For Ledger

[Achlyss]

achlyss

I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I, my dear?

She remembers that morning when she had first waken up, tucked against her momma. She remembers when the fear and the magic that had seemed to ooze through their home had been gone. She remembers when her father hadn’t come home in days…and then weeks and when she finally realized they were free. She didn’t have the scars that her momma had, so it took some coaxing to get her to leave, lots of love and patience. Then, when they finally had, the world had shifted and turned and changed.

She finally got her wish, to be normal so her father would leave her alone. And it had been so wonderful not to worry about the what-ifs and the possibility that her powers could control her. It had been so wonderful to wander with her momma and take their time learning and living all by their selves.

“Momma look at the butterfly!” And Willa had smile and nodded, a faint faraway smile that made Lyss a little sad and happy at the same time. That smile meant her momma was thinking of old times, but she was smiling. A small sigh slipped from her lips until Willa slipped up to her and hugged her tight. “I was remembering chasing butterflies when I was younger and how your Gran and Grandda would laugh at me and Strange when we did.”

Oh, well that helped make the sad go away. She smiles at her Momma and nuzzles her, letting her settle down in the thick grasses hiding along the edge of the wooded edge. “I’ll be back!” Willa smiles and nods, closing her eyes in the grasses and settling in for a relaxing nap while her grown daughter scampers off.

Lyss was never alone too long so she blames it on going to far that she doesn’t get loss per se, but she gets a little sidetracked. So when the magic returns she almost totally misses it, until that feeling just behind her eyes comes back. She stops, pausing near the edge of the water and sighing sadly. “Oh.” The memories come back with it, the ones that she had been able to keep away without thinking too much about them, the ones that were all associated with her father using her powers for his gain.

”Do it.” His voice hisses in her ear and she takes a breath, swallowing hard as she looks into the mare’s eyes. “Run through the brambles until I say stop.” She says, a small catch in her voice that her father nudges her roughly for. She straightens up, squaring her small shoulders. “Now.” Her voice is stronger and the mare takes a look, blinking at her. Achlyss watches the terror fade from her eyes, watches as they turn blank and biddable before she turns and does as she is told. Her father’s harsh laugh grates on her ears as she turns to look at him. “Don’t let her stop until she can’t walk.” And then he turns and walks away, leaving his daughter with the mare that he has sent to bleed from a thousand small cuts and knicks.

She shakes her head, knowing that that had never been the worst, but there was so many small ones that added up. She steps deeper into the water, letting it wash over her legs until it touches her belly. She closes her eyes when she looks down at the water and takes a long drink. She lingers there, sighing softly, until she looks at her reflection, wondering what might have changed.

But sees nothing different than yesterday.

She doesn’t say anything, knowing how easy it would be to hypnotize herself. So she looks up and around and just lets the water wash around her as she looses herself in her memories, her eyes sad and haunted.