Lihi is a source of near constant agitation. She is an itch beneath the skin; a canker sore that eludes me. I had thought, so long ago, that taking a part of her within myself would have satiated whatever hunger I felt towards her and yet, it had only intensified such a thing. It burns beneath the flesh ceaselessly. To be near her is to desire nothing more than to taste every inch of her, devouring all that is her - the representation of my weakness - and yet, to be away does nothing to alleviate it. She is always there in the back of my skull, itching away with her filthy claws.

It's what makes him a curiosity. He is so much like her and yet, vaguely tolerable. I can be near him without feeling the intensity of it all. I can breathe in tiny remnants of her without the unrelenting starvation that typically comes with it. My hatred of her, of Lihi, is an instinctual thing born into my very blood and yet, I do not feel it for him. My skin may prickle with curiosity, but I can hold it down in the pit of my stomach. I feel almost like myself entirely. His mention of her, however, still forces a corner of my lip to peel back. I can feel the pressure build beneath my teeth, begging for a release that comes only in the form of me forcing a yawn - to stretch the muscles, to exhale the animosity. Hatred, desire - indecipherable from one another.

"A cankerous little witch," there is an amusement in my voice as I settle onto his eyes once more, "who always smells like the staleness of death."

There had always been inklings of her in Moladion - the crags, the grotto. In the shadows. Always her and he, Anselm, together and always with the bitterness of somebody else's blood. Somebody else's fear. Why did he take her? Always her. He was supposed to be a part of me and yet, he clung to the weakest part like some child. Perhaps that is what made it all so... frustrating. It made my mouth sour with irritation, and yet, I must do my best to remain composed. It is a difficult thing to bring relaxation into my muscles - I can feel my face soften, so very barely. After all, he has come out of curiosity. And perhaps, in time, he will be able to lead me to her.

"You smell... almost like her," I cannot help but make the comment, my eyes narrowing in thought, "though, I never thought... that she might have family somewhere."