In the crystal was a visage that did not match the fragile flesh and bone and humanity of the woman looking at its surface.

In the crystal was a monster, something from the darkness, something born of the sidhe. The sight of it alone spoke volumes of wrong, raised goosebumps and alarms, shrieked a warning without words.

In the crystal was her reflection. The truth, her reality, her face as it had always been. Gone was the haphazard masquerade, the laughable effort to assimilate into a world of humans. Here was a face whose perfection she could agree upon, because anything less would not have been so comfortingly accurate.

In the crystal was Mildred, the thing made of shadows; a sight so refreshing to her weary eyes that touching it with her finger claw truly felt like the most natural thing that could be done.