[Eden, our lovely Fool!]

  Eden’s disguise collapsed as she dropped to her knees.

  She appeared inside an empty cabin on the cruise ship from which the Legend Quest originated. Hugging herself, sweat slicked her face as she gasped for air, feeling the lingering pressure of channeling so much of Eris’ power to slip out of Elizabeth’s Greater Seed.

  Her dry throat constricted as hands cupped her face, bringing it up to show her reflected eyes.

  “Naughty, naughty, Little Puppet. I am going to have to punish you.”

  Eden coughed, forcing a laugh.

  “It…is what Aurora would have done. I played my role perfectly!”

  “Did you, now?” Eris’ chaotic, dagger-like eyes gleamed with glee. “You most certainly did…if Aurora knew she was Eden. Were you sincere or playing the mask?”

  A lump dropped down Eden’s throat at the look in her patron’s eyes as Eris’ voice honeyed.

  “You failed the part, Stupid Puppet. You couldn’t keep the mask on.”

  Eden drew back, her smile rising with chaotic delight as Eris humming accusation burned her ears.

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  “If the mask and the wearer align, is the play sullied or elevated?”

  “Rachel will disappoint you in the end. It isn’t your place to act smart.”

  “Benefactor, how can a puppet act without her strings? Who is in the way? The foolish faker…or the Fool?”

  “How cute you can be,” Eris mused, dagger-like eyes narrowing with delight as she lifted the same gun they’d been playing with. “Do you really think she can survive Scarlet’s first seal breaking because you gave her that warning?”

  Eden accepted it, spinning the single round before holding it up to her head with a crazed smile.

  “Of course she won’t.”

  Eden pulled the trigger—confetti rained over her black pigtails.

  Eris’ excitement fell into a pout as she glared at the gun.

  “Humph. You survived today, Puppet. Hehe. Maybe you won’t next time! Until you call me again… Happy acting, Faker!”

  Her goddess’ strength rushed out of Eden’s body, causing her to release a long stream of air.

  Sitting, legs spread, a giggle slid through her hoarse throat as the white adder mask materialized in her hand.

  “What is a Fool?” She half slipped it on, whispering, “Knowing when to act clueless…like I do. Hehe-ah-hahaha!”

  Humming a lullaby, she forced herself up, stumbling a little as the flowery gun vanished.

  “On to the next play!”

  She skipped to the shower to clean up.

  After all, Eden had to look her best for when Dracula showed his face, not that he’d see hers.

  Freshening up, the room filled with steam as she sang in the shower, checking her cadence and refining her voice.

  When done, water dripping off her body, she exited with a new face.

  Eden ran her hand over the foggy mirror, reflecting a pretty fanged smile—

  Selene’s smile.

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