by Ithielwen
She fits the shape they gave her. Cervi. Guardian. Bound to die if the girl she protects dies first. The courts called it service. Minnow called it living. A devil lives in her neck now. It talks. It has already made a friend of theirs pick up a blade. The house has decided two days is long enough. They will pull it out. They will give her back to silence and call that kindness. Gideon keeps finding her at windows. Close enough to reach. Not close enough to keep. She has been useful her entire life. She is running out of reasons to stay that way.
