Scales of Power

When the shrill bell cuts off the teacher, the class around me bursts into a flurry of activity of people shoving things into bags, scraping back chairs and pushing to get out of the room as quickly as possible. It’s a Friday afternoon, so any delay is too much to bear.

I gather up my things carefully, neatly putting them back into the recesses of my new Louis V bag. My two best friends, Josie and Beth, are doing the same beside me, matching my speed. Finally, I flip my long blonde hair over my shoulder to signal I’m ready to go. They have known me long enough to recognise what I want to do next without me saying anything.

“Have a good weekend, Mr Mathews.” I say as I wave to the history teacher. He nods in response to me and carries on cleaning the dry wipe board behind the desk.

“So, what is the plan?” Josie falls into step beside me as we walk down the corridor.

“Tonight, or tomorrow?” I head to my locker first to put my books away.

“Tonight, of course!” Josie squeals. Behind her, I see Beth roll her eyes. Her locker is only three down from mine, while Josie’s is around the corner. Beth shoves a book into the locker forcefully. I’m not sure why she seems pissed, but it doesn’t take a lot for Beth.

“My aunts have told me no partying before tomorrow.” I say in a calm tone, even though I know that the decree won’t mean much to either of them.

“Aunts, shm-aunts.” Josie grips on to my arm and begins shaking me while pouting dramatically. “Come on, it’s your last night of freedom. You have to celebrate with us. From next week you will be beyond all us mere mortals. Please.” She draws out this last word while giving me puppy dog eyes.

“Fine.” I concede. Josie immediately begins making a high-pitched noise while she jumps on the spot and claps. “I guess we can go up to the ridge? Maybe have some drinks and a bonfire?”

“Sounds great to me.” The low timbre of the new voice warms me through from the inside. I click the locker door shut and spin to throw myself into the arms of the newcomer. “Woah! Give me some warning, babe.” Niall catches me easily in his arms while looking over my head. I know he can’t look down at me, but I’m allowed to study his beautiful face as much as I want.

“Hi.” I’m suddenly shy for some reason.

“Hi back.” A smile quirks at his mouth. He shuts his eyes to dip his face down to me, and I go on to tiptoe to meet his lips with mine. It’s barely a brush of a contact, but beside us both Josie and Beth react with mingled sounds of disgust and adoration.

“You’ll come along?” I ask as I step back.

“Yeah, sure. Shall we make a big thing of it? I reckon the guys on the team can find some beers and we can invite some of the other girls. I think Stacy has her new sound system so she probably wouldn’t mind providing the music. If you wanted that?”

I hesitate. I don’t want to disappoint my friends, but I don’t know what my aunts would do if they find out I’ve done something so reckless. Though after this weekend there isn’t much they can do to stop me. I look around at my friends. Beth is studying the locker closely; Josie still holds my sleeve but is staring at the floor. Niall is biting his lip while he looks over my shoulder. All of them hold hope in their expressions.

I sigh. “Fine, we can have a party. I guess I won’t be able to after this weekend.” My words set off Josie again who begins to dance down the hallway. Niall slings his arm over my shoulders and we begin walking, people moving out of our way as we go.

Beth drops me at the gate of my house to get ready. She’ll be back in a couple of hours to fetch me so we can go up the mountain to the clearing which overlooks our sleepy town. My house is the largest one in the area, facing the mountain. I’ve been up to the ridge before and I was able to easily pick out the sprawling grounds of the compound, along with the pool house off to the right and the meticulously kept gardens to the left. The internals are spacious and decorated in modern styles, though they look like display homes with how clean they are. Cold, clinical even. No one lives in them. It’s all for show.

I go to my apartments to change. The difference is palpable in my part of the house. I don’t know what my aesthetic would be if I gave it a name. I love rock music, especially the classics like Green Day and Fall Out Boy, so I have some band posters up on the walls. But I also love butterflies and fluffy animals, so the posters are framed with fairy lights. My aunt Sofia always says it looks like a metal head has vomited in the fey realm and I’d just called that my room. Personally, I like it.

