prologue

Russia, 2010.

The Baudelaire family was at the Pavlov Ice Rink, celebrating the acquisition of the biggest Ice Park in Moscow. Mr. Baudelaire's eyes sparkled with expectations of hoarding profits; Mrs. Baudelaire's eyes sparkled because she finally found an ocassion to wear her teardrop diamond necklace in public and little Edwina Baudelaire's big blue eyes sparkled at the prospect of skating in the rink.

The Sinclair family was there to promote their political propaganda, something along the lines of 'An Agile Youth is Future's Fruit!' Mr. Sinclair was the guest of honour, beaming for every camera in the vicinity. Mrs. Sinclair had spied Mrs. Baudelaire's necklace from the entrance and beelined to make queries about its authenticity; following her mother was little Kiersten Sinclair.

"You fancy skating?"

Edwina whisked her head from the Ice Rink to face Kiersten's expectant green gaze. The little ravenette's jaw hung open as she eyed the beauty in front of her. From underneath the furry brown cap, blonde hair, thick and shiny like a doll's, gently spread out and framed the girl's dainty face. Her lashes were long enough to catch snowflakes, her nose was as straight and sharp as a skate blade and her lips were pink and pillowy — captivating Edwina in a trance.

"Wow... you're awfully pretty," Edwina gasped, "You're like a Princess!"

Kiersten smiled; hers was a proud Sinclair smile with her chin jutted up, cheeks pushed and eyes crinkling just enough to convey genuineness. It didn't mean she was faking a smile to Edwina, no, she was just taught to smile that way.

"You're not bad yourself," Kiersten observed as her green stare scrutinized Edwina's curly dark hair, milky pale skin and eyes as blue as a stormy night. "Rather, I think you're prettier," Kiersten remarked, always one-upping a compliment in the Sinclair fashion.

They were eight; kids, on an ice rink. Edwina's sharp skates glided swiftly as she meandered across the ice, smiling in awe as Kiersten elegantly skated over the glistening surface— slow, dainty and precise — before she leapt into the air for a spin, her silver dress making her shine like a star in Edwina's eyes.

As the star descended to the ground, her balance faltered, her arms flailed, her blade caught awkwardly onto the ice and her eyes widened in horror. Kiersten was about to fall when Edwina sped to her side, grabbed her hand and pulled her into a steady spin.

"I got you, starshine," Edwina winked after catching Kiersten's nervous gaze. A small smile eased onto the blonde's face, one in which she was wasn't deliberately crinkling her eyes or pushing her cheeks.

That night, Edwina begged her mother to meet the Sinclairs on a weekly basis. Mrs. Baudelaire readily agreed because she had her mind set on organising a soiree to launch some underrated jewellery designers to the elite.

From skating in the ice rink to performing at the inauguration of Baudelaire Jewels with Kiersten singing in her angelic voice and Edwina as her violin accompaniment, they remained inseparable.

The store launch was an elaborate affair and the hall was decked in sparkling jewels and shining stones hanging off of the ceiling, captivating the two girls with their brilliance.

"I would marry in a place like this," Kiersten announced, green eyes jumping from the women's bejewelled gowns to the gem studded walls.

"I'll marry by your side," Edwina giggled, head craned at the sparkling ceiling. "You can sing at my wedding," she added with a wink.

"You must play the wedding march at mine," Kiersten replied, now eyeing the sparkling shoes adorning every foot.

"Of course, I'd love to! Our grooms would be so handsome!" Edwina exclaimed as she looked down and spotted the chocolate fountain.

"And very rich, of course, but we'll be the prettiest," Kiersten flicked her perfect blonde hair.

"Yes indeed, now let's have some chocolate, shall we?" Edwina grinned.

At twelve, the Sinclairs urged to send their daughter off to boarding school and the fear of seperation from the object of her admiration had Edwina abandoning all hobbies and social life to join her best friend in England, Charterhouse School.

London, 2015.

"Miss Baudelaire, Miss Sinclair, pray tell, what fancy do you find in Mr. Thornwaite? Surely the back of his head cannot be as intresting as the chemical equations taught by Mr. Brimsley, or is it?" Headmistress Lovelace asked with a clenched jaw.

On top of her desk were two open notebooks, the top of the page headlined "ALKALIS" while the rest of Edwina's page was a sketch of the boy's small curly head and wide shoulders, widened enough to host an ocean underneath. The rest of Kiersten's page was ill-rhymed poetry about the boy's hair being as dark as an eclipsed sky.

The girls in question stood in front of their respective notebooks, head hung low in the facade of shame.

