"Maggie... Maggie...maggie...wake up Maggie."
I heard Baron's voice and as my my vision cleared i could see Baron's rugged face.
"Oh thank goodness you're awake.
You were out for ages.
I thought you'd never wake up."
"Ages?
Uh oh...that wouldn't be 3 day's by any chance?"
"It was as a matter a fact.
How did you know?
Oh don't tell me this has happened before!"
Baron snarled.
"Relax yes this happened once before but it wasn't his fault.
Just like it wasn't his fault this time.
He had nothing to do with it."
"Then what pray tell did happen?"
"I'm not really sure.
I saw my face in a reflection and then I passed out which I know is really hard to believe but it's the truth."
Baron's anger faded and he appeared subdued and demure which is something Baron is not known for.
"So you really are cursed.
I never believed that you were touched by evil but I think at one point something evil did touch you."
"What are you talking about?
I'm not cursed.
I thought you were the one that was cursed".
"Oh I don't blame you of course.
You are not to blame.
It's not your fault but I think there was a reason I found you abandoned in the woods that day.
Your parents probably knew about This curse and they didn't want you to bring a curse upon their home so they left you."
"You are on very thin ice right now.
I am this close to strangling you.
Let me be very clear, I am not cursed and my parents didn't abandon me you did".
"No I never abandoned you.
I always watched over you.
I cared for you, I even loved you.
The only reason I left was in hopes that you'd lead a normal life."
"Yet I was never normal in the first place and you knew that."
"I also knew what you'd become if you stayed with me in that cabin.
You'd think you were a monster just like me.
So yes I am cursed but I never wanted you to think that you were cursed as well.
I wanted you live without the darkness and the curses and all that evil that lies in those woods."
"Well you want to know something I like the darkness.
I loved all those trees, I loved my life in that little cabin.
I used to fall asleep to those silent curses that would whisper to me in the darkness.
I used to dance amongst the dark fey.
I used to speak with the Gargoyles that flew overhead.
I felt at home in that forest.
Now I feel at home here.
There was nothing evil in those woods and you know it."
"Yes there was evil but you chose not to see it.
You always were such a hopefully optimistic child.
You thought everyone was your friend, you never saw what was whispering to you in the darkness.
So forgive me for referring to you as cursed but how else do you explain you fainting at your own reflection?"
"I saw someone I didn't recognize.
I thought it was a some sick trick, just some strange illusion to keep me here, but it was me, it my reflection and you know what I liked.
I liked what I saw.
You have no idea how many times I've stared into the mirror and I saw some overly masculine freak staring back at me.
I thought I was ugly like you.
Yet suddenly I come here and I see someone I can be proud of.
I thought I was a freaking Klingon half blood before I came here.
Just imagine where I'd be if I had'nt come here.
Picture me in some dumpy studio apartment with nothing but desk, book case and bed to my name.
I'm female Dick Tracey but I live in a tiny hick town where nothing happens.
I lived a sad miserable existence before I came here.
You said I never saw the evil, well Since I'm the only one that has seemed to have changed around here, I see it now.
Yet you know what I've learned the real evil isn't in those woods where are all the monsters live, it's civilization, it's talisman, it's the human race that is evil.
The human race shuns you, excludes you and deems you dangerous, they see you as a villain, they call you cursed.
The human race hates you just as it's hated me.
So that's the real evil you should be worried about.
All those girls that thought I wasn't pretty enough, all those kids that never invited me over to their house, the parents staring at me like I was a bad influence, my foster mom reprimanding me for things I didn't do, there lies the injustice, the prejudice, the hatred and the evil intention.
Remember humans did that to me, not you, not any of those other monsters out there.
Humans are the real monsters in this story Baron".
Baron Embraced me and I could tell he was crying all over my silk pajamas.
"You know you're right.
You are so right.
The human race is indeed a hornets nest.
