[b][color=f26522]Victor[/color][/b]
 [@KimmiNinja]
Someone would be paying for Victor’s stabbing words against both Alice and Caspen. Probably a human. Dad would have his work cut out for him too, probably. Considering how savage especially Caspen could be. Alice was cruel, but it was Caspen who was vicious. However, it wasn’t Caspen’s indirect retaliation that bothered Victor right now. It was Alice’s cold sneers. Not at him, obviously. But at Sarah. Victor admitted to himself that he got a bit carried away. Even the mere sight of that woman masquerading as a descendant of the Krishkov family made his blood boil. Though, that was just his hatred masquerading itself. He hated Alice not for being family, he hated her for what she did to him. He hated her for the hell she dragged him through in those first 15 years. The stress, the nightly emergencies. The constant fear that someday she may not wake up. Victor loved his sister like he loved all his siblings. But she just wouldn’t die and kept death’s hand over all of them. “Why couldn’t you just die…” he silently muttered to himself.

There had always been two versions of Victor. One alone and one among people. The demeanor when among people he showed the most. The strong, unmovable piece of granite that would split a river if it had to. That version of him constantly radiated an aura of strength, wealth, and skill. But when alone, deeper thoughts often bubbled up. Thoughts of his family, most of all. As he wandered through the hallways, those thoughts now appeared once more. Ghosts of half-forgotten memories. A shade moving through the night. Nik telling him there was nothing in the tower. ‘Partying’ with Maggie in 1920 New York. All of his sins surfaced one by one.

Until, of course, he arrived at his destination. Or rather, he almost arrived. Victor reached the corridor of the infirmary where two guards kept the door and Sarah was pacing nervously around. Obviously, his heart skipped. He thought he could have evaded her for a bit longer. Maybe evade her until the ball. Or even beyond. Yet there she stood. Wielding the power to stop him dead in his tracks. A power she only shares with Victor’s father. Luckily she’s pacing, Victor thought. Though right when he did, she seemed to have noticed him and looked straight through him.

His mind unraveled as his sense, for just a split second, took full liberty in observing her. Obviously, his eyes had the first say in this, as he looked at her long, beautiful hair, her piercing, deep eyes and soft lips. His heart demanded he’d kiss her. Now, tomorrow, next week, constantly! Then her smell hit him. It was neither dominating nor minor. It filled the corridor with a subtle yet impossible sweet smell. Shocked by the beautiful combination his senses experienced, Victor couldn’t help but just stand there with his mouth slightly ajar.

Of course, sanity swiftly shook him awake. Sarah was, above all else, Alice’s servant. Should his little sister ever know the truth of Victor’s feelings, he feared what she would do. Of course, she’d keep it over him day and night. But for Sarah, he’d bear that torture with a smile. No, he feared what Alice would do to Sarah, in retaliation for what Victor had done to her. A thought crept into his mind, a simple idea: unshackle Sarah. Free her from Alice. But no, the only person who could ever do that was their father. And sadly, his father knew Alice had to be cared for. The weakness hadn’t just held Victor’s heart in an iron grip of fear for nearly two decades. It chained the woman he’d confessed to himself he loved to the most icy, cruel entity on the earth. The very thought made him clench his teeth.

But again, his was pulled out of his own thoughts to confront the now looking Sarah. [color=f26522]“Sarah.”[/color] He said, trying not to sound too surprised to find her here. One side of his mind begged him to get near her. The other ordered to starkly ignore her and march passed her. Neither prevailed. [color=f26522]“I didn’t expect you here.”[/color] He had to bring up a conversation topic and fast. [color=f26522]“So… how’s our guest?”[/color]