"Hello, Sophia." Her voice is as cold as I remember it, each word practiced and clipped off.

I sink into the chair opposite her, holding my head in my hands. "It's you?"

A hint of a smile plays across her lips. "You know, I thought you were intelligent, my girl."

"I-" My brain is racing too fast for me to use any words. Thoughts are flying through me in fragments, and I don't know which to choose. "Madison's eye!" I remember his expression of hurt when he discovered that, unlike the others, he had been whole.

My mother nods. "One of my finest creations. A marvelous little boy."

"Don't talk about him like that. Like he's just some sort of plaything- as though he's anything less than human." I fold my arms stubbornly.

"Love, you don't understand. You, Madison, the Yi girl, and all the rest- they are my life's work. I'm so proud of you." She takes a sip of her tea. "You could join me, you know."

"Wh-what?" Any trace of composure I had is now thoroughly gone.

There's a glimmer in my mother's eye as she sets down her teacup. "Think of it, Sophia. The two of us, creating a superior race. People who can find anything in the world, who can never truly die as long as their hearts are wound tight enough. People with oil for blood, with the strength of a hundred men."

"People who can never be normal again," I shoot back. "People condemned to a life of secrecy and covering up, who will live every day in fear that their peculiarity will be revealed. Misery is no way to exist."

"Perhaps," she says coolly, "an existence in misery is better than no existence at all. I've rescued people from the brink of death. My inventions are the technology of the future."

"What about me?" The words shoot out before I can stop them. "Was there something wrong with my heart, or am I just another experiment?"

My mother sits up in her chair. "You have no understanding of the things that I do for you, to protect you and keep you alive. You are my masterpiece, my magnum opus- the greatest work I have ever created, but more than that you are my daughter. Perhaps you shall truly see one day, but until then, just know how much I love you."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I stand up. "What else don't I know about you? What are you hiding from me?"

"Sophia, pull on the handle of that umbrella."

I balk at the unusual request, but nevertheless pull on the handle. There's a slight groaning sound, and the main of the umbrella breaks away. Hidden inside of the central piece, disguised in plain sight, is a thin silvery blade. It makes a slight whining noise as I draw it out, and the sword- for that is what it is- glimmers in the low light of the study. "That's why it was so heavy?"

She nods, looking amused by my fascination. "I would never send you out to see my little projects without some way of protecting yourself."

"They're not projects, they're people." My knuckles grow white on the handle of the sword. "Cinda and Madison, Sarah and Janet and all the others are real people, and my friends. They aren't just little miniatures, chess pawns for you to move about as you please."

My mother looks a little furious. "Your judgement is clouded, young lady. You're not experienced enough in the ways of the world yet to know how things work."

I level the sword, not quite sure what to do with it. I've never so much as touched one of these before, but my mother laughs in a way I've never heard before. The laugh is one of pride, nearly, as though she can't believe her daughter is all grown up and pulling swords out of umbrellas.

"Sit down, my dear. I'll tell you the story." She smooths her skirts and takes another sip of tea. "Many years ago, before you were born, I had a sister. Her name was Andrea, and she was the most wonderful girl I've ever met. She was always full of joy- every day seemed to bring something new to make her happy. One day, though, she just-" My mother shakes her head. "Her heart stopped. It was rendered useless."

I reach out and place a hand over my mother's. Our hands used to be identical- clean and white and delicate. Now, mine is laced over with cuts and burns, and it's covered in soot like every other inch of me.

"Losing her felt like I had lost my own heart. Andrea was my best friend. It wasn't until several years later that I finally came to terms with the fact that she was truly gone." My mother's eyes are full of tears, but her expression of grace and superiority never wavers. "When I discovered that you were to be born, I was terrified. What if I were to lose you as well?"

I can feel my own tears beginning to run over my face. I wish I could promise that she'll never lose me.

"I began to experiment. Small things at first- I familiarized myself with the human body, as well as with machinery. I thought that, if perhaps I garnered some medical knowledge, I could prevent my child from being like my sister. Unfortunately, women are not allowed into doctor's clinics to work.

"I started to take in patients rejected by doctor's clinics. I covered my face with a doctor's mask and wore a long coat. Many are skeptical of women, when the truth is that we can do things that men cannot. It was nothing at first, splinting bones and prescribing tinctures. Human bodies and machines are not terribly different."

"Who of the people I've met did you work on first?"

My mother swirls the dregs of tea around in her cup. "I believe it was Janet first- the woman with the leg. She was a little apprehensive about my idea, but went along with it nonetheless."

A sudden thought strikes me. "Y-you did all of this for me?"

"A mother will do anything for her child, Sophia." She nods at me a little. "I assume you and your friends will want to be cleaned up?"

Clean clothing and a bath sound like the best idea in the world. I nod eagerly and allow myself to be lead out of the study and upstairs. Halfway up, my mother stops and puts a hand to her throat.

"I assume you'll be wanting this?" Lying in her hand, strung on a thin chain, is a key. The key is shimmering gold, wrought into elegant sworls of metal. Between the top and the prongs are four filigreed wings, fluttering slightly.