Sitting alone in front of a vanity mirror I stare at myself, horrified by what I see. I try to maintain composure, but it’s impossible. I’m a monster of indescribable evil, that is so ugly I can’t keep my eyes open a moment longer. My body is tense, and my shoulders shake uncontrollably.

A pain like poison is growing in my stomach, it’s welling up to my chest. I want to be dignified, but covering my mouth is pointless. Festering green ichor spews onto the stone floor. The toxicity burns my mouth, I can’t move at all. It all hurts, my whole body feels as if it’s melting and rotting. 

I knew I had started molting, but I just hoped there was more time than this. My skin only started falling away last night, I thought I had more time. There used to be more time. It wasn’t always this appalling. It just seems to get worse every year. 

Lifting my hand the soft skin meets the rough patch of scales piercing through. Quickly recoiling at the touch I scream out in fear.

A knock swiftly follows at the door opposite of me, an eternity away that seems to stretch further. The door is locked, but the thought of being seen like this fills me with unshaking dread that will not leave my body alone as it violently begins to shutter away as a voice is heard from the other side of the door,

“My lady, are you alright?”

A familiar, deep, cruel, and conniving voice of my loyal second in command. The one who is supposed to seek out whatever will save me from this curse, and if there is no salvation for, then we shall make it ourselves.

Delicately avoiding the toxic sludge upon the floor I silently rush across to the floor trying to not stub my toe, while also not looking at where I am going for fear of seeing my body again.

In a hushed voice sounding as meek as I can, but still sounding grating I answer Sahil, “I-I’m perfectly fine, go back to your research.”

“My lady, I know better than that. Why else was I created? I have enough evidence to deduce you’re lying to me. I understand you are going through a difficult time, however how might I aid you if you do not permit it?”

As he keeps talking I try chewing on my nail, but feeling one of my fangs piercing out I lower my hand to start digging my nails into my arm instead.

“I said I’m fine!”

“Mistress, I have been preparing your treatment anticipating this, please just allow me to assist.”

Taking a deep breath I nervously peel open the door to see a grotesquely familiar face. Scaly green skin, black sclera, and green pupils. His hair is slicked back sloppily, shaven too short on the sides, and a similar black color to his lab coat, however a few graying strands are notable on the aging scalp.

He offers an unnervingly wide smile showing off his serpent fangs as he found triumph in my door opening. 

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Mistress. You are always a splendid sight, and if it would so please you we can conceal those minor blemishes.”

God, even he looks more put together than me. How he carries himself, and how he looks as if he is satisfied. No, feeling like I am going to gag again I try to hold a hand to my mouth in a refined manner.

“Oh my lady, did I upset you with my words? My sincerest of apologies.”

Sahil’s words are being hissed more as their forked tongue flares up, and now I shake more fearing the return of my own. Carefully hiding behind the door I whisper weakly,

“Please, let’s get this done as quickly as possible.”

With a respectful bow of his head Sahil then looks back up at my eyes,

“Mistress, you must try to relax. Your stress is causing your feathers to mulch.”

In terror I glance back down past my once cute vest and dress to see three angelic feathers next to me upon the floor. As the realization dawns on me another feather falls off, probably from the panic of my old wings being revealed.

Those disgusting bat wings, this rough skin, and those horrid fangs, it all makes me look hideous. I just look like a monster in a dress that could have been pretty on anyone else. Even he looks better than me at this point. His fangs are cuter than mine, any devil could be cuter than me, every snake is adorable except for me. Why can’t I just be normal, why can I not just feel like he does, instead of being me? Why can’t I just be anyone else? 

I reach out my hand to try grasping at his coat, but stop. I don’t want to just look like the brute that I really am. I’m just shaking, but unable to actually move. Then he takes my hand with his own gentle hand, the soft glove reminds me how harsh my own hands are. 

“My lady, it is alright. This is your realm. Whatever you want shall be yours, and I will ensure that. Now please come with me, my lady Asuya. I will treat you with the utmost care you rightly deserve.”

Tears well up in my eyes, clinging tightly to his coat I try to hide my wings behind my back, and myself behind his body as we walk down the halls towards the laboratory. Avoiding the eye contact of any wandering researchers I just focus on being as small as possible. Fortunately Sahil being taller makes me feel a bit safer.

It’s not that far of a walk, but it feels like it takes forever to go down the snaking corridors until we reach a large room with an operating table in the center as well as dozens of shelves filled with books, supplies, and other regents. I have a hard time recalling everything that is in here, but I’m less anxious to be seen as the door is shut and locked behind us. All the windows are covered, the stone is relatively sound proof, and I approach the workbench confident in what I have to do. In a hollow tone I say,

“I’m going to try brewing some extra ingredients in. I can’t have this happen so often, I’m sick of seeing this.”

“Yes of course, I shall be here for you every step of the way, as I always have been.”

He may not have meant that literally, but that just makes it hurt more. I wish I could live without him, but I was not created to have a good fortune. I was created to take it myself.