I change quickly, deliberating briefly between my ratty cut-off shorts and a pink floral mini dress, finally deciding on the dress. It’ll be easier to have the last bit of fun in the back of Niall’s car before I have to give him up tomorrow. I grab my leather jacket on the way out and soon I’m running back down the long driveway, texting Beth to come grab me again. I congratulate myself on making it in and out of the house without seeing either of my aunts.

The party has already begun when we get to the ridge. Other people must have come straight from school to light a bonfire. People spot Beth’s beat-up old ford chugging its way up the hill and gather to greet us once we pull up. I step out of the car and there’s a cheer. Niall comes forward to swing his arm around me, to show everyone he’s with me. As I pass by, people greet me and raise their cups or cans in salute. Josie falls into step next to me and hands me a cup of fizzy amber liquid.

“You have to come see the sunset. It’s gorgeous over here!” She tugs on my arm, pulling me to a spread blanket near the cusp of the ridge. The couple who occupy it look up to see us coming and leave to make room for us. Niall still has my hand in his, so he’s dragged along as I sit down and shuffle up to make space for him on the blanket. He looks surprised for a moment before he sits behind me and allows me to lounge backward into his lap. Josie settles herself on a soft patch of grass beside us, and sighs as she looks out to the horizon. She doesn’t stay long, though, as we hear someone call her name behind us and her attention is caught. She springs up and throws a quick promise to return over her shoulder.

Now we’re alone, Niall’s arms tighten over my shoulders as he draws me closer. For a moment we simply exist together, our eyes staring over the evening haze which glows in the final tendrils of light. The world is literally at our feet. The bass of the music thumps dully at our backs, punctuated occasionally by a rowdy partier screaming in excitement. The evening smells of dust and beer and the fir spindles crushed at our feet. I sigh with contentment. I know I will never have another night like this.

“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” Niall whispers, as if he knows what I’m thinking of. I tense.

“I’ll be glad once it’s all over.” I mutter low enough for only him to hear. It wouldn’t be good for it to get back to my aunts that I was apprehensive.

“Have they selected the champion yet?”

“No, my aunts are in deliberation with the advisors now. I expect they’ll know by the time I get home. It’ll be announced in the morning before the beginning of the ceremony.” I shift. These are all questions I’ve been asked a lot in the past few weeks since the date of my ascension was announced, but Niall has avoided it until now. I don’t want to think about it. I’m happy existing in this moment and not thinking about what tomorrow will bring.

“Will you know beforehand?” I can feel him shift behind me.

“Yeah, they’ll let me know. I know they’re picking someone special, though. Someone high up who they think is worthy for my first. I think they’ll tell him too so he can say goodbye to his family if he has one, but no one else outside the counsel.” I sit forward, not feeling the peace I was enjoying.

“And then afterwards there will be a massive feast, right?” He rubs my back gently in what I think he intends as a comforting gesture. I twist my shoulders to shake off his touch.

“Yeah, the feast is for my reveal and the raising of the statue. That will be the end of it.”

“And we’ll never be able to speak again.” He says this in such a low voice I almost miss it.

“I know. I hate that bit too.” I look down at my hands, the golden hue of my skin seems to glow in the last embers of day.

“We could sneak out together sometimes?”

“No, there’s no way. It’ll be too dangerous.”

“But what if we-”

“No, Niall. We’ve had this conversation. There’s no way we’ll be able to be together after the ascension. It will be too dangerous for both of us, no matter how much we try.”

“But you haven’t even tried, Melissa.” He snaps, loud enough that the nearest couple look around in interest. I spin around to face him, kneeling between his legs. I stare at him as he averts his eyes, looking at the floor.

“Don’t tell me I’m not trying, Niall.” My voice shakes with anger. Other people are taking notice now as Niall cowers before me. He knows he’s overstepped; his body language is submissive as he bows slightly before me.

“I’m sorry.” He mutters to the ground.

“I can’t do this right now.” I say as I stand. People step aside to clear my path as I walk back to Beth’s car. She jogs up to the driver’s side, and the lights flash as the car unlocks. I know I don’t need to give an excuse to her to leave, so I’m silent as she drives me home.

The gates of my house smoothly open as we approach, letting me know that my aunts are home and looking out for my arrival. Anxiety crawls its way up my throat, digging its thick claws into my flesh. Beth pulls up at the main entrance of my home and stops the car.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” She says hopefully. I’m so grateful that she at least knows my need to feel like this is any other normal day.

