"You are not my witness, nor are you my bane. I will not carry the punishment of another. I tolerate you because you are her castaway and thorn. I know your old tricks. I know you carry a false flame to illuminate the shadows. You corrupt them enough so they hear your voice. I make the choice to bury you in the moon's dust." Mira stood inside the dirt drawn dark-star pentagram with fingers dripping blood. The tips were her only tools, but after the first tear of skin, it was all numb.
The man with no face crouched on the outside of the dark star watching the witch. "You are wise beyond your years." The husk rattle of his voice chuckled. "I could feel you on my skin if you let me in. You know life must bring death. Will it be your deal with me now" Will you allow me to bring you to your knees" I can arrange the same deal for you as I did for her."
Slowly she moved around the circle, letting the blood trickle just inside the small rut of hardened earth. "You can crawl back into your hole where you belong. I have none to bore a hole in my heart that deep. No one to face folly and be a fool for."
Her words surprised him. "You do not believe the north man' Interesting."
Once she completed her circle. "I am singular, mechul."
Testing the circle, the shadows extended toward the girl inside the circle. "You're going to bury yourself?" The crinkle of robes caught fire. He was quick to put the fire out.
"I am not her, nor will I ever be her. I know the tricks you play. I know the tricks your master plays. I will let my bones break and flesh be torn before I make any deal with you. Damned, I am already, not a new master I need." Mira spit outside the circle in the direction of where a face should be.
"What if I tell his secrets." Slowly he stood.
"You know nothing. You have fragments of truth, fragments of what you hear. Nothing do you know. Tell-tell what you feel may slip. He will never hear you because you are tied to this in between. You always look for a way out, a flesh suit to wear. You are weak and broken."
A shadow hand reached through the dark star and caught fire, but he tried to reach out. Snatching her hand for a moment, she burned.
Mira let his hold remain as the flesh burned.
"Defiant bitch." The flame consumed him, but not enough to destroy the fragments. He'd be back.
When it was gone, the man with no face, she finally laid down in the middle of the dark star. Mira prayed, but she knew what she prayed for would not be possible.
The man with no face crouched on the outside of the dark star watching the witch. "You are wise beyond your years." The husk rattle of his voice chuckled. "I could feel you on my skin if you let me in. You know life must bring death. Will it be your deal with me now" Will you allow me to bring you to your knees" I can arrange the same deal for you as I did for her."
Slowly she moved around the circle, letting the blood trickle just inside the small rut of hardened earth. "You can crawl back into your hole where you belong. I have none to bore a hole in my heart that deep. No one to face folly and be a fool for."
Her words surprised him. "You do not believe the north man' Interesting."
Once she completed her circle. "I am singular, mechul."
Testing the circle, the shadows extended toward the girl inside the circle. "You're going to bury yourself?" The crinkle of robes caught fire. He was quick to put the fire out.
"I am not her, nor will I ever be her. I know the tricks you play. I know the tricks your master plays. I will let my bones break and flesh be torn before I make any deal with you. Damned, I am already, not a new master I need." Mira spit outside the circle in the direction of where a face should be.
"What if I tell his secrets." Slowly he stood.
"You know nothing. You have fragments of truth, fragments of what you hear. Nothing do you know. Tell-tell what you feel may slip. He will never hear you because you are tied to this in between. You always look for a way out, a flesh suit to wear. You are weak and broken."
A shadow hand reached through the dark star and caught fire, but he tried to reach out. Snatching her hand for a moment, she burned.
Mira let his hold remain as the flesh burned.
"Defiant bitch." The flame consumed him, but not enough to destroy the fragments. He'd be back.
When it was gone, the man with no face, she finally laid down in the middle of the dark star. Mira prayed, but she knew what she prayed for would not be possible.