Smoke filled the dimly lit room. Drifting across the room in its slow, slothful way. Never dissipating, filling every corner in a deceptively artful swirl. 

Vines crawled and wormed through the walls. While it was obvious they were once great lush plants, they now grasp at the last bits of life allotted to them. Petals of their flowers were clinging limp, or else they were all over the floor among the dogs. The dogs themselves did not turn to face me as I entered, nor did they seem to exert any energy. If not for their deep, drawn breaths I would believe them dead.

Breathing in the room was difficult and when achieved, I came to know the miasma for what it was. 

Anger, 

Contempt, 

Frustration. 

I pulled my scarf around my face lest I breathe in the noxious fumes and become overtaken by them. 

As I came further into the room, I saw a resplendent chair. Covered in the furs of every animal I knew and more I did not. Pillows lined the back and sides of the chair to ensure the one seated on it would not feel any discomfort. 

Sitting was a girl who if not for her rigid, upright posture she would have appeared to be sleeping. Dark ichorous markings and deep jagged scars adorned most every inch of skin, save for her pale scalp which still bore the irritation that indicated a recent shave. At either side were two attendants, both as pale as their lady and although I looked closely at their faces, I cannot recall any features.

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The woman did not open her eyes as I stepped closer nor did she speak. Instead, she breathed in and a bright clear light came from the window and entered her nostrils, and she exhaled the angry gray smoke, that began slithering out of her mouth and joining the rest of the toxic particles. Poisoning everything in the room except for the woman and her unmoving attendants. Fresh from her lips the smoke didn't feel like the cool infection it did at the entrance but instead was like the oppressive, overwhelming heat of a forest fire. 

She quickly cocked her head into a jarring angle. An awful, unnatural sound, like pottery breaking, echoed throughout the dreadful room, and she finally, regretfully, opened her eyes.

Garish yellow irises surrounded by vile, black sclera.

 She looked at me and saw me.

Not my eyes

Nor my clothes.

Nor even my body.

She looked at me and saw my very being, saw my soul.

And snarled with disgust. 

She breathed the pure light once more into herself and exhaled, not just the loathsome smoke, but liquid fire and spoke in a voice much older and deeper than her appearance would lead one to believe. 

I dreaded what she had to say. 

I couldn't bare to hear her speak. I would die if I didn't hear her speak.

 If I never hear her speak again it would be the greatest kindness and the worst punishment. 

I fear I will never forget what she said, I pray I never do.

"So you're finally here"