I begin laughing as my body swells. My body is far larger than I ever remembered. The eight bladed legs, the huge abdomen of dark blood red. My blonde tresses cascading over my modest top. I can feel my horns. And my crown. It's rather crowded up there. I continue to laugh. Did I really listen to Said and throw scissors because she told me too. I really am an idiot. And of course I still threw scissors to counter it cause I mean it worked last time.

  I feel my memories start to reorder. The pieces one half of me held for the other. I shut my eyes, feeling the guilt. I knew killing higher thinking monsters would be a bad idea. Poor harpies. The laughter continues even though none of it is funny. Did I truly get fucked by another dryad…perhaps better phrasing. Crippled by one. One step at a time.

  I look down and see my previous body vacantly staring at me. My undead body is now just an extension of me. I grip the bridge of my nose. It's an awful idea. But I can’t afford to separate. I want to so badly. But if there is a place for me to separate to then it will happen. I can feel the pull even now. Then we will be back to the same issue as before except one of us won't wait to give the other a chance to save us.

  “Lea…you may want to look away.”

  “Sera…Violet?”

  “It was Aurora, you know that. Just Sara is fine.”

  “Sure, but I'm watching. Do what you need to do.”

  I frown but I reach down and remove the undead's robe. Her under garments. This will return the undeath core to me. No ying yang bullshit. I start with a finger.

  -----

  I look at my two legs, a bright red fox tail with green black streaks wags behind them. Seems my blasphemy has made me have a true body and not an illusion. I use one of the undead in the citadel to look at me. My curly dirty blonde dominates my head with two cat ears, a few strands of platinum blonde are on my right side with a black blood red horn and on my left are twin strands of black and blue which are accompanied by an ultra violet horn. My grey blue right cat eye has a glowing grey Elven left. I still have Cea vision.

  She has noticed that the eye is uncovered. She forms words.

  You profane us with this display of the undead, Aurora.

  I smirk, my own dirt letters forming.

  Sorry, you got the wrong number perhaps you should check who you dialed.

  More Cea words form.

  Who are you, if not Sarcea or Aurora.

  So very demanding. I make more undead Elves move into my vision.

  How many Tapestries were you willing to risk, mother. If you're wondering who I am, why I am both your daughter and her sister. Or in other words I'm Sara Maxwell Magdeline. You may have ripped that old geas off but I still remember.

  She doesn't reply. Perhaps she doesn't understand. I love her. Systems, I still remember her warmth. But I've seen her coldness. Her cruelty. I recognize it as my own. One that justifies itself. I was cruel to survive. She was cruel to make sure all Elves survive. But she had so many killed. And cause such agony in others. I remember Lea and Glindinal fear. Yancea crazed shrieks. I sigh and form the words.

  Mother, I love you. Would you end your crusade? The misery you cause can only grow. There won't be any Elf that doesn't bear the Cea or Cor name at this rate. They are burdened by your taboo.

  Just one word.

  No.

  I try, because I have too. Because I need to.

  All this made me. Don't you understand. Your geas created me. The Elf devourer. I would still be in a sleepy village as a Voiceless if not for your cruelty. Please stop this.

  There is a pause.

  You are not the first one.

  I close my eyes in pain. So that's it. Fine. At least I will be the last.

  I picked up the bottle of her blood. I tear off the dropper and tip it over. Marie would be incensed by my uncouthness. I drink her blood and it flows into my bottomless stomach. There is no bliss. Perhaps matricide just isn't a thing to enjoy. When it empties, I apologize to my mother.

  Unable to apply temporary stats

  Her vision swims for a moment. More words form when she steadies.

  Was that to prove something, Sara.

  That I can feel the sneer in her words is amazing. I look at my hands. Please. Blood begins to fill them. Not slime blood. Hers.

  Stop it, Sara.

  Goodbye mother. I close my eyes and raise my hands to my lips. I drink the blood I suffered to save. It fills as I imbibe. There wasn't much. But there was enough. Her vision snaps close. I feel my left eye stretch. They have tears. The bliss never came. But I start laughing. The mental breath I was holding releases. I feel myself start to drift. I hear a scream. I ran over to Lea a bit panicked.

  “They're gone…I'm free. You fucking…you did it.” She hugs me. Cries into me. Her tears are blood. It's gross but I don't care.

  “Sorry I took so long big sis’ Lea.”

  “Leander. Leander Sanguine.” She murmured.

  “Awww but Lea is easier to say.” She gives me a strange look, I roll with it. “As kid sister, I get to be annoying and call you what I want. You should get Ujan to say your full name first.”

  She gives a choked laugh. Her hug is tighter. “I think Said became a permanent part of your brain.”

