(Continued from The Curious Case of the Shared Bedroom.)

The little illusionist was unaware that Fausto had eaten her doorknob. She was unaware that she he had delicately lifted her up. She was unaware of the accusing look and accompanying question that he had aimed and shot at Effie like a poison tipped arrow (though she would have appreciated it greatly had she seen it). She was generally unaware of anything other than the nightmare painted faces that haunted the fragments of her dreams.

--

The room was dim, lit only by flickering white paint candle flames scattered to the corners. Still, it was enough light to see the faces of the happy group of friends that laughed and talked together as they lounged in plump cozy chairs pulled into a social little circle. Fausto was there, and Koga. Calley and Slate sat next to each other, mirror images ignoring their own reflection completely. Pluto filled a love seat all by himself, she could see the purple glint of the earring in his ear that set him apart from his brothers. Near the unlit fireplace, a boy with wings leaned nonchalantly against the mantle smiling a good natured sarcastic smile at Sir Gawain. The longer she looked, the more faces she recognized. The room was dim, but it was a friendly, cozy kind of dim that made a person want to cuddle up next to a friend under a blanket.

A door opened, and a harsh light spilled into the room, framing the silhouette of a girl with long curly hair with a brightly blinding halo. The door clicked closed behind her, but the light followed wherever she went. Despite the blinding glare, the people in the room couldn't take their eyes off of her for some reason. And there was something about their expressions that wasn't quite right. The comfortable smiles were gone, replaced by silly stupid grins at the shiny new girl.

She didn't like this new girl very much at all.

Miss Sparkle wandered through the crowd, flashing her brilliant white teeth at each person in turn. Wherever she went, she touched them; on the arm, on the shoulder, on the hand. Wherever she touched, she left a colorful painted hand print. Finally, she stopped in front of Fausto and bent to kiss his cheek. The red from her lips was far too red. The mark it made couldn't contain the color, and it spilled out of its boundaries to form a macabre red liquid mask to cover his face.

All around the room the colorful marks she made had spread, gobbling up her friends one by one until all that was left was a shell of color with nothingness inside.

The girl reached out her hand, her white teeth flashing as she said, “Come. Touch my hand.”

These hands went away from her after a few second of touch ... There was no scars or mark on her skin, though according to Fausto he had not put his hands with the same delicacy that he had used to transport her fragile body. His arms crossed at his chest trying to appear calm while his eyes showed desperation, an unstoppable need to make the time go faster, the boy slowly devoured DocProf with his eyes. Why did he could not understand the delicate of her state? Whatever was her state...

His professional face also seemed the one of who wakes up in the middle of night by a horrible nightmare, his face twisted as if he had a hangover. Seeing her made the boy think it was with Vodka ... He could almost smell the drink, in his mind he saw the old doctor's face avidly drinking from a small glass ... maybe a Bloody Mary or a Kamikaze or any other cocktail of vodka, Fausto was sure that was it but also was sure he had never seen DocProf drinking any alcoholic beverage ... the truth was that he had never seen him drinking anything. Could it be that he never was thirsty?

Fausto looked at his bride who also had the same face, but perhaps more freaked out than before (if that was possible) while seeing how from DocProf's hands came a golden glow ... the singer saw it before, he even experienced that warm kiss of those healing hands ... and had also been reprimanded by how he ended wounded... those hands betrayed him, telling all the story of how revenge stabbed him.
Doc looked like a saint, like those that appear in the churches that are said to work miracles by laying their hands ... Were the mutants the ones behind such beliefs? Fausto's gaze scanned the room looking for the halo, but he could not find it.

Always was the same, he had to wait for everything. Was in this world something completely instantly? He hated to wait so much, but always ended up doing it. When the healing ended the response was immediate, his voice sounded strong in the quiet of the infirmary, but also sounded tired. ¨ She is sleeping, exhausted, and is resting to recover her energies. Now let me see your state ...¨ Without changing his stance (he felt like he still could not down his guard. En garde shouted his mind, lifting that invisible walk) he held his gaze as he listened to his diagnosis, which always was extremely accurate, so the boy did not have to worry about Katrina for the moment... He shook his head in negation as he looked at Effie to indicate what he wanted. His own voice sounded weird on that silence, afraid to broke the atmosphere or afraid to wake up little Kat... ¨ I am fine, see how she is please ... ¨ He tried to sound calm but his voice betrayed him, impatience dominated his mind. He could not wait to hear that it had only been a rare episode of some hysteria virus or something like that, like mutant stress... and nothing more, that everything would continue as before. He even expected DocProf to tell him, like some kind of oracle, if he was going to marry or not. Fausto was a little worried about it (just a little). It was not like he was alright but if he had been able to carry Katrina up there was because he did not need immediate attention.

