A/N: I know there's been a few of these posted recently, so I figured I'd post my pre-Opera Mag thing before the fad passes ^^ Reviews are appreciated.
LEASH AND CHAIN
Her reflection is caged by tiny baubles, tiny balls of light ringing the mirror in gaudy fashion. The vaudevillian hues of her dressing room don't hide the bars of her cage. She can see them now, more clearly than ever before. Then her eyes flicker, and she can see Marni, see her projected into the mirror-cage as well. But she doesn't deserve to be there so the image sputters and fades.
Nobody deserved to be in that cage, to be kept as Rotti's little pet. Yet here she was. And somewhere out there was Nathan, with his own shiny steel collar. Yes, she's put the pieces of the puzzle together, looked deep into GENECo's records. Maybe she's missing a few pieces, but she's seeing everything more clearly than ever before. And she's seen far, far too much.
She can't help but wonder how many other leashes Rotti has grasped in his vile clutch, how many cage keys dangle and jingle from his rotund waist.
A crackle of noise rips through the air, interrupting her thoughts. The roar of the Genetic Opera. Even here, backstage, it's deafening, and it scares her a little because she knows what it means for her. Sit, Mag. Roll over, Mag. Sing for Daddy, Mag.
She looks at the contract sitting on her desk. There's always a copy around somewhere, just so she can remind herself whose fault this all is. She used to read it every night, looking for a way out. Silly Mag, pawing at the glass? Can't you see it? Oh, right—she's Blind Mag. Still Blind Mag because after all these years, she still can't see a way out. Until now.
Soon a voice beckons her over the loudspeaker, inviting the Voice of GeneCo to head for the stage, tugging at her leash. She looks back at her mirror double, and sees her resolve reflected there. She pulls the steel talons from the dresser, slips them on as she heads to the stage. Kitty has claws. They can cut her out of this cage.
She can only hope Shiloh remembers her.