It was raining. It had been raining for hours as she sat on the porch, wrapped in a blanket against the chill. Blurrily in the distance, farmers grimly tilled the muddy soil. Even the plants and flowers surrounding the little houses bent low to the churned ground, looking weary and defeated.

It was the tinkling of harness bells that drew her eyes up the lane. A small covered wagon approached through the ruts, guided by a slouched figure wrapped in black. However, it was the strange beasts pulling the wagon that caught the eye.

They appeared to be midnight black horses, but their feet glowed with white-hot flame. Puddles hissed and steam roiled at each hoof-beat. Their manes and tails moved and danced with flames, echoing the rolling red eyes just visible behind the leather binders. One tossed its head and whinnied, giving the child clear view of the fangs inhabiting its mouth.

The door opened behind her, and she sensed her parents standing in the opening.

"About time he got here," her father grumped. "At least it's nice and public, so everyone will know the little demon is gone."

"You never will forgive me will you?" her mother sighed. "How was I supposed to know? My mother never told me she had demon blood in her." The little girl's head burned as she imagined her mother's eyes boring in to the back of her head. "Well, we know now. No more mistakes. This one will be gone. Maybe we can adopt?"

The wagon was closer now, close enough to make out the scaley hides of the horses, and the dark, rat-like features of their driver. A quick glance showed faces at every window, some set in frowns of disapproval, others looking grimly satisfied.

"Momma, who is that man?" The little girl half-turned, only to be met with a swinging buffet to the side of her head.

"I don't want to see those witch eyes!" Her mother snapped. "This is the man who is taking you to Lordaeron, to be with others like you. Filthy demon-bloods, mixing with normal folk. At least in Lordaeron they'll teach you to serve the crown properly."

"But Momma, I don't want to go!"

"Do you remember what happened to Tommy Smithson?" Her father asked. The little girl hung her head.

"I didn't mean to do it…it just happened. I won't do it again, I promise!"

"May as well promise to end all wars while you're at it. You nearly killed that boy with that demon curse you threw on him. That doesn't count the dog you killed with that infernal fire, or the flaming rocks you made rain from the sky onto Farmer's Scholson's field. You're not fit to live with normal people."

The wagon stopped in front of their little cottage. The girl shrank back against her parents' legs, staring upwards at the man descending from the seat. He wasn't overly tall, but the hooded dark cloak made him seem huge and bat-like. His eyes were a dull orange, like the last winter carrot in some rotting cellar. His lengthy nose caught the rain, and it dripped ceaselessly down his front.

"I can see in her eyes, this is the child I've come for," he rasped. He pulled a small bag from his cloak, and handed it over her head. "There's the agreed-on price. Twenty-five gold pieces for this one."

"You will ensure she gets to Lordaeron in a timely manner? And is properly placed?"

The man smiled. "She will be properly placed and trained for service. I can guarantee that." He looked down, full in the child's face. She recoiled, only to be shoved forward hard by her father's knee. "Time to go, little one. We have many miles to go, and the felsteeds are anxious to be off." He glanced back up at her parents. "Does she have any baggage?"

"Just this," her mother answered, handing over a small satchel. "Several changes of clothes and a few toys."

The man grabbed it, leaned around and tossed it in the back of the wagon. "Now my lovely, time to go."

The young girl tried to scream as the man's hands reached for her, but found her voice choked off. Then she saw it. The man's lips were moving slightly, casting something to silence her. A smile curved the edges of his mouth as he noticed her gaze. His tone changed, and she found herself as limp as a kitten in the mouth of its mother. Without effort the man swung her up, and into the back of the wagon. The rough feel of sacks underneath her fingers, and the browned canvas of the top filled her world as she struggled to scream and thrash in vain.

She heard a few more words, then the sharp crack of the whip, and the wagon lurched forward. It seemed like hours that she lay immobile, jerking back and forth in time to the hoof-beats, the sharp whip lashes and the curses of the driver the only thing filling her universe. Only her tears managed to leak out of her frightened eyes, slipping down her cheeks to wet the canvas below.

With a sudden jerk, the wagon stopped. Footsteps squelched in the wet ground, and the man appeared at the open end of the wagon. He reached in casually and grabbed the girl's front, pulling her into a sitting position. With his other hand he grabbed her satchel.

"Listen girl. If half of what your parents told me is true, you are smart enough to understand. You have demon blood, and you've already been able to pull off curses and spells without being trained. You're a warlock born. These idiots out here can't understand that. They see you setting fire to things and think it's a bad thing. It's not. It's wonderful. The power to destroy is an amazing tool."

He opened the satchel, pulling out the folded clothes and the tiny patchwork stuffed kitten she'd had since she was born. He made a face and chucked each item out into the muddy road. The little girl squeaked in outrage, jerking slightly as if to leap out after her belongings. The man looked up and slapped her hard across the face.

"Your parents sold you, girl. I don't know what they said to you, but you're going to go to an exclusive place to learn how to serve the Master's glory. Everything from your old life is rubbish." He pulled out a long black robe and laid it on the sacks. It was quickly joined by a set of shabby black trousers and shirt, and scuffed black shoes.

"I will release you to change. You have two minutes. Do not try to run, or I will punish you severely. There are ways that don't leave marks."

The girl swallowed a sob as the man disappeared, her shaking hands reaching for the dark clothing. It didn't take long to switch garb. The man reappeared almost as soon as she finished, gathering up her old clothing and tossing them into the mud. She saw his lips moving, and all her belongings burst into flames.

"Now we can get started. It's a long way to Scholomance from here. I will leave you free, but don't try to run. And don't you dare attempt to use any magic against me. Garkoz will be watching."

The man reached into his cloak, and drew out a hideous little creature. It giggled and bobbled, flipping and dancing in his hand. It had grossly oversized ears drooping with rows of silvered rings. Sharp claws glinted in each hooked finger. The man tipped his hand, flipping the little monster into the wagon. The girl scooted back as far as she could, while the creature cavorted. The man laughed and vanished around the corner. Moments later the whip cracked and the wagon lurched. Over the shoulder of the creature, the little girl watched her belongings burn and slowly fade in the distance, only her tears marking the time.