It had been nearly two weeks since Vee had last seen Camila and Luz step through the portal to go save the Boiling Isles, and she was not coping well with their absence. She had already stopped bothering to maintain her human form, instead slipping back into something closer to her basilisk form. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Even with her worries she still maintained some efforts to not assume her true basilisk form, keeping her fangs flattened into molars and the spines on her back smoothed over, the last thing she wanted was to have Camila or Luz appear without warning and have to see her real form. Better to spend a little extra magic on maintaining her more innocent appearance than to risk letting Camila or Luz know what she really looked like.
Of course with each passing day it felt harder to justify the extra magic usage. However, even that issue was beginning to lose focus for her as a new worry for Vee had started to grow and before more consuming. With Camila and Luz still absent, Vee was running out of positive ideas for why they were still gone. Naturally this had led to Vee's mind being plagued by ideas of danger and the true belief that harm had befallen them. Vee was alone in the human world and the silence provided little solace in the face of such anxiety.
Luckily not everything was stressful, the Noceda family's finances were holding up. Camila's veterinary career provided a comfortable financial buffer that Vee was surprised had weathered the storm of an extra 5 mouths to feed for so many months. Vee was grateful for the financial security, equally happy that she had not really needed it so far. There had only been one bill so far and it had not taken much effort to pay it, which really just ended up giving her more time to worry about everything else.
She still had some smaller worries, of course. Camila's job's leave was rapidly expiring and Vee knew that she couldn't take over Camila's veterinary work; she was a shapeshifter, not a trained professional. The prospect of asking for an extended unpaid leave of absence on Camila's behalf loomed over her like a dark cloud, and Vee was uncertain of how to proceed without jeopardising Camila's job security. The weight of responsibility was heavy on her shoulders, and Vee could only hope a way out of this mess would come to her soon.
However there was a small part of Vee that held a much deeper fear, a fear that she refused to ever truly acknowledge - the possibility that Camila and Luz might never return from the Boiling Isles. The bitterness of that thought often lingered in the back of her mind, bitting at her thoughts every time she was reminded of their absence. She desperately wanted to believe that they were safe and would come back to her, but with each passing day, her worry grew stronger. That morning had been one of the worse ones so far, with her spiralling throughs being so persistent that it had taken her almost an entire minute to pull together with enough mental strength to cross out the next day on the calendar. It felt like every day was only getting harder.
To distract herself from the silence of the empty house, Vee had thrown herself into a frenzied cleaning spree. Originally she had tried leaving Camila's tv shows blaring to fill the silence, but had just made her focus too much on Camila's absence. So she had instead focused on scrubbing every surface until it gleamed, washing every sheet and wiping every window with meticulous care, though the attempts to give Luz's wardrobe any sort of organisation was treated as the impossible task it was. She told herself that it was all for Camila and Luz's return, but deep down, she knew it was a feeble attempt to distract herself from the overwhelming emptiness. It didn't help. No matter how much she tried to distract herself, the silence remained inescapable.
"I need you to come back," Vee quietly pleaded with the empty room, gazing blankly at the sixth steaming mug of hot chocolate she had drunk down that day, hoping it would provide some solace. But the drink she usually savoured tasted like murky water, its saccharine sweetness scorching her taste buds. Perhaps she had indulged in too much of it recently. She reached for the marshmallows to add to her drink, only to find the packet empty. In frustration, she pushed the mug aside and rested her face on the table, her mind refusing to stop thinking. The rough wood grain of the table pressed against her skin as she was consumed by her sense of helplessness and anger at her own inability to handle it.
She could hear her phone buzzing with a familiar tone, but she paid it no attention. Choosing instead to ignore the call and hope that everything would soon be over and Camila and Luz would return to her.
