1
The heat of fire.
The feeling of warm, sticky blood through my fingers.
It all came in waves—instantly.
All of the nightmarish hell came rushing into the back of my mind.
Everything was blurry; I couldn't see anything.
I could tell I was lying down, but that's all I knew. My ears were ringing, and I felt nauseous.
The room felt so very close—yet so far away—from the faint shapes I could see. Everything wavered, twisting, making me feel even sicker.
I tried to speak.
"S–m…"
But my throat was dry. When I tried to move, my limbs felt like jelly. I couldn't move a muscle.
Fear and panic rose through my mind.
Where am I?
What happened?
Where is Big Brother?
I tried turning my head, but the sound it made was like creaking wood.
I could barely make out a desk and a wardrobe in the corner.
I looked around for anything familiar in the dark room.
I searched and searched and searched.
All I wanted right now was to see Big Brother, Mama… and Papa.
I wanted to know that they were all right—what happened to them, those men…
It all had to be a nightmare.
It couldn't be real.
I refuse to believe this world would produce something so horrible.
I heard a faint clicking sound, but it was muffled like I was underwater
Tap tap tap
The sound that seemed like heels got closer and closer. At the foot of what appeared to be a bed, I saw a blurred figure; what I could make out was a woman with white hair.
"Ma-?" I spurred, Mama had white hair, could it be her?
My eyes kept twitching, trying to focus, but the harder I looked, the more my surroundings bent out of shape. My breath was shallow. I tried asking for help, but nothing came out. The blurry figure seemed to back away.
"Wa-t" then it was gone.
A minute felt like ten as the shapes and volume of the room slowly came into focus.
I was in a dark, lit room with a single candle on a table next to a wardrobe.
It smelled like someone was burning incense that I couldn't quite make out.. Maybe Sandalwood?
I tried turning my body to the side, but it felt like a sack of rocks.
I swallowed hard, trying to make out the rest of the room. There was a window; it seemed to be nighttime, with no moonlight coming through
"Hel—lo…" I croaked.
I tried moving—tried to get up—but—
Thwud.
I hit the ground.
Pain shot through my side. The floor was hard, cold wood.
"B-other"
A person opened the door quickly and then bent down to me. The world was wavy, and I felt dizzy.
And then… I lost consciousness again.
2
When I opened my eyes again for the second time, I felt more aware.
The room was still dim, but I could make out more of the shapes—and the smells.
My eyes darted around, taking it all in.
That's when my gaze landed on her.
"Muscle atrophy. You mustn't move too much, or you'll feel unbearable pain."
The voice was feminine—gentle, but monotone.
As my eyes adjusted, the blur began to take shape… into a woman.
At least I think she was a woman
She was hauntingly pretty, with fair skin and black-and-grey hair.
The thing that stood out, however, was—
"Gah…" I tried to move, but my body wouldn't listen.
The woman didn't seem like anyone I'd ever seen. Her face…
It was cracked, like porcelain.
The crack ran along the right side of her face; it coiled around her face like a snake.
My anxiety spiked. I was even more confused—and afraid.
My body wouldn't listen to what I told it.
Where were Mama and Papa?
Where was Big Brother?
All I wanted was for them to help me.
Afraid.
Afraid.
Afraid.
I'm afraid.
The woman got closer to me.
"St-yy... way—"
I shut my eyes tight.
"..."
When I opened them again, I was sitting upright.
She had helped me sit up.
"Are you thirsty? Hungry? Do you need to use the bathroom?'
".."
"Ah, right. Sorry, you can't speak properly yet. I'll go one by one. Do you require water?"
I looked at her. She had grey eyes that seemed to stare past me.
I nodded.
"Very well."
She walked to the desk. There was a pitcher on it that hadn't been there before.
When she came back to me, her expression was blank and her voice emotionless.
However, her actions were… kind?
Or were they just routine?
Maybe I was at a doctor's house?
But she didn't seem like the doctors I'd heard about—and definitely not like the healers from the village.
She had a blank stare, and her mouth wouldn't twitch upward.
She lifted my head and poured water into my mouth to help me drink.
