Blood Lily

Her pale hand rested gently on the door’s solid gold knob as she stood there with her deep, scarlet eyes staring into mine. Her silver hair was even longer than mine, cascading down her back to just above her hips like a gentle waterfall. She was wearing a beautiful dress of black and white, with the hem going to just below her knees. She had black stockings covering her presumably pale legs, and she stood a good five or six inches taller than me in her short, black heels.

If not for the clothes, I almost mistook her for the reflection in the mirror, though I started to notice larger differences. And I meant it. Larger differences. She was just a taller and larger version of what I saw in the mirror. Even her faced seemed similar to the reflection, though it seemed more mature.

I started to wonder if the birthmark on the back of my neck had disappeared, making my neck as flawless as hers seemed.

Simply put, she was beautiful. The reflection I saw was cute.

Her near expressionless face curled into a smile after a few seconds of staring at me, looking me up and down. She was, without a doubt, inspecting me.

“Oh my my~” she said as if she just found an entire slice of pizza, not just the crust mind you, in the trash.

With each click of her heel, she made her way within touching distance of me, and touch she did.

“This wasn’t quite my expectation, but I’m pleasantly surprised!” she said as she stroked a lock of my silver hair.

“What…” I tried to speak, but before I could, she buried me in a tight hug.

I didn’t expect two hugs in two days, though I realized the first one probably wasn’t a simple hug.

This definitely was.

I squeezed back, savoring the affection.

Despite the comfort, my earlier restlessness continued to grow. I felt somewhat irritated.

Why did the only source of affection I’ve ever known come from a complete stranger? Why me? Why hadn’t my parents ever done this? They gave me a place to live, sure.

But nothing else. Never anything else. Why did I accept that for so long?

…It doesn’t matter though. It doesn’t matter how nice it is to be hugged, or how nice the bed felt, or how much I hated the idea of going back “home” to my parents.

Sure, being turned into a pretty girl was… weird, to say the least.

But, I had to go home.

Just then, my thoughts were disturbed by a loud growling from my stomach.

The affectionate stranger heard it, and let go of me, eyeing me up and down again.

“Hungry?” she said with a smirk.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I also didn’t like to lie.

“…Yes.” I said, in a quiet, soft voice.

“And… thirsty?” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes.” I said, more confidently than before. I felt like I could drink an ocean. Not a good idea, but I still felt like I could.

She gave me a pat on the head and a warm smile.

“We’ll have dinner soon then, and a thorough discussion to answer your many questions.”

“I-I can’t…” I stumbled. “I have to go home.”

“You are home” she said, “This will be your home now.”

I blinked hard, surprised at the words.

Did she want to adopt me or something?

Almost forgetting my new appearance, I realized that made more sense than I originally thought.

It didn’t matter, though.

“I’m sorry, I’m going home.” was all I said as I marched past her to the open door.

She spoke up, “What do you think you’re doing missy? You made a deal, not one you can just up and brea-” but halted her words.

Just as I was nearly under the doorframe and had sight of the long corridor, I felt an iron grip on my arm. It didn’t hurt, but it scared me. She was using force to keep me here.

Away from home.

“Be still,” she said as I struggled to break free.

She began muttering some odd words until I suddenly felt a jolt of electricity sear me in the back of my neck. It didn’t hurt, but it scared me.

What is she trying to do? I just had to leave, why wouldn’t she let me?

I felt the iron grip release and I made a few steps into the corridor. The halls were decorated not too differently from my room, continuing the absurdly expensive pattern of décor.

Seeing that the right was a dead end, I started sprinting to the left to find the stairs so I could leave.

So I could go… home…?

I stopped sprinting, just standing there cluelessly in the hallway.

I realized I didn’t feel compelled to go back there anymore. Why did I in the first place? I hated being in that cramped place. I hated living there. It’s why I preferred the park, or more specifically the park bench. I hated having to go back, I always did.

But I always went back there anyway. I have always, always longed to be grateful for living, but I knew I was never going to find any form of gratitude in that place.

I’ve tried running away, but I would find myself home after a few days.

Every time.

But, I felt that, for the first time, it was possible for me to avoid ever going back there.

To avoid the singular command of a heartless mother and the face of a father that’s never spared me a glance.

I heard the snap of a finger and the word “Dinner,” and turned around to see the mysterious lady looking towards a small bat fluttering near her head, wearing an appropriately sized tuxedo and top hat.

What the hell?! That’s adorable?!

As I thought that, I could swear the bat gave me an annoyed look and the lady let out a slight giggle.

I didn’t say that out loud, did I?

She gave me a steady glance and turned back to the mini butler-bat. Bat-butler. Whatever that cute thing was.

“Immediately,” she said in an ever so slightly demanding tone.

The well-dressed bat gave her a courteous nod and flew off, vanishing in a puff of dark smoke.

I didn’t realize the lady was standing right in front of me, once again, since my attention was on the bat.

She placed an elegant hand on the back of my neck, rubbing it slightly.

“Feel better?” she asked.

I took a moment to consider what she meant.

“Yes, I feel more…” but, honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling.

“Free?” she finished for me.

“That, exactly that.”

I don’t know why, but I felt as she said: free.

In fact, I felt overwhelmed with liberty. I felt like I could go anywhere. I didn’t feel an overwhelming need to return home.

She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Looks like you’re not the only one who wants some questions answered.”

I gulped, knowing that I had even more questions to ask than before.

Before I could come up with the first one, I caught the smell of something delicious. The aroma of food being cooked.

Right. Butler-bat. Dinner.

Could a bat actually cook dinner that fast? This lady must have been serious when she said immediately.

The waft of ingredients sizzling in the kitchen got stronger. I was starting to get a bit excited at the thought of a real meal, not some cold pizza crust. Seriously.

I also caught the scent of something else. Something unfamiliar, but it began to entice me even more.

The lady pulled out a small, white piece of fabric and wiped it across my mouth all of a sudden.

I looked at her a bit confused, but she just smiled. Weird.

“As I think you’re aware of, dinner is almost ready,” she said, stifling a giggle.

She gave me a gesture towards the hall behind me and we began to make our way towards the dining room.