I had no idea what was wrong with myself.
It was a bright afternoon as I was walking home from school, my dark hair tied up in its usual bun and my backpack slung over my thin shoulders. School had just gotten out less than an hour ago, and after chatting with my friends for a bit I had decided to walk home. There was a slight wind in the air that grabbed loosely at my loose shirt, causing a shiver to slip down my spine. I hated walking home. I always felt so uneasy walking alone, not knowing what could happen.
I hadn't meant for anything to happen; I just wanted to get home to my lovely parents, eat a meal that was much too big, and head to bed for another day of academic torture at my painfully ordinary high school. I didn't expect to be jumped by two men, one holding a wickedly sharp dagger who threatened to attack me if I didn't give them my money.
In all honesty, I can't really explain what exactly happened.
But as soon as one of the thugs- the one with no knife- lurched forward to clasp onto my unwilling arm, everything seemed to happen in milliseconds. An incredible light encased the three of us. The two strangers immediately took cover, closing their eyes to hide from the golden hue that seemed to be generated from my skin. A knife was quickly pointed in my direction, jerking out in order to come into contact with my skin; but with no such luck. The dagger melted, becoming a puddle of silver at the man's feet as his partner ran in fright, his screams echoing with his frantic footsteps. As the last man continued to stare at me, his jaw hanging on the floor, I had the strange urge to reach out and tap his forehead, and did so without a second thought. I hadn't expected his skin to melt from his body just as his dagger had done. I hadn't expected his body, now bare to the dusty white bone, to crumble at my feet. I hadn't expected his grinning skeleton to disintegrate into a pile of ashes that began to blow away as the wind swallowed it.
I hadn't meant to accidentally kill someone.
I had to at least try explaining to my parents what had happened, this thought in my head as I numbly walked the rest of the way home, the dagger's empty hilt in one hand as some kind of proof of evidence. I didn't think they'd believe me; who would? I was just a normal girl, not a which or sorceress that could destroy anything in her path. Who could wreck havoc on anything they wanted. I wasn't... I wasn't evil.
... Right?
I walked into my house, not bothering to shout out to my parents that I was home like I usually did whenever I arrived. "Honey? Is that you?" My mom asked curiously. Her voice was soft and melodic, like cashmere wrapped up in a silk bow. She was the most sofisticated woman I had ever seen. She was refined and always calm, with a knowing smile and polite tilt of her head whenever she listened to someone speak to her. She was patient. Understanding. Solid. And everything I needed at that moment.
My arms wrapped around her and my head buried itself into her chest as a sob shook itself from my body. Shocked, she stood unmoving for a second before her motherly side took action, circling her arms over my head. "Tom? Tom, something's wrong!" Immediately my dad appeared beside her, a worried dip in between his dark brows as he assessed me. Looking for any injuries.
"Kai? Are you hurt? Tell us what's wrong." My dad's gruff voice appeared, and my mother continued to soothe me by running her hands lightly down my back, trying to hush the broken hiccups that escaped from my lips. I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. I didn't know what I could tell them.
My dad noticed the knife hilt in my hand. "Where did you get that from?" He asked, pulling it from my desperate grasp as he looked it over. His eyes widened when he noticed the blade, once sharp and glittering, gone. Silently, he looked at my mom with a troubled expression... Maybe even one of guilt. At this time, I finally found my voice.
"Two men... They just came out of nowhere. I- i was so scared... One had a dagger... Pointed it at me... There was a bright light, and..." I trailed off and couldn't continue, my sobs risinrhince more as I replayed the memory. "I don't know what happened. I didn't meant to kill him. I didn't mean to." The tears were overflowing, streaming down my pale cheeks and staining the front of my mom's sweater. She, too, had a grim look on her face as my words sunk in. Then, absolute horror. "Holy crap." My dad whispered, combing his fingers through his hair. I did the same, whenever I was stressed. "Christ, Delilah; it actually worked." My mom nodded silently, and her hands paused their movement.
I didn't know what they were talking about. I almost didn't want to know. But I knew I had to ask.
"What worked? What's wrong with me? Am I a- a witch?" A new terror flooded my veins, ceasing the fresh wave of tears that had begun to fall from my eyes. If anyone in Death City were to know that I was a witch... I'd be dead for sure in less than a month, if that information got out.
My dad shook his head ferociously. "No! No, you aren't a..." He sighed, exhaustion in his tone. He traded another look with my mom. Another sigh. One of complete and utter defeat.
"There's something we have to tell you."
A.N: Okay! Hi there, this is Jodys-pen. Sorry for such a short chapter; I've had this story idea for some time, now, and had originally started it a few years back... Then I disappeared. I've decided to come back, and I've restarted from the beginning. Sorry for such a short first chapter; just trying to set up the mood and plot. Hope you enjoy it; any feedback is welcomed immensely! Thanks for stopping by!
-J
