Elegy for a Star

Tess slammed the door to the dormitory behind her. She was furious with Miri, and irritated that there was no way to get away from her. She was trapped with someone she found immensely irritating right now.

“We need to talk, Tess, I’m serious!” Miri said as she appeared upon Tess’ bed, patting it at the side. Somehow, Tess was even angrier when she could see the demoness than when she was just in her mind.

“I’m going to do the talking. You give me answers,” Tess snapped, “Understand?”

Miri just sighed.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Miri.”

“No, who are you?!” Tess screamed. She hoped that the people in the next room wouldn’t hear her.

“Fuck, Tess, calm down,” Miri said, holding up her hands, “I’m not joking when I say I’m Miri. I’m the person that is sitting right here. It’s the only name I’ve ever had, and I’ve got no reason to change it.”

Some of Tess’ anger leaked away when Miri spoke so calmly and directly. She pressed, “What’s wrong with what I said at the training yard? Born from blood?”

“Just as words, nothing,” Miri said with a shrug.

Tess leaned in and pointed a finger at her, “Then as whatever else they could be? Why’s it a big deal?”

“Krahe said it.”

“So you knew her? Or is that common knowledge? Should I ask around?” Tess asked with some anger in her voice.

Miri shook her head and asked, “Have you been having dreams?”

Tess nodded her head, “Yeah.”

“Dreams where you’re Krahe?”

Tess pursed her lips together and nodded again, “Twice.”

Miri nodded in acknowledgement and replied, “Me too, and I heard her say that.”

“What were your dreams?”

“Moving through a mausoleum, killing exhumed,” Miri replied, thinking for a moment and staring up at the ceiling, “And, um… What was the other? Oh, right, a town was on fire and we took a boat to escape.”

“What.. um… What happened when Krahe said what she said?”

“Skygge spoke back.”

“Who’s Skygge?” Tess asked.

Miri waved an arm and she explained, “That’s the name of her gloves. Skygge.”

“And what did they say?”

“To blood we return.”

Tess’ anger seemed to deflate a bit. Was Miri telling the truth? She knew about the dreams. She knew what Tess knew. She’s in Tess’ mind so why wouldn’t she experience the same mental images that Tess experienced.

“Wait,” Tess said, pointing at Miri like she’d caught her in a trap,
You said you were awake the whole time during Pava’s experiments. When did you have the dreams? That’s when I had the first dream.”

“Mine were twice after the experiments,” Miri replied, “We need to put our heads together, no pun intended, and see what we can figure out.”

Miri wasn’t usually so motivated to correct their predicament, but Tess was grateful for it. She was happy to know that Miri actually cared. Maybe they could do it together.

“So why was I so good with knives?”

“Did you see Krahe use them in a dream?” Miri asked.

Tess nodded.

Miri nodded back, “Maybe you’re learning during your time as her.”

“What was it that Pava said about folding,” Tess wondered, thinking deeply, “What was she folding, again? Do you remember? That whole situation is so foggy.”

Miri shook her head, “I don’t. I just remember being angry.”

Tess pondered for a moment, pointing at Miri, “Why didn’t you mention the dreams?”

Miri shrugged, “Why didn’t you?”

Tess had been confused. She thought they were just dreams. She didn’t want to make a superstitious fool of herself. She shrugged back to Miri, “I don’t know.”

“Tess, I don’t think we should use anything that we learn from these dreams,” Miri urged, “We don’t know what it’ll do to us.”

“Did you see me during training, though?” Tess took a seat beside Miri, “I could actually win spars. I could be useful, Miri.”

“It’s dangerous. Do you know who controls dreams?”

Tess shook her head.

“Umbra,” Miri explained.

Tess raised an eyebrow, “The moon?”

“The primordial attached to it. Her name’s Omen, and she’s fucking crazy,” Miri insisted, “She went mad when the Black Sun showed up. You can’t trust her or the shit she makes you dream.”

“But-...”

“Tess, wouldn’t I want to be a fucking badass with a knife, if I could?” Miri said, making a few gestures as though she was stabbing someone, “It’s hard being the only one that can win a fight between the two of us. I’d love to take a break sometimes.”

Tess frowned.

“But I am scared for us, so I’m asking you not to. You’re driving the cart and I’m just along for the ride right now, and that’s terrifying,” Miri said.

Gods, she was right. Poor Miri. Tess’ shoulders sank. “I’m sorry I was doing that to you,” Tess replied, “It’s hard to remember that I’m not just me. That I’m you, too.”

“It’s okay.”

“What about those gloves from the fox?” Tess asked, “They’re not the same ones from the dream—uh, Skygge—so they shouldn’t be from Omen.” She gestured toward them, “Scirocca said that they could help.”

“We already talked about that, Tess,” Miri replied, “They could be cursed. Who knows what they’re enchanted with, if anything?”

“Is there a way to find out?”

Miri sighed, “Yeah. There are rituals.”

Tess nodded, “We’ll just do that, then. Besides, foxes are lucky; We should trust it.”

“That’s just superstition, Tess.” Miri was wringing her hands, “We need to tell one another everything, Tess. Okay?” Miri frowned, “If you have another dream, tell me. If I do, I’ll tell you.”

Tess nodded her head in agreement, “That sounds like a plan.”

“In the meantime, let’s learn to use those knives the right way, not by taking shortcuts. And be careful with those gloves and that amulet. I just hope the curse doesn’t activate on a ritual,” Miri said with a sigh.

Tess frowned. She didn’t like the sound of that. She had to perform it herself and not let anyone else do it, just in case.

Miri was quiet for a bit and asked, “Are we okay?”

Tess nodded her head, “Yeah, Miri, we’re okay.”

Miri perked up and said, “So, make-up sex?”

Tess chuckled and said, “Yeah, sure.”

The door handle jiggled and Miri squeaked and vanished from sight. Tess got up to open it, but she could hear a key unlocking the door already. She waited, eyes wide as the door opened, only to see Gwen standing in it, looking tired and worn.