Humans have driven us to become monsters but in actuality it is not our intention to harm or to hurt anyone.
Darling Magenta, you aren't cursed by any means.
If evil has touched you which I'm sure it has many times, you are not that evil, nor can you a absorb the evil that touches you.
You'll always be innocent in my eyes.
This bit about your reflection I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for that incident.
Many young girls often are blinded to their own beauty.
It's not a uncommon occurrence Darling.
You are rather well versed in the arts of magic so perhaps you cast some sort of enchantment on all the mirror.
Maybe your magic doesn't work here".
"I'm not magic, Baron. I don't know anything about magic.
I just know about Telekinesis and hopefully I can learn more.
Mr. Morningside has agreed to teach me more on how to control my special abilities."
"Oh it's Mr. Morningside now is it?
You're not on first name basis with him anymore?
Oh by the way is he married by any chance?"
"Yes occasionally we call each other by our first names.
No I don't believe he is married at least not that I know of.
I'll have to ask him sometime.
Mr. is just a formal term I use sometimes for him.
He's actually more of a Dr. Morningside.
He is a doctor after all."
"Yes so I've heard and so I've witnessed first hand.
You know I don't exactly what this cure is called but the treatments seem to be working so far.
He's been very helpful, very accommodating if you will.
I don't seem to have much of problem with him as far getting on with him.
However the child is a tricky one.
She's quite the complicated case.
He still is looking for some sort of breakthrough.
Of course I've taken the responsibility of looking after her."
"Does she like you?
I mean is she warming up to you?"
"Oh yes she's become rather fond of me.
She reminds me of you in a lot of ways.
She was frightened of me at first but after awhile my rugged face must have grown on her.
I like to tell her stories.
She loves to listen to them.
It keeps her distracted so I she doesn't bother the master of the house.
She's a very quiet child, so I doubt if she's disturbed him in any way.
She avoids that man like the plague.
I can't say I blame her.
I don't trust the man myself.
Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to him, I'm thankful that he's allowed us to stay here.
I have some gratitude reserved just for him.
He's been quite generous with his time, his home and his research not to mention his vast medical knowledge.
I just can't help but be suspicious of him.
He hardly talks and when he does he speaks in riddles.
He uses only the vaguest terms possible whenever he speaks with me.
He's very mysterious and I don't like it, Maggie.
I just think he has something to hide and that unnerves me."
"If it's any comfort to you he has very little to hide from me.
In fact he's been really honest with me as of late.
So he has things he wants to hide.
So he has his secrets.
He has every right to keep them.
He can choose who he tells his secrets to.
He probably doesn't trust you enough yet to reveal these secrets to you.
He doesn't know you, he has no history with you and he just met you.
So that's probably why he's being so mysterious.
He was mysterious to me at first but after awhile he opened up to me and now we are open and honest with each other."
"As a friend I hope".
Baron slightly glowered at me.
"Yes as a friend.
I don't know what kind of romance you expect me to have with him.
The man is like a 1,000 years old.
He's grey, his hair is thinning and he's practically a skeleton.
He never smiles, he hardly laughs, he tends to dead bodies for a living.
Seriously why would you think I would be attracted to that?"
"The heart wants what the heart wants.
Love is blind as they say.
You are living with him and then you did say you might stay here with him permanently.
Then you two were staring at each other for 30 minutes straight.
So what else was I supposed to think?"
"You were supposed to trust me and support my decisions no matter how crazy they might seem."
"Yes of course I trust you.
I support any decision you make but I just want to be sure you make the right ones, that's all darling".
"Well I will, that you can be certain of.
Nothing romantic is going on and nothing romantic will happen unless I say so."
"Good that's my girl.
Now I should leave you, so you can rest and recover from your ordeal.
I shouldn't exhaust you with heated arguments and such heated discussions.
Please don't over do anything alright dear?"
"Oh I won't.
I'll try avoiding any mirrors from now on in.
