The ultimate paradox. Set her free, she wins. Enslave her, she wins.
The Beldam glanced down at the girl sitting in the chair. She had plied her trade, gave her what she wanted, loved the child like no other mother could, yet why did the Beldam feel so defeated?
"I know your game, Beldam," the girl said, a hint of a smile flashing across her face. She wore all-black, from her boots to her trench-coat. Her round face sat between a curtain of perfectly straight golden hair. "You require souls to survive."
How had this child outsmarted her so? Ever since…Coralline, she had made extra careful in choosing her victims. This one seemed perfect – she was all alone, her family never loved her, her friends never comforted her.
The child even went to the extents of self-mutilation to hide from the pain of living.
"Where are you getting at?" the Other Mother asked, taking a seat opposite the girl.
"I knew about your game since day one. You require souls to survive – specifically ones still young and easily molded to your tastes."
The Beldam almost slithered around the room to behind the girl. "And your point...?"
"My point is that I've known about you for years. Coralline's diary detailed everything about this world."
The creature hesitated slightly, not saying a word as thousands of thoughts ran through her mind. That child had a diary? It must have been written after her escape. The blond-haired child continued.
"There are two constants that I know about your reality. First off, is that door." She motioned to the small door-way, her face still blank and emotionless. "The second is that you cannot create – only copy. By that logic," a faint smile tugged at her lips, "you are unable to create my death."
"Get to the point," the Beldam hissed, now slithering to the front of the girl, betraying no emotion on her face.
"From the diary I learned of the doll – and how to evade its eyes. But most importantly I learned that your reality has rules."
The girl began to pace around the room, idly observing the twisted objects inside it. "By setting me free, you cheat yourself of a meal. But enslaving me, Beldam, you trap me in this world – but grant me immortality."
"You are fumbling your words, child and evading my demand. Get to the point!" the hag hissed, suddenly closing the distance between the two – yet the girl did not flinch, instead offering a pleasant smile.
"You wish to sew buttons into my eyes? The very same buttons that are a copy of your own? This grants me a connection to work with, Beldam. By enslaving me, and loving me, you grant me an eternity to understand the laws of your realm – to learn how they work, and ultimately, how to break them.
"I will break free – it will only be a matter of time before I overthrow you. You know this."
The girl turned, halting her pacing, hands behind her back. She looked down at the floor, seemingly in thought, before looking up at the Beldam one final time.
"So I have an alternative: I've come to ask you to make me your apprentice."