"ACK ACK:
I coughed up water
"Hmm, I apologize,"
She said and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief
This time, I drank slowly, and the water poured smoothly down my throat
"Hungry?" She asked, e
I slowly nodded again, not being able to speak,
She then said, 'I'll return shortly with food for now, rest. ' She laid me down on the bed
I have no idea how much time has passed since I fell back asleep,
When I woke, she fed me porridge.
It tasted like nothing.
But it was food.
I was spoon-fed and felt like a baby bird.
When bathroom time came, she used a strange chair made of metal and leather. Its legs weren't what you'd expect—they had thin wheels.
She'd help me to the bathroom, which was embarrassing, but there wasn't much I could do on my own.
I didn't take baths; instead, she wiped me down with a wet rag
What was strange was that the door I thought was an exit was actually a bathroom connected to the room.
I must've still been out of it, because I swore that was the only door in the room—and that's where she had come from.
So… where was the door to the hall?
I couldn't tell how much time had passed.
I'd drink, eat, and use the bathroom—it felt like a routine.
And as I slept more, ever so slowly, my senses came back to me.
The woman wouldn't say much—only asking if I needed to drink, eat, or use the bathroom.
She'd pop in now and again—frequently.
My voice came back after what seemed to be at least five days.
She made me nervous with that blank stare, but I finally managed to ask,
"Where am I?"
I asked while she cleaned the plate.
"That, I cannot say. All you need to worry about is resting and recovering," she said in her usual monotone voice.
She was impossible to read. She had fed me and helped me these past few—what I think were days—but I knew nothing about her, or where I was.
"Can you… At least tell me your name?"
"Hmm. I suppose I can."
She held the plates.
"Elizabeth," she said.
"It's a pretty name." I tried smiling at her.
She did a slight bow.
"Thank you very much, Mistress."
Mistress? I tilted my head.
And with that, she was gone.
The following few times she came, she helped with motor training.
First was sitting up on my own. It was a struggle at first, but after a few tries, I could do it.
Next came standing on my own. My legs were wobbly, like jelly. I fell and stumbled a few times, but Elizabeth helped me.
She never smiled or said, "Good job."
All she ever said was, "Let's move on."
One thing I found odd was my hair length—it was always cut short, but now it was longer.
My legs looked different, and I felt… off.
My chest too—
But I pushed that all to the side. Thinking about such things would just cause unnecessary worry.
Papa always said, "Don't sweat the small stuff!"
So I would acknowledge him. I'd see Papa as soon as I got better.
Walking took the longest out of everything.
Recovering wasn't easy.
I'd stumble and fall after just a few steps.
Balance was key.
When I finally started walking on my own, I decided to try reaching that door.
Could this room be connected to another that led to the bathroom?
It made no sense, but that was the only logical conclusion I could come to.
I slowly twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
What I saw on the other side only confused me further.
Once I stepped through, I was met with a dimly lit hallway.
I looked right… Then, left, the hallway was empty besides the few candles and what smelled like incense that aligned the walls. "Huh.. didn't this lead to…" I was confused, thinking about it made my head hurt. I took one step out into the hall, then another. "Um…Hello"
I called out
Silence.
Nothing but the sweet smell filled the hall.
Pompf pompf… pompf pompf…
I heard something coming down the hall.
The darkness made it hard for my eyes to adjust.
Pompf pompf… pompf pompf…
Then—nothing.
The sound stopped.
Something small turned the corner—a plush toy, no taller than my knee.
It waddled forward out of the darkness, its head slightly tilted.
It was a doll. Standing upright.
Looking at me.
Carrying a carving knife.
And it was walking?
Pompf pompf… pompf pompf…
I backed up and tried to get away, but my legs wouldn't listen.
I stumbled toward the room I'd left, moving as best I could until I reached the door.
I opened it, slipped inside. There was no lock on the door….
What was that?
Was that doll really alive?
Why was it carrying a knife?
What was this place really?
My heart thudded in my ears, and I slid down the door
The person on the other side tried to open it, but my back was against it
"Hmm, this room has no lock… odd mistress, are you in there?"