I'm glad you're here Baron".
Baron smiled weakly which was sign that he's wasn't as thrilled as I was to be here.
I waited for 30 minutes before leaving my room to find my friend The Tall Man since I wasn't in the mood to run into Baron again and have him question me on why I was out of bed in the first place.
I found my journey outside my room not be a easy one.
I had to lean on the door and then somehow I dragged my arm alongside the marble walls so to support myself and to keep myself from falling over.
I felt like my body had been paralyzed at some point so I was very wobbly and floppy.
However something nearly sent me 10 feet in the air after I felt some strange sensation on my shoulder.
It felt like the gentle weight of a hand and that's what startled me.
"Out of bed so soon?"
Then to add to my shock I found that my feet were no longer touching the floor and I was just sort of hovering over it, at least 2 feet above.
I thought maybe he was holding me up there but he hardly touching me at this point.
Please tell me I'm dreaming
I unknowingly projected my thoughts out to him.
You are not.
I refuse to lie to you.
I wasn't expecting you to lie to me
I was just hoping that I didn't have to put flying on my list of special abilities.
May I suggest you come down before you fall down.
I don't know if I can but I'll try.
Oh Stop underestimating yourself.
You can do it.
Maybe I don't want to.
Did you ever think of that?
The thought had crossed my mind, yes.
You know if you ask me I think you got out of bed rather prematurely.
Well I didn't ask you now did.
Oh I don't feel so well.
I wonder if something is wrong with me, you know health wise.
I can check if you'd like.
I'd have to run a few tests that is if you don't mind.
Jebadiah coaxed me down to the floor with the same hand that was already on my shoulder.
I nearly collapsed the moment I touched the ground.
I frantically spun around to steady myself on the wall by leaning on it but it was already too late for me to stop myself from falling.
I could feel my legs slide underneath me onto to the floor.
However I felt a incredible force lift me up and stop me from falling altogether.
"Steady there.
Easy there you really shouldn't make any sudden movements.
You're still not strong enough
You need time to rest and recover your strength.
Here allow me to carry you".
"No...no...no... please there's no need to carry me.
It's just Baron as you know he doesn't trust you.
I'm afraid if he sees you lugging me around he'll go haywire".
"Why ever would he do that?
What's there to get upset about?
I'm only helping you"
"He knows that so that's not the problem.
The problem is I'm a single unmarried woman living with a strange man.
He thought there was more to it than that.
He's just very old fashioned and he suspected I'm living here because of some weird romantic arrangement.
It's actually pretty funny if you think about it.
Anyways I think he'll get some mighty strange ideas if he sees you carrying me around and I already had to talk him down for the second time that nothing was going on between us.
So I'd rather walk if you don't mind."
"I do mind. Since when do you care what others think of you?
I care very little of what others think of me.
Yes it is rather humorous that he'd think we were some sort of item.
Look you don't even have the strength to walk so I don't think you have much choice but to have me carry you unless you want to slowly crawl to your next destination.
The fact that you even managed to venture outside your room is a miracle in itself.
I will however give you two options to choose from, I can either take you back to your room or I can escort you to the lab where I can run a few tests that is if you don't mind".
"I don't mind at all but I do mind if you insist on carrying me around like I'm some 12 year old child".
"What are you so worried about?
If he sees you in my arms what is he going to do to me?
He can't kill me.
He shan't harm me.
He certainly won't be able to put a single dent on me".
"He might not be able to overpower you but he could always put a curse on you".
"I'd like to see him try especially after the amount of effort I've put into curing him".
"He's very serious about protecting me. He doesn't want anyone taking advantage of me and he told me if anything ever happened to me during this mission that he'd hold you personally responsible".
"Good at least he trusts me enough to have me take responsibility for you.
You know your friend is a rather confusing fellow.
He says he doesn't trust me but then he expects me to take full responsibility for you
I'd like to see him try especially after the amount of effort I put into curing him.