In any case, she was certain that the message was merely from Masha, trying to make plans with her, but Vee was in no mood for company. Ever since Halloween, she had been avoiding Masha, ignoring their texts and letting their calls ring out. They had told everyone that Luz and Camila were in another country and couldn't answer the phone, so Vee couldn't even answer the phone if she wanted to. Vee did not know how to explain what was happening without revealing her secret, and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She was terrified of the possibility that Masha would discover that she was not human or would realise that Vee had been deceiving her for half a year. She didn't know which was worse, but either way she could not risk Masha finding out. She was sick of losing friends because of what she was.
There was also the added complication with the Camila and Luz cover story that she hadn't realised until a day after telling everyone, it meant that she was not able to use either form around town. Even getting Camila's car back home had been difficult, choosing to travel in the dead of night to reduce the chances that anyone would see her.
It was just pure luck that she had found the spare car keys. She hoped that Camila wouldn't be too angry at the new scratch Vee had given the passenger door while trying to park it. Vee was not the best driver when she was exhausted, or in general really. Driving while transformed gave her a headache, but even in the dead of night she wasn't foolish enough to untransform and risk getting spotted.
She felt trapped, like a bird with clipped wings, forced to navigate the town with extreme caution, always on high alert for any potential danger. Despite her fear of discovery, she couldn't help but long for a taste of freedom. She did consider using her own human form and taking Masha up on their offer of a town tour, but the risk of revealing a secret to Masha was just too high for her to be willing to do it.
Vee couldn't deny that she was still very tempted to do it anyway.
As the days had dragged on, Vee found herself retreating further and further into isolation. The fear of revealing anything to her old friends weighed heavily on her, causing her to keep her phone on mute and her blinds closed. The silence of the empty house only served to amplify her loneliness, making her feel like she was suffocating under the weight of her own she had spent most of her life confined to small spaces, this kind of suffocation was different, almost unbearable in a painfully unique way. Every creak of the floorboards or rustle of the wind outside felt like a potential threat, and with each passing day she began to doubt if her family would ever return for her. A small part wondered if they even wanted to come back or if they preferred the Isles over her. She wouldn't blame them.
Vee was suddenly jolted out of her thoughts as an unexpected knock echoed through the house. Startled, she hastily transformed into her human form and rushed to the door, her heart pounding in her chest. With trembling fingers, she grasped the doorknob, struggling to regulate her breathing and conceal her unease.
"Remember, you're just taking care of the house for Camila, you're just house sitting," Vee reminded herself, her voice barely above a whisper. Though there was some truth to the flimsy cover story, she couldn't shake off the guilt of deceiving others. "Stay composed, Vee. Don't let Camila down. Don't be you, be who she needs you to be."
As another round of knocking reverberated through the room, Vee steeled herself and opened the door, only to be greeted by the sight of Masha standing on the front porch, her foot tapping with impatience. However they were clearly taken aback when they saw Vee in the doorway and not Luz. Vee tried to mask her disappointment, realising that Masha had expected to see Luz instead of her.
"Oh, hey." Masha waved awkwardly, leaning a little to try and peer past Vee. "Didn't know that you were staying with Luz. I still owe you that tour, remember. Anyway, is Luz in? They're not responding to their texts and you know that girl needs to get out for a bit this afternoon."
Vee put on her best smile, even if the forced nature made it even more uncomfortable. "Luz is away with her mother, they had a family emergency to deal with."
Masha's expression drooped, disappointment clear on their face. "Do you know when they'll be back?" Masha asked.
"Ah, they should be back next week," Vee lied nervously, hoping that Masha wouldn't ask too many more questions. She wished that she had come up with a better cover story for Luz and Camila, one that would have allowed Vee to borrow Luz's life for a little bit longer. She missed being friends with Masha and the others from the cabin. She missed being able to pretend to be normal. "Was there anything specific you wanted to tell them?"
Masha didn't immediately respond and Vee felt her heart pounding in her chest as Masha's eyes bore into her, trying to read any signs of deception. She could feel the weight of her lie pressing down on her, threatening to expose her at any moment. Vee forced herself to maintain eye contact and keep up the façade of normalcy, despite the growing sense of dread.