The voice was monotone and stale.. It was Elizabeth
I stood up and peered out the door
"Yes, sorry, I saw something in the hall," I mumbled
"You left? You should be more careful, you're not fully recovered yet… exploring the house can be dangerous for you, it's best to stay here and ring the bell when you need me."
She carried a tray of food.
"Lunch"
This time around, I tried using my own fork.
My hands were shaky, but I managed better than before.
My body was slowly but surely starting to listen to me.
"Miss Elizabeth, how much longer do I have to stay in this room?" I asked softly.
"Until the Master says otherwise."
"Who's this Master? Is it the chief?"
"Chief?"
"Never mind, I guess."
It seemed I really wasn't in the village anymore.
As what seemed like days passed, I gained my strength back and got used to walking on my own completely.
But even then, I was still confined to the room.
One thing I noticed—it always seemed to be dark.
I tried looking out the one window I had, but it was always night.
I assumed my sleep schedule was off—that I must've been sleeping during the day.
But I never heard birds chirping, or the sound of rain, or even wind.
It all seemed odd to me. I love listening to the rain while Big Brother reads to me.
Big Brother… I wonder what he's doing now…
Suddenly, pain shot through my head.
I smelled blood.
My hands felt like sacks of rocks, and the room began to spin.
My breath grew shallow. I felt like throwing up.
"Big Brother…"
Images of fire—
The clanking of swords—
Then what seemed to be a deep, dark monster ripping through men, tearing them apart like tissue paper.
It's awful.
I don't want to see this.
Please… stop.
Then—Simon.
"AHHHG!" I yelled out. The searing migraine grew louder; my ears rang, and I couldn't calm down.
It's not real.
It's not real.
It's not real.
It's not real—
Then… a soft smell entered my nose.
Sweet. Earthy. Like honey.
It was as if all those emotions were suddenly flushed away.
I looked up.
There was Elizabeth, holding a vial to my nose.
Tears ran down my face.
"Where's my big brother? "
I asked softly
Elizabeth shook her head
"The master will call for you soon to answer all your questions
That didn''t answer anything
Big brother Simon wouldn't have died that way, I'm just seeing things
I'm just sick, that's all
I'll see everyone soon enough,
2
I had no idea how much time had passed.
I'd been confined to this room for what felt like days—too fearful to leave after seeing that doll with the big, scary knife.
"You're ready to meet the Master. I'll begin the preparations. You'll wait here for your outfit fitting."
"Fitting?"
I looked down. I was still in the same nightgown I'd been wearing for… however many days I'd been here.
Sure, I'd been given new ones, but they all looked exactly the same—a tan gown with ribbons on the front.
Honestly, it was one of the more comfortable outfits I'd ever worn.
"Okay, maybe I can ask this 'Master' to let me go home… I finally feel good enough," I said.
"Hmm. You'll have all the opportunity to ask, Mistress."
Elizabeth bowed, then left the room.
"I'll be out soon, Mama… Papa… Big Brother."
Some time passed before the door opened—
Not with a knock, but with a bang that made me jump.
The door burst open, and in came another woman.
She had grayish-white hair like Elizabeth's, but hers was cut short in a neat bob that covered her left eye. She was considerably shorter than Elizabeth.
.
"So you're finally awake, halfsies!"
She was loud. Way too loud.
I'd grown accustomed to Elizabeth's soft monotone; seeing someone like this after so long threw me completely off.
"Alright, get up—it's time for your measurements!"
She pulled a measuring tape from her pocket.
Her outfit resembled Elizabeth's maid uniform, but hers was blue, matching her single visible eye.
"Um… measurements for what?" I asked.
"For an outfit, of course. What else?" she said, haughtily.
The measurements didn't take long; she seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
"Stay still," she told me. "I need to measure your bust."
"My what?" My ears twitched in confusion.
"Your chest, of course—you know, these things!"
I looked down. Those… hadn't been there before. I'd noticed, but never really thought too much about it, maybe i'd kust been mistaken…
"Um, o-okay."
The girl measured me, wrapping the tape around my chest. It tickled.
"What did I say about moving?" she snapped.
