Eni

She didn't expect for this to happen. She didn't mean for this to happen. She didn't want this to happen.

Nobody would believe some girl from Land's End.

They were popular: an upcoming star, having starring in several shows, rumoured to be in the next big film. She was nobody, but she was along for the ride with them. Their public face was different from their private one, and nobody would ever believe her.

She lost it one day. It was self defense. She meant to protect herself, to strike hard enough that they'd stop hurting her, and they did indeed stop- forever. They struck her back too- a deep gash had ended up on her face, slicing across her brow to her cheek, a reminder of what she'd done from beyond the grave.

She'll look back on this and remember the look on their face, one twisted into rage and fear simultaneously. She'll mentally blink it away; she has no more eyes to blink with.

Savnic is full of corruption, nepotism, and favouritism, and her partner's friends were no exception to the norm. Soon, their friends, just as, if not more powerful, had framed her as just another murderous spinx, and Mina was on the run in a city she'd been kept from, its buildings, unfamiliar- all except one. When she was younger, much younger, her family had taken her to the opera, something she'd never forget. Suddenly, her surroundings were familiar, and she quickly dashed into the theatre- now covered in dust and decay. But even then, it was a good hiding place.

Her heart beat furiously as she settled down in a dark corner in the back of the stage. Alone at last, she finally had-

Someone else was there. Someone else was there? Here? Who? she thought anxiously. Ironically, it was the one other nephian Mina had some familiarity with: Sigrid, the songstress who she saw those many years ago. She looks different, of course, older, now masked, but Mina's familiar with what happened to her. Anyone would be different after that.

Sigrid gasps, but before Mina can run, Sigrid simply asks her what happened. It's a kind response; concerned, instead of angry. Without really thinking, Mina ends up telling (more like blubbering) it all out, including that this was just the one place she knew to run to.

When a small crowd comes in, looking for Mina, Sigrid denies it casually and calmly, Mina hidden away in a small room behind the stage. Nobody comes anymore, states Sigrid, and her calm, steely tone is a good enough answer for the crowd to leave.

After it's all over, she runs and hugs Sigrid, without thinking- and to her surprise, in spite of the wounds, the tears, and the dust, Sigrid doesn't look disgusted, she doesn't yell at her, or shove her away- she just hugs her back.

Of course, it doesn't end after all of that. Mina starts to settle into the theatre, cleaning it up occasionally, adding little bits of decor, even as Sigrid never asked her to- just the little things to thank her with.

Sigrid is out to fetch some food for Mina when she's cornered by a politician: she knows this one. They've got an election upcoming, and they've done many things to keep their place.

They promise, in the most lofty of ways, that they have learned that Sigrid harbours a fugitive- and they can and will report her...

Although, they also had a little problem themself, and that possibly, they could work out a deal where Sig's murderous cat could possibly take out the little issue.

Mina is no murderer. She's the victim here. She turns them down sharply, eyes glinting with a coldness behind her mask.

But Mina, after everything, especially after what Sigrid has been through, refuses to let Sigrid get punished for helping her. Behind Sigrid's back, she goes and does the hit. It's horrible. But this time, it's indirect, without her own paws. And maybe, just maybe, this eases some of the uncertainty bubbling up in her chest.

When Sigrid finds out, she's furious- but in the same caring, protective way that Mina will learn is wholly natural to the harpip, and mostly, her ire is turned at the politician for making Mina do that in the first place. But after that incident, it's peaceful again: Mina decorating the little backroom, chatting with Sigrid, healing, slowly, but surely.

The politican comes back. It's not even surprising this time, and once again, they hold up Mina's existence over Sigrid and Mina's heads, and in this moment, they know that they've dug a hole they cannot escape.

But in this moment, both Sigrid and Mina realize, perhaps, in the same way that one looks into the abyss and it stares back, that this can be useful for cleaning out the grime of Savnic's powerful and untouchable.

Later, as Mina encourages Sigrid as she rises back into society- this time as a philanthropist, Mina works her way in the post herself, now with the name Eni, and a new face- a gift from Sigrid, so she'll never have to stare at the memories of her first kill again.

As the threatre is gradually restored, so too is Eni's happiness and inner joy: and thus, the two begin their new lives: the shining, glitzy ones on the surface, and the ones deep beneath in Savnic's sordid core.