Effie watched, hugging herself, as the Doctor healed Katrina. At least that was what it looked like he was doing. After the events of the past hours Effie was not even surprised they had a guy in the school who could heal people with his hands. It was one of the few things that made sense, actually.

Effie stole a glance or two at his fiancé. Was he really...? Did he...? Was everything Katrina told her real? Everything?

She jumped as the doctor spoke. The girl would be fine. Good. She would have hated to leave knowing she hurt someone. Unintentionally.
But, really, did she? Did she hurt the blonde girl?

Effie looked at the girl. Still unconscious. She looked back at the doctor and realized with sudden panic that he was walking towards her, a curious expression on his face.

"No!" she said, backing away "Do not touch. I not want you touch me."

Doc stopped, arching an eyebrow. "It's okay, miss. I am not going to hurt you."

"No no no, do not." Effie hugged herself, backing away till she couldn't go any further because there was a bed behind her "She touch me, and dat happen." she sait pointing at Katrina with one finger "She say is my fault. She say I need gloves."

DocProf shook his head and muttered something, pulling up a chair to sit in front of Effie. "She said gloves, huh." he sighed "All right, tell you what." he said digging around his pockets and pulling out a pair of gloves "I will wear the gloves, all right? Now. Give me your hand. It's okay. No one will get hurt."

No one did. Effie was shaking as she held out a hand, and almost pulled it back when the doctor touched it. A series of emotions played across Doc's face, ranging from surprise all the way to understanding. Pulling his hand back, he counted silently, breathing deeply before he looked up at her.

"Congratulations, miss. You are a mutant."

Effie stared. Something deep inside her expected that sentence... but the rest of her hated to hear it.

"I am not!" she snapped "You are."

Doc sighed, standing up and turning to Fausto. "Son, your lady friend here seems to possess a very unique ability. She amplifies others' mutations. To what extent, I cannot tell without further experiments, but judging from what her touch did to Katrina, I'd say it's pretty strong."

Effie sunk down onto the bed.
"Sh*t." she muttered, with a distinct Russian accent.

She backed away from the outstretched hand, but her retreat was blocked by something solid. Wet hands perched on her shoulders, liquid oozed down from the fingers, staining her shirt. There was no move she could make that would allow her to escape the approach of the blonde girl's hand.

Closer.

Closer.

A warm touch spread throughout her, starting from where the girl's hand was firmly planted on her arm. The white toothed smile faltered and the girl tried to pull her hand away, but the painted hand print glued her firmly in place. She pulled harder and harder but couldn't get free.

>>>"No no no, do not."

The older girl sounded panicked. The warmth spread and intensified through both their bodies. Their clothes were turning brown in patches like paper held to close to a flame.

Too hot.

In one last desperate effort, the curly haired blonde jerked her hand backwards.

It came free.

Or, most of it did.

She held up her hand, cracked with jagged sharp edges where her fingers were missing.

“Aaaaaiiiiiiiii!”

¨ Are you sure?¨ He asked shyly while the doctor walked slowly out of the room. It seemed he was never wrong but he asked anyway. Without waiting for an answer, he added quickly like justifying (perhaps apologizing) for having doubted about Saint DocProf. ¨ I held her hand and nothing happened ... it was more than once...¨ ¨Nothing ¨ does not specify how he felt while holding her hand at the airport, you could say it was an energizing feeling, like being in love like he though at first, love at first sight or some kind of link ... Like waking up after a refreshing nap that let you full of energy.
Maybe that was how her ability must felt and Katrina inadvertently used that extra energy and ¨projected¨ these ¨things ¨. If Katrina did that ... What would happen if he use his powers after being touched ...? Would be anything in the world able to resist his enhanced super saliva? He imaginary relished the idea on his tongue as it traveled through his teeth waiting them to grow like fangs just for being near her. Were those feelings toward her part of her mutation?

