#fenixtj

"Vultures in some cultures are signs not of death, but peace, because they do not make war but rather gther up the fallen. Among Cherokee they're even called Peace eagles. It's possible...."

"That someone PEACEFULLY sacrificed this look alike's heart?" Mitra interupts.

"That the INTENT of the sacrifice was peaceful" he says

Jessica meets Mitra's gaze. "The lord is the land. Or lady is, in this case. Perhaps.... it was an effort to -save- me?"

"Symbols have power, and someone might be using this to have power over YOU, I'm not crazy about that" Mitra admits

A frown. "Good point."

"Well, how about willowhisper?" John says "You got that one , Countess?"

She nods. "I do."

"Well, " he gestures to t he chimera

"This going to be odd, you questioning your echo" Mitra says

She nods, takes a deep breath, and reaches to take the Chimera's hand. She pulls the figment in for a spin as a bunk and then releases Glamour to ask. "Who created you?"

"Woman Child Blood Dreamer" She says

In Jessica's own voice

Iron control keeps her from cringing. "Who sacrificed you?"

"Woman Child Blood Dreamer" She says as before.

"Killed by her own creator?" Mitra mutters and whispers "Whoever did it, I think they weren't human"

"Why were you sacrificed?"

"To die for others"

Mitra raises a brow and looks at Jessica "I think we're getting to really weird 'crux' of this situation"

"Where can I find Woman Child Blood Dreamer?" she tries.

"Below" the Chimera responds

Jessica does grimace, now, and looks at the others.

"Below?" Johnny blinks and looks at the floor

Mitra looks at Jessica "You look like you have an idea"

"I wish." Muttered.

"I do, but I'm not sure it's fair and I hestitate to bring it up" Mitra says

"Go ahead." Grimly.

"Is Symond still in the workshop? And is she still fascinated by Aztec culture?"

Meanwhile, Johnny has been looking the duplicate over, then says "I think it's not done dying. And I don't mean the missing heart"

"Jeeze." She mutters. "Yeah, I guess. Could be her." Then, to Johnny, "Not done dying?"

"I looked for differences, and , I found some.. on the under arms, see these scars? They're symbols.. for receiving and endurance"

Jessica looks, and also, for a copy of her own neck tattoo.

No, that's missing

Somethings couldn't quite be duplicated it seems

"Look I'm not sure, but my guess? THis thing is meant to die as a sacrifice but the ripping out of the heart was only the start"

She looks a little ill. "But then it just, what, wandered away?"

"I think it's going to die somehow all on it's own" He says

"I wonder if it has a link then, to you, or the land? or is trying to? " Mitra ponders

"Let's go see Symond. Can you, um, bring it with us?"

"Suere, it moves long peacefully enough"

And that's when voice ssays "Ah, Countess?" Tito-Woden appears

"Yes?"

"I see you found her. Ah, she was wandering for a reason" Tito-Woden says gesturing to the not jesssica

"Do you know anything about this?"

"Yes. I helped Symond make her" He says coughing sheepishly "Nockers are better with mechanical chimera than forms.. so when I found a few hairs in your throne, it helped augument the similarity and estabvlish the needed link..."

Mitra's hand goes to her hilt, like the old days when she was Jessica's right hand knight and ready to defend, or avenge her.

Jessica's hand goes over her face.

"Tito-Woden, that's the kind of thing you should -tell- me."

"This was an unpleasant, concerning, creepy discover to make on my own."

She speaks relatively calmly.