Sarah was expected to leave almost immediately after waking up. That was one of the reasons why Brother Enoch had been sitting by her bed; he was simply waiting for her so that he could take her to New York. Her things were even sitting by the door of the institute, packed in a leather suitcase.

Diana had left the Infirmary to gather the other Blackthorns so that Sarah may say her goodbyes, coincidentally giving her a chance to change.

Moving behind a curtain, Sarah stripped off her previous wear, throwing on a plain pair of leggings and a solid purple shirt that had been left for her. Deciding to keep the sweat jacket she had already been wearing. Her hair hadn't been washed the entire time she had been asleep, so, to hide this fact, she quickly tied it up in a loose ponytail that barely grazed her shoulders. A few shorter strands were falling out of place as she moved the curtain back and met Brother Enoch at the door of the Infirmary. The brown of his leather clothes pairing nicely with the light brown wooden arch that stood several feet above his head, delicate carvings of various healing and protective runes lay engraved at the top.

He said nothing; his head only moved slightly towards her approaching figure. His stitched closed eyes were settling lightly on her, almost as if he could see her normally.

Sarah nodded to him before placing her hand on the door, "Brother Enoch," her face now covered in its usual stony cold glaze. But before she could open the two doors, a burning question popped into her head.

She stopped short, "I-I just realised," Sarah stuttered, "what happens if I fail my next tests? Diana never actually mentioned that part." A silence like no other filled the small gap of speech before the brother finally answered.

It is presently unknown, however...He paused, seemingly choosing what next to say carefully. The most likely case would be for you to be sent to the Adamant Citadel to live with, and eventually become, one of the Iron Sisters.

A lead weight felt as if it had dropped in Sarah's stomach as she heard those last few words, causing her stoic gaze to falter for a second.

"B-but doesn't that mean that my marks will fade...disappear?" she murmured barely audible.

Yes. Was the only reply she got.

"And what about-" she couldn't bring herself to do it. Couldn't bear to ask, bear to hear his reply, but he knew what she meant.

It will go too.

Stricken, her emotionless facade failed, and her entire face fell, her body going numb. Sarah held her breath, letting the reality sink in.

"You can't" was all she was able to say, her whole body slumped. "It could be the only thing keeping him-" she choked on her tears, rubbing at them blindly. Ever since the Inquisitor's tests, Sarah found that hiding her feelings about her parabatai had become much harder.

I am afraid that that is the only other option. He pushed the door open for her, the matter had been addressed and was not up for discussion it seemed. It was during times like this that Sarah remembered the coldness of the Silent Brothers. She wondered if he had always been this way, or if it was something about their ceremony that stripped away your sense of empathy and emotion, personality. She shuddered, becoming an Iron sister was not an option.

Even though Brother Enoch's hands were now presumably interlaced underneath his thick robes, it still felt as if they were at her back. Guiding Sarah towards the front door of the LA Institute. Passing the multiple rooms and halls a feeling of emptiness washed over her, leaving a hollowness in her chest that she couldn't quite figure out how to fill. This had never been her home, and Sarah had never made much of an effort after what had happened. Nevertheless, it was still the closest, and most familiar, thing to it and to have that stripped away as well left her with nothing.

The entire rest of the Blackthorn family stood in a clump next to the door, their mass covering part of the Muriel that made up the majority of the black and white tiled floor.

Mark, the eldest of the Blackthorns, with his light hair and mismatched eyes, stood closest to the door. His hands placed in his back jean pockets and his pale blue shirt ruffling as he rocked back and forth on his heels. Trying to keep himself looking casual, although, Sarah had no idea why he wouldn't be.

Christina, leaning against the wall, was directly to his left. Their shoulders were nearly touching. An almost sombre, yet still composed, look written on her face. Never had she bonded with Christina or many of the others in the Institute, yet Sarah had respected her from their first interaction. There was something authoritarian about Christina, yet gentle. She never had to raise her voice or make a commotion to be heard or listened to. Her firm, soft words were always enough; it was very nearly admirable.

Then, of course, were Kit, Emma and the rest of the Blackthorns. All assembled in an intricate array that reflected a Victorian style family portrait. The tallest, Julian and Emma, standing behind their line of younger siblings, Emma with her arms crossed and Julian trying to balance Octavian on his hip. There was a small gap, however, directly between Dru and Ty that was large enough for a person. In fact, it almost felt as if there was one there, just by the way that the two siblings didn't dare move or even bump into it.

Sarah's cheeks burned as all eight eyes rested solely on her, four and- half of Mark's-the same green-blue as her own.

Some of the shorter pieces of her dark hair had come out of her pony-tail and tickled the back of her neck, anxiously Sarah began to pick up the pieces and interlace them in her fingers. Trying desperately not to make eye contact with any of her cousins. The most she could manage at the moment was a quick nod as Diana handed her a thick black pea coat and her suitcase.

"I know you don't need it for the weather here," Diana begun, placing the piece of clothing carefully into Sarah's hand. The wool of the coat was scratching the inside of her palm lightly, "but Brother Enoch assured me that it would be beneficial in New York. It's almost below freezing there, and their winters are known to be harsh."

"Thank you, Diana." She replied softly, the coat hanging off her right forearm and her suitcase now dangling within the grasp of her left hand. Gathering up her strength, she finally turned her gaze to her remaining family. A hollowness ate at the pit of her stomach as she saw a family that she could have had if it had not been for her parent's death during the Dark War or for what had happened to her parabatai nearly half a year ago. Despite how much she wished for something like that again, however, with those who had mattered most to her gone now, Sarah didn't see how she could bring herself to feel like that for anyone again.

"I wanted to thank you," Sarah said, trying her best to keep her voice from shaking. "For taking me in when I needed a home, I wish you all the best, and I hope to see you all again."

Diana tapped Julian gently on the shoulder, and silently, one by one every resident and ward came up to her. Each -except for Ty, of course, who merely nodded- giving her an awkward hug or pat on the back as a way of farewell. At last, she reached Mark, who to her surprise enveloped her in a warm hug-at least as warm as a hug could be from a tall; skinny fair boy-and looked deep into her eyes. She found it hard to concentrate, not sure whether to look into the shining silver or the intense blue-green of the two and decided for somewhere in between. Unsure what to do from here, she was glad when he broke the silence.

"Family can be hard to return to," he spoke quietly, "but once you have found yourself again, it can be all that you have to hold on to." He stood up straighter nudging her towards Dianna and at that, Dianna opened the door and passed through it, pulling Sarah along with her. "We hope to see you soon Sarah." she heard before the door clicked shut quietly, locking her out of yet another family.