“I guess. I did ask them to allow you and Josie to escort me to the chambers in the morning.”

“Yeah, I have a sweet dress and everything. All gothic and moody with sparkles.”

I laugh. “They’re called robes.”

“Whatever they’re called, they make me feel like a badass. I might even wear them to school Monday.” She sucks in a breath as she realises what she’s said. “I’m sorry.” She whispers.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I’ll miss you looking like a badass in school. I can just imagine you sitting in Mr Mathew’s class while he tries to teach some boring shit. At least I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’m going to look fabulous. But don’t worry. I’ll try not to upstage you.” She grins and winks, her eyes fixed on the road.

“Hah, you wish.” I say as I step out of the car. I shut the door behind me and wave through the window as she finds her gear and drives away. I feel the remnants of the smile fade on my face. Beth has always been good at cheering me up and making me feel normal. All of that will end tomorrow, though.

The prickles of feeling watched slide up my arms as I turn. My eyes flick up to the window of my aunts’ parlour which overlooks the long drive, and sure enough they’re both stood there, staring outward to me. It’s full dark now, but I can pick out the soft yellow glow of both sets of eyes as they watch me walk into the house.

They must have finished their deliberations. The discussions with their advisors never usually take too long, but this time it’s special. Every generation they pick a champion, and it’s nearly always done by lottery or by volunteer. But an ascension hasn’t happened since my aunts went through theirs a millennia ago. My first champion is important, and they need to pick carefully.

I take my time climbing the curved staircase up to them. I know they’re about to tell me who I will be facing tomorrow, but I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know anything about him, so when I look into his eyes, I will feel no guilt over what I must do to join my aunts in immortality.

The door to their parlour is heavy as I push it open to reveal them lounging on opposite sofas as if they hadn’t just been at the window. The low table between them has a chess game in progress between them, and two glasses either side. Sofia has red wine as normal, while Eugenie has a viscous whiskey with ice. In the fireplace a roaring flame crackles and dances, making shadows wildly leap around the room. The heat is stifling in the summer evening, but they are both cold-blooded so they always need to be warmed.

Eugenie looks around as I enter, but Sofia is leaning forward in her seat staring at the board.

“Good evening, young one.” Eugenie’s voice always sounds like it’s on the edge of laughter, just a whisper away from mocking. “Had a nice night?”

“Yes, aunty. I was at Beth’s with Josie. We were having our last girl’s night.” I lie as I pour myself a glass of wine. Technically I’m underage, but my aunts have never cared and it’s not like anyone else would say anything to stop me.

“I don’t remember you ever having beer at Beth’s.” Eugenie tilts her head at me, sniffing subtly.

“Or a fire.” Sofia’s growl comes as she flicks her eyes up from the chess board. There’s a moment of stillness and I know I’ve been caught out. Sofia breaks it by looking back to the board and decisively moving a piece to take another. Eugenie’s attention is immediately caught by her sister’s tactics.

“Damn, I was hoping you wouldn’t see that.” Eugenie mutters. Behind her hands, I catch Sofia’s smirk.

“How did the deliberations go?” I sip from my glass. For a moment neither of them answers me or make any indication they’ve heard.

“They were much simpler than expected.” Now happy with her latest move, Sofia sits back in her seat and takes a long pull from her glass.

“Oh? Was there an obvious candidate?”

“You could say that.” She looks to me, Eugenie concentrating on the board. I stare back at her, trying to read her thoughts through the shimmering gold of her eyes. The amber slits of her pupils are piercing, mirror images of my own eyes. Even now I’m sure if I want her to tell me the results of the decision. “I need your assurance again, my dear young niece, that you will follow the rulings of the counsel and our own decision to the letter tomorrow.”

“Of course, aunty. This is the day I’ve been prepared for my entire life. I know the rules.”

“No matter who it is?” Eugenie’s voice is harder than normal.

“No matter.” I repeat.

“Good. You will not embarrass us.” Eugenie turns to me, her gaze joining her sister’s. I grow uneasy at their hard, expressionless faces. They have been described as terrifyingly beautiful by many, and in these moments I know exactly why. Both have high foreheads and strong jaws, though Sofia’s nose is a touch longer and Eugenie’s face is slightly rounder. These are features I think I must be the only one to have noticed, however, because many describe them as identical.

