Sirens

“I punched her in the face after that. She’d winded me, but I did it. And I struck her metal teeth through the skin. I thought she did more damage to me in this, but…they ruined the inside of her cheek a bit.

“We are very similar, her and I. It used to haunt me. Not in personality, no, but… her father is dead, so is mine. Her mother is mad. The difference is that she is too. I found out. I almost wouldn’t have it, her like my mother. It is strange. And we fought.

“But at that time she was still stronger than me, spitting blood from her dark metal teeth…”

“I think he did more for me before we married—well, I think we still live off of my mercenary winnings. Although, wait…how long did we serve together after marrying? A few years…hmm.

“But I think he had to fight for me more before. Sure, this is natural—to an extent! But he had to fight…not for me, but against me. And when he started winning, this…that’s when I started giving up. Oh what a wonderful feeling.
—Hey, don’t eat that!

“Yet, he also took on the mantle of rescuer. You could say he saved me, but it was never from…I told you, I was for a time the superior combatier, but…oh…I cause my own fall more often than anything else. I can grit my teeth, my teeth now destroyed though torture, and then rend free to tear one of the living hearts from the attacker. (That’s no metaphor, ask the King.)

“But to take care of myself, this I could never do. When my mind, my health, was at its edge, my impulse was to push further still. Grind down. I still do, but I’m healthy enough for it now. I have a house. I have a home. I have.”