And this one goes out to all of my muses everywhere. At last, the new year can begin for LAVA lords and ladies who desire a good read... April 28, 2007

It seems like the whole clan has been in turmoil over the past few weeks. I know my entrance into the clan has been met with different degrees of acceptance. Most of my strongest supporters seem to be male until they realize that I am "the Bellabooo" and then their expressions change from flirtatious smiles to embarrassed grins. The offers to go out dancing become offers to bring me some ice cream. It feels like I am under house arrest with a million babysitters.

Then I look in the mirror and realize the confusion. Even I can see that the child in me has not quite grown into the woman I have become. With veils to cover my scarred face, only my eyes are visible. What eyes they are. They gleam and glitter with an innocence that begs you to be taken in. They also glitter with a sadness that makes the world want to offer a shoulder to cry on. And lately, they have begun to gleam with something more, but I have not quite come to understand all that it means to be a woman, so I could not explain it. Then I hear whispered male voices in the hallway that let me know it is not actually my recent youth that causes their attitude to change so abruptly.

"Have you seen Bellabooo?"

"Yes. I can't believe how many gorgeous women join this clan."

"If she is a woman..."

"I can't believe she was just a child a couple of months ago."

"Yeah, it's totally unbelievable..."

"I think Neesa just said that to protect her from us..."

"Or us from her..."

"What do you mean?"

"I bumped into AAB the other day. He says that being around her is dangerous."

"Being around any beautiful woman is dangerous..."

"I don't mean that kind of dangerous..."

"The clan leaders wouldn't accept her if it was that dangerous."

"Not according to AAB. He says that it is more important to protect her than to even dream of leaving her out there. He says Decay would devour her alive to have her for itself..."

"Yeah, but it's AAB, he is in so many hot spots, he may not..."

"But he says that there is also a girl, a daughter..."

"Oh, I've heard this. He has had to rescue both of them from Decay."

"We have to rescue everyone from Decay from time to time."

"But not like this..."

"What do you mean."

"He says it is like the jaws of the fiery pit itself keep opening up and trying to devour them."

"Complete with carnage and only his bravery to save them?"

"No, you don't understand..."

"I do. AAB is a great guy and a greater superhero, and I'd want him to have my back no matter what, but surely he has to be exaggerating some of his exploits..."

"You really don't understand. Remember what we heard about William's death."

"Yeah, so...that is only one..."

"He was trying to protect the child..."

"Oh..."

"And Leda..."

"Her too?"

"Yeah--protecting the mother..."

"Bloody..."

"Do you hear something?"

At the mention of William, my eyes had filled with tears again. But the mention of Leda's name had brought to mind images of her body being thrown like a doll through the air into the midst of Decay's minions. Even I was not expecting this sound. I turn quickly as I realize they now know I am there. I know they can hear my footsteps running away, but I hope I have turned the next corner before they have any chance to recognize my retreating form. I lean against the wall, listening and trying to recover my composure as I dab at my eyes with the coarse material of my veil. I notice that I am just outside the library and decide to go in for some solace in which to think about what I have just overheard.

Due to the chaos that seems to always be following me, I am not taken aback when I enter the library and find that a commotion is already erupting in the back of the room. I am relieved that this disruption has actually proceeded my entrance. I am also curious as to what could have brought it about. I try to see past the rows and rows of shoulders surrounding the center of attention, but being average height for a woman has some of the same disadvantages as being a child. I find a chair and clamber over it.

Looking over the heads of those in front of me, I see a woman sitting on one of the library tables. I say sitting, but she seems to actually be lounging. She is long legs, red hair, and a winning smile. Something about that smile tingles in my mind. The tingle is only increased by listening to her voice as she continues regaling her audience with a tale of lightning romance in a local bookstore. As I am mentally questioning having such a discussion in the library, another voice cuts through the ones around me. This one I recognize in an instant.

LLK addresses our backs with as much diginity as she addresses our faces, "I am glad to see the family so happy and together, but the library is still meant to be a place of quiet."

"No one knows that better than me," the red-head replies, cutting off her own story without seeming annoyed.

"Well then, how about you close down storytime, so people can get back to saving the world?"

"You heard her everyone. I'll just have to blog it," the red-head says with a laugh, "Besides, I have some catching up that I'd like to do one-on-one."

She looks toward me as she says this last part. Suddenly aware that standing on a chair may not be approved behavior for an adult let alone one who is also a superdude, I gently step down from the chair. I am still brushing away shoeprints when the red-head reaches my side. The room has emptied swiftly, leaving me alone with LLK and this red-head. Up close, I manage to notice more than her long legs.

She smiles at me, regarding me with incredible hazel green eyes. I feel like she is peering into my soul. I feel like she knows me. Then she is reaching toward her hair, pulling off the vibrant wig to reveal dark hair underneath that cascades over her face. And those penetrating eyes are filling with tears as I leap into her arms with an exclamation.

"Leda, you're alive, you're alive."