Masha's eyes flickered around the room, taking in the empty space behind Vee. Vee could sense Masha's scepticism growing, as they leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of something, anything that would reveal the truth. Vee silently cursed herself for not anticipating this, for not having a better lie prepared.
But then, just as Vee thought she would be found out, Masha's expression softened. "No, nothing specific," Masha said with a sigh, leaning back on their heels. "Just wanted to say hi, see how everything was going. It's been too long since we hung out."
"Well you'll just have to wait a bit longer," Vee replied with a shrug, doing her best to hide the fact that she was worried that Masha could see right through her. "Is there anything else you wanted?"
Masha nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of their lips. "Well there is one thing, you never told me your name."
"Oh, I'm Vee." She replied nervously, trying to not blush at how Masha was looking at her.
"Well, Vee. It's nice to meet another friend of Luz'" Masha held out her hand, which Vee quickly grabbed for a proper handshake. "I don't remember Luz mentioning living with a….sister? Or a friend?"
"Oh, I'm not related or anything. They asked me to house sit while they were away," Vee quickly explained, feeling rather flustered as she hoped that she sounded truthful enough. It was better to pretend to be a family friends than try to explain why she wasn't with Luz and Camila at the supposed 'family emergency'. "You know, vacuum the plants, water the carpets… I mean water the vacuum… you know what I mean." Vee covered her mouth, feeling mortified that she was so utterly incapable of talking. A small part of herself was annoyed that she didn't just tell Masha that she was Luz's sister, but she also knew how complicated the inevitable questions would be to answer.
"I know what you mean, cutie." Masha smiled, and Vee could feel her blush intensifying. "Anyway if Luz isn't here I guess I'd better not out-stay my welcome."
"You could never outstay your welcome," Vee blurted out before she could stop herself, she froze as her mind finally caught up with what she had just said. Taking a breath to steady herself Vee decided that she was sick of hiding, maybe things would be okay if she took a little bit of a risk. "Actually if you're free I'd love to take you up on that offer to see a tour of Gravesfield."
"Well if Luz isn't here, then I guess I have a free afternoon to meet her housesitter." Masha told her with a smirk. "What do you say we blow this popsicle stand and I show you where the cool kids hang out?"
"So long as you never talk like that again, sure." Vee laughed, doing her best to ignore the blush was almost certainly turning her cheeks pink.
"Deal!" Masha grabbed Vee's hand and dragged the girl out of the doorway and towards the town.
Vee's heart raced with apprehension as Masha held her hand and nearly dragged her down the street. Vee was worried that Masha would drag her to every creepy location in town, where Vee had hung out with Masha and their friends back when she was still pretending to be Luz. However, to her surprise, Masha instead pulled her into a local takeaway store. Vee raised an eyebrow as they had landed in a brightly decorated boba tea shop.
"What's this place?" Vee asked, her eyes scanning the pastel decor of the small shop as Masha dragged her towards the counter.
Masha feigned nonchalance, but Vee could sense the excitement bubbling beneath the surface as Masha answered, "Oh, just my favourite boba tea place." Masha brushed some imaginary dust from their shoulder, and Vee couldn't help but worry about what else Masha had in store for her.
"I've never had that before," Vee confessed, trying her best to not betray how nervous she was feeling. She hoped that it wasn't that unusual that she had never had it, she was reasonably sure that she hadn't seen the others having it, but she also really didn't want to accidentally reveal too much to Masha. A small part of her was already starting to realise that this was not a good plan and that she should've just stayed curled up on the couch at Camila's house. At least then she wouldn't be risking revealing her secret to the world just because she was feeling a bit stir crazy.
Masha's smile didn't falter as they threw an arm around Vee's shoulders and pulled them closer to the impatient shopkeeper. "No worries, I know just what a first-timer like you needs," they assured her, exuding confidence as they ordered two milk teas.
