Her pink-painted talons scraped at the shag carpet. Her grayish, serpentine tail knocked over lamps and figurines. Though she was twenty-two years old, and far too old to still wear one, the metal prongs of her fang-retainer surrounded her long head. She counted down the minutes until her mother would allow her to take it off. She paused in front of the mirror and tried to look upon her reflection in a positive light. Eyes too round stared back at her, topping off her too-short stature. Behind her, vertical pink stripes decorated the walls. Lace trimmed each of her throw pillows. The plush space fit around her like a little girl’s jewelry box. “Sophia? My guests are arriving.” Manicured talons curled around the edge of her door. With a deep sigh, she replied, “I’ll be right down, Mother.” “Let me take a look at you.” Alexandra Aleahar strode in, her ebony tail flashing iridescent.
