—the following entry is written by a Passage Angel called Seraphina, expressing confusion and foreboding about a sudden shift in dynamic surrounding Century XI (an enslaved Century captive in the main Passage sector.)
A pest inturded intruded my quarters. I never had the chance to learn what it was called, but I can give a brief description. I think it came in through the crevice under my door.
—fearless (it leaped towards me.)
This feels self deprecating to say, but at times, I feel disingenuous. Sparrow forcibly took hold as my
wings sprout when that little critter decided to skip. And here I was deciding that shouting was the right
reaction. I never remembered nor understood, but here’s the question the archivists may answer when
What will Seraphina be without her responses and defenses?
It’s a wonder I won’t trail off and forget why I came here—because I’m already anticipating what I’ll
have to say about the night before now
Here I am, writing everything that comes to mind. It’s almost like a warrior being gifted the opportunity
to guard an assemblage—I’d know. I grew up rou aroud around them. They get all kinds of eager,
As if they were being fed rations after months of starvation (most of them can NOT eat for this long)
But now that I’ve declutterred our head…
I guess I can write about what happened just the other night ago.
Mother started an assemblage in honor of the peace among Passage-Zequoits. And I have
To admit. It was pretty ineffective.
We didn’t notice they existed until the timewatchers decided they wanted to lead the way
While we were gone, I assume that the Century daughter, or ‘Anni’
Felt alone. We couldn’t find it anywhere. Not until I caught it attempting to light a
We didn’t even recognize it at first.
Because it apparently underwent a rare occurrence similar to a growth spurt. Except, in Centuries
It’s not common, not even rare.
Unknowing that it was the same childlike assistant; Moari tried to grab it by the throat and chain it.
With an uncannily wide smile, and insanely meticulous cosmetics, it snapped back and sent
The circle burnt, and all we could hear was it’s hysterical laughter.
After the fact, mother was afraid to go anywhere near it.
She was great at hiding it, but porcelain dolls can hide an entirely different face under ceramic per—
It was still kept in a dark room, (until it found out how to decorate.), and was beaten often.
Old habits die harder when your kin witnesses lies over and over.
But not even hours of loneliness, dread and starvation could keep the Century from getting smarter
And smarter. It stole rations, clothing, fuel, masks, and anything entertaining.
I overheard an argument between the two. Moari and Anni. Let’s just say. Anni was thoroughly punished
when they found its stash of free-goodness.
I think it was pretty nasty, too. Anni was physical. Very. Especially with how this growth spurt has
made it taller, stronger, and scarier.
And they said watch out for the quiet ones.
Anni may also be preparing for a future metamorphosis. Into a winged species.
I snuck into that cesspool it calls a bed, looked underneath, and found incessant scratches
into the marble and peels of skin. Long peels too, and my lead were feathers.
Anni remains chained, but it grew talons.. as well as a repaired sense of vision—so it could
Easily tear out throats apart and inhale the essence of our power. Mother especially.
I think it has gotten angry with the treatment it has been given since infancy.
I would be angry if I were enslaved simply for my formation, or theories based on my species.
But I’m not allowed to feel for it, Centuries are deemed ineffective to mother. (Even though they built
I’m a little afraid, I hope it realizes I’m not a monster like all other angels. I don’t want to die
Because of something I had no control over.