After she was done, she got her stuff and,in a huff, said
""I'll be back for your fitting," she said, slamming the door behind her.
"What's her problem?" I muttered to myself and threw myself onto the bed.
Being stuck in this room was slowly driving me insane. Hopefully, this "doctor" or "master" of theirs would send me home with a lollipop, and I'd be on my way.
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
When I woke, there was a soft, familiar knock at the door.
"Come in," I said, sitting up.
It was Elizabeth. She had an outfit folded neatly in her hands.
"Abigail has completed your outfit for you," she said. "It's time you met the Master."
"I-i can change myself!" I protested, but Elizabeth wouldn't have it
"I'll make sure you adjust and wear it properly."
I was now in a dressing room with shorts. There were lots of pretty outfits that aligned along the racks.
The smaller woman stood in the corner with her arms crossed. I could feel her eyes sinking into me.
The outfit prepared for me wasn't something I'd ever seen—let alone worn—before.
It was a tan-colored, mid-length dress with wine-red and violet ribbons, lace accents, and a high collar, finished with small ankle boots and a subtle choker.
Elegant. Modest.
Unsettlingly… a perfect fit.
In my reflection, I saw a girl I didn't recognize.
Her hair draped down to her shoulders. Her face was soft and gentle, and the roundness had almost faded from her cheeks.
I had a body similar to Mama's—subtle curves, a longer frame. The skin was as pale as a ghost.
I reached out to the mirror, tracing the outline of my reflection with my fingertip.
"What do you think you're doing, missy? You're gonna smudge the mirror—and who do you think has to clean it?"
The shorter maid raised her voice, making me jump
"Oh, sorry… I just…"
"Come along now, mistress, the master is waiting for you."
The woman named Elizabeth said
I followed her out of the room.
The same door we entered to come here led to a totally different place yet again. This time, it was a room with a large, long table.
"Welcome to the Dining Hall. From here on out, this is where you'll have your meals," Elizabeth said
She brought me to a chair and had me sit.
The lighting was dim like the rest of the house, and outside the windows, it was dark.
The smell of incense burned as well, it was strong but relaxing…
I said awkwardly at the table, waiting for something to happen
"From now on?" I pouted
"But I wanna go home… when do I-
"That will all be explained when the master comes."
".."
The doors opened, and in came a man I assumed was the Master, or the doctor of this place.
"Good evening," he said.
His voice was smooth and buttery. He had amber-orange hair and golden eyes. He wore a soft smile as he walked in—one that could almost put a person at ease.
He wore a fitted brown vest wrapped snugly over a crisp, collared white shirt. His trousers were patterned in muted greys and blacks, tailored with precision, and his polished brown shoes caught the faintest glint of candlelight. Around his neck hung two small rings, glinting faintly against the open collar of his shirt.
"Good evening, Master. We hope your trip went well," the two maids said in unison.
Now that I got a better look at him, I noticed his outfit shared the same palette as theirs—the same purple and gold trim.
The man was tall, with sharp features. He looked too young to be a doctor—maybe in his early or mid-twenties.
" So you've finally woken up. You had me worried for a while there, but you pulled through, good job."
He said with a smile
"Where—" I started.
He raised a hand, calm and deliberate.
"Now, I'm sure you have many questions. But first, you must be hungry."
He snapped his fingers. The two maids bowed politely and slipped through the doors behind him.
"They work for you, huh?" I asked.
"They do," he said with a faint smile. "But it's more like… they do it as a favor, you know?"
"I don't."
"You will."
The silence that followed felt heavy, awkward.
A few moments later, the maids returned, pushing a silver cart full of food.
"Now," he said, "I know you've been eating nothing but porridge. Having real food in you will be a good change of pace—after two weeks."
"Two weeks…" I mouthed.
So that's how long it had been. It felt like much longer. I couldn't tell how the days passed anymore.
"Here you go, Master… Mistress."
The maids set down trays before us. The smell was incredible—freshly baked soda bread and creamy fish stew, a staple from where I grew up.
The shorter maid poured something pale into my cup.
I sniffed it—it was calming, familiar.
