#abetrayer

jazz   is   the   soundtrack   of   the   evening   ,                     and   gloria’s   bar   the   setting.               its   patrons   are   looking   for   a   good   time.            a   way   to   unwind.            he’s   no   different,         except   for   perhaps         the   method         for   achieving   that   end.      victim   of   the   evening   is   chosen:      a   young   handsome   man   that   usually   frequents   the   bar   with   him.      she   is   approached   with   the   man   by   his   side.         a   beautiful   mystery.         not   many   can   pique   his   interest,      not   with   humanity   switch   purposefully   turned   off.               “         tom   and   i         felt   awful         for   the   way   we   acted   last   night.      didn’t   we   tom?      “            the   man   shakes   his   head,      blissfully   unaware   he’s   going   to   be   offered   like   a   pig   to   the   slaughter.            “         a   peace   offering,                  darlin’.         maybe   i   can   earn   that   name   of   yours?      “   

GIRL     :     UNIVERSE     .               maiden     to     the     mother     &&     the     crone     [     ...     ]     there     are     roses     dangling     from     fingers     ,     dead     &&     black     .               even     slight     motion     causes     dry     rustle     :     cracks     appearing     &&     flakes     drifting     down     .               half     posed     for     attack     at     sound     of     others     approach     before     recognition     struck     .          

DAVINA     :          you     scared     me     .               don't     you     guys     ever     knock     ?               

PICTURED     HERE     :     CHEERLEADER     WITH     AN     OVERLAY     OF     BLOOD     .               blink     &&     she     is     pristine     .               (               Q     .               which     image     is     truth     ?               A     .               both     of     them     are     .               the     bloody     &&     the     clean     /     the     saved     &&     the     damned     .               )               was     she     always     meant     to     embody     these     opposites     ?               sometimes     she     cannot     remember     what     it     was     like     to     be     simple     .          

ELENA     :          i     can't     play     with     you     today     ,     i     have     homework     .          

FIGURE     ONE     .               WOMAN     WARRIOR     .               carefully     honed     /     as     much     sharpened     blade     as     she     is     soft     fleshed     woman     .               crafted     for     violence     :     made     for     war     .               (               swallows     down     the     nausea     that     comes     with     her     presence     .               )          

ROSE     :          you     have     no     idea     how     much     i     want     to     slam     a     stake     into     your     chest     .          

  ❝       i’m    getting    rid    of    magical    evidence    before    my    dad    overreacts.         ❞   

KATHERINE     :          rebekah     .          

SHE     IS     WOMAN     /     POISON     .               a     toxicity     honed     over     long     life     in     search     for     survival     .               (               Q     .               where     did     the     girl     you     once     were     go     ?               A     .               she     is     buried     in     a     box     somewhere     ,     rotted     &&     dead     .               bruises     from     noose     still     pressed     against     broken     throat     .               )          

KATHERINE     :          fancy     seeing     you     here     .               shouldn't     you     be     eating     cheerleaders     ?               

what the fuck really