There's nothing in the world that you can do, you gotta come on up to the house

“Look, Dakota, look!”

Dakota turned to see Sylvia run up to her with a huge smile on her face. She had a plastic bucket in her hand, filled to the brim with…

“…Seashells?” Dakota looked at the shiny, smooth shells stacked in the little beach bucket with incredulous confusion. She raised her head and met Sylvia’s gaze, and saw the brightest look ever in the girl’s blue eyes.

The signs were quite obvious. The slightest coloring of her pale skin, demonstrating she’d been out in the sun all day. The tangle of her long, blonde hair, being exposed to the tropical winds. And of course there were her hands, caked with sand, with a few grains embedded beneath her fingernails. She hadn’t even bothered to wash.

Sylvia had spent all day playing on the beach. Digging up seashells.

Dakota wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“Aren’t they pretty?” Sylvia gushed, clutching the bucket like it was a priceless treasure. It obviously wasn’t. It was just some random trinket Dakota had conjured up to keep her creation occupied. It hadn’t taken even a second with her power over this dimension. A bucket, a tiny little plastic shovel, and some molds to build with. Beach toys she remembered coveting when Nick and his family had invited her and her mother to the beach one summer.

Obviously, Dakota’s mother had declined the invitation. But Dakota had been allowed to tag along anyway. Imagine her surprise when she learned that there were toys specifically for playing on the beach!

“I’m gonna hang ‘em up in my room! Or, wait, no, maybe I should put ‘em in a box somewhere, yeah, that would be great!” Sylvia nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining a brighter blue than the sea she’d been frolicking in all day. “That way I can take them out and play with them whenever I want!”

Dakota continued to give the girl a frosty stare. How exactly did one “play” with seashells? It unnerved her that her own creation could behave with such maturity and class when disguised as a therapist, but at the same time hold such a childish view of things.

Said the child. A stab of pain shot through Dakota’s heart as her judgmental thoughts were turned against her, and she winced.

It only lasted for a second before her face returned to its stoic visage, but that second was enough for Sylvia.

She was always watching Dakota, always.

“Are you okay?!” Sylvia’s eyes widened in worry. “You just made a face!”

Dakota hardly ever made faces. Except when she was performing for the audience, or the cast of a season. Other than that, she always had that same cold, empty expression.

“Don’t bother me,” Dakota brusquely rebuffed her concerns. “I’m fine.” She really saw no point behind Sylvia’s actions. If the girl wanted to play on the beach, fine, Dakota didn’t care about that. Even if it wasn’t what she was created to do, that didn’t bother her. So long as Sylvia did as she was told, that was all Dakota needed from her creation.

And of course, she listened. That was very important. She minded. She did what she was told. When Dakota said not to bother her, the worried expression disappeared, and she was smiling again, just as Dakota desired.

“Oh, good!” Sylvia sighed in relief. “I was worried.”

Yes, Sylvia did as she was told. She listened. That was critical. How many times had Dakota been rebuked by her mother for being constantly underfoot? For being in the way? For being a bother?

Why did I just think that? Dakota wondered bizarrely. She couldn’t understand why she thought of her mother out of nowhere, just by talking to Sylvia. Dakota never thought about her mother if she could help it.

Well, that ruined her entire day.

“Have fun with your… shells,” Dakota muttered, choosing to end this unpleasant conversation with the noisy girl before things got even more unpleasant. “I must be going now. Preparations need to be made. After this season…”

“Then it’s my turn!” Sylvia exclaimed, jumping for joy. “Right? You’ll be letting me take over for you, Dakota?”

Dakota gave her a tight expression that was almost a smile. “…Yes,” she coldly assured her creation. “That is why I made you, after all.”

“Awesome!” Sylvia clapped her hands together with excitement. “My very own season! Harem Hotel: Island Holiday!”

“Harem Hotel: Island Holiday Season,” Dakota sharply corrected her. “You have to emphasize the season part when you say the title. This is very important…”

She was cut off by the sound of muted applause echoing through the hallway. Irritated, her eye twitched.

“…I hate when they do that,” she muttered under her breath. The fucking clapping. There had to be some way to turn it off, but even with her powers, she could not.

One of her predecessor’s little jokes. The applause, like mocking laughter to her ears. Sometimes she could just scream.

But that would be unprofessional. And she wouldn’t look unprofessional in front of her creation.