"Chamomile tea," the man said.
"It helps you relax."
I hesitantly brought the cup to my lips. It tasted like apples and the kind of flower I used to chew on when I was younger.
As dinner went on, I found myself stealing glances at him.
Every time our eyes met, he smiled softly—eyes closed, as if reading me without looking.
"Glad you're looking better, some of the color is being returned to your skin, and your awareness is in a much better state…however, you'll need to gain weight before we start anything else," he said in a casual, soft tone. ne
It was like every word, every syllable was deliberated, the way he spoke was like me when I got caught with my hand in the cookie jar, couldn't point to the word to describe it, it seemed all too…
Uncomfortable
The sound of the knife scraping the plate as the maids cut the bread made me cringe.
There was a clock that I swore matched the rhythm of my heartbeat; time seemed just to stand still and drag on. I didn't know what to say, I had no choice of words.'
Dinner at home is filled with smiles and cheer. Big brother Simon would make funny faces to try to make me laugh, Papa would scold him, and Mama would say, "They're just being kids."
And Bigger brother would….
"...'
The two maids stood at both ends of the table with their arms in front of them, looking straight ahead. They were both beautiful, but I couldn't help but feel the uncanny aura around them.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "Is the food not to your liking?"
"No—no, it's good. I just think I'm getting full, that's all."
He smiled again. The same smile. The one that didn't reach his eyes as he shut them.
"Very well then," he said, still smiling. "Abby, would you mind clearing the table?"
"Yes, of course, Master~" the shorter maid sang.
Dinner ended quietly. The maids gathered the bowls and cups, and once they left, the air felt different—too still.
"Now then," he said, resting his elbows on the table, chin on folded hands. "I'm sure you have many questions for me. I'll answer them as best I can. You have my word."
"Well… —firstly, I want to know where I am. You are a doctor, right?"
He smiled.
"Not licensed."
He sat back in his chair.
"I know a few ways to get people back to strength, though it's more of a Home remedy."
"..."
"So when I go home…" I played with my hands.
"Sorry. I don't think that's possible anytime soon — if at all."
My eyes widened. I stood up abruptly.
"What do you mean? I feel fine now! I want to see Mama, Papa, and my big brother!"
The shorter maid's eyes turned cold.
"Hold your tongue when speaking to Master, you cur."
The man raised his hand.
She lowered her head.
"Sorry, Master."
"I suppose I should explain," the man said, closing one eye with a faint smile.
"You're not going home—or rather…"
His tone softened.
"You have no home anymore."
The taller maid, Elizabeth, gently placed her hand on my shoulders.
"You should sit."
I plumped back down into the chair.
"What do you mean? I do have a home! It's the Cluaintean Neimh Clan village, in Raonach—the The grasslands!" I sputtered.
"Yes," he said calmly. "That used to be where it was."
I blinked.
"Used to be? What do you mean? It's still there—"
"Not anymore, Red."
His words were almost kind, but there was no mercy in them.
"That place is just a dark spot on the map now. Completely wiped off the face of the planet."
My breath caught. My heart sank. My lungs searched for air that wouldn't come.
"You… you're lying!" I shouted. "I have a home—it's called Cluaintean Neimh Clan Village, and it's in the grassy plains of Raonach!" I repeated.
The man finally lifted his elbows off the table.
"We can go and see it if you want, but all you'll be left with is that giant, dark, demonic sphere left behind."
I swallowed hard.
"D-demonic? What are you saying?"
"Oh… you don't remember, do you?"
His eyes grew half-lidded.
"You summoned a demon that wreaked havoc on your village."
Flashes upon flashes flew into my mind—
A black figure emerging… hurting… killing all those people.
"No, no, no! I didn't do anything! I was… I was hiding and then..."
Memories of that night slowly came back. I thought they were nightmares. Thought they weren't real. They couldn't be. It was all so awful.
"I'm not telling you this to upset you. I want you to face the reality of what you've done," the man said.
"Big Brother… where is he? I heard he was hurt. Where is my Big Brother?" I asked, my voice cracking.
"Oh, the lone human male… he was killed in the raid, of course."
