"Scarlett, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
A boy's voice asked.
I don't remember what he looked like — but I could still hear him, clear as day.
"A doctor," I answered.
"A doctor?" he repeated, a little surprised.
"Yes. I want to save my mom."
There was a pause.
Then, in a voice too cruel for a child to carry, he said—
"Scarlett, your mom's already dead. It's too late."
The scent of flowers filled the air, just like it always did.
I could see the child and Scarlett sitting under a cherry blossom tree.
The boy had black hair... or was it grey?
My vision wasn't clear — but I knew the girl, Scarlett.
She had long, slightly wavy black hair and gray-hazel eyes.
Just like mine.
An awkward silence settled between them.
I shifted my attention to myself.
I looked down at my hands — they seemed completely normal... until the ground beneath me gave way.
I fell.
Down into endless darkness.
Scarlett's memories clung to me —
From the moment she started training to be the world's best assassin,
to the moment she abandoned her true self to become someone else.
I could feel her pain.
Her fear.
Her loneliness.
I closed my eyes, wishing it would all just end.
But when I opened them again —
I was back in the nightmare I had prayed was only a dream.
"My lady," Hellen's voice filled the room as her footsteps hurried closer.
I tried to sit up — but a jolt of pain shot through my back and head, making Hellen rush to me even faster.
"Goodness, my lady, are you alright? It must be quite new for you... having wings and horns."
I stared at her, disoriented.
"What am I?"
My gaze shifted to the commander as he entered the room.
He nodded silently at Hellen — and without another word, she left us alone.
I pushed myself up and walked toward him.
When I reached him, I hit his chest with my fists.
He flinched — I saw it, even as he quickly masked it with a soft smile.
"Who the fuck am I?"
"What am I?"
No answer.
"Answer me, goddamn it!"
"Calm down," he said quietly.
I shoved him hard.
Who the hell was he to order me around?
"Tell me — what am I? Who the fuck am I?!"
He hesitated.
Then, like the words slipped from him unwillingly, he said—
"You are a half-demon."
The words hit harder than any blow could.
I staggered back a step. Then another.
I turned, frantically scanning the room.
Where were my swords?
The twin blades that had once belonged to my mother —
the daggers my father had given me?
"Where are my weapons?" I demanded, whipping back toward him.
"My apologies, but for now... you can't have them."
I clenched my fists.
I could feel my anger slipping free from my control.
What was I supposed to do?
Scream?
Cry?
Break?
If I had my swords...
I would have killed them all.
"Where are they?" I growled.
"They're being studied. By mages and priests."
I closed the distance between us —
just a few inches apart now.
"If I find even one scratch on them..."
My voice was low, lethal.
"You and your people will pay for it with your lives."
To be continued...