The Torn Weft ~ COMPLET

Revelations

Gwen was now in front of the mirrored wall. The lamias had washed him, combed his hair, dressed him, put on make-up and adorned him with jewellery. He sighed. It had been hard. He, who couldn't stand to be touched, had been groped for three hours by two strangers. He was finally alone and looked at himself in the mirror. His body, his face, it was all so unfamiliar to him. No, not really unfamiliar because he recognised Griffin and knew instinctively that it was his body but not his own. He moved his hand, bending and unfolding his four thick fingers finished with short black claws that glowed. He blinked, two deep black orbs with no irises... just black with a double eyelid. He pushed back his black hair that looked more like mane than hair, revealing two flared, pointed ears. His nose was too small for his face and his mouth hid four short fangs. The grey skin seemed thick, not to mention his arms were too thin and his torso too muscular compared to his legs with inverted knees and tail. He had never felt so inhuman. And yet Myghal was in love, or what came close to it for the Creatures, with him. Certainly Griffin could be flamboyant with that body, but he... He tried to get up and stand. He managed to do so after a huge effort and stood there, his legs shaking under his own weight, looking at himself, his heart in his mouth.

— I want to go home...

He fell back in his chair more than he sat down and sighed. Melvan had asked him to sleep, probably to talk to him in private. But after what he had heard yesterday, Gwen didn't know if he could trust him anymore. There was too much going on in too short a time, and with his weakened body, there was not much he could do. Perhaps he would see Misery again in the hall of mirrors? He pushed the chair back to the pile of cushions that seemed to serve as his bed and lay down on it with the strength of his arms. He sighed. This was the first time he had been anywhere other than his chair or bed. The cushions were impregnated with Griffin's smell. A mixture of silica, dust and chlorophyll and something like an animal smell. It was surprisingly soothing. With the stone in his hand, he fell asleep faster than he thought.

.... To wake up in the white room. He rushed to the first mirror and looked into it. It was not the bathroom mirror but a mirror that seemed to take up a whole wall. He recognized the instruments from the HQ gym and saw Misery in the corner of the mirror lifting weights. He was wearing shorts and a tank top, and the latter was damp with sweat. He could only see him from behind and in profile. The muscles in his shoulders and arms twitched with every movement. Gwen froze, his mouth dry. This man who was not a man was beautiful, desirable... and unattainable. He sighed. He didn't even want to pull the tie for him to see. It would hurt his heart too much. A hand came to rest on his shoulder and Melvan was there. Gwen pulled away from him and moved away from the mirror. Melvan slumped onto the sofa that had just appeared. Gwen looked at him. Melvan looked tired even in the dream world.

— Melvan?

— Hm?

— I can trust you, can't I?

Melvan looked up at Gwen, a little confused

— Yes, you can. Of course you can.

— So tell me about the baby.

Melvan straightened up.

— What baby? What are you talking about?

Gwen gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

— I heard everything yesterday, I was in the circle.

— You were...

Melvan dropped back onto the sofa and rubbed his face.

— I... I don't know where to start... the easiest way is for me to show you.

He stood up and took Gwen by the arm and pulled him towards the mirrors. He didn't choose the first one, nor the next ones, but a good dozen further on. Gwen leaned into the mirror. The angle was odd, it was a bird's eye view but at an angle and the setting was bathed in a very white light.