Page 19

For some reason, in my head Octavius was some creepy old man, even though I knew he was a young twenty-one-year-old man. An incredibly average-looking Souic; short dark brown hair, olive skin, dark eyes. The only defining part was a nose far too big for his face and dark circles under his eyes.

Thessaly was a bit taller than Octavius. Her hair had been recently cut and styled, dyed a honey blonde and curled down a bit past her shoulders, with medium tanned skin and brown eyes. Her large chest, made her look bigger than she was.

“Are you nervous?” Yarra asked Octavius.

He shook his head. “No, I…” He paused for a moment. “I just want everyone to know th e truth.”

“And what is the truth?”

“That I’m innocent.”

Thessaly took Octavius’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

Yarra nodded. “You spent three years in prison for a murder that never happened. What was it like being in there?”

“Well, the food was terrible.” He got a bit of a laugh from the audience. “But no, in all seriousness, it was awful. I was just a kid when I was put in.”

“Sixteen when you were suspected and seventeen when you were imprisoned, correct?”

“Yes, and they put me with all the other adults.”

“Was it scary?”

“I was terrified, among those who actually had done awful things, but there were also many in there who were like me and hadn’t committed crimes but were also wrongfully accused.”

Yarra furrowed her brows. “Why do you think that’s happened?”

“We all had one thing in common. We weren’t wealthy, we were nobody.”

“You think wealth plays a part in the justice system?”

“I know it does,” Octavius stated in a sure voice. “No matter what I said or what evidence I had to prove my innocence, I was going to be used as a scapegoat to save the Vicary family’s face.”

Yarra raised her brows. “But she did run away to be with you, correct?”

Octavius scoffed, with a shake of his head. “No. She didn’t. I only allowed her to stay at my place for two weeks after finding out she had been homeless.”

“Why only two weeks?”

Octavius's eyes shifted from Yarra to something off camera, distracted. Thessaly glanced at what he was looking at. Octavius nodded before finally turning back to Yarra and answering her question. “She didn’t think anything we gave her was enough for her and eventually left.”

“His family are very generous people,” Thessaly piped in. “Datura grew up a spoiled child, so she couldn’t see that they were giving her everything they could.”

Yarra turned to the audience. “Now, if you didn’t know, the Gautier family are the lighthouse keepers. They have been for generations and the government pays them to tend to it. They live quite modestly.” She then turned back to Octavius. “Do you still live with them now?”

Octavius shifted in his seat. “I had a difficult time being back home, so I’m currently living with my partner, Thessaly.” He gave Thessaly a small smile.

“You two have been friends since high school?” Yarra asked.

“Yes, she visited me nearly every day when I was locked up and we officially became partners when I got out.” His gaze stayed with Thessaly. “She’s what kept me going.”

Thessaly mouthed an “I love you” to him.

The audience awed, gushing over their little interaction.

Yarra pursed her lips in sympathy. “Were there times in prison where you lost hope?”

“So many times. I…” Octavius’s voice shook. “When the others inside found out what I was in there for, they thought being in prison wasn’t enough.”

“There were a few times when I visited him and he had bruises and broken bones.” Thessaly’s eyes turned glassy. “It was so hard to see him like that, so broken and hurt, especially knowing that he didn’t deserve it.”

“I’m sorry that happened,” Yarra said. “It’s an awful crime to be committed for.” There was a moment of silence before she asked. “Do you feel anger towards the Vicary family?”

Octavius took a deep breath, his eyes quickly flashing to whatever or whoever was behind Yarra, off camera. “I understand they wanted justice for their daughter, and I think they were blinded by what they believed to be true. ”

“Now, I’m sure everyone is curious, but why did you become friends with her in the first place? She was, after all, four years younger than you.”

Octavius shook his head. “Look, if I could turn back time, I’d never have talked to her after we were paired up for that activity at school. I guess I just felt pity for her.”

“Her grandfather mentioned in his interview that she had no friends. Was that true?”

“Yeah, the other kids in her class didn’t like her.”

Thessaly piped in. “Datura took advantage of Tav’s kindness and misinterpreted it, inappropriately falling in love with him.”

“How do you know she was in love with him?”

“She was so clingy with him, and she knew Tav and I were a bit more than friends at the time.” Thessaly’s face distorted to one of loathing, blinking rapidly.