Mere seconds later, the two of them strolled down the street, and Vee found herself transfixed by the colourful beverage in her hand, though she hadn't yet taken a sip. "Is this your favourite drink?" Vee inquired, suddenly realising that she knew very little about Masha's tastes.
"One of my girl friends from camp introduced it to me," they replied, taking a long sip from their own cup.
"Oh, I didn't realise Molly even liked tea," Vee muttered under her breath before feeling a stab of panic as she remembered that she was supposed to not know anything about Masha's circle of friends. Fortunately, Masha appeared too absorbed in their own beverage to catch what Vee's had said.
"It was actually why I wanted to talk to Luz today," Masha continued, taking a break from sipping their tea. "That girl has been super stressed lately and I thought a decent boba would help calm her down. Or at least a chat."
With a curious glint in her eye, Vee studied Masha's face for any hint of ulterior motive. "You think she's been stressed out?" Vee asked, her tone laced with concern. She couldn't help but wonder if Masha's interest in Luz's emotional state was genuine or if they had some other motive. "She seemed fine last week to me. When did you see her stressed out?"
Masha took a long sip of their boba tea, their eyes fixed on Vee's face. "It was on Halloween, she was hanging out with her other friend group," they replied, their lips curling into a mischievous smirk. "Actually, do you know who that cutie with the purple hair is? I wouldn't say no to an introduction with her."
Vee felt a pang of jealousy shoot through her chest at Masha's comment. She quickly tried to push the feeling aside, reminding herself that Masha was entitled to their own romantic interests. "Her name is Amity, but she's with Luz," Vee said, trying to sound nonchalant. She was always ready to gossip, particularly when the topic in question wasn't herself. Gossip also made it a lot easier to grab enough information about someone's life to borrow their form but Vee quickly pushed away the idea of borrowing Masha's form. A small part of her was annoyed that Masha was showing interest in Amity instead of her, but she also knew that Masha had only ever met her in this form twice.
Masha turned to Vee, a curious expression on their face. "I guess they did seem quite close, didn't they?" they remarked to themself, "but that's a good thing. To be honest, ever since Luz came back from camp, I've sensed a desperation in her to socialise more, maybe a little closer than just socialising. You know what I mean?"
Vee frowned as they thought about the love between Luz and their girlfriend Amity and how overt the two had been whenever they thought they were alone together. She suppressed a shudder and forced a smile, trying not to reveal her own feelings on the matter. "I wish I didn't," Vee replied, knowing all too well the depth of their feelings for each other.
Masha's expression turned to one of confusion as they peered at Vee intently. "Hmm, that sounds like a fun story there," they observed. "How did you say you knew Luz again?"
Vee bit down on her lip, her heart pounding in her chest. They were treading on thin ice with their lies, and Vee knew that one misstep could mean the end of their charade. So she took the tried and true method of staying as close to the truth as she could, reducing the scope of the lie made it easier to remember. "I've known Camila for a while," Vee lied smoothly, "I only recently met Luz." The words tasted bitter in her mouth, but she pushed past the feeling, knowing that her survival depended on her ability to deceive her friend.
Masha's eyes flicked over to Vee, and for a moment, Vee thought they would be caught. But then Masha's expression softened, and they nodded slowly. "Really?" they asked, their voice laced with admiration. "I was wondering why Luz hadn't mentioned you before. They clearly trust you to look after their home and wear her clothes."
"That was more our mom's doing than Luz's," Vee forced out a weak smile, wishing that she hadn't gotten into the habit of borrowing Luz's clothes and style whenever she was lazing around the house. Masha was giving them an odd look, but they couldn't stop now. "Luz and I haven't had much of a chance to talk. House-sitting was something of a spur-of-the-moment decision. They needed someone to look after the place and I was free. But enough about me, let's get back to your crush on Amity, shall we?"
Masha let out a laugh, cradling their empty boba tea cup, though she seemed a little distracted. "Oh, you're jealous," they teased, drawing a deep flush from Vee's cheeks. "Amity's not really my type, to be honest. I just noticed that she and Luz seem to be quite close and was curious if you knew anything about it."
