pen?" Iris asked gently
Her face twisted into a half smile, "Nothing, Iris."
"Pen, please, tell me the truth. This is not nothing," Iris begged. "Ever since your sister got back, you’ve been acting like a totally different person; you’re not the girl I know."
Penelope looked at her intently, and tears began to form in her eyes. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"Pen... No, don’t cry," Iris begged and drew her close. Unfortunately, it was late. The tears had begun to fall freely, and she sobbed quietly while her shoulders shook.
"I’m tired of all of this," Penelope said in choked breaths. "Every hour of every day, the only thing she truly ever enjoys is seeing me squirm and suffer. But no more."
Iris bawled her hand into a fist as she listened. She could hear the pain and agony in her voice. The betrayal that she had to experience. No sister should do this much harm to the people they claimed they loved, Iris thought.
The tears suddenly stopped, and Penelope looked up at her, "What if she hurts you?" She shook her head violently. "She can’t do that," her voice was laced with desperation. "I won’t let her."
Iris’s heart broke as she looked at her friend. Two days ago, she had been vibrant and unstoppable. Now, she was merely a shadow of herself. Her heart ached as she watched her.
"I’m not going to let her keep doing this to you, Pen, whatever it is she has done or told you to make you this affected by her. Tell me, we can fix it together. I cannot let you live like this any longer. She gripped her shoulders and shook her gently. "Tell me."
"It’s not to me," Penelope said quietly. "To herself."
Iris raised an eyebrow, "I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me, Pen, " she said. "What do you mean by that?"
As if lightning had struck, Penelope’s eyes darkened, and she stared blankly at Iris.
"You need to leave, now."
"What?"
"Please leave," Penelope replied solemnly. "I’m sorry for making you worry about me so much. But I promise, I’ll fix all of this in due time."
Iris looked squarely at her, searching her eyes, but they held no truth for her. She did not know the Penelope behind them. They were cold and distant, and something had changed. She would hold steadfast. Her determination had tripled, and Octavia would have to try harder to break the monster she was creating.