"We're sorry, Miss Lovelace, we shall reflect upon our blunder," Edwina whispered.

"Oh, will you now? I'd say it's a pity for your artistic talent, Miss Baudelaire," The headmistress tsked and turned her head to the Thornwaite boy, standing with his back facing the headmistress. "As wide as the ocean..." She dragged under her breath, eyes glaring at the boy's considerably narrow shoulders. "No, I don't see it. Your perspective has failed to convince me. Detention for a month!" She banged her notebook shut.

The three students flinched at the intensity of the bang.

"Miss Lovelace, I am sorry, but what about my perspective?" Kiersten asked, a hint of urgency in her tone which did not escape any. Edwina could not help but snicker as Headmistress Lovelace said:

"Oh, yes please, let me read it out loud. In a village dim

lived Thornwaite slim,

Hair black as eclipsed sky,

heart fierce, not dim.

Shoulders not broad,

but spirit high,

In his journey bold,

he'll touch the sky.

Your poetic prowess, Miss Sinclair, remains unparalleled because any poetess who wrote as bad would propel herself into the Thames. I like your confidence though, so, a two month detention for you."

Headmistress Lovelace gently flicked the notebook towards Kiersten, urging her to leave the room instantly. The two girls skittered out of the room, notebooks in hand, giggling.

"A— and what about me, Miss Lovelace?" Thornwaite asked, still not daring to turn.

"Shift your seat to somewhere behind those girls, will you, lad?" Miss Lovelace rolled her eyes and flicked her hand, "Off you go now. Tsk Tsk."

The boy too ran out of the office room, thankful that he got no punishment. He rounded the hallway corner and was instantly pinned to the wooden wallboards by Kiersten's arms. Edwina stood beside her, smirking as the boy sighed.

"Geez, I cannot believe you both started bickering over an analogy in the middle of class! I hate you two!" The boy scowled, though he did not resist Kiersten's imposition.

"It was an important part of the art we were creating. Give us the money now, you'll be famous starting next period," Edwina chimed and extended a hand for payment.

The boy dug into his pockets and pulled out fourty Euros and placed them in Edwina's hand.

"Nice doing business with you," Kiersten flicked his forehead and stepped back. The two girls locked their arms and skipped away, leaving a breathless boy behind.

To be popular at Charterhouse School, to feel validated enough, to feel complete, one couldn't help but make a deal with the Devil's Duo. They were beautiful, they were powerful, they were cunning, they were shameless and they were wanted. If not to be with them, then to be them.

Though, they saw one one else but eachother. They trusted no one else but eachother. A smile earned from Kiersten meant climbing up the appearance social ladder. A conversation earned from Edwina meant an year's worth of not being ignored.

Thornwaite did not know where the rules came from or who made them, but that's just how the world around them worked.

But, as easily as Devil's Duo wielded the power to raise a person — just as easily they could make him fall. Especially, the begrudged Kiersten Sinclair.

The blonde propped herself on top of the teacher's desk and slung a hand around a classmate's shoulder, "I shouldn't tell you, but I'm afraid that if I keep it to myself then it'd cause something big," she began with a whisper, "You have two brothers here, don't you? Keep them away from Professor Brimsley, will you? He has a thing for young boys. I heard him pestering Thornwaite last evening so Eddie and I thought to openly pursue the poor pretty lad, but blimey! He had us reported to the headmistress and got us detention! Evil sod, Stay safe, please."

Her beautiful face contoured into that of pure grief as she jutted her lower lip and mushed her brows together. The horrified classmate merely nodded, unable to process the information as Kiersten patted the girl's back and waited for the spark of her fire to spread into the forest yet burn only a singular tree.

As students started avoiding Professor Brimsley and young boys begun cowering in his presence, matters were taken to investigation. The fire of whispers was too large and the accusations too many. Though Mr. Brimsley was the only accused, two different Professors had a trail of harassment cases burning behind their backs as students started speaking up — partially out of spite, partially out of honesty.

The children of power held a word of power; consequently, all three of the Professors were sacked and Headmistress Lovelace resigned. The girls graduated school, with Edwina never knowing about the rumour Kiersten sourced.

Edwina wanted to study at Oxford and Kiersten wanted to take a gap year to establish a business in New York City. So, a break was what Edwina took.

California, 2019.

"Star, NYC is horribly expensive! Why do you think we'll be able to succeed at a Pearl Ornamental business? Literally everyone has pearls in their business, even small Youtuber business have real pearls!" Edwina argued whilst sipping on a coconut as they lounged on a beach, under the blazing sun.

