Reflection of one's soul

Eve tried her best not to suffocate under the tension, which was rising and filling the room like thick plumes of smoke. She had brought her grandmother over here to talk peacefully with a girl she thought of as her friend. She wasn't expecting her beloved and usually late-to-temper Granny to lash out this way. She called her Satan's spawn! The worst part was that Follia didn't retort.

The thing was, Eve was used to her Granny calling anyone who came over a 'sinner' or 'devil's-child.'

All except for Botan, Eve was used to being alone.

She was 'set apart' from the rest of humanity.

'Special' and 'closest to God' were also words she heard often whilst growing up, but she never truly understood how they applied to her.

It didn't help that she was the only one in her family who could see Botan. Which meant she was more powerful a priestess than her Granny, who could only feel his presence.

Since she was young, her Granny made sure her world was comprised of whatever could fit in her 15x18 sized box. Not realizing that camaraderie was all she ever wanted.

To her, Follia was perfect because she loved having no friends and eating behind the stairs.

Sadly, being a loser was hard for Eve.

'She could even see Botan! So she'll be excepted by Granny!'

Was what she thought, then.

Now she was sitting in the mess she had made, hoping that the carbon-monoxide didn't kill her.

Botan let out a deep sigh, why did he have to be trapped with such an idiot?

"So, you can see this girl's guardian?"

The Granny studied Follia as she stirred her tea.

"Yes."

"What does he look like?"

"He's pink, fits in the palm of one's hand, and has an attitude problem."

Follia deadpanned to her.

She glanced at her Granddaughter, who shook her head vigorously,

"She described Botan perfectly!"

"Silence, girl. You don't have to raise your tone."

"Yes, Granny."

"So why are you here? Just to tell me you can see our family guardian?"

"F-cough cough!"

'Family Guardian?!'

Follia hardly believed her ears as she shot a look at the unsuspecting imp.

Normally, this imp's kind hated anything that involved energetic movements. They preferred to sleep most of the day, even if they did grow so attached to someone to where they wanted to protect them, the most they could do was make their opponent drowsy, but that 'power' would also 'attack' anyone near it, meaning, the one it's trying to protect would be affected as well.

Long story short, where did they get the idea that he was a family guardian?

Follia silenced her bafflement once she felt a glare penetrating her soul.

"No. I didn't come here to tell you about me seeing your...family guardian. Eve asked me to come here."

The glare was now redirected to Eve.

"Isn't she special, Granny? You said I was the only one who could see Botan, but she can too!"

"Eve, how many times must I warn you? One never knows where the enemy is hiding."

Follia raised her eyebrow at the arrogant insinuation that she was actually after such frail human lives.

Follia observed this before, but many people had the idea that anything more resistant than them was evil, and that anything evil wanted their mortal lives.

Which was far from the truth, but Follia stopped fighting on that fore-front long ago.

"Anything can be human on the surface, but you never know how putrified time can turn something."

Follia hid the amazed smirk that attempted to show itself.

That was definitely a hint, right?

"But, Granny-"

"No, buts. Go to your room, we will discuss this later."

Halfway dragging her feet, but eager to leave, Eve picked up Botan, and quietly left the room.

The silence in the room rang in Follia's ears.

An alarm bell?

No. It more resembled the silence of a battlefield before guttural cries of war filled one's heart with anarchical madness and terror.

"So, you're called, Follia? Do you understand the meaning of that name?"

"Does it matter?"

"A name is a reflection of one's soul."

"Aren't you going to ask me what I want?"

The judgmental eyes of the priestess never left Follia.

Old and faded, pretending to see what they once could. Peoples' vision worsen when they age, Follia suspected that she could hardly see across the room. Only reminding her that her eyes should've done that a long time ago, she should've been dead by now.

"What do you want?"

The woman finally decided to humor her, feeling she had nothing to lose.

"I want your brusque life, dear. I want your fragility, your strained eyes, and shriveled skin, but most of all, I want you to tell me what are the exact contents of the devil's contract!"

The woman had already dropped her teacup and was standing up, most likely revolted by the sudden expression of envy.

"You're mad!"

"A name is a reflection of one's soul. Or do you not remember?"