there's light at the edge of the darkness
If it hadn’t already been abundantly clear that Phoebe didn’t know Loren or herself, that statement would’ve done the trick. As it was, he just smirked at her words. ”Oh I didn’t. I took your lack of a spine for weakness. Look at you. Sniveling. Sobbing. Shivering. Unable or unwilling to make me shut up. Pathetic.” She couldn’t even muster up the most paltry of defenses at his words. Then again, that probably had a lot to do with the fact that there was a kernel of truth to each one.
”Nope. You’re too easy to tear down for me to take any satisfaction from it. Maybe help yourself before you try and help others.” He leaned forward and grinned savagely at her. ”I told you I didn’t want your help. So stop offering it.” Again, it wasn’t like he wasn’t giving her fair warning here. She could walk away, or order him to go at any time. But if she couldn't stand up to him here, in the sanctum of the College that she'd built, with her stalwart companion by her side, she'd never be able to do it anywhere.
”Nope. You’re too easy to tear down for me to take any satisfaction from it. Maybe help yourself before you try and help others.” He leaned forward and grinned savagely at her. ”I told you I didn’t want your help. So stop offering it.” Again, it wasn’t like he wasn’t giving her fair warning here. She could walk away, or order him to go at any time. But if she couldn't stand up to him here, in the sanctum of the College that she'd built, with her stalwart companion by her side, she'd never be able to do it anywhere.
loren
