[ The stolen-eyed human looks. Alecto is seen, in all her monstrousness, and for a moment, it makes her horribly, sickeningly angry. It is not right to be seen like this. Nobody ought to see Alecto like this, because it is now how she should be.
It hurts. Alecto reasons that her pain is the hurt of having a spine. She swallows her scream and lets go of the child's hand. She lies down on her side, back curved, in the pool of blood. The hardness of the floor and the iron in the blood helps, a little. It is almost like a rocky outcropping in a pool saltwater, and the light reflected off the glass is almost like those beautiful glow-worms. She sucks on one finger, tasting the human's tears, drinking in the sick-salty flavor. ]
Lie here. I will tell you. It is quiet here.
[ Outside, the crash of waves. Here, in this pool, Alecto thinks of Anastasia. Those bones kept her company until morning, and Alecto knows she will never speak to Anastasia again. Her eyes make saltwater for the dead, and it mixes with the blood in an acidic hiss. ]
You are scared. That is good. It means you can understand.
[ There is something in those tears, although Alecto is not sure whose. Alecto closes her eyes, and lets out a sigh. ]
cw: blood, dysfunctional relationships, reference to past violation of bodily autonomy
It hurts. Alecto reasons that her pain is the hurt of having a spine. She swallows her scream and lets go of the child's hand. She lies down on her side, back curved, in the pool of blood. The hardness of the floor and the iron in the blood helps, a little. It is almost like a rocky outcropping in a pool saltwater, and the light reflected off the glass is almost like those beautiful glow-worms. She sucks on one finger, tasting the human's tears, drinking in the sick-salty flavor. ]
Lie here. I will tell you. It is quiet here.
[ Outside, the crash of waves. Here, in this pool, Alecto thinks of Anastasia. Those bones kept her company until morning, and Alecto knows she will never speak to Anastasia again. Her eyes make saltwater for the dead, and it mixes with the blood in an acidic hiss. ]
You are scared. That is good. It means you can understand.
[ There is something in those tears, although Alecto is not sure whose. Alecto closes her eyes, and lets out a sigh. ]
I am too.