Like most days, Vanya sat in her room, pampering herself. Brush in hand, she carefully combed through blue locks, untangling the knots that came with flying. A knock at her door interrupted her and she stared at it for a moment - maybe she could see if whoever was on the other side was worth her time if she looked long enough. With a sigh, she pushed herself up from her desk and opened the door, lips pursed.

"You're interrupting very importa-" she had started saying before realising that no one was there. She glanced around for a few seconds before she noticed the envelope on the ground. She picked it up, a smirked playing across her lips. Had someone written their confessions for her in a letter? She turned the envelope to open it as she closed the door, making her way back to her dresser. The smirk quickly faded and her heart faltered as she noted the wax seal on the back; golden with a feather imprint. A letter from home. She sat down carefully and dropped the envelope on her desk as if it had suddenly turned venomous. She sucked in a breath. Who was it from? Not her mother, surely. She was never so formal. None of her flock-sisters. Some scribbled messages in the letters her mother sent but they never sent her any themselves.

Her lips pursed and she traced the seal for a moment before breaking it. It was bad news, she was certain. A death, perhaps. Or an order for her to return home immediately. Slipping the letter from the envelope, she carefully unfolded it and began to read it.

Sister Vanya,

I hope you are well and that your studies are coming along nicely. I heard there was a House Cup recently? I hope it was a pleasant event for you; your mother is upset she wasn't invited. Do take care to invite her next time, please. Everything is well at home; I hope I didn't make you worry. You know you'll get wrinkles if you worry at a young age,

Vanya paused and clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She was always being teased because of her vanity.

I'm just letting you know that your sister is taking a much needed vacation and she'll be staying in Halloween Town for - well who knows how long - I haven't decided yet. She should be arriving the same day you receive this letter. Do drop by and see her, I've put the address of her new apartment at the bottom. I'll send a messenger to check up on you both later.

Take care.

There was no name at the bottom but Vanya expected that as soon as she realised who the letter was from. There was only one person who could force her sister to go on vacation. The Matriarch. The ghoul placed the letter back on the bench; once again it had become venomous. Her fingers drummed on her dresser and she rested her chin on the palm of the hand, taking deep breaths.

Worrying at a young age gives you wrinkles, Vanya. She thought to herself, her frown only deepening Verisiel staying in Halloween Town? Leaving her post which she coveted? Leaning back in her chair, the harpy crossed her arms over her chest. There was no way to avoid this; the casual mention of someone checking up on them meant she had no choice. She groaned and flopped forward, head resting on her forearms that folded across the dresser. It wasn't that she hated her sister; that was impossible. How was she supposed to hate someone she didn't know or have anything in common with?

There were years between them and by the time Vanya was born, Verisiel had already begun her training as a guard. They rarely saw each other and when they did, there was already too big a gap between them - a gap that only grew between them as time went on. Nothing in common, nothing to bond over or bring them together; Verisiel didn't agree with Vanya's flamboyant lifestyle and Vanya thought Verisiel had no time for anything but her job. So neither of them bothered with the other and that was fine by the both of them. But now... Her head rose and she swept the letter into her hands, crumbling it. Now she was being forced and why? Had Verisiel finally cracked?

As far apart as they were, Vanya saw Verisiel in her weakest moments; a side effect of a curious child spying on her older sister. Verisiel was talented, Vanya had to admit that and she worked hard for her talent - talent even Vanya could see was going to waste. Other guards had accepted this and moved on, taking up a second job or becoming mothers. Verisiel didn't. She was almost fanatical with her devotion. A sigh escaped Vanya's parted lips and she tossed the letter into the trash can. If she hadn't already cracked, Verisiel was sure to now that she was away from her duties.

She rose from her chair and gave herself a look over, fingers dancing across the scar on her stomach; still fresh and still a little tender. Sometimes it still ached and she awoke in the middle of the night, thinking it had somehow reopened. Rummaging in her closet; she pulled out a sheer top, pulling it over her head. It felt weird covering up; even if it wasn't modest in the slightest. But she wasn't ready to admit she'd been defeated in front of her sister, the warrior princess. She chuckled a little at her own joke before she left, taking flight from the roof of the school and making her way to visit her dear sister.