When it is not enough to deserve respect, you must demand it.

It is nayat one fraigen, lita. It has naya honed scales to rip yon wide.

There was a monster in the mirror―one in disguise, a disguise which could not fool his reflection.

There was blood on the hair of his chinny chin chin.

Like a bellowing beast, he howled her name, his raspy wails riding the gales like a ship on a roiling sea.

Beyond the window, a breeze gently gusted―and she heard it―ever so softly, just beyond the panes. Like a forlorn lover, dark waters were wooing her, a wily whispering, gently insistent―Chrissstaaa…Chrisssstaaaaa…

She buried her face into his neck, hiding her tears―and her fears, for though the Lor of Zeria was resisting her advances with valiant chivalry, that within her trembling hand was completely without honor.

Staring numbly into the bath, she wondered how the water could possibly look the same as when she’d first entered. With the amount of tears she’d shed, it should have been overflowing and salty as any sea.