"You seem awfully invested in Luz's love life," Vee observed, their voice brittle with a surge of envy. They couldn't bear the thought of Masha preferring the real Luz over Vee in Luz's form.
Masha shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting back and forth as they spoke. "I won't deny that I was crushing on Luz a little," they admitted with a shrug, and Vee felt her heart flutter at the confession.
"Was?" Vee questioned, her curiosity temporarily overpowering her mounting worries.
"It's strange, it's like she's a completely different person than the Luz from camp," Masha's face scrunched in frustration. "Ever since she started hanging out with that new group, it's like she's had basically no time for us."
"I'm sure the Luz you met at camp won't forget you," Vee tried to comfort Masha, but her own guilt weighed heavy on her. She couldn't reveal her true identity and had to maintain the charade, no matter how much it pained her.
"I'm not so sure about that," Masha chuckled hollowly, the sound echoing in the deserted alley. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I can't shake the feeling that she's slipping away from me and the others." They twirled the empty boba cup in their hands, lost in thought.
"What if I could bring you Luz?" Vee offered impulsively, regretting the words as soon as they left her lips. Luz was meant to be overseas, and Vee couldn't just transform and pretend to be her. She tried to backtrack, stumbling over her words. "Not that I can actually get her, being overseas and all, but hypothetically speaking, what would you say to her?"
Vee's words hung in the air, the unexpected question that left Masha momentarily confused. They stopped their walk to try and make sense of Vee's confusing prattle. With a shrug, Masha admitted, "I guess I would just want to make sure that their new friends are treating them well. If they want to find new friends and move on, then I won't stand in their way and demand their attention." Masha's heart ached with the thought of losing Luz, "though that doesn't mean I'm not going to miss hanging out with them."
"Did you really like spending time with her?" Vee asked, knowing that it was a bad idea to ask but was unable to stop herself.
"Of course I did," Masha responded, tossing their now empty boba tea cup into the garbage and holding out their hand for Vee's similarly empty cup. Vee passed it over, she had enjoyed the drink but she knew that she was probably going to just ask for a hot chocolate next time.
"So, what made you want to take me out for boba tea?" Vee asked, hoping to move the conversation on from Luz.
"I've always wanted to bring Luz here," Masha replied, their voice laced with a tinge of sadness. "But lately it feels like she was more interested in the occult than spending time with her friends from camp."
"Sorry that Luz wasn't available," Vee let out a sigh, wishing that she could be in Luz's form for Masha. A small part of her hoped that Masha would prefer her over Luz, but deep down she knew that she was projecting what she wanted onto them. Vee slowed her pace and let out a deep sigh, the weight of her uncertainty pressing down on her chest. Masha, sensing her unease, pulled her close in a sudden embrace, their one arm wrapping around Vee's shoulders. The warmth of Masha's body and the sweet scent of their perfume enveloped Vee, filling her with a sense of comfort she didn't know she needed.
"It's fine when I get to spend time with you, Vee," Masha's laughter rang out like music, so close that Vee swore that their lips were almost pressing against Vee's cheek. Vee's face flushed with heat at the sudden intimacy, though a small part of her tried to remind her that Masha had held her like this in camp more than a few times. "Are you planning on sticking around when they come back?" Masha asked, pulling back as they motioned for Vee to continue walking with them. "You're fun to hang out with, so it'd be a pity if you lived on the other side of the country or something."
Vee's mind was in turmoil. Camila and Luz had both welcomed her with open arms into their home, but she knew that she was not meant for the human world. The demon realm was her true home, but the thought of returning there filled her with dread. The boiling rain, the hostile creatures - it was all too much to bear. But it was inevitable. She shuddered at the thought, her heart heavy with a deep sense of foreboding.
Suddenly, Masha's voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey, are you awake?" They raised an eyebrow, their gaze sharp and penetrating. "You kind of zoned out on me there."
