The true mystery is the ocean itself, isn’t it? says my sister by the window. The first mirror of the world. Reflecting back the heavens. When I look in the glass, I see she’s smiling at the waves, still with that tear in her eye.
“I still don’t know what makes a Perfect Candidate,” Hud says. “I just know some people are marked. And Rouge knows how to spot the mark.” He glances up at my forehead. “Knows what they want when they see it. And what they want, they take.”
He’s very close to me again, this beautiful detective. Looking deeply into my eyes like he could look there forever. It’s the true mystery. Reflecting everything he’s lost and now found again. Can’t lose it now. Can’t lose it again ever.
Well, this is very entrancing, says my sister by the flowers.
All he wants to do is pull back the curtain, says my sister on the couch with great bitterness. Once he’s wrenched it down and stared into what he thinks is the cold light of the truth of you, he’ll walk away.
Walk away with me to the water, Sister.
Suddenly, beside us, I feel the wall of mirrors start to shimmer. Does Hud Hudson see it? No, he’s still looking into my eyes. I’m the only mirror he wants right now. But like a magnet, I’m drawn back to the wall of glass, shining like it’s beckoning me. It doesn’t look like a mirror anymore, but a window. Through it, I see the house on the cliff. The grand hall with its great chandelier. And is that Mother I see on the stair? Yes! In a red dress just like mine. Walking down toward the Depths. Oh Mother, is that really you? There’s a man in shadow behind her, who is that man, Mother? Who’s walking behind you? But Mother still doesn’t answer, doesn’t turn to me.
Beside me, Hud Hudson’s calling my name. “Belle, what are you seeing?” He turns and looks in the mirror, but I know he sees nothing. Doesn’t see the house on the cliff. Our friends at Rouge on the stair. Everyone waving for me to come join them. And Mother walking down toward the Depths. Disappearing behind them. The mirror going black.
“Detective, I’m afraid I have to leave now.”
“You’re not going back there, Belle. Not on my watch. Not without me.”
My watch? repeats my sister on the couch. Who is this man? Does he think he’s in the movies or something?
He could be in the movies, says my sister by the flowers. He’s very beautiful, but in that broken way we like. A detective of Beauty, remember?
I really think we should just dive into the sea, says my sister by the window.
“I should go,” I say.
“Let me come with you.” Gently, he reaches for my hand.
Presumptuous, mutters my sister on the couch. Thinking he can save you from yourself.
I think it’s sweet, says my sister by the flowers. Look at him, so intense and well-meaning. It’s quite sexy.
You should probably just seduce him, Sister, says my sister by the water.
Seduce him?
It’s the only way to go to the house alone. To get to Mother. Also, you really want to, don’t you?
The wall of mirrors is just glass again now. No window to the house. No Mother. I look back at Hud Hudson, beautiful detective. Eyes clear and deep as the first mirror of the world. Warm hand gripping mine. “All right,” I tell him. “I’ll let you come with me.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Absolution—solutely.”
“Okay, then.” He sighs with such relief. Oh god, how do I do this, Sisters?
Remember, says my sister by the water, envy and desire are often one and the same trance.
“First, though, I think you should take a closer look at this Glow,” I say. And then the look in his eye shifts. Slowly, I take his hands and bring them up to my face. Press his palms into my cheeks. I feel his hands trembling against my skin or am I trembling at his touch, Sisters? But my sisters are sighing. Sighing as Hud Hudson is shuddering, shaking his head like he shouldn’t, he shouldn’t, even though he’s only moving in closer as I’m moving in closer. Not pulling back, not like our boyfriend did earlier. Sighing now as he strokes my face. At first very softly, tenderly, like he might break me. Then more intensely, with hunger and wonder. “Holy fuck,” he whispers into my ear.
All around me, my sisters are sighing at the touch of the beautiful detective. Our souls open like a flower opens to the light.
Entrancing, whispers my sister by the flowers.
So long as we’re just using him, mumbles my sister on the couch.
Finally, the sea, sighs my sister by the water.