The Kaeri unwrap her with agonizing slowness. Ropes and chains sing as they uncoil from around her limbs, as weights and bracers clatter all around here where they are pried off and discarded. They have done the work of a month's worth of meditation and prayers. Bella is ready. Kaeri hands soothe her cramping muscles even as they clasp her tight and lift her onto her feet. There is work to be done. It is time. She is ready. Her clothes are taken from her. The torn and tattered, burned and ruined dress that Beautiful made for her to dance in is unworthy of her duty. Unworthy of her form. They wash her with cold water, anoint her hair in sweet smelling oils and brush it until it shines even in the dusty light of this miserable temple of death. Her arms are lifted over her head for her, and the pristine white robes of Artemis are wrapped tightly about her. They wind golden bracelets about her wrists and ankles and fix a new gleaming white collar about her neck. The Master gestures her forward. The Kaeri pull on her leash and her leaden feet stumble to keep up. The world lurches every time she moves. The jagged swatches of color chase her like spears everywhere her head turns until she squeezes her eyes shut just to make it stop. She has guides to see for her, anyway. She has faith. Her blood feels like warm, sticky acid inside her veins. Her tongue tastes sweetness with every fresh footfall, as bits of glass and grain crunch under her bare feet and cling to her skin like tearful supplicants. The flames burn the detritus away as she passes, and the hall fills with the stench of burning fur. Her face is devoid of emotion. Tears run down both cheeks anyway. Bella opens her eyes properly for the first time in her life. The haze lifts around the armor of the Diodekoi. She sees. She [i]sees[/i]. Her fingers itch with longing. Her golden cat's eye shrinks to a tiny, trembling needle with fear. "No. No! You're lying. I saw it move. I [i]saw[/i] it move! This isn't! No! Don't fuck with me! I, no! NO!" Bella's spine curves like the moon behind her. Shoulders pulled back like a bowstring, her twitching arms held in place by Kaeri attendants. She screams loud enough for all the gods to hear her. But nobody answers. No heroes descend to save her from her terror. No little princesses with eyes as bright as jewels lift her from the Box. No god kisses her brow and bids her take victory. They watch, and they wait, and they do nothing. Just like always. "That's not me that's not me that's not me! It can't be me, it can't it can't it can't! No! Don't! You're lying you're lying you liar liar you're a liar I'm a good girl don't do this no no no I'm good I'm good I don't wanna go I! No! That's not me! THAT'S NOT ME!" Her blood feels oily inside her chest. Her blood feels like lumpen sludge. Her blood feels like venom, fever, a virus. Like claws. Her screams die down to nothing. She hisses and drools and weeps, instead. Her blood whispers in her ear. In a horrible voice, it whispers. In a frothy, gurgling, slushing voice, it whispers: come now, sweet little Tredecima, doesn't this make things so much better? Why were you chosen, hmm? Why you? Why bratty, useless, unsellable little you? Why would anyone steal your precious, pretty claws dear "Bella"? Because you were a 'bad girl'? Silly thing, weren't you listening? You are not a girl. A girl is human. You, dear stupid XIII, [i]you[/i] are a tool. Come now, think with me. Why did you feel so close to those other Adepts? Were you "sisters"? Could you be, if you were not related? Think now, further back. The gods who never answered your careful little prayers. Why would they forsake you? And [i]why[/i], darling XIII, does a maid need to know how to fight? Because this is you. This is you. [right]This is you.[/right] This is you. [center]This is you.[/center] [right]This is you.[/right] [center]This is you.[/center] This is you. [center][b]This is you.[/b][/center] Your beautiful body. Your purpose. Your answers. The answer to all of your questions, XIII! Why? Because you belong to Artemis. Because the galaxy is full of monsters, and you are the goddess' dagger. What else could you [i]possibly[/i] be good for? Now she lunges. She howls. She twists her arms with all of the strength left inside her shattered and exhausted body and hurls Kaeri into the walls on either side of her. More rush forward and clamp onto her in pairs. She rears her legs back and kicks uselessly at the air. At Saghakhan, the Master of Assassins. Who used to smile at her so fondly when they passed in the hallways of the palace. Who lit teeny sparks inside her little heart and made her pray that someday she would have parents. And if she got some, could they be like that? Her tears glimmer like pearls as they float away from her face. Her face twists with animal fierceness, animal desperation, animal terror. "No, please! Please, I'll be, I'll be good! [i]I'll be good![/i] Don't put me back in the box I don't wanna go I don't wanna go please please please [i]please[/i] Redana! Redana!! REDANA!" Her fingers itch. Her blood swims eagerly inside of her. Her missing claws reach out for her. It's going to feel so ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓, isn't it? To be whole again at last.