Not a Dream

Quinn was a floor above Albus when she allowed herself to start running. She felt horrible about lying to Albus about having some "girl time" but she needed time alone to think, to try to understand. She thought it could all have been a dream and maybe it had; but it seemed too real. She rounded a bend, sprinting to the bathroom. She skidded to a halt, closing the bathroom door and sealing it with a spell just to be safe. She did not want to be disturbed. The tub filled up slowly with water, the small tap spurting water with all the power it could muster. Quinn undressed silently, staring at the water as it rose. The water had always been a comfort to her, like a faceless, nameless friend that she could always depend on. However, today it seemed different, threatening. Depending on what happened when she touched that water, her life could change forever. She stood stark-naked before the tub as the remaining droplets of water dripped off the faucet. Taking a deep breath she dipped her hand into the water, swirling the contents like a mysterious brew. The water danced around her palm, forming mesmerizing patterns. She sighed in relief as no long, scaly tail appeared. She clambered into the tub, submerging herself in the hot water. She lowered herself far enough that only her face was above water. Her hair swirled gracefully in the water, tickling her exposed back. A sudden, shooting pain shimmied up her legs. She closed her eyes, letting the hot water numb the pain that disappeared in a few heart-wrenching seconds. She didn't want to open her eyes, didn't want to see the thing that she had always known would appear.