The Wanna-Be Alchemist

Prologue

Darkness prevails over my vision as I try to clear away the bleariness of my eyes.

Where was I? Who am I?

My vision slowly clears and I find myself in an elaborate room with blood red walls, cream carpets and nameless paintings. I was in a bed, I could tell; taking in the silky texture of the white sheets, down pillows and black comforter.

I wince at the light stabbing at my retina, groaning.

"You're up." Drawled a sickeningly sweet voice that seemed to come from my left.

I shift slightly and my eyes fall upon an odd-looking woman.

Not beautiful but she wasn't exactly ugly either with blackish-gray hair in a chin-length bob, severe purple eyes glowing with malice disguised as kindness and concern, sickly pale skin and a very conservative burgundy gown of what seemed to be thick wool with a white collar and cuffs.

I blink in confusion. Who is this woman and why do I have the sudden urge to rip her head off?

"My name is Dante. Come, you've been sleep for a long time."

Small, ice-cold hands grasp my arm and pull me up into a sitting position with surprising strength for one so frail-looking. I notice that I am not wearing anything.

Dante drops folded cloth into my lap. "Here. You'll need some clothes before you can meet the others."

"Others?" I rasp out. My voice is rough and hoarse. Maybe I haven't talked in a while. She said I'd been asleep for a long time.

Dante didn't turn away when I stood up rather shakily and pulled on the black garments she had given me.

I now wore a loose tank top. The sleeves would give me some trouble, I could tell, by the way they kept slipping down my slim shoulders. The shirt revealed most of my stomach. From the feel of it, the fabric was a silk-like-cotton. The pants hung loosely on my hips, showing the dips in muscle where my legs met the rest of my body; but it covered what was needed and fell to mid-calf.

Dante forced me to sit back down as she tied more cloth around my feet and then my hands.

The cloth on my feet covered my heel, soles and the balls of my feet but left my toes bare. On my hands the cloth was soft but tight, starting at the crook of my elbow and ending at my knuckles. On my right glove, there was a space she had missed in the shape of a diamond.

"You and the others are Homunculi. You are artificially created humans. Come, take a look at yourself."

I pushed myself off the edge of the marshmallow-like bed and did as I was told, taking in my reflection.

Messy black hair fell into my eyes. The hair had a slightly red tint to it, but my eyes were what shocked me. The pupils slit like a cats', the iris was a nearly black red with a sharp, strawberry red around the pupil. My skin was a tan color that slightly shocked me. I was expecting myself to be pale. As I turn my head slightly, examining myself, I notice a tattoo on the left side of my neck. A red dragon devouring it's own tail; a six-pointed star lay nestled in the middle.

"Who…who am I, Dante?" I whispered, slightly afraid to know the answer. I felt that I wouldn't like whatever she had to say.

I felt her cold hands on my shoulders as she leered at my reflection. "Welcome home, Lust."