  My turn to bark a laugh. I grab my blood skin and hand it to her. “No being a prune on our return.”

  “Prune?”

  “All wrinkly like, you know like a prune.” She tilts her head at that.

  “You know you're still naked right?”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Shit, I run over to my discarded clothes.

  -----

  The walk back to Kargnia was full of me telling Lea of my adventures fleeing the castle. How I had the lamest soup ever. How I almost cried over eggs and sausage with toast. How blood has emotional flavor now.

  “You're just telling me about food.”

  “Well those are the important parts.” I yawn. She rolls her eyes at me.

  “What are you going to do about all this undead?” She asks. She must have seen the undead hound hiding from us.

  I frown at that. The undead. Right. They are all connected to me. If I snap the tethers they will wither away. That would be awful. Destroy yourselves. Outside the citadel. The owners are going to be sore enough at the state of the thing.

  “It should take care of itself.”

  She gives me a bit of glare that I just laugh at.

  “I didn't think Kargnia could get snowfall.”

  I wince at her words. “Pretty sure that's my fault.” It's safe to say everything is.

  “Now Sara, even if it's your fault you should never admit to controlling the weather.”

  I frown at her, "That's totally irresponsible, of course you should admit to it.”

  “Well it's your door all the farmers are going to be knocking on asking for rain.”

  I roll my eyes, “And all the lovers asking for nice sunny days.”

  “Not to mention Lamia and Drakenoid asking for the hottest of summers.”

  “And the Pimar asking for a gentle breeze.”

  “Exactly, never admit you're at fault for the weather.” She intones sagely.

  “You're really getting into this big sis stuff.”

  “I was the last of Cea children, but since you got adopted I can now just be one of a number.”

  She says while looking at the sky, only sneaking a few glances to judge my reaction.

  I give a sigh, “I'm alright Lea, I knew it would come down to this. You saw I was writing. It was to her. She.” I pause, “She wouldn't let go.” Lea pulls me into a side hug. I rested my head on her shoulder. Our heights are almost the same now. Was I taller? It didn't matter.

  -----

  “So when will the dungeon re-open?” The viscount asks.

  I wince, “I'm not sure, my soul is a bit damaged at the moment my Lord. I haven't even been able to enter it.”

  The man slumps his shoulders. The marshal pats him on the shoulders. He speaks up, “Is the door still in the wasteland?” More wincing, I nod. “Then after processing all these Elves, I'll be heading down there to assess the citadel.”

  “The [Queen] is not going to be upset about its state, is she?”

  “She'll send you a bill.” He deadpans.

  “That's a joke right?” I look at the marshal, and then the paling viscount. “Surely, you're joking.”

  “Are you releasing the Elves?” Lea asks.

  “After they swear oaths not to harm the Queendom in any way.”

  I frown, “They are released from the geas. There shouldn't be an issue.”

  Lea puts a hand on my shoulder, “Cea had her supporters, Sara.”

  Well that just sucks, “Are they going to try to find me?” I murmur.

  “How would they know?” She whispers.

  -----

  “You.”

  I only just walked into the Adventurer guild hall and I am already accosted.

  “First you fleece our members, then you make everything undead and then you just up and leave.” The Croman strides across the floor and pokes Lea in the shoulder. O he is annoyed at Lea for something.

  “I'll just leave you to—”

  “Peter have you seen ‘She who Mourns’ new look?” Lea sells me out.

  The Croman eyes focus on me. They grow narrow as he sees my facial features. There is a door being open upstairs and a cacophony of feet rushing towards me. I find G girl and the junior priestess rushing to me. They slow when they notice the changes.

  “Apologies Peter, but I don't care at the moment.” Looking at the two Elves, “Let's go to your room before we talk.” Lea laughs as I walk by the two elves. They followed me. Better Idea. I bang on Stone's door. I hear a bit of grumbling but he opens the door. He is a bit confused but I simply force my way by him.

  “Girlie, you're being rather bold.”

  “I don't feel like explaining more than once, so let Rin and …. Din in as well.” I hear Lea following, “And Lea as well.”

  “Who is Lea?” He asks as the two walk by him.

  “Leander.” The Kitsune says as she steps in.

  “My big sis.” She gives me a ‘is this my reality now’. I give her a toothy grin.

  Glindinal pokes me in the shoulder, “Where do you get off calling me Din and why is your hair completely different?”

  I quirk a smile and give a yawn, “Sorry, your name is too long. You don't like Din?”

  She searches my face, “You're not Aurora.”

  That hurts, I sigh. “A part of me is, but a part of me is also Sera. I came back together. For now I'm just Sara. It's why my hair is all dirty blonde.”

  “What's dirty about it?” Rin asks. I bark a laugh at that.

