Mette Paus

The almosts.

The hybrid between ripping and crushing.

Mary- “Like what?”

N’rith- “Like…your voice… I dont know, its like youve been crying. Its stopped up and stuffy and high pitched… like you’re about to start crying again but you’re holding it in? What, is your nose clogged up? Are you gonna cry?”

Mary- “No? This is how Ive always spoke?”

—Where are you going?

Lilix turns, quickly, a bump in the night. Genuine fear.

She spots Nrith sitting atop a stray log, tall, unusually tall. Leaned forward, chin rested in palm. Calm. Maybe a smile? It was too dark to tell.

Lilix

—You—

Nrith

—Me!

Nrith jumps from her seat onto the ground and her knees buckle a bit.

Lilix

—Where did… How did you find me?

(Nrith is mumbling under Lilix as she speaks)

Nrith

—…never reveals their secrets!

Lilix and Nrith stare at each other for a strange second that seems like it may have been ten. Nrith breaks the silence with a slow step towards Lilix, digging her own heels into the dirt.

Nrith

—Well, as I was saying, I need you to do something for me. Pretty please?

Nrith is tapping her fingertips together, getting ever so closer as Lilix is frozen.

Lilix

—Fr-from me?

Nrith smiles, teeth.

Nrith

—Mhmm, you! (pointing)

She looks over to the right. Her own right.

Nrith

—Is there someone else here?

Lilix looks over to where Nrith is staring, splitting her gaze as to not leave Nrith unaccounted.

Lilix

—No.

Nrith

—Oh. Huh.

A breath, deep. Lilix lets it out slowly, quietly.

Lilix

—Well… what is it?

Nrith giggles a little.

Nrith

—Well, I need you to find that girl. The hungry one that hangs out with Mira!

Nrith steps tiny taps quickly to Lilix, and wraps her arm around Lilix's shoulder, pulling her down to Nrith. A secret, almost.

Nrith

—See, (she points a finger out in front of their faces) when I was sitting there, in that circle you had the queen's goons draw? I saw you in that moment! It was… fate? Maybe? Hmm. I'm not sure. But! I had this WONDERFUL idea! The powerful Witch Lilix? She is wasting all that potential on somebody who's already at their height of potential! Like the top of a cliff, just waiting to be realized. And I thought, wouldn't it be neat, if, like, say, that little starving girl that clings to the ditzy blond and Mira all the time? I don't know, she seems like she could be a STAR. (Nrith waves her hand out. Lilix can swear she saw a glitter around Nrith's eye.) And I need YOUUUU… to do it. Deal? You feelin' me?

Nrith pulls away instantly, and waits, arms crossed. She's checking her nails as if to give Lilix time to think.

Lilix

—You think I should find this girl, and teach her? Teach her what? What if I say no?

Nrith looks up, eyes wide. To ask if you are finished.

Nrith