Satisfying my daughter's curiosity

Kasia sat at the table while I served dinner, still looking quite excited. Considering that she did enjoy fantastical stuff, it wasn't surprising. She just learnt that her own mother was in fact a creature straight out of Amerindian mythologies, after all.

"Here you go, sweetie." I said, placing a plate in front of her.

"Thanks, Mom."

I let out a sigh of relief as I took my first bite. "You really surprised me with your question earlier."

"You thought I wouldn't wonder about your instantaneous change? Mom, in the span of a few days you suddenly started loving comic books and games and listening to a kind of music you used to dislike." She replied with an amused giggle. "I was still old enough to find it weird, you know?"

I chuckled. "True. I was pretty careless there. Since it was only with you, I believed I could partially be myself at least."

"So, you were a geek before?" She asked, her tone slightly teasing.

"Heh, in a way, yeah. I've always loved comics. But believe it or not, I was also into sports a lot. I practiced boxing for a while. I used to be fairly... manly."

"Really? I didn't expect that from you."

"Because of how I look now?" I replied, giggling.

She nodded. "It's difficult to imagine you used to be a man. You've always been so... feminine."

I smiled. "It's part of being a skinwalker. It allows us to naturally act like the person we become. Besides, I've been living as a woman for nine years already. I got used to being feminine."

She paused for a moment, eating a few bites of her food before looking back at me. "Could I... see how you really look like?"

I sighed. "My original appearance is gone now... I haven't checked, but I'm sure of it. Skinwalkers are bound to lose their own skin after a while, if what Dahlia told me is true." I glanced down, observing my body. "To be honest, I have no idea what I truly look like underneath this skin... I've been wondering about this this morning."

She placed her hand on mine. "Are you afraid?"

"Apprehensive. I must look like a hideous monster... But if you truly want to see, I could show you..."

Kasia gave me a reassuring smile. "Mom, I told you, I won't fear you. No matter how you look like."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "Alright, but it'll have to wait until we're done eating. I wouldn't want to spoil your appetite. In the meantime, is there anything else you're curious about?"

"Could you tell me more about the USA and the other countries you've lived in?"

I smiled. "Sure."

As she asked, I told her about how America was like. I then spoke about my short but enjoyable stay in Marseille, often comparing it with Gdańsk. And I continued until we were done with dinner, sharing my stories in the rest of Europe. She was really interested by my tales. We'd only left Poland for a few holidays at Kasia's paternal grandparents' home in Germany, a country pretty closeby, but I did want to make her visit other countries in the future. I saved a lot of money for that end.

"Mom, you make it sound so cool..." She said after I was done talking.

"I don't know. Being a skinwalker can be fun, but your morals are always tested. It hasn't been easy at times... What hurt the most, though, was to be separated from my sister... It's not something I wish on anyone. Even after all this time, I do still miss her."

She came closer and hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't wish you this kind of life. Ideally, I'd like you to grow up happily with Marek, and maybe give me grandkids someday." I replied, chuckling slightly at the end.

She immediately blushed. "M-Mom! Don't talk about that!"

I grinned teasingly. "Sweetie, I saw you two often holding hands and looking at each other lovingly, I know what it means. I've been through that too when I was younger. I'm happy you two got together, and I wish you'll always stay by each other's side."

"T-thanks..." She timidly replied, her cheeks still red.

I patted her head. "Hehe, don't grow up too fast, though. Take the time to enjoy your youth."

"I will." She said before looking at the window. "There's something else I've been wondering... Your kind existing must mean that other supernatural beings exist too, right?"

"Most likely, but I've never met any, thankfully."

"So all these myths and stories have a grain of truth... It's... terrifying to think about it..." Kasia muttered.

I hugged her. "I won't let anyone harm you, sweetie. No matter if it's a vampire, a skinwalker, or another creature."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Anyway, you wanted to see how I really looked like, so let's go to the bathroom. I want to see it too."

She nodded and followed me in front of the bathroom's mirror, out of views from potential onlookers.

"It'll probably look creepy when I'm gonna remove my face, I warn you." I said before placing a hand on the back on my neck.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment before finally pulling. The skin distorted, and a freezing rush of air immediately assaulted my face as I got free. It was like I was in the middle of a Syberian snow storm without any clothes, maybe even worse...

I opened my eyes, noticing Kasia staring at me with a stunned expression. I quickly glanced at the mirror, and took a step back when I finally saw my real face...

"God..." I muttered, my voice sounding alien and uncanny. "That's... how skinwalkers look like...?"

In the mirror wasn't my original face, as I expected. Instead, it was a head with a translucent bluish and slimy skin. This skin covered a skull full of red veins, making it look almost completely red. And inside, two eyeballs floated. It was utterly terrifying... and this creature was me... My appearance as Edward was truly gone...

I didn't want to see this face any longer, I immediately pulled back Gosia's face over mine, fully becoming my new self again and breathing slowly to try to calm down.

"M-Mom, are you alright?" Kasia asked, holding my arm gently.

"I... I had no idea I'd be that horrifying..." I muttered, looking down. "I really am a monster now..."

"You're not a monster, Mom." She said, hugging me yet again. "I love you."

I hugged her back, smiling slightly. "I love you too, sweetie. Sorry, I'm just... shaken up. I'll get better soon. I'll go rest in my room, alright?"

Kasia nodded and I quickly retreated to my room, dropping on the bed and observing the ceiling. Seeing my real appearance truly shook me. I had no idea how I'd look like, but I didn't expect this...

Dahlia looks like this as well, I assume... I understand why we need to wear skins now...

Whenever I closed my eyes, images of this red skull flashed in my mind, making me wince.

Fuck, I need to forget about this...

I grabbed my phone and texted Zofia as I had originally planned, asking if she'd be willing to meet tomorrow after work. Spending the evening with her should be just what I needed to clear my mind.