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," Vee murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not really sure what's going to happen," she replied, uncertainty seeping into her words like a poison.
Masha's eyes narrowed with concern as they took in Vee's tense expression. "What's wrong, Vee?" Masha inquired softly, inching closer to Vee and taking their hand in a comforting gesture. "I am here to listen, if you think it'll help to share."
Vee hesitated, feeling the weight of her troubles pressing down on her. She wanted to talk about it, but the words wouldn't come. "I don't know if I can put it into words," Vee muttered, feeling lost amidst the chaos that enveloped them. "It's just...everything is overwhelming. I don't know where I'm headed or what my future holds. Things aren't all that definite at the moment."
Masha pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps we should sit down for a bit, the park is just here." They motioned towards a nearby park, urging Vee to follow. "And if you feel like it, I can perform a tarot reading for you. It may help shed some light on your situation."
Vee has been feeling grateful for Masha's kindness, but when they suggested a tarot reading, Vee's stomach had twisted with fear. The last time she had let Masha read her cards, the results had been terrifyingly accurate, and she didn't want to face that kind of truth again. "No," she blurted out, her voice trembling. "I... I can't do that. I'm sorry. I just can't. They never seem to be positive for me. I'm sorry. I don't need to hear that I'm running from my past or that my fear will catch up to me again."
"Hey, that's okay," Masha gently consoled Vee, guiding them to a nearby bench in the park, which Vee did not resist. She allowed herself to be pulled over, her mind consumed by a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts. Masha noticed the confusion on Vee's face and tried to decipher its meaning before letting it go. "It's alright to feel that way," they spoke softly, settling down next to Vee on the bench. "Your emotions are valid, and I won't push you into a reading. I'm here to support you, whenever you're ready to talk."
Silence fell over the park bench, as Masha and Vee sat together. Masha's unwavering attention only intensified Vee's anxiety. It felt like the world was collapsing, and she was drowning in a black hole of despair. Each word Masha spoke drove another nail into her mind, a constant reminder of the loss she felt. The distance between Vee and their friends seemed insurmountable after Luz's departure. Masha's presence only made it worse, a living reminder of the lost friendship. "Sorry that you need to deal with me." Vee mumbled, trying to steady herself for Masha's sake. "I didn't mean to ruin your day off."
"You're not ruining anything," Masha replied, taking Vee's hand and squeezing it gently. " If you need to talk, I won't judge you. Trust me, I can keep a secret if you want to share what's weighing on your mind."
Vee's heart was pounding hard in her chest, threatening to burst out of her ribcage as she looked at Masha with fearful eyes. She wanted to tell them everything, to let them in on the secret that had been eating away at her for so long, but the risk was just too great. The consequences of being discovered were far too dire for her to even consider taking that chance. She felt like she was walking on a tightrope, one wrong move and she would fall into a bottomless pit of fear and uncertainty.
To her surprise, Masha spoke up. "I think I know what you're hiding, Vee. And I want you to know that it's okay. You don't have to worry about it, you know going to be I'm cool with it." Vee's heart skipped a beat. How could Masha possibly know her secret? Had she slipped up somewhere? Had someone else told them? Her mind raced with a million questions, but before she could say anything, Masha pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You know?" Vee's eyes shot open in panic as she tried to pull away, but Masha's grip was strong. For a moment, she let herself sink into the comfort of the embrace, feeling the warmth of Masha's body against hers. As Vee finally managed to free themselves from the embrace, they couldn't hide the fear that gripped them. Their mind was in chaos, and the fear of being discovered was stronger than ever. She was scared, and she didn't even know how to hide it.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. I only just worked it out." Masha's hands were raised, palms open, as if to show that they meant no harm. Vee's heart raced as she watched the hands, the dread building inside of her. Her secret was out, and there was nothing she could do about it. The world seemed to close in on her, and she could feel the transformation she had worked so hard to maintain slipping away. Vee tried to speak, but no words came out. Her breathing was shallow and quick, and she could feel the panic taking over.
