Some Thing Called Myself (Complete)

LXXII: Something to Confess

Her heart was beating hard in her chest when she knocked on the beautifully carved door before her. It opened after a moment, as laughs and conversation came, muffled, from the other side and boomed to an almost cacophony that gave life to the silent castle. The face waiting on the other side had a knowing smirk on it.

"So we meet again!" Mimi looked at her, eyes glimmering. "Can't sleep either? We're all very much awake here." She stepped aside to show the others in the shared room. Dora and Teresa raised a hand in greeting, sitting side by side against a wide dresser by the wall. In front of them, two other Sentinels waved at Mara, and one of them, Marcelo, made a show of throwing a card on the pile between them.

Mimi and the others had been allocated to one of the shared rooms in the south wing of the castle, reserved for Iara's elite mermaid warriors. They'd sleep in the bunkers, eventually—but right now, they were drinking, chatting, and playing truco together. They were loud and bold and fearless and there was nowhere else Mara would rather be.

After all, they were all very aware of their possible deaths tomorrow. They all wanted to make the most of these few last hours of safety.

With a sigh, Mara looked at them. Mimi, Dora, Teresa, Curi, two other Sents—Mía and Marcelo—then Tai...and Bernardo.

Whatever you've been holding back, Mara...whatever you'll regret not doing if you die...I suggest doing it tonight.

"I'm so glad you decided to come. It's Mara, everyone! C'mon in," Mimi said, pulling her by the hand.

Everyone cheered, raising their glasses as she passed. Curi's was hopefully filled with guaraná, not alcohol. Mara chuckled and patted the kid's fiery head, then sat down between Dora and Mimi. The room was a large space with bunkers lining the two walls beside the door. The round table in the center was littered with cards and snacks, and a faint song echoed in the silence of the castle, coming from a weird gadget that sat beside Teresa.

"Do you wanna play a round of truco with me? You'll be my partner, and we're gonna wipe the floor with these newbies, just like we used to!" Mimi said, hooking an arm around Mara's neck. The light brown of her cheeks was darker, rosier thanks to the alcohol.

And they played. Mara drank and talked and laughed with Mimi and the others, and by the end of the night, her shoulders were finally relaxed.

It was already close to ten PM when she looked at her cards, then at Mimi. The room was crowded with Sents and mermaids alike, which worked great for their little show. Mara had the second strongest manilha in the game, the four of hearts. The only way Teresa and Dora would win this shit was if they had a four of clubs. Highly unlikely. She touched the tip of her ear while studying Dora's ashen face.

Mimi picked up the sign and placed her card down, facing the table. "Passo. I'll leave this one to Mara."

"Hum. You two are cute when you work together," Dora whispered. Mara hadn't realized it before, but in her ashen shape, Dora was jacked, and her muscular arms flexed as she leaned forward on the table, pretending to think—all the while winking at a cute mermaid watching the game.

"Whoever wins this one wins the game, right?" Teresa said. She'd been pretending this was her first time playing the game, and Mara had been pretending to believe her.

"Yep," Dora said. Like Mimi, she tossed her card facing the table and smirked. "Same, then. It's up to you two now."

Teresa sighed and leaned back on her chair, holding the card to her chest. "Remember, whoever wins today will have to skinny dip in the main pool tomorrow, as soon as we win that damned battle." Her beginner façade cracked as she smirked, pointy canines appearing between her fleshy lips.