"..."
A searing, sharp pain entered my mind—hot flashes, warm, sticky blood, the gloops of it in my hands as I held his neck.
The words he mouthed to me in the end… My heart was about to leap out of my chest when one of the maids, Elizabeth, waved a stick in front of my face.
It was incense. My heart slowed, and my mind cleared up.
What was that just now?
It was incense. My heart slowed, and my mind cleared up.
I felt… calm. Calm after finally realizing I was in a nightmare.
I was in hell.
"See, you're a special girl—one who's literally one in a million. Certain people would pay a very high price for you… those who know of your true potential, of course," he explained.
"Where are Mama and Papa? Are they…"
"No, don't you worry about them. I'm getting to that. You see, those men who raided your village…"
He smiled faintly.
"I leaked information about the village."
"Huh…"
"Now now, don't look at me like that. I needed to use them to get what I wanted."
He waved his hand dismissively, still smiling.
"The power and potential you hold are far too grand to pass up. I needed a way to get past that damn Pixie without her snuffing me out, and using that army was the only way I knew how."
He crossed his arms.
"It wasn't easy, but I got you in the end. That's all that matters."
Why wasn't I angry?
Why wasn't I bawling in tears?
Was it because I already knew some of it? Because I'd felt that uneasiness leading up to this?
I was far too calm. Too relaxed.
Why.
Why.
Why.
What's happening?
My head spun. I should be overcome with disbelief.
"I wanna go home," I said softly.
"You are home."
He narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want from me? I'm not special—my family doesn't have a lot of money, so—"
"This isn't about ransom."
He paused.
"This is about changing the future."
"There's something only you can do."
He smiled.
"As the bearer of the Seed of Ifrit."
.
"Seed of Ifrit? I don't have a seed—or whatever you're talking about! I'm just ten, I don't have anything you need, so let me just—"
"Ten?" He chuckled softly. "I think you're a little off. It's been four years since the raid. That's the frustrating part, but… well, patience is a virtue."
"Fo-four years?" I swallowed hard.
"Yes. That'd make you about fourteen now. Don't tell me you haven't noticed certain—changes?"
My legs. My hair. My face. I grabbed at them. I did look different. But four years? That had to be a joke, right?
"You're—"
"Lying?" He tilted his head. "Sorry. That's one thing I don't do," he said frankly.
"I do, however—"
I stood up.
"I wanna go! I can't stay here—Mama and Papa—"
"Were taken, yes," he interrupted.
"Now, I'm getting to that part. Calm yourself. Take a nice… deep… breath."
His voice was slow, calm, tender—almost soothing.
"You want to see your parents again?" he asked. "Then you'll have to accept my offer… my ultimatum, if you will."
He brought his hands together, eyes gleaming in the dim candlelight.
"You have two choices."
A pause.
"Kill me, and save your mother and father along with your village… or—"
He raised a finger to his lips in a hush motion.
"Become my bride."
"...Huh?
I misheard what he said. Bride? What's he talking about?
"You'll have until your eighteenth birthday to make your decision, of course. If you fail to do so, you'll be with me forever as one."
"That's ridiculous," I protested.
"Please, I just want to see my family!" I balled up my fist.
In an instant, that sweet smell crawled up my throat before I noticed I'd stopped shaking. My heartbeat slowed. My emotions were all over the place.
"Afraid that's not possible. They're under the care of an army at the moment—there's no getting to them unless I give the go-ahead."
"Marriage or killing you? I couldn't do something like that, I—"
"Really now? Even if I'm the very man responsible for your brother's death?" He rested his chin on his fist.
"Simon…" I whispered.
"He was shobby—"
"The very man I personally leaked the information to. I know his name, his rank, and where he sits and sleeps. But don't go gunning for vengeance with him—focus all that hatred and malice on me if you want to see Mommy and Daddy again."
"I-I…" I couldn't find the words.
"You did all this to get to me… You hurt all those people…"
"I have more reasons than that, but it's not important. All that really matters is that you end my suffering."
"Suffering?"
"I am cursed with immortality, forced to walk this planet for all eternity. I've grown tired of this world and wish to be sent off to the next life."