"Yes, but, you have a background in business! The Baudelaires are an empire! Business giants! And I'm not talking about cheap pearl necklaces, I'm talking about a specialisation in Pearl everything! Sculptures, Jwellery, dresses, accessories — only for the elite! They love that shit!" Kiersten countered, sipping on her orange juice.

"It's been a while since I talked to my parents, you know they only want me to inherit their business. They do not support this gap year nonsense," Edwina whined.

"Come on, don't call it nonsense! We needed a hot girl summer and some bonding hours between bad bitches," Kiersten sighed a pleasant sigh.

"Yes yes yes," Edwina berated, "That's why I'm here, aren't I, star?"

"Aren't you the most precious!" Kiersten flung off her lounge chair and attacked Edwina in a hug. The ravenette gasped as Kiersten began tickling her and they both descended to the sandy beach, rolling, laughing and screaming their youth away.

A month later, Edwina received the news of her parents' untimely death. A mishap on the chef's part led to a fire at the Baudelaire Mansion and Mr. and Mrs. Baudelaire soon passed away from monoxide poisoning.

Edwina wailed at the foot of her parents' coffins, her body trembling with regret. Rain poured down the heavens but instead of washing away her remorse, it merely added weight on her shoulders. She sank into the dirt, having lost her family in pursuit of a star.

The star which stood equally soaked beside her, holding her as she wheezed. A star who suddenly did not feel all that bright under the raging skies; A star whose embrace made Edwina feel captive. So, she twisted herself out of Kiersten's hug and stepped away, her chest heaving.

"I'll, I must, I will honour my parents wishes. I, I'm sorry. I will be going to Oxford and inheriting the business. We'll have to cut the break short," Edwina announced, standing at the foot of her parents' graves. The sky matched her eyes as evening dawned upon them, thundering at the behest of Edwina's sorrow.

Kiersten stood still, her beautiful face schooled to show concern with a curve of her brows and widening of her eyes. Her lips remained parted but no words came out of them as she stood, deathly still, staring at Edwina's beautiful form curled into a sobbing mess.

"Will you come?" The ravenette whispered, eyes pained yet expectant as she asked. It would be the first time Edwina wasn't chasing her Star but asking it to come to her instead.

"No," Kiersten replied, the simple word metaphorically plunging Edwina's heart out and letting her bleed dry on the cold stone. Her expression remained unchanged.

"I see," Edwina gulped, wiping the tears off her already wet face. The rain did not stop, it kept weighing her down — crumbling her spirits and morale until what was left was a shell of her limbs standing, as it said, "I'll see you then."

Kiersten nodded, the schooled concern not leaving her face. Her hands hung uselessly, eyes staring dead at her childhood friend who lost all of her family over night. Her beautiful manicure was ruined because of the funeral, it was such a shame. "Okay then," Kiersten said with a nod.

They parted ways with heavy hearts and barren eyes. Uncertainty grappled their future and fogged their perspective. Edwina knew how to ice skate, stable and fast, but she did not know how to jump. Kiersten knew how to ice skate elegantly and jump, but she did not know how to land. They'd always been beside eachother to complete the eachother — Eddie's Star and Star's Eddie were the crux of their identities.

London, 2019.

'What now?' is what Edwina thought as she was on a plane with an Oxford acceptance letter in her bag. And it would be the last time she'd think of her star, in a while, for at Oxford she rekindled her relationship with the now Professor Lovelace, in the Department of Business Administration.

Professor Lovelace's expectations added pressure in the face of her competence, consequently making her shine like a diamond; and all that gitter attracted gold. Rubeus Arnold was the golden boy of business administration and it seemed befitting for him to be up-close and personal with the golden girl's business.

In his pursuit of Edwina, for three years, he only met the face of rejection on every turn.

Her argument being, "I'm not looking for short term flings or relationships. I have lost enough, as it is," which compelled Rubeus to impale her with the question, "Will you marry me instead?" before graduation.

It was a snowy day; the park was lit up with golden lights and they twinkled like burning stars in a dawny sky. Snowflakes trickled down and settled inside the silver wrapping paper of the Ferrero Rocher bouquet he was holding in her face.

It felt so familiar to the day she had promised to marry by Kiersten's side. The sudden memory left her heart thundering and hands clammy within the confines of her gloves. The mere prospect of an opportunity to see Kiersten again had Edwina saying, "Yes," to Rubeus.

Me:

I'm getting married.

Her text remained on delivered for two whole days before Kiersten replied.

Star:

Where?

Edwina's fingers itched to reply instantly but she waited. She calmed her zooming senses but couldn't stop the smile that graced her face. It had been a while. It had been so long. She had missed her.

BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.