Sylvia nodded enthusiastically, absorbing everything Dakota was saying like a sponge. “I like the clapping!” She said. “It’s like ‘Wow! Here she is! The host! She’s so amazing!’ and you ARE amazing, Dakota! You deserve to be applauded, since you’re, like, so amazing!”

Dakota pinched her lips together tightly. She knew Sylvia was flattering her, as she was supposed to. But it would have been preferable if she’d just thought the same way as she did. No matter how hard Dakota tried, she just couldn’t make her into a perfect little doll that would do exactly what she wanted.

I’ll likely have to take precautions, I suppose. To ensure she doesn’t mess everything up.

No need to tell Sylvia that to her face, though. It would just cause more issues.

“My own season… hehe…” Sylvia was a thousand miles away, and those shiny blue eyes had glazed over, no longer looking at Dakota. That worked out just fine. Dakota could take her leave, then, without issue, and she turned to do just that…

“Wait! Dakota, hey!”

Dakota paused and turned around to see that Sylvia wasn’t quite done with her just yet. Her eyes were wide and frantic.

Sighing, Dakota brushed at her bangs. “What is it now?” She asked, making the effort to emphasize just how tired she was, in order to discourage further conversation on Sylvia’s part.

But she couldn’t get that lucky.

“Here! I got one for you, too!” Sylvia said, holding up a sparkling shell to Dakota. “I saw it, and I thought it was just perfect for you!”

It was black as pitch, and glittered like obsidian. Dakota stared blankly at the smooth surface of the shell, not sure what to make of it.

“…What?”

“It’s black!” Sylvia said innocently. “That’s your favorite color, right? So I thought you might like it! Maybe?”

Her tone was changing from excited to hopeful to worried with each word. She gazed into Dakota’s eyes and pushed the shell a little closer.

As for Dakota, she had no idea what to make of the offer. Who in their right mind would be happy to receive a seashell for a gift? …Well, not that Dakota had received many gifts in her life as it was. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had bought something for her (and she didn’t want to) only Nick and his family had ever done that.

And now Sylvia was giving her… a shell?

How pathetic, to be pitied by her own creation.

“I think it’s pretty rare,” Sylvia continued, ignorant to the mental strain her creator was going through at the moment. “I found a lot of different colors but that’s the only black one I found!”

“Of course,” Dakota sniffed. “A black seashell is formed when an ordinary shell is buried for a very long period of time. Exposure to mud and sediment with limited oxygen causes it to take on a dark hue like that. So to find one that went through such an extensive process would be exceptionally rare.”

Buried for an eternity without oxygen, slowly being dyed in darkness. Maybe Sylvia was right to say it reminded her of Dakota.

“Wow…” Sylvia looked at Dakota with wonder, then looked down at the seashell, then back at Dakota again. “You’re really smart, you know that? I mean, it makes sense, after all, you created me with all this knowledge about psychology, but wow, that’s… amazing!”

Dakota felt a strange sense of pride well up in her chest. “Well… it’s not that impressive,” she said, playing with her fringe of hair. “When I was younger, I used to have a book on seashells that I got from Nick, for… my birthday…”

Her voice trailed off as she felt something creeping into the corners of her eyes. For a moment, it was like she was underwater again. But a blink and everything was clear.

“That’s right, Nick loves marine life!” Sylvia laughed. “I guess that’s probably why there aren’t any lakes or rivers on the island, huh? If you want to go into the water, it’s gotta be the ocean! Just be careful of the sharks!”

Sylvia’s face went pale. “Wait, there aren’t sharks in the ocean, are there!?”

Dakota just stared at her. Sylvia was more than capable of carrying on a conversation with zero input from her. And right now, she just wanted to leave. Everything about Sylvia’s presence was bothering her right now, bringing back memories that were better left buried. She didn’t need to think about her mother. She wouldn’t need to think about Nick for some time yet. So until that time came, she would rather not.

What are the odds? That Sylvia would want to give me a seashell of all things as a present?

If the memory of her mother had ruined her day, then reminding Dakota of her birthday had ruined her whole week.

Not that time really meant anything in this twisted place.

“Well, after hearing that, I definitely want you to have it!”

Before Dakota could respond, Sylvia placed the seashell in her hand. Dakota stared at it in stunned confusion as her fingers instinctively curled around it. She raised her head, and looked into the blonde’s sunny face.

“It’s so special!” Sylvia gushed. “It was buried down there for years and years, probably, but in spite of all of that, it managed to claw its way back to the surface and now it’s more beautiful than ever, even after all that adversity!”

