A Chosen Daughter

Chapter 9*E

Leah's gaze settles on Maya who visibly flinches under its weight and refuses to meet her harsh stare. "You mock & taunt Sophie about your affair, about laying claim to one that is not yours."  Leah rolls her shoulders back twice then brings her right arm across her body to stretch it out, followed by her left.  Closing her eyes she tilts her head to the left to stretch out her muscles there, "Tell me Maya.." she rolls her head to the right, again stretching her muscles, "If I was to weigh your soul right now..." she rolls her head forward round and up slowly "How would it fair?.." She opens her eyes that are now glowing silver and stares unblinkingly at Maya. "Would your soul be filled with light or weighed down with darkness? Would there be any hope of redemption? Any desire to do so?" Maya just stares back at her with wide eyes, breathing shallowly. "Would your heart harbour blackness or is there room for love & growth?" Maya's throat works as she swallows down a forming lump. "Shall we find out?" Leah's eyes narrow slightly as her gaze focuses in on the centre of Maya's trembling being.  "Pride, Jealousy, Hate ... The enjoyment of another's pain and discomfort"  Maya's eyes fill with tears & shame ".... and ..." Leah tilts her head slightly a frown forming "... potential to be more - a lot more than you settle to accept; that's from others as well as yourself!"

Maya's eyes widen as she gasps.

Leah levels her steady silver gaze on Maya for a tense couple of minutes.   "Maya do you love you mother?"
"Yes" is the whispered reply
"Are you close to her?"
"Yes, very"
"What about your grandmother?"
"Yes" Maya sniffles "We're all close."  Out of the corner of her eye Leah could see two females clutching each other in worry.  The resemblance between the three uncanny.

Leah focuses back on Maya & nods in thought before sitting down before her. "I want you to imagine something for me, can you do that Maya?"
"I-I-I can t-t-try"
"I want you to imagine that there was once a day that your mother gave you a beautiful antique mirror.  The artwork on the frame a masterpiece.  The glass so clear, it seems to almost shine, imagine how the moon light would look upon such a glass - it would surely glow". Several sighs fill the silence around them.  "On this day, you mother takes the time to sit with you to admire this beautiful mirror.  She makes a point of stressing to you how important this mirror is.  How important it is to look after it, for this exact mirror was once hers, and her mothers before that, and her mothers before then, & so on going back through the generations"

Leah could feel all the women present pressing closer listening intently. "But!" Leah raises a single finger to enforce the word "Your mother continues to explain that it's not this heritage that makes the mirror so important.  No!  Not at all!  What makes this exquisite mirror so important is the fact it is unique!  There is none other in the world like it!  You can't just go to the store to buy another.  There is no replacing it!  Sure you could try to replicate it but you would never be able to, because you see ..."  Leah leans forward as if she was about to drop a secret; Maya & all the rest of the females lean forward towards Leah in response "This mirror is imbued with love! Never will you look upon your reflection in this mirror, and see greasy hair, dull eyes, or a complexion full of blemishes!  No!  When ever you look upon yourself in this mirror you will look & feel beautiful!  You will feel it through every fibre in your being!  This mirror will say 'Psh! Your hair is greasy? I was too mesmerised by the sparkle in those beautiful eyes!'  'Your eyes are dull & tired? I couldn't tell with how your skin is positively glowing!'  'Breakouts? Sorry, but honestly you need a little something, to make you look less perfect, who would believe you a mare mortal otherwise?!'"  Dreamy sighs echo around Leah.  A quick glance shows just as dreamy smiles sitting on their faces.

"You look in that mirror & feel amazing!  So beautiful!  Your confidence blooms! .... Now I want you to do something else for me Maya"
"Yes?"
"I want you to imagine a stone in your hand, that you then throw at the mirror!"