Leaning over the sink Mira lifted her hand, gently pulling a waxy eyelash away from her eyeball. Turning her head from side to side she let the light bounce off her makeup, scanning for any smudges or imperfections.
‘Remember the beats… keep it short and simple…’ she thought to herself, silently practicing her speech. With a deep breath, Mira stood up, letting the light from the bathroom light filter through her eyelids, imagining the awards podium before her.
“Thank you all, I know to some people our job seems… God forbid... easy… but everyone here tonight has put in hours of hard work. The dedication of everyone here deserves to be praised. I know this year has been especially hard on me.”
Gesturing over the sink Mira paused, counting in her head. “Long hours of endless editing… I’ve made a ton of sacrifices to earn—”
Behind her, Mira heard the unmistakable crack of a heel on the floor. Jumping, the towering redhead saw Maisie standing beside a low bench at the rear of the washroom. “Rude.” The petite brunette said coldly, her hands in adorable little balled up fists by her hips. “Earned?!”
Weight shifted from her shoulders, and Mira sat back against the counter. “Hello Maisie, you startled me.” Sighing, Mira folded her arms. “Would you believe me if I said I was hoping to see you?”
Maisie’s sleeves were fluttering, her green eyes glinting like copper flames with each halting step. “I would not.” She hissed. Her stride eased, becoming fluid as she approached. Her features softened, eyebrows flattening from their furrow. “You threw us all under the bus with that contract.” She said with a sigh.
“Oh piss off.” Mira growled, tilting her chin and peering down at her petite former streaming partner. “Views were down; the algorithm was changing. We all saw the writing on the wall.” Light reflected in the sequins of her dress, Mira smirked. “I took a chance, not my fault I was the only one with her eyes-on-the-prize.”
The bathroom was quiet, save for the sound of water dripping from a faucet. Maisie shifted onto her left leg, Mira arched an eyebrow. The shorter woman was not dressed for a gala. She wore a pair of wedge heeled boots, fishnet tights, dark denim high waist shorts, and a midriff baring black top with long flowing sleeves. Smirking, Mira grinned, understanding why some people could confuse their ages. Despite being the oldest of the old “Coven-5” team, she was by head-&-shoulders the shortest.
“And here you are, lady of the hour.” Maisie purred, flicking her wrist in space. A gem as green as Maisie’s eyes caught Mira’s eye, part of a simple gold band with small diamonds inlaid on either side of a large emerald.
“Charming.” Mira puffed. Putting one hand on her hip, reveling in the sensation of sequins pressing into her palm. Twisting towards the mirror, she began rechecking her makeup. “Oh, I love your ring Maze… where did you get it? Lovisa?” Mira asked with a smirk.
In the mirror, Mira watched her former colleague carefully. Maisie’s expression was calm, almost serene. Her green eyes moving slowly from the ring to the mirror. She opened her mouth, then smiled and twisted away from Mira. “Actually, it's an antique. I picked it up in Rovinj last year.”
For a moment, Mira winced. Reflux inching up her throat as she swept a lock of hair behind her ear. Not too long ago, Maisie would have been blowing up her phone for weeks, planning every second of the trip with her.
“Oh? Oh yeah?” Mira swallowed, shaking her head. “How was it?” Turning to face the shorter woman, Mira let her chest and shoulders lift, puffing herself up as she looked down at the tiny blonde.
‘Impertinent little…’ Mira glared down at her friend. Her throat burned as she choked back venom and vitriol. ‘Who in the world gave her the right to…’ Mira’s molars ached as she ground them into ivory flakes.
Smiling, Mira shook her head slightly. “That’s an expensive trip. I’d imagine that took a big chunk of your savings. Was that wise?”
Maisie smiled sweetly up into her eyes. “Indeed!” Her voice was pitched, almost musical. She squinted, pinching her rodent like cheeks up as she lifted her ringed finger. “And oh, so worth it.”
Suddenly, a pressure Mira couldn’t immediately identify began ruffling the sequins of her dress like waves of grain. Mira was forced back onto the slender heels she wore; a pale green smoke seemed to erupt from the gem in Maisie’s ring. The smoke pulled into itself like the lasers on the stage. Forming a thick broad circle that pressed forward into and beyond her body. Then another, and another. Several more until there was a cone of arcane light sliding across her like water in moonlight. Tendrils of light broke off, forming abstract shapes which began rotating around her like the hands of a clock. “What…the…”
Maisie grinned. “Just wait dear…” Mira felt the energy lift her from the floor, the energy pressed in on her from all sides. Like she was being squeezed from very possible direction! The smaller girl stepped forward, squaring her shoulders to the shocked woman. “…wait till you see what else it can do.”