“Datura slithered her way between us every chance she got, always jealous when I was near him and called me horrible names. She even went so far as to throw tantrums whenever Tav would hang out with me instead of her.”

Octavius glanced at Thessaly before turning his focus back to Yarra.

“What are your thoughts on how Datura is now? She’s alive, and she’s a part of a clan now.”

He shook his head as Thessaly answered. “I don’t believe either of us are surprised with how she’s turned out. She made choices Octavius tried to warn her about, but she never listened.”

“Choices like what?” Yarra asked, leaning forward in her seat.

Octavius shifted in his seat. “Well, after she left my place, she met this older man, a Stygian clansman.” He sighed. “That’s when she started drinking and taking drugs.”

“There were even times where she was intoxicated at school.” Thessaly scrunched her nose. “She smelt so bad too, like she never showered.”

The crowd made sounds of disgust, gasping.

“Tess,” Octavius said, trying to make her stop before she said something she’d most likely regret. “Look, we’re not here to bad mouth Datura. There were many people around her who were trying to help her, but she chose her path and continued down it.”

“There was nothing you could have done to help her,” Yarra said in a solemn voice.

“Exactly.”

“Do you think Datura will ever come forward to speak about the situation? I have invited her multiple times to come on the show, but I never get a response.” She laughed.

Thessaly rubbed her other hand over Octavius’s in a comforting manner.

“Honestly, I don’t think she will. For three years I was in prison, and she said and did nothing.”

“And what are your plans now for your future?” Yarra asked. “Do you think you will ever reach out to Datura?”

“No, I don’t want anything to do with her anymore.

” Octavius’s back straightened. “Datura brought nothing but bad things into the lives of those around her, and I don’t wish for anyone to be met with the same fate.

She has ruined my life, my family’s, my friend’s, and the Vicary family’s lives.

We all just want to move forward from this.

I’m working on myself and repairing my relationship with my family and friends.

It's been rough, but we’re getting there. ”

Yarra gave them a smile. “I’m glad to hear that, and I do hope everything works out for you. Thank you very much for coming on to the show.”

“Thank you.” He and Thessaly rose, giving Yarra a polite nod before walking off the stage.

***

On Monday, Reaper wasn't at school and everyone's minds drifted to her return. They'd probably make a movie about this or at the very least a documentary, a happy ending, as it looks like it's become .

Was I relieved she was finally gone? Good riddance. I can finally have my sanity–

Reaper entered history and everyone stopped, turning and watching her walk to the back of the room, whispering.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

She didn’t look at me as she passed my desk.

So I made Iri swap seats with me so I could sit next to Reaper.

“What are you doing here?” I asked again.

Reaper turned her head up towards me and gave me a weird look, rolling her eyes. “I go here.” But that big, playful smile couldn't fool me. The red irritated skin at the corner of her eyes from having rubbed at it too much and the bit of make-up missing on the tip of her nose said she wasn’t ok.

Why aren't you with your family? It’s what I wanted to ask, but the words died as the teacher entered. “Alright, I hope everyone completed their assignments. I’ll be coming around to pick them up.” She went around the room, doing a quick glance at each person’s paper before taking it.

“I thought she went back home,” Jamiel said in a low voice.

Iri nudged Jamiel. “There’s obviously a good reason that she chose to run away,” she snapped. “She wouldn't go back after all these years. Why would she?”

If Iri couldn't see through the mask Reaper was wearing, no one else could.

Though, maybe Iri was right. Reaper did make the choice to run away and she must have had a good reason, especially to go so far as joining the Kokkino clan and allow the entire city to think she was dead.

She didn't want to be found. So what brought her back?

“Wonder what happened between Celestine and Octavius,” Lin said.

Everyone had seen the video of the physical fight the two had the day she disappeared, but no one knew why that fight happened. And when asked in court, Octavius’s response was ‘no comment.’

Iri leaned over her desk, closer to the three of us as she spoke. “I heard it's because Cel found out Octavius was in love with someone else and she flipped.” Probably the most explainable answer.

“Is that what she told you?” I asked.

“No,” Iri replied. “Just what I heard. She dodges questions like the plague.”

“I wonder what she thinks about Marigold,” Jamiel said with a mouth full of food, having snuck in a snack as he often did. “Has she met her yet?”

Iri shook her head. “Don’t think so.”