The Taming

You Upset Me

"It's you. You upset me...Annoy me." When a long silence passed with him waiting quietly, she added. "You know nothing." Her hands fisted and eyes burned molten red as she turned back to him. Her hair twined black from the roots, darkening down the tips. Then silver-blonde coursed over it, back and forth as she tried to control her fury and regain composure.

"Don't I?" He lifted a brow as he faced her fully. "You're exhausted, Little Bird."

"Why would that be?"

"You're tired of emotions you usually keep so carefully in check running chaotic."

She stared at him, crossing her arms. "Am I?"

"You're jealous of women who don't exist." He shook his head sadly.

"Don't they?"

"No." He breathed.

But the look on her face indicated her skepticism. Without another word she stalked from the room.

"Run, Little Bird, run."

He heard her chamber door slam decisively behind her. He lifted his head to stare into the darkened room, face impassive.

***

Elsabet slumped into the chair next to her bed. Her chamber door rattled awkwardly right before the handle turned.

She averted her attention to it. Already sure it wasn't Sebastian coming in to taunt her.

He never hesitated. Not opening doors. Not walking in...Not in anything.

She was unsurprised when the door creaked open, and Quandary entered. She offered the creature a welcoming smile.

Animal to animal.

The sleek panther often managed to open doors in this strange castle. He padded in with his characteristically quiet movements. Drawing closer to her. A single hop had him landing on the bed parallel to her. He moved in several tight circles before settling next to her on the edge. Tipping low enough to rest his head along her lap. Blinking up at her with warm yellow eyes.

She sensed he wanted to know what was wrong.

"Don't look at me like that! It's that man, Quandary!" She expostulated. "He's insufferable! He's asked me to wed him less than a sennight past, yet spends all night out, and thinks me silly enough to believe all he says."

No, you don't! The panther jumped from the bed, landing smoothly on the fur before the fire. Firelight shining off the ebony coat. Making the pitch darkness of it, glisten. He snorted in agitation. His fur moving in agitation.

She assumed it was because he sensed her ire. Pressing on with her tirade, she continued. "I know where he goes. I know what he's off doing."

Quandary began pacing, continually jerking his head to look at her, each time he turned. Keeping her in view.

"I know what those scratches on his back are." Her voice escalated. She clenched her fists near her face as she huffed.

His gold eyes were attentive on her. Dancing shadows on the walls, reflected within them. As she observed it, the panther blinked slowly.

"He sees me as nothing, Quandary. He thinks I'm a fool." She finished.

Her shoulders slumped and she scratched her scalp angrily as it changed at the tips. Going from silver blonde to coarse black. Which climbed each strand.

Blowing a long breath to calm herself, she slipped from the bed to her feet. Taking a step before freezing as she encountered her reflection blinking from a looking glass. She sucked in a breath.

It's been a long time since she's faced her own image. It confirmed what he'd suspected.

He delved into her mind. Wondering what she saw.

She was realizing she'd avoided her own image, since that fateful day long, long ago.

What day was this? Bast was intrigued.

It was easy to glimpse what people were thinking but hard to tell what they associated something with. Because often it recalled something that they'd thought of so much that the picture was now only a flash. Far too abrupt for him to discern, as a bystander.

"It's amazing how much one day can change someone." She sighed. Her head fell back to stare at the ceiling.

Whatever moment she'd been close to recalling, she recognized as the pivotal point in making her who she was now.

She's learned to fear herself.

She turned to Quandary. Her eyes burned with unspent emotion.

"I've paced this chamber at least a hundred times."

She pointed. "That looking glass was never there afore."

She turned away before coming back to glance at it again. "Why did he put it here? To frustrate me?"

No. To teach you... He mentally corrected.

Looking in that mirror, she was stunned by how different she looked, compared to what she remembered.

This time he saw the image she drew back on.

She was young, barely more than a child. Her face was round and her pointed chin less pronounced. The slender features that indicated she was a grown woman, weren't there yet. Her eyes looked dark and hollow instead of piercing and flashing like they did, now.

She looked afraid.

No. He agreed with her thoughts.You're not the same.

Pale white hair still shined in a shimmering cloak around her shoulders. But now it poured down far enough to swish around her hips. The sides of her face were now dominated by high, pronounced, cheekbones. Arrowing to lips which were far fuller than they'd been when she was young. And her soft blue eyes had hardened to a sharp, glinting blue. Like lightning crossed them.

It was interesting to envision Elsabet as young and naïve. Without the razor edges she had now. Her heart full of hope and a lifetime of love to offer.

Instead, she'd learned mankind is cruel and self-serving. He was still with her emotions as she felt a swirl of all-consuming pain.

His chest grew tight in apprehension of what memory was coming next. Will it pain her?

He dreaded seeing her suffering. But he was already along for the ride.

She became so angry that her desire to shatter the mirror bloomed to a nearly overwhelming depth. Her eyes flashed red, and she gave it her back. Barely overcoming that need.

She found Quandary on the bed. Watching her with a tilted head.