He wanted to approach his bride and hug her, tell her that being mutant is fantastic, and help her to accept the idea. She was obviously not pleasant with it.
But then he recalled the attempt to get away from DocProf so he gave up and remained close but at a safe distance.
¨ Listen to me. I am not rich, nor famous. The last thing can have a bit of true. ¨ He looked askance at Katrina to see if she was still asleep, the singer was afraid that the illusions begin to magically emerge from her sleeping mind or that her nightmares start to materialize to take her away. Seeing that she was there, he continued talking less worried but just as nervous as before.
¨ We had a couple of shows, perhaps some posters on the street, and once i appeared in a newspaper ... ¨ (not by the band he added mentally) ¨ ... but I'm sure I'm not what you expected. ¨ His voice sounded annoyed. "Seeing I'm so wonderful, cute, funny and intelligent... Why am i not what she expected? The child's mind would not accept it, could not do it until he thought about Kat. He was not what she wanted neither.

His smile twisted a little, but he continued. ¨ My mother, who was supposed to be dead, appeared again and for some reason I do not understand she thought i needed a wife. I believe she even get fake documents because of my age ... ¨ He smile again. The words came out of his mouth almost immediately as they formed in his head, without crowding because his tongue put them out fluently in a steady whisper. He was trained to speak quickly more than for ... ( He tried to think of something really hard) ... that to understand women. Her friend, his mother and wife conspired among themselves in strange ways even without knowing it, but always against him, to make his life complicated. ¨ ... maybe she thought i needed someone to look after me all the time, her mutation may be hazardous to the people around her.I did not know who i was picking up at the airport until the last moment... ¨ A couple of sighs, as he took a deep breath his eyes bounced to Katrina once again when his black eyes returned to the Russian lady he asked again. ¨ Can i know more about you now? Tell me your side of the story...¨

>>¨ Listen to me. I am not rich, nor famous.... I'm sure I'm not what you expected. ¨

Hell no you are not.

Effie looked up at Fausto, her eyes red but without tears. What was he saying? Nothing new, really, katrina had already told her that much. Effie suddenly longed for the awkwardness of a few hours ago. It was strange, and new, and unsure, but it felt so good, compared to now. A few hours ago, she was going to get married to a guy who was kind to her. A few hours ago, she was going to live happily ever after. A few hours ago, she though she would be all right. A few hours ago, she wasn't a mutant.

And now, this.

>>¨ My mother, who was supposed to be dead, appeared again and for some reason I do not understand she thought i needed a wife. I believe she even get fake documents because of my age... maybe she thought i needed someone to look after me all the time, her mutation may be hazardous to the people around her.I did not know who i was picking up at the airport until the last moment... ¨

Stop. Stop right there. No more. Not a word.

Effie held up her hands, palms out, trying to stop the string of bad news coming from him. She felt like if she didn't, it would just go on and on and on, and she would be crushed. It was literally getting worse with every word.
His mother chose her for him.
Fake documents because of his age. That meand he was not even 18 yet...
His mother was also a mutant. With some dangerous mutation. The mother-in-law every girl would wish for.
He didn't know who she was.
He didn't pick her.

Effie took another breath to calm herself down, and dropped her hands into her lap.
"You did not pick me." she concluded quietly. Not only was this whole situation screwed up on so many levels... he didn't even want her. "You not want me to come."

>>¨Can i know more about you now? Tell me your side of the story...¨

For a moment there, Effie was tempted to tell the truth. To get back at him for what he did, or what he didn't do. To tell him she only wanted him for the money, and the green card, and she didn't pick him either, it was all the Matchmaker's fault.
She realized a moment later it all would just make her look more foolish.

"I told you in the car."

She looked over at Katrina. She was still out, and didn't look like she was having a peaceful sleep. Effie almost felt sorry for the girl. Lying on the bed, she looked a lot like Bo.

"She really like you." she said quietly, not looking at him "She care a lot. And you like her too."

She brushed at her shoulder where the other girl's fingers still clung to her. At her touch they shattered further, into tiny shards of a dream. Each little piece showed a different scene, each turning and dancing too quickly in the harsh light that surrounded Fausto's bride to see what they showed.

The older girl's scream continued on and on, neither getting louder or quieter or changing pitch at all. She was a bell whose peal didn't fade with time. She didn't even need to breath apparently.

On and on it went without wavering in the slightest, as fragments of dreams floated around them both.