The Stokenholme siblings were same but different and unique, but all of them were caged from the beginning in the game for power and revenge and control. Children who didn't have a choice when they were born into this.
Raymond, born to take over his father's title. The next-in-line. Natural leader from the beginning.
Claire, the daughter that was a mistake to her father and precious gem to her mother. Protector from the beginning.
Dave, the first of the twins. The self-centred and boisterous one but always ready to jump in and kill for his siblings especially his twin, Stephan. A warrior
Stephan, the second twin. The level-headed and reliable twin and unlike his twin he spends his time in the library between book and cramming his brain with knowledge.
And then the last one, Hannah, another daughter that was told to have been a mistake. The one trained to become the prim and proper lady of the society.
They all have their stories. Some known to others and some unknown but all of them a silent support for each other.
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The Stokenholme household has now started to be filled by gifts, from flowers and chocolates to clothes and jewellery. None of them would stay in the house for long. Each donated to different charities and organisations.
Every single flower sent was either burned or asked to be sent back. Claire might have given her word to marry him but she never promised her obedience and submission.
Now the direct threat to her siblings life is over, she was able to act on her instincts and feelings. She will make sure to use the shards of her broken spirit to cut down every single one of her enemies.
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The sun that was shining brightly outside didn't bring Raymond any sort of clarification to what his life has turned into in the past few days. His inner turmoil kept ending and putting him in a sense of helplessness.
His little sister was going to get married to one of the worst man alive in a few days. Claire's presence in this family has always been important and grounding to everyone. Especially his younger siblings. On one hand he felt guilt and admiration for Clair's sacrifices for their young siblings. Nobody would protect them like she did and still does. On the other hand, he felt anger and protectiveness towards her for not thinking for herself for once.
He wondered if he would have been in Claire's position if he wasn't forced to go to the academy. Probably not. Sylvie probably send him away so that Claire won't have anybody protecting her.
He saw the venom and anger Sylvie directed towards Claire. It was almost like Claire's existence is causing her eternal pain with no cure. She was still out there and he knows that that won't be the last time anybody ever saw her.
This time he will protect Claire. No matter what.
That will also include from her soon-to-be-husband, Killian Salvatore. Raymond had felt so powerless that day when he was used as leverage by that monster to force Claire into an eternal binding. No amount of punching the walls or training had quietened down these turmoil in him.
"Where are we going?" Claire asked, while being led out by Raymond with a clothe covering her eyes.
"Patience. You will see soon. It is something I have been waiting to give to you for a long time."
"Can we please walk just a bit faster then?"
He chuckled at her impatience, "We are almost there"
After a few more steps, they stopped. Claire could feel the grass even with her full length dress. The air around them was picking up here and there. Raymond slowly removed the clothe from her eyes. It took a few moments for Claire to adjust to the bright light but as soon as she got her focus back, her eyes caught on to something she had not seen in a long time.
"Star!!" she shouted, her voice filled with joy, as she started running towards to the black stallion with a wild spirit that was standing next to the tree
Her heart raced with anticipation as she reached her. When she raised her hands to stroke his muzzle he took a step back, "Hey, it's me. Remember when we used to gallop across the big fields..."
This time when she raised her hands and touched his muzzle, though, her eyes brightened up and it filled with recognition and warmth. He nickered softly in response leaning into her touch as if they have never been apart.
"Claire, I think somebody feels a bit left out in this reunion.." Raymond said, causing Claire to look back to see him standing there next to Shadow.
He neighed and started trotting towards Claire. Her breathe caught in her throat as the brown stallion with a quiet spirit stood next to her, tossing his head with impatience. She reached out and stroked his soft mane.
The stallion whinnied, nudging her gently with his nose, and Claire could feel the warmth of his body, grounding her amidst the chaos that had been her life. She pulled back to look at both of them, her heart swelling with affection. "I missed you both so much."
Claire had found both of them in un-used stall in the middle of almost nowhere. They were both abandoned over there. Only given something to eat when somebody in passing felt like giving something. It took months of nurturing and spending time with them before they even warmed up to her and her mother. Shadow was much harder to convince that we weren't going to hurt them.
After their mother passed away, when Raymond was getting send away to training academy Claire made her brother take both of them away, almost like she knew them both staying here is not going to be good.
Tears pricked at Claire's eyes as she looked back at her brother, "Thank you, Ray. You don't know how much this means to me."
As dusk settled around them, she spent the evening with Star and Shadow, talking to them about her worries and hopes. They listened, as they always had, their calm presence soothing her soul.
As Raymond stood in the distance, looking at his sister peaceful at once, he vowed to himself that he would protect her and be loyal to, support her decisions unconditionally. Even if he has to do it silently.
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