Mailen
I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the pond. It was made in a small room in the back of the palace. My mother had made it for me so that I could soak in privacy while my sister was out. We couldn’t be seen together, it’s been that way for the past fifty years. As identical twins most didn’t notice anyway. I was two minutes younger that Mayline. I hated how similar our names were, but at least mine was my own. Everyone who knew us just called us May. easier to respond to. Somedays I would forget I had my own name.
“Mailen, darling. Enjoying a soak?” called my mother. My eyes snapped open and I looked at her, my eyes and nose the only part of me above the waterline. I could feel my long black hair waving in the water like a serpent’s tail.
“What is it, mother?” I deman