Then in the case I don't provide these things he threatens to curse me for all eternity.
I'm not sure if he just has a short fuse or he's just plain ungrateful".
"Oh no he said he was very grateful for your time, his stay here and the amount of research and medical expertise you've given.
So I'm sure he's not ungrateful".
"You don't have to defend him.
I can accept it. He doesn't like me. I get it. You know I don't care for him much either. The only reason I'm putting up with him is because of you".
"Well that's awfully nice of you to do all of this for my sake.
I mean really that's pretty sweet if you.
Not trying to be mushy or anything.
I appreciate you for putting up with him. Then you have me to put up with me on top of that.
Just think soon you won't be able to get rid of me".
"Yes I can hardly wait.
Now will you stop being so stubborn and Just let me carry you?"
"Alright but let's not make a habit of it?"
"I never make it a habit to carry young women around the mortuary, so no that shouldn't be a problem"
He carried me to the same brightly lit operating room that he used to examine the heart some days before.
He checked my eyes, my reflexes and even my blood.
"That's very curious.
Is your blood usually this color?"
He asked as he examined my blood under a microscope.
"I don't know what color is it?"
"It's a strange sort of forest green".
"Green? No my blood has never been green.
Nobody's blood is supposed to be green especially my own?"
"Yes it certainly is curious.
May I take another sample perhaps?"
"Another sample of what?"
"A strand of hair would be nice.
I need something to compare with this one"
He took the tiniest strand of hair from my head and he placed it on a fresh slide.
"Yes that's just what I thought".
He muttered slightly with a sigh.
"Uh oh what's wrong? What do you see?"
"It has to do with your DNA.
It's most peculiar.
I don't know how to tell you this gently but your DNA isn't conclusive with someone who claims to be human".
"So you're saying I'm not human?"
"Yes precisely.
It appears so".
"Then what am I if I'm not human?"
"That's the funny thing I don't know.
This DNA sequence is like nothing I've ever before and I've been around for quite awhile which means I've seen every DNA there is in the book, at least I thought so until now "
"So you're saying after going through all time and space you still don't have any idea what I am?"
"Yes it's extraordinary isn't it?
I've been everywhere in the universe, I've ventured to every secret realm and traveled to every world imaginable but still I have no idea what you are".
"So I'm not even remotely human in any way?"
"No I'm afraid you're not even remotely human, Magenta.
I do hope this isn't disappointing for you."
"It's real shocker but no it's far from disappointing.
It's actually pretty exciting and to be honest it's actually really refreshing.
I always wondered why I never fit in...anywhere.
So it actually all makes perfect sense now.
I mean all those walks in the woods without a single scratch except that one time I was with you of course.
I mean I used to go walking in those woods everyday and I never got anything more than a few minors cuts or maybe a few tiny bruises.
I had a few scares here and there but I was never in any real danger because they knew I wasn't human; the trees and all those creatures that lurked in the darkness, they knew all along.
That's why they never hurt me because I was never a threat to them.
Humans are threatening to them but I wasn't because I wasn't human.
I'm surprised Baron didn't know unless he knew all along and didn't bother to tell me"
"No that's highly unlikely".
"What for him to know or for him not to know?"
"For him to know and then to never tell you.
It would be ridiculous.
If he knew he wouldn't have left you to be raised amongst humans unless of course you think he's capable of such cruelty".
"Well since you put it that way yeah you certainly have a good point.
I don't think he's capable of doing something that cruel especially to me
He's not a villain after all at least I don't think so.
Wait I just had a terrible thought just strike me right over the head
You don't think he'd ever betray me do you?"
"It is possible.
The question is who would he betray you to?"
"Well no one...he doesn't know anyone else.
He's an outcast much like I am.
If I remember correctly he rarely even communicated with his own kind.
I was his only friend in a lot of ways.
So he couldn't possibly ever do such a thing".
