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[39] You Can't Protect Against Yourself, But it Isn't /Me\

In truth, I had no idea what I was thinking. But, when I went under, I felt like I was pulled into another world. It was black, but they were like mirror walls. I could see myself everywhere, but I jumped when five figures stood behind me. I turned in alarm, and was immediately pinned against the mirror. Claws scratched at my neck, and I gasped for air. I looked past everything and saw the fifth figure, gripping a chain that held Phoenix, Aquaria, and Floraa by their wrists. I struggled against the hand that hand me pinned, and the forms that had once helped me watched, helplessly. I thought I could feel the claws puncture my throat, but as soon as I felt them, they vanished. I fell to the floor, curling up and pressing my palms against the cool ground. There was something new covering me, something different. I looked down and saw a black dress, the frill at the bottom rubbing at my legs. It was uncomfortable, and it kept me pinned to the ground.

"Pretty little girl strapped to floor. Just a few away is the door!" a voice cackled, a sinister tone laced within the words. I grit my teeth and tried to pry my body up off the floor, but it was no use. Phoenix stood there, with her sisters, watching my struggles.

"Help me!" I yelled at them, but they were frozen, suspended in time.

"The only people a girl can depend on are her mommy and daddy, but in this world, my world, you have neither!" the same voice screeched. 

"Your world? Your fucking world?! This is my mind, my private domain. It doesn't belong to you, and it never will. This is my body, not yours. These are my feelings, not yours. This is my life, not yours!" I screamed, and whatever was holding my body to the floor evaporated. I was able to stand, the dress still on. The landscape around me changed, turning into the woods. I turned slowly, taking in my surroundings. Only trees, rocks, bushes, and clumps of dirt and grass. Nothing I could use to defend myself if and when the time came. I felt something rush past me, blowing my hair back and sending chills up my spine. Whatever was messing with me didn't want to waste time talking. It went whizzing by me again, knocking my feet out from under me. I hit the ground harshly, and it felt like a dagger ripped into my back. I unsteadily stood up again and took off running. I'll admit, running from whatever this thing was wasn't my smartest, or bravest, idea. But, it was my mind, and I needed total control of it again. I wanted all of them out, even the good ones. Who knew if they would turn on me as well as Demoria? And this fifth persona.... she was a mystery.

"You can't run from yourself, little one." I heard, and I had to bite my lip as I ran to keep from screaming. I took a deep breath and ran on, ignoring the haunting laughter.

"I'm not running from myself. I'm running from you. Which is stupid, considering that this is my place, not yours. I believe we went over this." I huffed, skidding to a stop and standing my ground. When I stopped, a figure stepped out into the open.

"So, the voice finally has a face. Wonderful." I said, and you could feel the sarcasm dripping from my tone.

"Oh shut up. Like your face is any prettier. Mine is scarred, gashes and slashes of time covering my skin. And what's worse? The fact that it's made of ice and stone!" she screamed, and her face was suddenly lit up, half ice, half stone.

"You can't just buffer out marks left upon ice and stone! They are there for all eternity! And you humans, you can hide whatever you want! You can walk into the sun, not afraid of what other people see on them! You're the monsters! Not I! Not my sister! Demoria and I, we were outcasts of the village we lived in. Phoenix, Aquaria, Floraa, they were the pretty ones. We were all goddesses, but they were worshiped like ones. They had men falling at their feet, can you believe that? They were evil, turning down every man they met, even when they were perfect for each other. They settled down with men who were just as cruel as them.

"Demoria and I, we sat back and watched as our beloved sisters were betrayed, over and over and over again. We snapped. We lost it completely. On a day we knew our sisters wouldn't be home, and we knew their husbands were laying with other women, we killed them. All six of them. When our sister found out, our parents cursed us. We were sentenced to eternal slavery, giving out our powers to a bloodline deemed worthy. And guess who's bloodline it is? Yours, little one. You are the proud owner or Phoenix, Floraa, Aquaria, Demoria, and I, Judiya, the forgotten fifth." the voice said, her hands clenched into fists. As much as I wanted to take a step back, to run away, I didn't. I looked at her, and I felt a twang of sympathy.

"Judiya, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you had to live like this, in eternal slavery. I never wanted any of this to happen. I never wanted powers, they were just forced upon me as a child. If I had known sooner, if there was any way for me to fix things, I would. But Demoria found love, and it lies within the man I love. If you end this now, end the pain, the suffering, I can help you. If nothing else, I'll care for you. I'll love you like the sister I never had." I whispered, tears filling my eyes. For an evil goddess-like woman, she was really pulling at my heartstrings. She looked at me, and I looked her right in the eye. Part of me wanted to flinch away from the scars and the pain in her eyes, but I didn't. I wanted her to know that I cared, and I did. I wanted to get through to her.

"Judiya?" I whispered, feeling warm tears drip down my cheeks.

"I trust you to do the right thing. Keep that promise. Love us, care for us, treat us as family. Perhaps not all humans are bad. Your mother, your grandmother, they cared. Maybe.... Just maybe.... You are the same as them." Judiya said finally, her voice soft and fragile.

"My father raised me to be a good person. To love everyone no matter what, especially when they need it. Judiya, you need someone. I'll be that someone." I nodded at her, and she raised her arm.

"I, Judiya the Eldest, release thy prisoners of their shackles, and vow peace between the sisters. If anything is to go wrong, the youngest shall be held accountable, and her powers and goddess status shall be removed as such." Judiya announced, and I could hear chains snapping and gasps being taken.

"Go now, human. Be with your loved ones. As long as you care for us like family, nothing shall harm you, from the inside out. I am putting my trust in you. Do not make me regret it." Judiya lowered her arm, slammed her foot onto the ground, and everything went dark.