Rika's face twisted violently at Sagiri's words. The hatred in her eyes deepened until it looked less like emotion and more like a living thing clawing its way to the surface. Then something strange happened. Her left eye flickered. For the briefest moment, the iris turned a deep crimson before returning to normal.
Sagiri immediately noticed it. His eyes narrowed. He had sensed it from the moment he met her, but now he was certain. Something had been done to her. Something unnatural. Her scent was wrong.
Human, yes, but not entirely. Beneath the familiar scent of blood, sweat, and dust was something else. Something tainted. Corrupted. It was faint, yet impossible to miss once noticed. The realization had barely settled when Rika suddenly smiled. It wasn't a sane smile. It was the smile of someone who had already stepped beyond reason.