“No, aunties. I won’t embarrass you.” I promise.

“Good. The champion tomorrow will be Niall Talbot.” Sofia says. I must be imagining the shade of glee that’s layered into the words, like she’s enjoying the pain that blooms in my chest.

“Niall?” I choke out, the shock constricting my throat. “My Niall?”

“Your Niall?” Sofia repeats, distaste dripping from her words.

“Niall Talbot is the best candidate by far for your ascension, my dear.” Eugenie at least tries to comfort me.

“But, I can’t.”

“You can and you will, Melissa.” Sofia says, but Eugenie flaps her hand at her sister’s words.

“Think about it, Melissa. Niall is on the national football team, and still maintains high grades in all his subjects. He’s young and gorgeous but not egotistical. He’s perfect for your first champion.” Eugenie comes over to me and rubs my arms as I cup my face, trying to stem the tears that prickle the backs of my eyes.

“But I love him.” I sob. Sofia snorts in derision.

“You wouldn’t even see him after tomorrow, my dear one.” Eugenie pulls me into an embrace and pets my hair. I hide my face in the crook of her neck, feeling the cool satin of her scaled skin against my cheek. She’s much taller than I am, they both are. After my body goes through the ascension, mine will become lithe and svelte as theirs are.

“I don’t think I can do this.” My tears strangle my words.

“Don’t be stupid, niece.” Sofia’s harsher tones come from the sofa. She’s losing patience with me. “Think about him, if anything. His sisters will live in luxury for the rest of their meaningless lives. The whole family will be written into history for his sacrifice. The Talbot name will be sung as heroic for being the catalyst of the Third Ascension. If you deny him this honour, will he ever forgive you?”

I pull my head back from Eugenie’s shoulder as Sofia’s words register. I look into Eugenie’s eyes.

“I can deny him this?” I search her eyes for any emotion, but the yellow glow is so difficult to read, even for me. If anything, all I see is a glimmer of irritation. “I have a choice?”

“You will not embarrass us.” Eugenie tilts her head downwards to meet her gaze to mine, her eyes flicking back and forth between my own.

“He will be killed regardless of your involvement, niece. We will make sure of it.” Sofia’s voice sounds closer. I look over Eugenie’s shoulder to see Sofia stood nearby. “But if we need to step in, his family will not be given any recompense. His name will be struck from the histories. His sisters will be removed from our city. Do not let your weakness become his shame.”

A chill goes up my spine at her words. I glance back at Eugenie, who gives me a tight smile. I nod, slowly at first and then gaining confidence.

“Okay. I will do it. In a hundred years or so, I may even forget him. I bet neither of you remember your first champions, right?” Even I can hear the hope thick in my voice. They look at each other for a second, something passing between them.

“Barely even a whisper of memory now.” Sofia says flatly.

“Now all that excitement is over, it’s best you’re off to bed, my dearest one.” Eugenie spins me by my shoulders and shoos me to the door. “It’s no good having a historic ascension for a girl who looks like a panda. We’re supposed to make people quake with fear, not with laughter. Go and rest.”

“Yes, aunty. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” I sigh as I push my way out of the door. “Sweet dreams, love you both.” I call over my shoulder, but I don’t hear their answer. That’s okay though, because they’ve never been as affectionate as I am, even when I was small.

I go to my rooms with thoughts chasing themselves around my head like puppies after their own tails. The elaborate dress and robes which I will wear tomorrow has been set up on a mannequin in the sitting area of my apartments. My final fitting was a few days ago and I am still mesmerised by the shimmer of the structured silk the colour of envy. The wide collar and cape of the robe have had the crystals affixed in the swirling leafy pattern I picked out. The whole outfit is ostentatious, designed to accentuate the golden hue that my skin is already turning, and the brightening glow my eyes are beginning to give off.

This is the dress I will wear when I murder my first love.