Dakota just stared at her creation, lost for words. That Sylvia could have such an optimistic view of what was, essentially, the discarded remains of a dead mollusk or clam.

What is the matter with her? …Whatever. I don’t need to direct her personality. As long as she does what she’s told, then that’s enough.

“Thank you,” Dakota said insincerely, closing her hand around the shell and clutching it tightly. “I’ll be going now.”

This time she did leave, and Sylvia didn’t stop her. She just called “You’re welcome!” after Dakota as she walked away.

That caused another stirring feeling in Dakota’s heart. One that felt strangely familiar, yet she knew was impossible.

This time, the memory it conjured up of Nick was a pleasant one, and she found herself smiling as she pictured his face.

That night, Dakota walked the halls. It was something she did often, not needing to sleep as she was the ruler of this place. Certainly she could do so if she chose, just as she could eat or drink any delicacy she desired without requiring their sustenance.

But sleep seldom satisfied her, just as she had grown bored of the delicacies. Yes at first she had gorged herself on all the things she’d wanted as a child; mountains of ice cream, enough birthday cakes to clean out a candle shop, and one day, she’d made a room entirely out of candy, just because she could. Like that old movie she’d watched so many times, about the little boy who suddenly got everything he always wanted.

…There was no happily ever after for Dakota, though. Because the only thing she wanted after all this time was Nick.

Soon, she thought, focusing on the clack of her cane on the floor as it echoed through the empty hallways. We’ll be together soon… and then… it will all be okay… yes.

Then she heard a sound that should have been impossible. It sounded like the laugh of a little girl, echoing in the distance.

“Hee-hee…”

Dakota’s face clouded over and her eye twitched. There shouldn’t be any children here on the island. Certainly no little girls. No one at all, in fact. The last season had just ended. Her final season. She would be turning the reins over to Sylvia when the time was right. There was no one else on the island…

Oh, of course. Obviously. Dakota felt like such an idiot. Sylvia was still here! That had to have been her laugh she’d just heard!

A scowl broke out across her lips. What was that girl doing, being up this late? Didn’t she know it was past her bedtime?

With a tap of her cane Dakota could be right at Sylvia’s side, but the notion didn’t occur to her. Instead she turned on her heel and stormed down the hall, a very human gesture made by a very human- and angry- woman.

When Dakota swung the door to Sylvia’s room open, she expected to catch the little brat disobeying orders, maybe playing around with those stupid seashells of hers, or having snuck one of the plants from the garden into her room again, or stayed up late chatting with Sally or Nola, or one of a hundred other forms of noncompliance, when that was what Dakota needed most from her.

But no- the girl was fast asleep in her bed, snoring away. Unlike Dakota, Sylvia did need her sleep, to keep her healthy. She was no different from any other human in that regard, which was why Dakota insisted.

Dakota frowned and stepped into the dusky room, narrowing her eyes. If Sylvia was just pretending, she would be in quite a bit of trouble!

But as far as she could tell, the girl’s slumber was genuine.

Letting out a hushed sigh, Dakota turned to leave.

“Mgnh…”

A mumble from behind her gave her pause, and Dakota whirled around again, wondering if she’d woken the girl up. But no, Sylvia had just turned over in bed. She had kicked the blanket off of her in doing so, and was muttering something about flowers and jelly and tomato soup, inane things that people dreamed about when they weren’t plagued with the nightmares that Dakota was plagued with.

Dakota sighed again and stood at her bedside. She gently lifted the blanket back up and covered her creation again, and Sylvia stopped shivering. Her smile relaxed, clear as day even in the darkness of the bedroom.

Feeling strangely uncomfortable, Dakota turned to leave again, but as she did, her eyes brushed over Sylvia’s desk, and she stopped to get a closer look.

Sylvia had been busy since the last time they saw each other. She’d covered her desk with the seashells, spreading them out so she could admire each and every one of them. They were all slightly different, some smoother, some rougher, some bright, and some dull, but she’d taken great care of each of them, making sure they were all properly displayed.

It made little sense to Dakota. Doing something so meaningless like that. She turned back to Sylvia again, wondering what thoughts occupied her, compelling her to do such fanciful, meaningless things like that.

What is she, a child?

That question brought a strange feeling to Dakota’s chest, one she couldn’t properly identify. But looking at Sylvia like that, seeing her so happy, so serene, so content…

A flash of gold in Dakota’s eye captured her attention and she turned her head again. This was so unlike her; being so easily distracted like this, just being in Sylvia’s bedroom. A room she seldom saw any point to entering.

