The girls lifeless head falls to the side. It hits the floor comes to rest in a pool of her own blood. The surface ripples form the impact. Kara attacks. Enya is thrown against the wall, ducking before the boys’ fangs close around, where his throat would have been. Aary’s eyes are closed, her face forever frozen in an expression of rest. Sometimes I think I know death better than life, but off all the faces I can recall, frozen in agony and fear, hers seems too peaceful to be one of them. Still, looking at her gives no comfort. Her eyes have grown dull, a waxen mask where her face should have been. I cover Aary with a blanket and look up. The two are still fighting. Kara is snaping towards Enya’s broken arm, yellow eyes glowing in the darkness, claws outstretched as he pounces. I slam into the boy so hard that he’s flung against the wall. He ricochets off and lands on his feet, starring at both of us with uncontrolled rage.

“Get out”, I yell, “now.”

Enya dashes to the door. Kara ties to chase him but is pinned down as I throw my transformed weight against him. The door closes.

I glare at the boy: “Cut it out.”

Kara snaps at my face and vanishes under my paws. I turn into a bat, head turning towards the small fly in an instant, quickly gaining on him. He transforms back, hands shoot out, trying to squash me mid-flight. As they slam into my form, the bat is gone, and a panther stands in its place instead.

“She’s dead. This won’t bring her back”, I say.

“No, but...”

This time I’m faster. I pounce, my fangs closing around his throat before he can react. Kara freezes. Finally. A bit of blood trickles down from where my fangs have pierced skin. He’s panting. I am as well. My back is burning. I have a hard time getting my eyes to focus.

“Are you done?”

“Why?!”

“Why what?”

“Why are you defending him?... Why did he kill her? She would have been fine!”

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He breaks down. The sobs come out uncontrollably amidst the gasps for air. I let go.

“Why did she have to die? She’s gone! She’s gone and I can still taste that woman’s blood and brain. And Aary’s gone.”

I stay silent.

“Tell me why you defended him! NOW!” His voice cracks.

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Don’t you dare treat me like a child. Not after all of this!”

“If Enya didn’t kill her, Niilan would have.”

“Why would Niilan kill his own possessions!?”

“It would have been expensive to keep her alive… And she wouldn’t have been able to fight again. Not with one arm missing, not as an absolute beginner. And well, and with a face disfigured like that, no one is going to buy her at a reasonable price.”

“And that makes it okay? All of you have lost you fucking minds.”

My head is pounding: “You’re the one that asked. Now bare it.”

“You know, I actually thought you cared.”

“I do. Just because I know what had to be done does not mean I mourn any less.” Do you?

“Spare me the bullshit!”

“Okay”

“Okay?!”

“This is my way. And Enya’s. It does not have to be yours.”

“Well fuck me, I guess. At least the two of you have found out how to turn off your hearts! How are you fine with Niilan doing all this?!”

“I’m not”

“THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ACTING LIKE IT!”

“We don’t have the luxury of acting out in anger. The moment they see us as a danger they will put us down like a rabid dog.”

“That’s not how anger works!”

“Yes, it is. You will learn soon enough.”

“Fuck off”

I don’t respond.

“Didn’t you hear me. LEAVE!”

I nod and stand up: “What happened today is not your fault.”

“I know”

“Good”