..The sentiment from Mother didn’t last long; a minute more and everything had.. reset. My hair was as it should’ve been.. as with teeth and my face had a towel to it. I held it there until the sound of Mother’s feet had all but faded. Concentrating on mundane things helped in a way – helped with my concentration and that leaden sensation the Medicine bought. As the towel came free and eyes opened..? Struck with a pain that felt like hands that gripped too tightly.. two at first; then four.. then six. The hold of each was staggered within a second or two of each other.. all with varying degrees of.. possessiveness from temple to nape. Localized as it may have been.. I couldn’t move anything but my head.. but that? That was eased up, then forward until all that was..?

My eyes to the mirror.. and the silhouette of a Woman that it beautified. Through absolute fear had eyes averted.. yet it did nothing; I saw her as if she had always been there in this sick mind of mine. ❛..Boy.❜ The figure asserted with a hoarse voice, only once, as it had the same effect on me as Mother’s; instantaneous obedience. The difference was negligible, pushed under the rug before my horror could claw on back. I was looking forward now.. and her image wasn’t so obscure. No. She looked like me; horns, her face, her willowy form, her pasty hair. But..? Her eyes.. her sclera are midnight pools tipped with tiny pink-pricks of crimson. Still..? There was something that made me uneasy, something that nauseated me.. something that left me feeling as but a piece of meat to her.

❛..What..?❜ I summoned what scant courage I had, I dared to ask.. but where was the weight of my words..? They were featherweight at the very most ─ weak ─ only just earning a flutter of long lashes and a fine set of words from a voice far more daunting. ❛..Is this all they could give..? You? A withering little Boy that can barely walk on his own..? I’ve put too much faith in this.. Hierarchy, in Alena to supply us with.. strong Children to host. If you were my Child..? The moment you showed weakness, the moment it was unmistakable that you were so.. helpless..? You would have been thrown to the streets of Magnum.❜ She seethed through gritted teeth ─ breaks in ire coming in sets of exasperated groans.

..And through it all did I stand there ─ swallowing down all she spat.. never once leaning to defend myself. Mother has always done that for me ─ she’s never let me get.. hurt ─ never left me grasping for her attention. ❛..I’m sorry..❜ I whispered as I shook hands with the facts of my existence. Her head craned forward though could come no farther than the mirror that impressed on her forehead. I felt the gelid glass to my skin just as she must’ve. ❛..You’re sorry..?❜ She asked.. and I quickly reaffirmed with a nod ─ I was. But..? Her initial response was a firm scoff ─ but she reared back as much as able until she could headbutt and subsequently shatter the mirror.. and my view of her. It severed anything visceral between she and I; I didn’t feel so.. encumbered. ❛..If given the choice to kill you..? I wouldn’t hesitate for a second if it meant my body back. But..? Just like you..? I’ve never had a choice in life I’ve always been forced to just.. take what was put on my platter.. and this time? It is you. But.. things can always change.. in a matter of years things will have change so very much. You can still prove me wrong, Boy.. and I ‘ pray ‘ that you do for the sake of us both.❜

The lights ebbed once.. and any sign of her that there was? Gone. I was finally able to breathe.. but I found that interrupted by my Sister, Morgana, who stood little over a foot taller than me. ❛..What are you doing..?❜ Her voice rang with it’s perpetual dry tone.. and it was always so LOUD.. but I held myself where I was instead of jouncing about as I was so prone to doing around her. ❛..Washing my face..❜ I answered in almost an apologetic way as I crept I towards to sink to further feign what I said. ❛..I’m almost done.❜ Something ─ anything to get her gone.. but she isn’t stupid.. and she stepped as I stepped ─ she couldn’t have been more than a few inches behind me; I felt her breath at my nape. ❛..Then hurry up.❜ She spoke in such an insistent manner.. and her arms came forward, into my sight, though sought after her own belongings; her toothbrush.. and that gave me a chance to finally see her pale, calloused hands when they weren’t swinging at me; they are full and her arms are long ─ she is built like Mother in most ways; defined by muscle.. and statuesque.

❛..Stop looking at me.❜ My regard was shattered at once ─ I sidled back into my Sister and let out the breath I took so long ago. I turned my head up to get a final look at her, however.. and into those eyes that bore so deep. Black sclera and burnt orange eyes overshadowed only just by an overflowing, fiery mane that broke at the sides from her horns. She really is something.. isn’t she..? I certainly thought so ─ I still feel that way.. but I pulled myself on back this time ─ it was about that time and I’ve spent enough time in the Bathroom as is. Bridewell wasn’t anywhere to be seen ─ he was the impatient one out of us three and was likely outside ─ Morgana being the temperamental one and I..? I’ve yet to figure out.. but I didn’t think on it too long ─ it would just hurt my head.. and I didn’t want Mother having to come and find me.. again.. I shook my head and headed towards my front door.. I felt.. poised. My brief ‘ talk ‘ with the Woman in the mirror left me this way.. but also with a sense of foreboding. Still..? I had the chance to prove her wrong ─ and I ‘ pray ‘ that I did.. for the sake of my life.