But when she saw what had captured her attention this time, she froze.

That golden light was the flash of her own eyes, their glowing reflection captured by Sylvia’s mirror. And that expression on her face…

Is that… a smile? Am I smiling right now?

Dakota didn’t understand how she could be smiling. This feeling, this warmth in her breast, just seeing Sylvia look so happy sleeping there, like she looked earlier this evening showing Dakota her seashells, how could something so simple make her smile as well?

It doesn’t make sense… why am I…?

“Hee-hee…”

There it was. That laugh again! Dakota snapped to attention and looked around, trying to find its source. Was there an intruder on the island? A snake in her garden?

She scanned the room, but saw nothing. Nothing at all. Sylvia still slept, so it must have been coming from outside. Dakota took a step closer towards the hallway, whose light flooded the entrance of the bedroom. But as she reached the doorway…

“Hee-hee…”

There it was again. Closer now. And there was no mistaking it. It came from behind her!

Dakota whirled around and she faced the mirror once more, only this time, what she saw reflected back in her eyes…

A repulsive, wretched thing. Scrawny little arms and stubby legs, sallow skin bloated with water and sloughing down a ragged face, which was covered by stringy, sopping wet hair. The hideous child’s entire body was dripping wet, and a puddle formed beneath her feet, even though the room itself was dry as a bone.

Golden eyes stared back at Dakota, eyes identical to her own.

“What would Nick think?” The girl asked, taking a step closer to the mirror. “If he saw you like this? So happy and living in domestic bliss, while he’s been miserable for all these years?”

Dakota’s heart skipped a beat. “Wh-what?”

“Look at you… all the terrible things you’ve done… and yet here you are, playing house with your daughter… isn’t that nice?”

Daughter?

“Sylvia?” Dakota sputtered, laughing a stilted laugh. “She’s not my-”

“You’re betraying him, then? Your promise to him? You bad, bad girl!” The broken little figure reached the mirror now, and pressed her palms against the pane. She threw back her head and cackled. “Everyone he loves has betrayed him, and now even YOU will!? You promised him, remember? That you’d never love anyone more than you love him? You li-ar! LI-AR!”

“NO!” Dakota shouted, not caring if her voice woke up Sylvia in that moment. “I-I don’t, that’s not-! I…”

“Out of all the bad things you’ve done, this has got to be the worst,” her doppelganger sneered. “He’ll be so happy when he sees you again… his long lost Dakota, revived from the dead… how will he feel when he learns that she no longer loves him? That she has someone new to fill that emptiness in her heart?”

That empty feeling in Dakota’s heart was widening, threatening to swallow her.

“You’re wrong,” she growled, digging her nails into her palms. “I don’t… I’m not… that thing is NOTHING to me!” She asserted firmly, stomping her foot and waving her hand at Sylvia. “She’s just a tool! Nothing more!”

It all made sense now. The strange discomfort she’d been feeling around Sylvia, the way she responded whenever that girl smiled.

Sylvia was trying to make her betray Nick. Dakota existed only for Nick’s happiness. She was supposed to love him and only him, forever! But Sylvia… that… that thing was trying to turn her heart away from him.

Dakota was a wicked woman. She knew that Nick would likely never forgive her for the sins she’d committed. Hence why she’d hid them away. Hence why he could never find out about what she’d done.

But this… if she were to betray him, as well… that would be a sin far graver than any she’d committed.

“You don’t understand anything…” Dakota whispered to the drowned girl. That’s right, her feelings towards that thing weren’t love. She couldn’t love something that wasn’t real. No, she hated Sylvia, she understood that now. For reminding her of her mother every time she smiled. For being just another tool, like the faeries, but not following her directions.

All she needed from Sylvia was compliance. She didn’t need the girl to be nice to her! To be kind! To try and fool Dakota into thinking that she was real, to try and turn her heart away from Nick! As Dakota poured over the evidence of her creation’s treachery she fixed her mouth into a snarl. These warm, pleasant feelings were testaments of her betrayal. That wretched thing… making her stray, turning her heart from where it was meant to be, and so close to her fated reunion with the man she loved…

What kind of woman was she? To be led astray so easily? The worst kind.

Dakota hated Sylvia. But she hated herself so much more, for nearly being seduced by her own creation, and in so doing, betray the only thing she had left worth treasuring.

Her love.