My hand drops from stroking the soft fabric. I swallow back more tears. I love Niall, but I have been trained and guided to this moment since I was five. My childhood doctor was performing a routine sight check and became paralysed the moment he attempted to check my eyes. The gurgle of fear he made as he seized like stone and dropped to the floor haunts my nightmares. I was the first of my kind to be born in over a millennium. That was when I was brought to my aunts to receive proper training.

Everything for the past thirteen years has been for this. I have been prepared for my first champion, for my first ceremonial kill, since the first day I was in this house. It shouldn’t make any difference whether I know them or not. Whether I love them or not.

I harshly wipe away the tear which spills down my cheek.

My aunts do this every generation, every thirty years or so. Their counsel selects an exemplary champion to perform a ceremony which will replenish my aunt’s youth. In return, my aunts agree to only use their formidable powers in those moments, and to control themselves from taking sustenance from any other person in between. It has been like this for as any history book can tell. But I am only the third of their kind to be born.

My bed is soft and welcoming when I crawl between the sheets, my heart still in turmoil. I wish I could just say goodbye to Niall one last time. I clutch the raggedy bear which is my one remaining item from my childhood before here. A soft tapping brings my eyes to the window. I jump as my eyes adjust to see a figure on the other side of the balcony door. My racing heart slows as I recognise Niall’s face in the dim light.

“What are you doing here?” I hiss as I open the door. He catches me up in his arms, pulling me into a crushing hug.

“I couldn’t go without seeing you. They’ve just told me the news. I’m guessing they told you too?” He puts his forehead to mine, squeezing his eyes shut as is our tradition. I press a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Yeah, they’ve told me.” I let out a sad laugh that threatens to dissolve to tears. “I guess tomorrow will really be the last time we see each other.”

He cups my face in both his hands, and I press my cheeks into his grip. More tears escape my closed lids.

“Don’t be sad. I could have never anticipated this honour.” His voice is soft, but excited. I don’t understand how he could be happy in this moment.

“Somehow, I hadn’t even thought of it as a possibility.” I pull myself away from him, suddenly left chilled by the difference between our reactions to the news. “Do you really think it’s such a good thing?”

“How could it not be?” He grins in the dark room. I can see the white of his teeth. “I will be the greatest champion of any generation. Imagine, me, the catalyst for an ascension? I will be remembered for eons. Melissa, I’m going to live like a king for the rest of my life.”

That catches me. I look at him and he instinctively averts his gaze from mine so we don’t make eye contact.

“The rest of your life?” I say.

“Yes. Of course, I’ll miss you terribly. But you have to see why this a good thing for me, right? I just had to see you like this one last time.”

“I don’t understand. The rest of your life is tonight. Don’t you know what happens in a ceremony?” I tilt my head and take another step back from him, breaking myself entirely from his embrace.

“This isn’t a normal ceremony, Mel. This is an ascension. Your ascension. You know those are different.” He is careful to look at the floor, but I can read the joy on his face turn to confusion and concern.

“Yes, because I will be the one who is performing the sacrifice of the champion.” I speak clearly, in case he’s lost his mind. He begins shaking his head subtly.

“No, Melissa. How do you not know? It’s not me who is the sacrifice. You are.”

Ice explodes down my spine and crackles through my limbs.

“What do you mean?” My voice tremors.

“Surely you know about all the other ascensions?” He tries to step forward to regain my touch, but I stop him with my outstretched hand.

“Other ascensions?”

“Every few centuries a third of your kind is born. She must be sacrificed so your aunts’ immortality is continued. There’s always a special champion chosen for the event.”

“You’re lying.”

“No, no. It’s the truth. I didn’t know either until they told me what I have to do. I had no idea they didn’t tell you too.”

“What- what you have to do?” I can’t stop myself from asking.

“If you don’t know, I don’t want to be the one to tell you.”

“Niall.” I feed a tone of command into my voice. It works because he immediately draws back and swallows before speaking again.

“I have a ceremonial sword and shield. And I have to spill your blood… Melissa, please.” He pleads.

“Tell me all of it.”

“I have to spill your blood by decapitation.”

My gasp is loud even to my ears. He attempts to step forward again. I hold up my hand to still him. I remain motionless for a moment before I stride back to the dress displayed so prominently in my rooms. I flick on the lights to stare at it as I listen to his footsteps approach from behind.

“Melissa, I’m so sorry.” His voice is soft now. The sadness is thick in his words.