  “Sorry, inherited term.” I think.

  “Can you go back to being just Aurora?” Din asks.

  I frown, “My soul was shattered. If you look above me you can see it. If I separated now, half of me would die.” Best case scenario.

  She grows visibly angry, “So you ate her then. To save yourself.” Her hand is raised, it is caught by Lea.

  “Sera wanted to die to let Aurora continue on. It was Aurora who wanted this.” Lea glares Din down.

  The strength leaves Din, “So they are both martyrs.”

  Rin asks, “So is it Sera that's in charge now?”

  I shake my head, “I'm both.”

  “Frankly, I think it's Said who is running the brain at the moment.” Lea quips. I give her a glare which she just laughs off.

  “Where is the sprite?” Stone asks, searching for her.

  “She is holding me together at the moment.” I murmur.

  He frowns at that.

  “So what, you're just this Sara now. Forever.” Din glares at me.

  I avert my eyes, “Until my soul is healed. I'm not happy about this either. I'm alone now.” And…

  “Fine, how do we do that then.” I look at her, trying to understand. “The faster you heal, the sooner we can have Aurora back.” I give her sad eyes. It infuriates her. “Don't you dare look at me like she did.”

  “…even if I am healed, Aurora won't be the same. Aurora will remember everything from before. Our memories are shared. She will see this time as hers just as much as Sera will. Even now Aurora's time with all of you is my memory.”

  “Just answer the question.” Din shouts.

  “I don't know…time? I felt my soul pull closer together when I put the core into myself.”

  “Ah Mourns, ya're forgetting to differentiate again.” Stone prods.

  I frown, “Sorry, Aurora put her blood mana core into Sera's body. It brought Sera back to consciousness. Maybe if I had more of my cores, my soul would pull together. I don't really know.”

  “Where are your other cores?” Din asks.

  I don't, “The castle with Cea corpse.” Lea answers for me.

  “Great, you need to go back to the castle then.” Din looks cross at me.

  “Not exactly the best place for the [Empress]’s murderer to go.” Lea interjects.

  “Does it need to be your core?” Rin asks.

  “I don't know.” I look down.

  “Easy enough to test.” I look at Lea as she digs into her chest. I squirm as I watch her dig into her flesh. She looks annoyed at me, “Seriously, you've done this in front of me and yourself multiple times.”

  “I don't like seeing you in pain, Lea.” I murmur. She finishes pulling out her core. Her white tail falls off with a thud.

  “Too bad, here.” She hands me the core. I look at her. “I know it won't grow back. I won't be able to accept another core till I tier again. And it certainly won't be an arcane one.” I want to argue, "It's too late, Sara. I'm calling big sis prerogatives.”

  That annoyed me, “You already sacrificed so many of your memories to keep me alive, you've done more than I could ever…” I tear up, unable to finish the sentence. I hug her even as I cry.

  “Just put the core in already. I told you I would let you devour me if it meant killing Cea. Quite frankly I feel appalled that you think you owe me anything.” She murmurs to me as she extracts herself.

  I use blood mana to open my chest and push the core in. It settles in as my white tail emerges.

  “Well?” Din asked but the anger was no longer there.

  I look at my status sheet. Still hundreds from before. My arcane core is still greyed out. I frown.

  “You still need to make it yours, Sara. Don't be impatient.” Lea chides.

  “How long?” Lea looks annoyed at Din's question. She rolls her eyes. “Look I just want to know how long till we decide sneaking into the capital of Cea'nila is our goal or working our way through dungeons.”

  “It took me three days to absorb her core.” Lea answers.

  “Well since she explained and you gots to wait, can ya kindly get out of my room.” Stone growls.

  He proceeds to push us out. I end up standing rather awkwardly from the two Elves. Where was Lea? Was she still in Stone's room? I sigh and turn towards the stairs.

  “I'll just go rent myself a room.”

  I don't get very far. I turn to see a tail in each of their hands. They drag me back to their room.

  “We still have words to say to you, Aurora.” Din proclaims.

  “Don't think just because you are gone and merged with your other half means you get out of being yelled at for trying to sacrifice yourself.” Rin adds.

  “But that was Sera.” I protest.

  “Ah but you're both right, no use trying to hide behind the others actions.” Rin glares at me.

  “Quite frankly she did sacrifice herself.” Growled Din.

  “That was Said who did that.” One last try.

  “Still all you.” Rin and Din said together.

  -----

  I lay in my bed. Everyone else is asleep. My name is Sara Maxwell … Magdeline. G girl is Din…why is there a G. Big sis is Lea. The Dwarf is Stone. The junior priestess is Rin. I repeat it to myself. Force it to be solid in my mind.