Sweet as the Grape

Sericea felt a heaviness settle in her chest as she absorbed her mother's words. The hard-won wisdom in Absinth's voice, the scars that spoke of battles fought and survived - it was a sobering reality check. Sericea's youthful idealism, her desire to see the best in others, even in someone like Setekh, suddenly felt naive and foolish in the face of her mother's experiences.

"You're right," Sericea admitted softly, her acidic green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Freedom isn't easy. It comes at a cost." She swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump forming in her throat. The weight of the secrets she carried, the clandestine meetings with Setekh, pressed down on her like a physical burden. Sericea's tail twitched anxiously as she grappled with the realization that her grandsire, the one she had grown to admire and trust, might not be the figure she had built up in her mind. The seeds of doubt had been planted, and now they took root, spreading tendrils of unease through her thoughts.

Sericea felt a chill settle in her bones at Absinth's stark warning. The metaphor of a spider and its helpless prey sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but wonder if she had already been caught in Setekh's web without realizing it. "I understand," Sericea murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I won't let my guard down around anyone like that. I promise."

Even as the words left her mouth, Sericea felt a twinge of unease. The secrets she kept, the meetings with Setekh - they hung over her like a gathering storm cloud. How could she face her mother, knowing she had already begun to fall under her grandsire's spell? The guilt gnawed at her insides, a sickening sensation that made her want to curl in on herself. But Sericea forced herself to meet Absinth's gaze head-on, her acidic green eyes shimmering with a mix of emotions - love, fear, confusion, and a desperate need for guidance. "Thank you for telling me the truth," she whispered, leaning into her mother's gentle prod. "I know it couldn't have been easy to relive those memories. But I'm glad you trusted me enough to share them."

The truth was, she couldn’t shake the adoration she felt for him. The way he spoke to her made her feel seen, unique. It fanned the flames of her ambition and ignited an insatiable hunger within her. Each lesson was a thread drawn tighter, weaving them together in ways she scarcely understood. To be his protégé meant something profound, and yet the warning bells in her mind tolled louder with every interaction they shared. She knew going forward, she would have to tread carefully. Be aware. And be proactive in shaping her own destiny.

Blinking away her inner musings, she leaned up into her mother’s touch once more. “Thanks Momma … I love you.”

[Exit Sericea]
"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"