"Immortal… that's impossible. The only immortal to exist is…"
I thought back to the stories Father told me from long, long ago. Could this man be that one from the story?
"I wanna see my family again."
"…" He peeked with one eye.
All of this… it felt so unreal, like a bad nightmare I'd wake up from. This didn't feel like reality—not one that I knew. But I knew truly this was real. Simon was gone, and Mama and Papa weren't gonna save me.
It felt as if my stomach was boiling. I felt dizzy. My eyes darted around the room. I didn't know this feeling—it was new to me. This feeling of wanting to end the life of someone… it was an emotion I'd never felt before.
I scratched the table with my nails, leaving marks.
If I were gonna hate someone, and if what he said was true—
He was my enemy, wasn't he?
"There's that look I've been waiting for," he said, studying my face.
"Now, is there anything you wanna ask me before we part for now?"
"Is… is my brother really—"
"Yes, of course. Shot through the neck. There was no surviving a wound like that; it would take a miracle."
I swallowed deeply. So it was true.
"You said I'm special—that I'm one in a million, that I had some sort of seed within me."
He looked straight into my eyes, holding the gaze.
"Ah, yes. Well, you have two major things going for you: one, you're a half-elf, and two…"
Our conversation was interrupted by a mature voice.
"Master, you have a guest."
"Ah, right. Thank you, Elizabeth."
He stood and walked around the table toward me.
"We'll get well acquainted soon enough."
He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
I felt disgust—and unease. My hand reached for the fork on the table.
BAM.
He slammed his hand over mine, the teacup tipping, hot liquid spilling across the table.
"Hmmph, eager are we?" he smirked. "You'll have plenty of chances, believe me. However, I'm needed at the moment."
He let go of my hand.
"See that she gets back to her room; the testing starts tomorrow."
He walked toward the door but stopped when I called out.
"I-I'm gonna kill you! No matter what! To bring my family back!
DIE!
You killed him!
DIE!
I'll get you for this—
DIE!
"You're gonna die!" I spat. I bit my lip so hard it drew blood.
Without looking back, and with a wave of his hand, he said,
"Later."
Then he was gone.
The two maids did a curtsey
"Come now, brat," the fun-sized maid said as she walked me through the door, but I could barely move, barely think.
When I returned to my room, there was a different set of clothes on the bed.
"Hmph. I don't get the commotion about you or why Master values you so much," she said haughtily. "Just don't get a big head thinking you're special or something. Hmph."
She crossed her arms, then the door closed.
I stumbled to the bed, my legs giving out with each step until I collapsed at the foot of it.
"It can't be true…"
"Why did you… Why did I?" I shuddered. "You said you'd always be there—that you were strong."
"Damn it."
"Why am I still alive? I was the one who…" I brought my knees to my chest.
"Simon died… he was strong—the strongest big brother in the whole world."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I should've stayed like you asked me to. I'm the reason… damn it."
"B-Big Brother… I… why'd you have to—"
I sobbed—ugly cries. Warm tears ran down my cheeks.
I almost couldn't breathe.
When I did take a deep breath, the smell of incense filled my nose, and I grew a little calmer… a little more focused.
I'd kill him. No matter what.
He'd die by my hand.
If it were the last thing I did.
5
Bloodied tears streaked my face.
The screams of men filled my ears.
Chaos and desolation swallowed my home.
My brother dying in my arms—over and over again.
I felt despair.
Then, the second part of my dream.
I was in a white room, inside a glass box.
I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.
I just stared up at the ceiling, where a candle chandelier hung above me.
I tried moving my head back and forth. I tried screaming out—
But nothing came.
That's when I woke up.
I was now on the bed with a blanket draped over me.
I was in the same dimly lit room.
The door opened, and I sat up as the shorter doll entered.
"You sure do like to sleep, don't you, halfsive?" She carried a cart with food and a uniform.
"After you eat, we'll begin getting to work. You better not hinder me," she said, turning up her nose.
"Work?" I asked softly. I didn't really understand what she meant—and frankly, I didn't really care. The nightmare began to fade quickly as I met with reality.