"You really weren't that subtle, especially now that I can see that you've gone so far as to start borrowing Luz's outfits from camp," Masha said softly, pulling Vee close in an attempt to calm her down. "I don't want to stress you out of anything, I can pretend that I know nothing if it makes it easier on the three of you. However, if you want someone to talk to, I'll be here to lend an ear."
"How did you know?" Vee's voice trembled, as she tried to control the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Who else knows?" The fear in her voice was palpable.
"The way you were talking about Luz and your mother basically told me everything I needed to know to figure it out, but it's okay. No one else knows so we can keep it a secret if it's an issue." Masha grabbed Vee's arm and pulled her close, trying to calm the now clearly panicked Vee. "I promise, everything is okay. Just breathe in and out, everything will be fine. You don't have to keep the secret around me."
"How can anything be fine?" Vee's whole body was shaking with fear and anxiety, and she felt like the world was closing in around her. Masha's warm embrace and soothing voice were the only things that kept her from losing control completely. They sat together on the bench, Vee trying to regain her composure while Masha continued to remind her to breathe slowly and deeply.
For what seemed like an eternity, Vee struggled to keep her emotions in check, her eyes growing damp as everything became too much. But gradually, with Masha's gentle encouragement, she began to calm down, her breathing evening out, and her eyes drying up. Eventually, she pulled away from Masha and took a deep breath, doing her best to pull herself together.
Vee's heart was pounding as she pulled away from Masha, feeling a sense of dread looming over her. The weight of her secret, which she had so carefully guarded, felt heavy upon her. She knew that revealing her true self was a risk, but it seemed that the risk of hiding was too great.
"How did I let you find out?" Vee's voice was barely above a whisper as she asked the question to herself, fear evident in her eyes. She felt exposed and vulnerable, as if she had been stripped bare in front of a stranger.
Masha's expression softened, but Vee could still feel the weight of her own anxiety pressing down on her. "You don't have to hide anything from me," Masha said in a soothing voice, trying to reassure her. "I may not have known you that long, but I think it's safe to say that I'm your friend, Vee. Like I said, if it's really such an issue I can pretend that I didn't hear anything. I can just pretend you're an acquaintance of Luz who just happens to be house sitting."
"I suppose I should at least show you," Vee said with a sense of resignation, however she was feelinging optimistic at the chance to finally be allowed to be completely honest with Masha. Vee sighed heavily and looked down at herself, struggling to decide whether to reveal her true form or not. But the pull of honesty was too strong to resist. Her magic reserves were low, but she was still good for a few more transformations and Masha deserved to know.
Vee surveyed their surroundings with a sense of unease, scanning the area for any signs of potential danger. Only when they were confident that no one else was around did Vee allow themselves to close their eyes and undergo a transformation. Their body rippled and contorted before assuming a different shape entirely. When they opened their eyes again, they had taken on Luz's form. Vee's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to control her breathing, she looked over at Masha with a smile. However, that smile dropped to a frown as she saw Masha's reaction.
Masha stood rooted to the spot, eyes agog and mouth hanging open in disbelief. "You can transform?" she breathed, her voice laced with incredulity.
"I thought that was what you were talking about!" Vee could feel the heat rising to their cheeks as they shifted back to their original form in embarrassment. "What secret did you think I was keeping?" she blurted out, her voice betraying a hint of frustration.
"I thought you were hiding the fact that you're Luz's sister," Masha exclaimed, her eyes still wide with shock. "I had no idea you were a shapeshifter."
Vee pursed her lips, her mind racing with the implications of what Masha had just revealed. However, that only lasted a second before Vee offering a half-hearted shrug, resigned to the fact that the truth was now out in the open. "Surprise?" she said, adding an unnecessary flourish with her hands. The jazz hands were probably not necessary, but Vee figured that if you were going to spill a secret, you may as well do it properly.