Order of Scorpions

by Ivy Asher

“What doesn’t kill us fortifies us,” I offer gently, my strokes through her hair slowing as we stare at one another. I feel as though a part of her is reaching out to me, and something in me takes a hold of it and vows to never let it go. “We can take those things…” I continue, my voice growing deeper as purpose and regard settle like a tether between us. “Melt them down, mold them, and reshape them until they work for us instead of against us. Then, when we have weapons instead of wounds, we make the fuckers pay for what they did to us.”

“I was already a monster; you just showed me how to embrace it.” “Awww, Beasty!” Riall coos, picking me up and twirling me around. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me!”