"They'll be okay Jexanna," Shou reminded her as tears pricked at her eyes. She stared at herself in the mirror, bracing against the sink of his apartment. Jexanna knew that the orphanage was in the best hands. Risa and Aerin wouldn't let anything happen to those kids, and Aerin absolutely would refuse to let anything happen to his pregnant mate. The two were a force beyond reckoning; she pitied the fool that tried to cross them. But that didn't stop her from reminding herself that they were safe, hidden in the Himalayas.
"I know." She replied, eyes gazing down the cup of hot water set on the sink's countertop. That single tea bag laid next to it, taunting her next steps, daring her to take the plunge. Shou placed a hand in the curve of her back, slowly moving up and down. "It's for the sake of the world, right?" Jexanna couldn't help the bite of bitterness that came out with that statement. Shou was the only one who could even come close to sympathizing with her plight.
"It won't be forever, Jexanna." He continued to draw circles into her back as he picked up the bag and placed it into the mug of water. The bitter stench of mugwort seared the inside of her nose. Her eyes watched the once clear fluid slowly fade into a dark pitch black. "It'll be a bitch, but after it's done, you'll be protected."
"Human and helpless, you mean." She challenged him, daring him to deny it. The two stared at each other, communicating silently.
"You are anything but helpless. Even without your magic, Jexanna. I've trained you to use those to your advantage, not that you needed it." Shou remarked softly. "It only lasts for six months. If I'm not dead by then, I'll find a way to pass you another if needed."
"And I'll be more susceptible as it fades." She grimaced, carefully taking the cup in hand. "I know the drill."
"Just shut up and do it. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can get the taste out with some ice cream."
"Don't push me, dad." She teased him as her hand clamped her nose shut to help chug the thick potion down. It didn't ease anything. The drink was just as astringent as the first time she had taken it. It burned as she felt it pass down her throat, progress through her chest, and land down into the pit of her stomach. Her skin turned to fire as soon as the last drop touched her lips. Her frame shook as needles pierced into every single cell of her body. She had to grasp the edges of the sink to keep from collapsing. Breathing heavily, she watched as her lavender locks faded into a warm honey color. Her ears rescinded down, their once subtle points were now round. On the surface, the changes were small, but her heart ached as her connection to the world broke. The sensation was unbearable; she felt hollow in her heart while the rest of her body blazed hotter. Just as she caught her breath, the burning culminated in a single location on her being. Her legs collapsed beneath her. Thankfully, Shou was able to catch her before her head made contact with the edge of the sink. There it was, the feeling of a brand marking itself from the inside out over her heart. She gasped for air as the pain increased.
"It's almost over." Shou softly cupped the side of her face, trying to comfort her. "Just breathe." Jexanna inhaled as much as she could, slowly exhaling through the pain. It was the mark that was the worst part of the potion. It branded a tattoo over the heart to track the time the potion lasted. Jexanna lost track of time as the sensation slowly faded away. She remained there, focused on merely breathing as she allowed the potion to take effect.
"That ice cream better have alcohol in it. " Jexanna was finally able to rasp out. Shou grinned at her remark.
"Of course, what is ice cream good for if it doesn't have that?" He wagged his eyebrows up. "But shower first." He laid her down on the floor, recognizing full well that she was recovering. Jexanna ran a hand through her hair and grimaced, her body now saturated with sweat.
"Fine." She huffily out, sounding more hoarse than before. Shou left her to her own devices and she tried to shower as quickly as possible because each drop upon her skin was a bullet right now. Stepping out, she wiped the mirror's surface to reveal her reflection. It was a reminder of the past. Freckles were painted across her face now. Her lips released a sigh. The potion was now in full effect, and now she was stuck for the next six months like this. Human.
It wasn't her first time being human, after all. But that was a different era, nearly almost a decade ago, when she felt she had no choice.
Not that she had a choice now. She mused as she went through her routine of drying off, making sure her brilliant honey waves were properly tamed. Wrapping a towel around her body, Jexanna stepped out of the bathroom into the connected bedroom to find an old friend laid on the bed. Her blue eyes made contact with the white fabric immediately. It was still pristine, bleached white glowing in the darkness. Her fingers ran over the raised embroidered name, "Lewis, Jess. M.D". A reminder of the past she thought would be long forgotten. It was her human name, one she had cast long ago.
"I guess you'll get some use after all." She murmured to the lab coat. Turning on her heels, she quickly changed into a new outfit, one that fitted the style of Dr. Jess Lewis. She pulled on a mustard skirt, a navy blue turtleneck sweater with thin white lines traveling across, a pair of sheer black tights that faded into her light brown ankle boots. Her outfit felt completed when she pulled on the lab coat. Jexanna walked up to her reflection in the mirror and mulled her appearance over. It was both a blast from the past and a person she had never seen before. When she was previously human, she was younger with a lot of baby fat. Now, after years of training and maturity, her features were sharper and more defined, in several aspects. She was a woman now with curves and edges. Her lips frowned; did her breasts get that big since the last time she wore the lab coat? It clung to her entire frame. Instead of giving her the boxy figure of many women, it only highlighted her shape.
Great. She frowned. This was going to go well with the other doctors on the task force. Female doctors did not look like this. They were expected to be subdued, subtle in their clothing choices. Not flaunting their assets as she had been told so many times before. Jexanna sighed. She couldn't help whatever happened, for this was just another benefit of her highlighted status as Dr. Lewis's only daughter. His heir.
"I want that ice cream in a cup to go, Shou!" She flicked a stray hair out of her face before charging into the kitchen. Jexanna had a lot to do still before she met with the task force. And if they wanted Dr. Jess Lewis, then she would be more than happy to make sure they knew who they brought in.
After all, wasn't Dr. Jess Lewis, best known for her dramatic entrances?
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