“You were excited.” I keep my voice emotionless.

“What?”

“You were excited.” When he doesn’t respond, I whip around to watch his face. His eyes are wide with surprise as they stare off to his right, and his lips are open slightly as if his mouth wanted to speak before there were words to be voiced.

“I didn’t mean-”

“You were just told that tomorrow you have to decapitate me, and you were excited.”

“That’s not fair. You thought you were going to paralyse me to death tomorrow.”

“It’s not the same.”

“How isn’t it? One of us is going to kill the other by your aunt’s decree. Why is it different if it’s my death over yours?”

“I cried for you, Niall.” Without intending to, I step forward, enclosing on his personal space. He flinches from me. “I have been prepared to make a kill for most of my life. Don’t forget it wouldn’t be my first kill, either. It’s what I’ve been trained and taught my whole life. I was prepared to do it, to join my aunts and gain my full power. When I learned that to take that step, of all people I would have to sacrifice you, I cried.”

I watch his throat clench with a swallow, fascinated by the movement. I can see his pulse race under his skin.

“I’m so sorry.” He repeats.

“Why did you come here tonight, Niall?”

“I wanted to see you one last time, privately. Like this, you’re just the girl I fell for.”

“Did you fall for me?”

“Of course!” He protests. I wave my hand to silence him. His words stab at my heart.

“But tomorrow you will kill me. Unless, of course…” Thoughts trip over themselves inside my head. I don’t want to die by the hand of my lover. I don’t want to die at all.

“Unless what?” He prompts, fear lacing his words.

“Unless I kill you tonight.” I watch the blood drain from his face. A low thrill flickers through my gut as I see a tremble of fear ripple through his body. I slink closer. He’s frozen.

“You can’t.” His voice is a broken whisper.

“Can’t I?” I don’t keep the mocking edge from my tone. “You are here, alone and unarmed, in my quarters. No one would blame me, and you’d be a forgotten footnote in history.”

“It won’t change anything. They will pick someone else to do the ceremony. At least if it’s me, I can make a clean cut and the last person you see will be someone who truly loves you.”

The truth of his words grips me in place. “Get out.”

“But, Melissa-” His words are cut off with my sudden hiss. He stumbles backwards, catching himself on the armchair before fleeing clumsily back through the door of the balcony. I watch him go, the bitterness of his words turning my stomach to acid. I am lost.

I go to my bed; the covers are all swept to one side from where I hastened to greet him. I pick up my bear and push his nose with the tip of my finger. His bulging plastic eyes stare dumbly back at me. Besides my aunts, I am only able to make eye contact with my childhood toys. I snort with hysterical laughter.

My whole existence is cursed.

I consider going to ask my aunts about Niall’s revelation, but I know without trying that they will deny everything, placating me as always. Niall said there were other ascensions. It’s not possible that I’ve never heard of them. He sounded so sure though.

My phone is on the nightstand. I search for ascensions on the internet, but all that comes up is the news articles regarding tomorrow’s event. I try different wordings, but nothing about previous ascensions is presented to me. I throw my phone across to the other side of the bed and then let myself fall face first into the duvet.

When the phone buzzes, I lift myself and crawl to fetch it. Beth’s name lights up the screen.

“Hi.” I say dully into the microphone.

“Hey, girl. Just wanted to say goodnight and good luck for everything tomorrow. How are you feeling about it all?”

“Like shit.”

“Oh no! I’m sure it’s going to be great. Your dress is incredible, and Josie and I will be there early to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Yeah, I know.” I flop over on to my back.

“What’s going on?” She finally picks up on my tone.

“Nothing. Niall was just here, talking some bullshit.” I’m not even sure I should be saying any of this to her. I definitely can’t tell her he’s the champion.

“Niall? He was at yours?”

“Yeah.”

“What was he saying?” She asks.

“I don’t even know. He was saying there’s been other ascensions before me, that they’re not normal ceremonies.”

“What? What does he mean? There’s never been other ascensions as far as I know.” Relief at the sound of her genuine surprise floods through me.

“That’s what I thought. I even looked it up on the internet but I couldn’t find anything about it.” I grumble.

