(Also posted on Royal Road)
Even in a world full of magic and wonder, no one can escape dealing with very human problems.
Claire, the outspoken witty new kid mermaid is fearful of being alone and separated, and just wants a group of friends to call...
A bitter flame dwarfed her entire being as she hovered over the sink, her breath shallow, her hands braced against the cold porcelain. The mirror in front of her had already shattered—splintering in an explosion of fractured light, jagged reflections stabbing outward like broken ribs.
She broke it.
Her own face fragmented into a thousand twisted images, each one a warped mockery of her existence. It was as if the mirror had rebelled against her, unwilling to hold the weight of what lurked inside. A twin—a stranger—trapped beneath the surface of the glass, desperate to escape.
It spat at her.
Scattered pieces of herself, her true self, scattered across the tiled floor. A reflection she did not—could not—come to terms with.
The shards crunched beneath her bare feet, tiny razors kissing her skin in shallow incisions. They weren't deep enough to draw blood, only pain—small, sharp reminders of what she was, what she could never fix.
And still, she could not look away.
It burned.
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-------- Author's Note-------
Thank you so much for reading Venefica: Stories From Your Memories up to this point! Venefica means a lot to me on a personal level. I have a love for Elora, in fact, I think I personally relate to Elora's emotions and actions more so than any other character. This is probably one of the first major turning points in Elora's story. From a witty girl climbing through windows to avoid being late--the girl who looked straight in the eye of authority and stuck her tongue out, to a girl questioning everything and being overprotective over her close-knit circle of friends, to here--a girl afraid of seeing who she truly is. There is a lot more to come in Elora's story. I hope you continue to read to find out more.
This chapter's question: What was the mirror trying to hide from Elora?
