Anthea cleaned her face with her sleeve. The air felt heavy and hot, the candles were small now, the light shaking on the walls. Yakira lay on the floor, quiet and unconscious, her chest moving a little. Anthea looked into a small mirror and the face she saw was not her own anymore. It felt strange, like wearing a mask that was too tight but she was not done yet, she still needed the body and the soul.

Next came the body. Anthea touched Yakira’s chest and felt her shoulders, how her spine ...