Chapter 22: Isaac's Second Nature

"Isaac, she can't see you here. You can stop this." Lavinia sat up in the armchair, every muscle in her body tensed. His own stance did not soften. He looked unsteady. His weight was shifting rapidly, his feet needing to readjust to support him.

"I certainly could." He whirled the fireplace poker to point at Lavinia, his grip alarmingly precise. The poker did not shake as Lavinia stared down its iron range. Suddenly, he slammed the point down into the wooden floor, leaning on it like a cane. The poker sank into the wood, digging a narrow hole into its hardened surface. "But I don't think I will."

He ripped the poker out of its notch, the motion overbalancing him back towards the fire. The flames illuminated his white eyes making them look like swirling smoke. He was entirely vacant.

Lavinia slowly stood up from the chair, raising her hands out in front of her. "Just calm down. We can figure this out. Your mother doesn't get to control you."

Isaac laughed outright. "