"Yes, work. You really don't think you'll be living off the master's goodwill?" She crossed her arms.
"Good free will? He—"
"Ah, ah, ah. I don't care for your little sob story, halfsive. I only care for Master and Master alone, and I will not let you mooch off him."
She wheeled the cart in.
"Now eat and change when you're ready. Ring the bell."
She left without another word.
She wasn't friendly whatsoever and seemed devoted to that man.
The food was some porridge, but with meat in it this time.
After I ate, I looked over the outfit. It was the same design as the uniforms the other two wore, but this one was dark red.
"They can't be serious," I muttered, looking over it.
Working for the man who killed Simon and did all those horrible things? I wouldn't have it. I refused.
Instead, I went for the door. I needed to find a way to understand just what exactly I was—maybe then I could find someone to help me.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the incense, and my heartbeat slowed.
I reached for the door handle.
"Locked?"
How? There was no lock on the outside of the door as far as I could see.
"Come on! Open—open!"
I struggled, but to no avail. It wouldn't budge.
Then, suddenly, it swung open.
"What exactly do you think you're doing? You're gonna drive me nuts if you keep trying to open the door without a vision!"
"I-I was just…"
"Just what—are you trying to strain me?! And you aren't even dressed like I asked you to! I swear you're already making me dislike you even more, halfsive!"
The woman ranted.
"Karrie."
"What?"
"My name is Karrie, not halfsive."
"Oohh, is it now? Well, I don't really much care for the names of mortals."
She huffed.
"You'd better change now, or I'll make your first day even more unbearable," she challenged.
"Why me? Was I a bad girl? Why am I being put through this?" I asked her.
"Hm. You should feel grateful for what the master has done—putting up with you all these years. I think he should have left you discarded, but he was too much of a heart for that. So be grateful and honored a man like him took a liking to you, even though it pains me to say."
I smacked the bowl to the ground.
"Grateful? You want me to be grateful? He got my big brother killed! He's the reason Mama and Papa are gone, and I should be thankful? What a joke! I hate him and I'm going to kill him!" I shouted.
"Working for him—why would I do such a thing?"
The doll walked close and grabbed me by the front of my collar.
"You won't get the chance as long as he has me, you understand? You're nothing but a means to an end to him—don't think you're special. I've been by his side far longer than you. He has more important things to worry about than some bratty, selfish child."
She let go.
"Now get changed, or do you want me to strip you?"
"I… I got it."
"Good. I'll be back in ten."
Later…
I was now in a maid's uniform. They had given me a standing mirror and put it in the corner of the room while I must've been sleeping. It was a perfect fit.
It was red with purple trim, with off-shoulder sleeves and a white corset panel that drew the eye upward to a high ribboned collar. Silver buttons ran neatly down the front. A frilled headband crowned my red hair like a halo.
The door opened.
It was Elizabeth.
"I find it fits you well," she said, doing a small bow.
"Um, yes, I suppose so…"
"Of course, it fits her well. I made it."
The shorter maid stood behind her with that familiar smugness.
"I'll do your hair then. When can we get started on her working around the manor?"
I sat on a stool as she tied my hair up. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn't see the eyes of my ten-year-old self.
The girl staring back looked… empty. There was a bit of fierceness in her eyes, but they weren't mine.
Was this really me? Those eyes—and that face—weren't ones I remembered.
I felt like an intruder in my own skin.
"Done."
My hair was now pulled up into a neat ponytail.
"Abigail here will show you what needs to be done today, so please follow her lead, Mistress."
"Why do you keep calling me 'Mistress'?" I asked.
"Well, you're the master's fiancée, are you not?" She tilted her head slightly, her tone as calm and monotone as ever.
"What? Of course not! He wasn't serious about that, was he?"
"Hmm. Master doesn't take such things lightly… though I could be mistaken, as you humans tend to jest from time to time."
That word again. Humans.
Why did they say it like they weren't?
"Well, time to start the day!" Abigail chirped.
"Wait a minute, I have a question—"
But I was already being pushed along.
"Save it for later. It's time for the tour."