The girl's eyelids fluttered. The gold in her eyes moved like a dying candle. She blinked. For a fraction of a breath she looked at him. The smallest spark — maybe recognition, maybe reflex.
"Good," Aiden said. "See? You can see me."
He was improvising on a broken thing. He crouched even lower, until he was at eye level, the space between them charged.
"Mummy..." Leona called softly from Lysandra's arm. "She looks so sad. I think she need hugs."
"Ohh... Baby." Lysandra said warmly, as She hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheeks against hers.
"Hey," he said, quieter. "You — you used to have a fight in your eyes. You used to be someone who took and didn't ask. Who are you?"
No answer.
Luna rested a hand on her belly, "Master..." She muttered, softly.
"Name," Aiden urged. "Say a thing you used to like. Tell me your stupid favorite animal. Say the thing the bastards beat out of you. Make a sound. Make me hear the person nobody stole from you."