Quickly taking the vials from a nearby rack of supplies, I take a lick of the air. It’s salty, and has a bitter after taste. The ingredients are going bad, but they must do. I have no other choice. Holding out my hand towards Sahil he places a small empty flask within, which I mix a greenish serum along with a purple from the two vials I have nearby. Reaching up into the shelves I grab a small glass bottle which I drop a tiny glowing golden dew drop from. It beautifully reflects the light and mixes inside turning all the rest into a dazzling gold. I fetch a few more ingredients which I delicately drop in, blending without disturbing the holy shine inside. Peeking back over my shoulder I see Sahil preparing the table.

He grabs the metal straps fastened to the operating table and tugs to ensure the stability. We can’t allow them to break. Glaring back at my work I continue mixing together the medicine. Then on a small tray I start to lay out my tools. A scalpel sharp enough to piece steel that is black as night, tweezers burned clean for purity, and a needle fine enough to thread through a pore of skin. Then I look at one final bottle, hesitantly. Inside is a shining orange flower, almost like a sunflower in appearance, it glows with radiance I can hardly understand. Gritting my teeth I turn and walk carrying the flask upon the tray, and I set it down on the small table next to my operating bench. Then laying down in a haste I feel the metal bind cross my throat as Sahil fastens down my neck, and then he straps down my legs so I cannot move during the process. He adjusts a small mirror hanging above the table so I can see my repulsive reflection. Nearly half my face is covered in toxic green scales, the same color as my disgusting eyes. 

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I keep my mouth closed for fear of seeing my forked tongue, but I glance to the side to hiss orders at Sahil without seeing what I hate most. In a rush I take up the sterile blade, then dip it into the flask coating its edge with a shining golden light, and I hold it to my face feeling a terrible itch just below the surface. The scales are returning faster than I can stand, they are burrowing out from my skin, and have to be sliced away. Painfully I jab it into my face, sinking below the first set of scales, it burns. Fire stings, but this burns. It dissolves everything it cuts, it even tears away at my soul, searing every fiber of my being it touches. It feels so wonderful to know these imperfections will burn away. 

The worst part is having to stare at my reflection. I see green blood ooze out like venom from where the scales peel away, all that is below is a sickly pink of my flesh and sinew that connected it. I can’t stop though, it must all disappear. So I keep cutting, one after another each scale is torn away. Blood covers my face and all Sahil can do is take a small cloth to carry away the fallen scales. I writhe in pain, my body aches, it burns like the center of a star, but I cannot step out for this, because it is a beautiful pain. It shall make me beautiful, I just need to endure it, then I can be loved. 

The stinging hurts more and more with every scale as the nerves get exposed and the knife slits through them. In a painful scream I can’t help but lurch my whole body, lowering the knife to see my reflection again. Most of the scales are gone from half my face, but the others are starting to return. Then there are my eyes, they are turning purple again, changing between small snake slitted eyes and wider human eyes. I look like a freak. I can’t even throw up, the pain is too unbearable already. Instead of the tears I’m used to by now I see a small red blood drop leak from my eye, followed by a green one. My time is running out. 

In one nail ripping like pain I slash out a whole section of scales in a panic, it went too deep. Green blood is gushing from my cheek and I try to pull up my other arm to cover it, but Sahil holds my hands down with a hissing hush.

“My lady you cannot touch it, it will get infected. Then your skin will be ruined. Please allow me.”

    Grinding my teeth together I feel my sharp snake fangs poke at my tongue dripping poison with rage. In a weak voice I demand, “Give me the cloth damnit.”

    He nods respectfully, and hands the cloth to my other hand which I shove into my mouth to bite down on. It tastes like blood, but it gives me somewhere to direct this agony. So I continue, plucking one scale at a time with the knife. Like removing the fingernails of a sinner, but far more, far, far too many. 

Sahil holds out the serum for it to be coated again, so I dip the blade working for somewhere past an hour, but I can’t even count as I lost track of how many scales have fallen out now. My face is covered in blood. I still need to work on my arms, and legs later. Those aren’t as sensitive. I need my skin back though, so I snap at him, that damned snake that can never be timely. 

He hurries off to grab a bottle from a cold metallic box with ice filled within. It has a light golden color like the flask, but swirls as clouds do on the inside. I look up and see my eyes reverted already to purple slits. I look like a skinless monster. Bitting clean through the cloth I taste even more blood. I can’t stand this, not any longer! I point weakly with the blade at the flower. Sahil stops frozen, and mutters feeble objections. I just point again with a glare in my eyes. I need my cure, once and for all. No more medicine. I need to be cured of this disease, this disease that was my only birthright. 

As my eyes start to flicker green with emotion, he staggers back and gives a fearful bow of his head. Then goes over to the flower, plucking out several pedals with the tweezers, he then looks at me one more time.

“Mistress, we only have this one memento. You know what happens if you t-”

I give him one nod and he drops the leaves inside, and stirring the bottle he approaches, boots echoing throughout the room. I drop down the knife and it clatters against the table so I can grab the mixture that much faster. As it’s all mixed together I see an orange glow over take the fluid and I lift it to my face, and pour it down upon my left eye. 

IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS! IT’S SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE SCALES, IT’S LIKE ALL MY FLESHING BEING TORN APART AGAIN AND AGAIN ALL IN ONE PLACE. ONE MILLION KNIVES BEING STABBED JUST INTO MY EYE! I JOLT FORWARD BUT MY NECK IS CAUGHT ON THE METAL, I TRY TO SCREAM BUT BLOOD FILLS MY THROAT, I FEEL LIKE I AM DROWNING, I’M BEING BURNED FROM THE INSIDE, IN MY PUPIL, IT'S ALL FADING TO BLACK AND I CAN ONLY SEE FROM MY RIGHT EYE!

“Mistress, please ceas-!”

    I FEEL BLOOD COAT MY RIGHT HAND, IT’S EVERYWHERE, BUT IT IS NOT MY OWN?! GLANCING TO MY SIDE I SEE SAHIL CRUMBLING TO THE FLOOR BLOOD POURING FROM HIS STOMACH. GREEN AND DISGUSTING LIKE MY OWN. I HATE HIM, I HATE MYSELF. WHY DID I EVEN MAKE HIM?! WHY WAS I MADE TO BE A FREAK?!

I ONLY SEE FLESH BUBBLE AND POP IN THE MIRROR ABOVE WHERE I POURED THE LIQUID. MY EYE IS MELTING SHUT, I CAN’T LET IT STAY LIKE THAT! I SCRAMBLE FOR THE KNIFE AND IT SLIPS FROM MY BLOODY GRASP. IT’S TOO FAR, BUT THEN I FEEL IT, SAHIL...Sahil...his hand slides the knife into my own.

NO! SWINGING IT UP IN ONE PRECISE MOTION I STAB IN MY EYELID AND CUT IT ACROSS. THE BURNING ITS TOO GREAT, BUT I CAN’T GIVE UP. I FORCE MYSELF TO LOOK AT MY REFLECTION TO ENSURE IT STAYS OPEN. STARING FOR FAR MORE THAN JUST ONE HOUR I WATCH THE FLESH SLOWLY REGROW AROUND MY EYE, THE DEEP CUT, IT BURNS TOO, BUBBLING WITH RADIANT LIGHT I WATCH IT WILT AND SINGE. NONONO. THE CUT IT IS HEALING DEEP OPEN, THE FLESH AROUND MY EYE IT’S DIFFERENT, THAT’S NOT MY SKIN COLOR WHAT IS IT DOING?! IT’S SCORCHING THE OLD FLESH AWAY!!!

STOP, I TRY TO GASP STOP TO SAHIL BUT HE IS BLEEDING UPON THE FLOOR! I CAN’T...it...hurts worse, the healing...it burns so much worse….

Forcing my eyes open I look around. I’m on my bed surrounded by frilly pillows, and plush animals, mainly green snakes. The blood is cleaned off my hands, my face still stings, but it doesn’t scald anymore. Glancing around weakly I feel my body fall backwards onto the pillows, everythings blurry, winding around like mirages. Then I see Sahil approach from a hazy corner, sitting at my desk in the darkness like a creep. I don’t have the energy to scold him right now though.

“My lady.” He bows, but shows no sign of the hole in his abdomen from before.

“I took it upon myself as you ordered me to do if you ever pass out to clear the rest of the work. Those scales were properly removed, and your skin was repaired.”

    “What about my….what about my face?”

He stands up straight with a pitiful look in his eyes. “My lady, the serum seems to have worked, partially.”

I give him an impatient glare, and he glances away trying to hide the shame, “My lady the cut was too deep, it healed with a scar. The flesh that regrew around your eye, that cauterized away everything nearby and appears discolored. I however could not change it with the older formula. I-I believe it is permanent.”

Glancing at the blanket, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to look him in the eye, so I tug the blanket up closer to my face. 

“What do you mean permanent? It will just be shedded when the scales come back.”

“No my lady, I mean. The underlying scales, I believe they were destroyed. That skin is yours now.”

I pull up my hand to touch my cheek and feel a deep cut, it stings worse. He tries to approach holding out his hand, but stops himself.

“I’m sorry I could not do more, but when you feel ready I shall happily attend you to look into the matter with your more refined gaze.”

I nod and drop my arms. It feels too difficult to move, so I roll over onto my side and stare at a snake. At least no one else has to see my face this way. I see my reflection though, a beautiful green eye that looks just like The Gods’ eyes. Round, and shining a holy color, just like theirs’.

It stings, but not with a wound, just a tear. Sahil begins to exist the room, hands folded behind his back, and I barely see a slight grin on his stupid face as I ask,

“Are you okay Sahil?”

He chuckles lowly, “I am fine my lady, the wound will heal quickly. I’m just happy if you are happy. After all I am but a piece of your divine grace.”

“That’s...good...I’m sorry.”

Turning to smile into the room before closing the door on his way out I see him give a warm fanged smile.

 “It’s no trouble, I can always come back. Your happiness though, that is what I was made to protect.”

He closes his eyes to smile widely as possible, his grin literally spreading from ear to ear, “Sleep well Asuya~”