“Let me take a look. I can look on the dark web.” In the background I can hear her nails tapping on her beloved mechanical keyboard that drives me crazy when I go round to hers to do homework. I’m silent as I let her use her magic. “What is that stupid boy talking about? This is the first ascension since your aunts went through theirs.” I hear a decisive tap which must signify she’s tapped her enter key. There’s silence on the other end of the call. It goes on long enough that I have to look at the screen to see if the call has dropped.

“Beth?”

“I’m still here.”

“And?”

“Melissa… I don’t know how to tell you this.” Her voice trembles. I want to scream with the tension that holds me still.

“What did you find, Beth?”

“Niall was right. There’ve been other ascensions before, and… if I’m reading this right… I can’t be reading this right… This has to be a sick joke.”

“Beth!”

“Right, sorry. According to the hidden archives, there have been ascensions before, always of a young girl who displays the same powers as your aunts. Each time they hold a ceremony, pick a champion as they would do for any other generation. But with these… Melissa. With these, the champion cuts off the younger girl’s head, and then your aunts – oh gods – your aunts drink the blood to prolong their own immortality for more centuries. I’m so sorry, Melissa.” She goes quiet on the other end. I think I can hear her crying. My own tears are silent as I hear her confirm Niall’s words.

“Thank you, Beth.”

“Don’t thank me, for fuck’s sake. I hate that I read that to you. Look, we’ll figure something out. There has to be another way. I’m not going to let some sick fuck kill my best friend in front of me tomorrow. We’ll get you out-” Her voice cuts out sharply as I hit the red button on the screen.

I turn the phone to silent and toss it on the bed, though as I stand the screen is already lighting up once more with Beth’s name. My sitting area light is still on, illuminating the dress in all its splendour. In the bottom drawer of my bedside table is the most dangerous item in this entire house, at least for myself and my aunts. The small compact mirror nestles in my palm. It’s only to be used to check my lipstick, but I mustn’t ever look at my own gaze, because the power that makes us dominant is also our greatest weakness. We are immune to each other, but not to ourselves. A question blooms in my mind that I’ve never thought about before. They knew our own gaze would kill us. How could they know that if I was only the third of our kind?

The image of my aunts gorging themselves on my blood as my body lays to the side, mutilated and cooling, is prominent in my head. I don’t know why I can see it so clearly. I study the dress once again.

The neckline is low, I had originally thought it was because my aunts preferred to wear clothing that bordered on scandalous. The collar of the robe stands on end, fanning out on either side like rays. I notice now that it would guide a blade directly to the arteries in the side of my throat, giving a swift if gory death. My hair is planned to be put up, so that won’t interfere with the sweep of a sword either. All meticulously planned, but indiscernible unless I knew where to look. And now I can see it.

I sit on the sofa directly in front of the dress. The words of my aunts run through my head.

“You will not embarrass us.”

They’ve always controlled me with a fine line of unspoken threat and untold promise. All I wanted was to be one of them, to feel like I belonged. They insisted I have a normal education, but I don’t know why now.

Niall was so genuine, so shocked when he realised I didn’t know the truth of things. Even now, a gnaw of doubt whether if he lied to save himself. But Beth doesn’t know Niall is the champion. What reason would she have to lie? Also, the information she read out to me online matched the little that Niall said without me even telling her. There’s no possible way they could be working together.

I flick open the compact in my hand. I’m so on edge, even the slight click makes me jump. I stare at the dress. I don’t want to die horribly in front of thousands, or millions of people tomorrow. I wonder if there have been other girls like me before, raised as family, promised power and wealth, only to be slaughtered like a lamb on an altar. I whimper. If I go through with what I intend, will my aunts suffer for it? I hope they perish from cruelty.

My hand raises without me willing it to. The mirror is pointed downwards and I first can only see my collarbones. I slowly travel it upward. I study every part of my face which I have never seen for myself. My soft pink lips, the bottom one full and the top one slightly too large. My cupid’s bow is almost non-existent. The tip of my nose is pointed, slightly turned down, though the line of my bridge is straight and not too prominent. I’ve heard people describe me as a beauty, but I’m never sure if that’s from honesty or fear.