Edwina flung her phone on the bed and headed towards the door, thankful for a distraction at hand. An order of new paints was due that day and she opened the door expecting it to be the delivery person.

But damn heaven for the wind was knocked out of her lungs. She thought she'd be fine, but she wasn't. She had thought about it, a handful of times (during the shower, in the middle of brunch or to pass time during an awfully boring management class) over the three years, but she was never prepared for the reality. Tears brimmed her eyes and her chest heaved in exasperated breaths, her hands shook, unaware of their usefulness and her knees buckled.

Though, before she could hit the marbled floor, a pair of hands grabbed her by the arms and pulled her in a hug.

"Couldn't come 'cause of the damned Pandemic," Kiersten tsked, running a hand through Edwina's curly hair. "How could you even think of getting married without me involved, bitch," she cursed and pulled the ravenette's limp body in a tighter hug.

"I-I, uh- I," Edwina sobbed, "I missed you!" She cried out loud.

It took Edwina three whole hours to let go of Kiersten. The ravenette had wrapped her arms around the blonde's shoulders and followed her all over the place as Kiersten helped herself with food and water.

"Who's he? Is he good? Let me assess him," Kiersten asked after they were done catching up.

"You'll love him! He's pretty handsome and nice, smart as well!" Edwina chirped as she sought out her phone and called Rubeus to meet up.

In the twenty-two years of her life, Edwina had lived a good eleven by Kiersten's side. Hence why, unquestionably so, Kiersten took charge of Edwina's wedding as the Maid of Honour. She was better at executing things anyway and Edwina trusted her choices way more than her own.

In the morning of the surprise bachelorette planned by Kiersten, Edwina received a call from Professor Lovelace. Since she was about to graduate and be wedded, Professor Lovelace wanted to congratulate her oldest student in person.

"Good Morning Professor, you summoned me?" Edwina greeted and placed the basket of fruits she'd brought for the aging lady.

"Ah, fruits!" Professor Lovelace smiled, wrinkled and warm, "Thank you, dear. Yes, I did summon you," she mimicked the way Edwina used the word 'summoned' as if she were a maid and the Professor were her mistress.

"What can I help you with, Milady," Edwina joked as she took the chair in front of the desk upon the professor's gesture. She noticed the cleared out table and the boxes sitting beside it. "Are you leaving, Professor?" She asked with a frown on her face.

"Ah, yes and before leaving, I wanted to give you a gift, Edwina dear. I've met a good number of people in my life, yes, but I've never quite seen someone give their all to every little thing like you do. Always so detailed," she reminisced the ocean underneath the Thornwaite boy's shoulders where each fish had detailed scales and individual air bubbles.

"Ah, you flatter me!" Edwina flailed her hands with embarassment.

"You've got great potential and a brilliant future," Professor Lovelace slid an envelope towards her. "You probably won't need it, but I'm sure, it'll suit you well," she urged.

Edwina picked it up and flipped it over to read, 'Letter of Recommendation.'

"Yeah, I probably won't need it. I'm halfway through the inheritance process at home. My house is a mess with wedding and office documents, but thank you, I appreciate it. May I help you with the moving, Professor?" She asked, pointing at the taped cartons beside the table.

"No no, I've got a lad on it, get going now. Live your life and become happy. I'll check in after a few years; you better be the most accomplished woman by then."

Edwina laughed at that, "I think you're forgetting Kiersten. She'll take the cake with that wish."

Professor Lovelace furrowed her brows at that, "I reckoned you weren't friends anymore?"

"We are though. She's got my bachelorette planned tonight!" Edwina chirped.

"Be wary of that lass. She was the one who started those rumours about Brimsley."

Edwina mulled that thought in her head all the way to the party hall. Why would Kiersten start a rumour about Professor Brimsley? She had no motive! That's such a dumb proposition. Kiersten was sly, but she wasn't outright evil to frame pedophilia on an innocent man. Surely, age was getting to Professor Lovelace's head. No wonder she was going on a break.

Edwina's bachelorette was the event of the year. The place was brimming with people she didn't even know and drinks were thrusted into her system ever since she stepped through the doorframe. By time Edwina reached the third floor, she was half dazed between words and thoughts.

She remembered Kiersten approaching her. She remembered dancing with her. She remembered a few girls stripping her to get her more comfortable and away from the heat.

But she did not remember Kiersten pushing her onto a pile of naked girls and clicking pictures. She did not remember Kiersten holding her hand and forcing her to sign off her inheritance. She did not remember Kiersten dumping her, barely clad, on the cold cobbled road of the Red District.

She only remembered waking up to the horror of men prodding at her limp body, leering in her face.