She takes aim carefully. The arrow soars through the air and hits its target. Correct aim. He drops the startled girl. The red circle widens on her white gown, spewing blood. She tries to sit up but falls back. Her face is twisted in pain. She feels triumph vengeance. That's what you get, you slut. How dare you throw yourself at my husband? They are quickly replaced hot salty tears.
She had been sitting in the balcony with a book when she saw them. All her past few years" doubts were confirmed. Sal was smiling at her, his slow deep smile that sent tremors throughout her whole body. Sara was blushing, her lovely face blooming with a dimpled smile. The girl was beautiful like she could never hope to be. Apparently Sal thought so too. She had choked back sobs as they kissed, as they embraced passionately. But when he had whispered what she had never heard from him in her ear, something had snapped. Her anger, her jealousy, her love- all were channeled into a furious desire for revenge.
She had summoned her bow and arrow with no further thought and took aim carefully.
Sal stands over her, unmoving. He kneels down by her side. He draws her head into his lap. She sees his face and is taken aback. There is so much pain in his tear-streaked face, so much that it hurts her to look at him. He looks at her with all the love she had hoped for.
Sara dies.
Dies?
No she was killed. Oh god, she had killed her. The realization hits her with full force.
She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her She killed her.
A sob escapes from her throat. He hears her and turns around.
She looks at him, quivering with the umpteen emotions that course through her.
Betrayal, she screams silently. I loved you.
He bows his head. He looks back up.
You killed her, he screams back though. His eyes are heavy, dark, loaded with pain and accusation.
She turns furious, defensive.
You are min e Salazar. You are mine, and she stole you from me. I just wanted you- she knows she is being pathetic and doesn't care- I just wanted you to love me back. Like I love you.
Tears run down her face.
He turns his back on her and kneels down by Sara.
Helga arrives. Sal runs.
She shuts her eyes tightly and leans back against the wall. Violent sobs threaten to rip her apart. She sits there for a time. Minutes? Hours? An eternity?
Guilt and humiliation torture her. She sees Sara's face around corners, swirling out of mist and fog. It smolders and taunts by turns.
You have my blood on your hands, Rowena Ravenclaw. You killed me.
You pathetic dried up old stick. No one wants you, no one cares about you. Salazar is mine. He's mine. He wanted me. He loved me. Never you.
When she remembers how he looked at Sara, with so much tenderness and passion, like he never looked at her, she burns in agony. When she remembers how he said "I love you." To her, she explodes into a million tiny bits. When she remembers that Sal left her, her heart slowly, painfully shatters.
She seeks refuge in the library, hides from her ghosts behind the ancient tomes, and tries to lose her in their musty pages. Its ancient wisdom shields her. She drowns herself in her work, research and teaching.
And she waits. She waits all her life, for his footsteps coming back to her.