I linger on my cheeks, still round from the dregs of childhood. This is my last opportunity to back out. I ask myself what other options I have. My thoughts dart erratically as I attempt to find an answer. I twist my hand the last fraction to reflect the piercing glow of my yellow, snake-like eyes back to myself.

I have a millisecond of realisation bursting through my mind as I regard the soft, rounded shape of my eyes, before the pain of all my muscles contracting at once throws me out of the seat. My body writhes on the floor as darkness presses down on me. My heart and lungs scream for more and I hear a familiar strangled gurgle right as everything disappears.

Then I’m rushing. I don’t know where.

My lungs fill with a hiss, my muscles scream as they expand like I’ve surfaced from water. I fight and struggle upwards, and there are arms, hands. I think they’re holding me under for a moment, but quickly I realise they’re helping me upward. There’s noise. Beeping, yelling, alarms.

“She’s waking up!” Someone yells by my ear. I snap my head around to find the source of the voice.

Clear brown eyes look back at me, framed by long eyelashes. They are kind, and the face concealed behind a pale green mask and paper hat nods to me slowly. She’s staring right at me, looking straight into my eyes. I try to warn her away, to tell her the danger, but there’s something stopping me, holding my jaw open. I gag.

There’s a struggle where I’m held down, and something is pulled from me. I retch again as a breathing tube is pulled from my throat.

“We’ve got you. It’s okay. Can you tell me your name?” The woman says, but she’s not dying, she’s not becoming paralysed. I’m so confused.

“Don’t look at me!” I’m able to mumble out, my words slurred and broken among my sobs.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. What’s your name?”

“Lissa.”

“Lissa? Melissa?” She holds my chin as she flickers a light into my eyes. I look around her, behind her. There seems to be loads of people in pale blue and green gowns rushing around, attentively looking at machines, quieting alarms, scribbling things down. The room is very bright. Big windows let in a lot of light. I’m attached to so many devices in a bed.

“Melissa, do you know where you are?” The doctor snaps my attention back to her. I shake my head as tears track down my face.

“Okay, you’re safe. You’re in Howard Royal Hospital. You were found in an abandoned house last night completely unconscious and barely breathing. Can you tell me anything about that? Did you take anything?”

I shake my head again and try to touch my face, but I’m hooked up to too many wires which restrict me.

“How can you look at me? I don’t want to hurt you. Please don’t make me look at you.” I garble, trying to hide myself.

“Melissa, it’s okay.” She repeats. “Do you remember anything about yesterday? Is there someone I can call?”

“Mirror. I need a mirror. Please, I need to see myself.” I look wildly around to the people who are surrounding me. None of them avert their eyes when I look at them. A chill lances its way up my spine.

A mirror is passed forward in the group and held up to me. As my face comes into view I stare. Blue eyes look back at me. Not the crisp yellow-gold slits that I shared with my aunts. I have blue eyes. They’re red rimmed and bloodshot, but the irises are a clear, bright blue with round black pupils. I widen them, narrow them, and look every which way, but the face staring back doesn’t change.

“My aunts? Where are my aunts?” I ask.

“Who are your aunts?”

“They’re the Medusas. They will want to know where I am.”

“Medusas? As in the myth of the lady with the snake hair?” One of the other people says, though I can’t pinpoint which masked face spoke.

“Snake hair?” I ask. “What myth? They’re the Medusas, the sisters. Eugenie and Sofia Medusa. They’re going to be so angry when they find me. You have to run; they’ll kill you for helping me.” Fear grips me as I look around wildly, hoping someone will understand.

“Melissa, Medusa doesn’t exist. It was a story told millennia ago, but she was defeated by a hero. She looked into a mirror and died. How long have you been suffering delusions like this?” The doctor’s voice is soft and reassuring as she speaks.

“It’s not a delusion. My aunts. How don’t you know? They’re in charge of everything. The ascension is today, they… they were going to kill me.” I remember in a flood. “But I looked in the mirror and… woke up here.”

The doctor continues speaking to me, asking me more questions, but I stare beyond her, to the view out the window. A city scape spreads out into the horizon, one I’ve never seen. I don’t know how I know that this place is different. My blue eyes, my aunts aren’t here. No one has heard of the Medusa sisters. I’m free.

Image credit: David Clode https://bit.ly/3wCL7cr