Shadow Taking Over

2- New body new mind

"Dad, please- Stop- You're hurting me! Please please please- No!"

Hours passed with the same pleas recurring. Upon entry to her basement, several hands had dragged her across the room to strap her firmly against a flat surface that suspended on chains. Eve fought against their grip, slashing thin tendrils of water all about the room. With her arms tied down, manipulating the water was a struggle. Her resistance died when her restraints sealed. She questioned her father over and over again with no reply. The only answer she needed came from the horrific sight of dark matter seeping from his finger tips. Eve had no idea what this was, why she was here. She squirmed in all directions when he neared her. His crazed eyes buzzed, studying over her. Her attention was brought to the wall. Charcoal writing covered the walls head to toe. The penmanship was sloppy and rushed. As she speedily read over the text, she noted words in bold such as; eternal, shadow, and fire.

"I know now, I know now.. You are not like me because you are different. You are one of them. I must recreate you in my image, Eve," Lance recited. His voice was cool and soothing with each word sounded out, but it sent rolling chills up her spine.

"Alice," Eve begged. "Don't let him do this."

Alice kept her eyes averted to her feet. She felt her father's gaze daring her to revolt. She couldn't bring herself to watch this unfold. Without sound, she excused herself upstairs to keep watch on the door. Repeated cries echoed for several hours before dying down to hoarse whimpers. Alice forced her attention to other matters, which proved difficult during some portions of the night. Once dawn broke the black sky, Alice lulled to sleep. She propped her elbow to settle her chin in her palm. Her nap lasted a brief hour before it was interrupted by the crack of laughter.

Alerted, she sat up, wiped her mouth and approached the door. It opened before she could reach the handle. Lance stood proudly in the way, smug in the face. It would seem that he lost his leather jacket at some point. His muscle lined underneath a gray tee shirt that had several splatters of red. Alice noted 3rd degree burns scaling his arms. Any pain dealt to him buried under layers of joyful emotion.

"Well?"

Lance cackled, "She's complete. Come, come. Meet your new sister."

Obediently, Alice scaled the stairs into the dim lit room. Her glistening eyes scanned around. The table was no more than a pile of ash that drew a lopsided circle around a body on the floor. Lance led Alice, his esteemed daughter and apprentice, towards the still figure with jump in his step. After several trial and error experiences through the night, he finally perfected his once weak daughter into something of destructive beauty. He no longer had to face a disappoint each waking morning. With Eve now revamped, what could stop him from taking complete control by tomorrow's sun?

Stirring, Eve sat up from the mess of ash. She hunched forward in cold silence. White wrap for binding covered where necessary but left much exposed. Her bare skin had paled significantly. Even though she was sitting, it was clear that Eve gained several inches in height. However, that wasn't the most defining difference. Her hair, once flowing and shimmering with blue locks, resembled the color of blood with the brilliance of fire. To prove this point further, tiny embers occasionally flicked from the tips to impact her shoulder. The flame did not cause single mark on her porcelain skin. It died seconds after birth.

The bone of her elbow judged sharply when she pushed herself up. Eve trembled, unsure and in pain. Her knees gave way, she collapsed forward once more.

"It may take time to adjust, but she will survive. Take her upstairs and dress her up in appropriate attire for training," Lance instructed Alice coolly.

Alice nodded hurriedly and moved to her sister's right. She reached down to pull her into a standing position, but when her hand met Eve's bare skin, it felt as hot as a stove top. Involuntarily, she jumped back in alarm. Eve's head turned to gaze up at her sister. Alice got a good look at Eve's face now. Dark circles rested under her eyes. Her jawline had likeliness to a sharpened blade, and her cheeks appeared to be rough. A firm frown with slender lips darkened her new features tremendously. A scarlet flame defined the color of Eve's iris. All of the joy had gone, replaced by deep seeded fear fueled by Lance.

"Make sure her clothes are flame resistant," he added with a sly grin.