"I don't wish to be discouraging but I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I mean it is frightfully strange that you go to the exact location and he just happens to be there.
You start looking for this creature and he just hops out of the shadows to greet you.
He doesn't give you a friendly greeting at that.
He nearly tried to strangle you.
Just think if I hadn't been there he could have killed you.
Maybe I am a bit rusty on what friendship is supposed to be but if I'm not mistaken friends don't attempt to kill one another.
Forgive my negativity but don't you find it strange that he didn't even recognize you after claiming he'd been watching over you after all this time?"
"He was very sick and very weak.
He probably didn't know who the hell he was looking at with him just about to pass out".
"Only he didn't.
I've seen his test results, I had him examined, I've been overseeing his health during his stay here.
I assure he was not as sick and weak as he was letting you to believe".
"Oh what are getting at?
That he's some sort of spy?
Why do I feel this conversation isn't going to go anywhere?"
"Yes and he may very well be spying on you".
"What reason would he have to spy on me?
Why isn't he spying on you instead?
You're the one with the magical mortuary that just appeared out of nowhere.
I'd think you'd be of far more interest than I am"
"He doesn't know me, he doesn't like me and he has avoided me ever since he arrived here.
He's hardly left your side which is odd since he's had very little to do with you for nearly over 14 years"
"Maybe he misses me.
He probably just wants to spend more time you know so he can catch up on things with me.
Besides what would he gain from spying on me anyway?"
"Probably his life.
Think about it.
He claims to have a terrifying encounter with that creature but somehow he miraculously survives without even scratch on him.
Remember I had cracked ribs ,a broken windpipe and several cuts and bruises from that encounter.
You remember, you saw me, I was barely alive when I arrived here back at the mortuary.
Think... Magenta...think long and hard".
"Why does everything sound so much more sinister when you say it?
I mean are you actually insinuating that Baron my best friend is working along side that monster?"
"Yes as a matter a fact I am.
Let's not forget how you suddenly faint from pure exhaustion after speaking with him".
"No you forget that I fainted after speaking with you and not to mention that little freak show Operation you showed me in that secret room of yours.
Then I saw myself in that secret screen.
Did you ever think that maybe it's mentally and physically draining for me to be in the same room with you?"
"Meanwhile I don't see him offering to carry you around.
Picture this, all I hear are his hateful thoughts about you being cursed and him threatening to curse me if I step a single toe out of line.
He particularly loved to direct those hateful thoughts towards me while I was carrying you to your room and that wasn't just mentally either.
He gave me a long string of hateful words which I think would be a waste to repeat".
"I don't know what he has against you but out of all the years I've known him, I've never known him to be hateful.
This is very unlike him.
I'll talk with him."
"Not now. Wait till you recover.
Honestly I don't wish for you to speak with him alone but rest assured thanks to my sentinels you won't have to."
"I still don't believe he'd betray me to that thing out there."
"You don't believe him or you don't believe me?"
"Are you seriously asking me to choose between him and you?"
"You've already chosen and you didn't choose him".
"Suppose I chose him over you?"
"That's entirely up to you but keep in mind I never laid a hand on you and I never attempted to kill you with my bare hands".
"Oh I get it.
You're doing all of this to confuse me.
You don't want me to leave so you're challenging me, you're questioning my loyalties, filling my head with doubts, so I'll stay here".
"I believe that's called manipulation.
Has it ever occured to you that the only reason I'm doing any of this is because I might actually care...about you?"
"Oh yes you care so much about me that you'll turn me against my own friends".
"Funny, when last I checked you didn't have any friends to speak of."
"I thought I had you as a friend yet I guess I was wrong".
I crossed my arms to display my displeasure with him.
"I should take you back to your room that way you can cool off maybe get a better attitude".
"There's nothing wrong with my attitude."
"Of course not but you could use the rest."
At that he carried me to my room and we didn't say a single word to each other.
