Chapter 10: The Eve of Christmas
The hours ticked away and before everyone realized it was the night before Christmas and Kamaria showed no signs of waking up, but everyone took comfort at the steady rise and fall of her chest. As everyone watched over her in her comatose sleep numerous thoughts started to float in their head.
How did she survive the icy water?
How did the ice break?
What happened to her in the short period of time she was underwater?
When will she wake up?
Did we reach her in time?
How could this have happened?
Why is this happening to her?
What is going on?
Everyone expect Inuyasha failed to see the mark on her neck worried blinded to them as each hoped that she would wake soon and greet them with her warm smile and welcoming voice.
"You need to get some rest," Inuyasha advice as he placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"No," Kagome yawned, "I need to be here when she wakes."
"Kagome you can't do her any good if you don't take care of yourself."
"But…" Kagome protested.
Inuyasha shook his head, "Kagome you need your rest. Come I'll take you upstairs and I'll stay up with her."
Kagome hesitantly stood form her chair as Inuyasha helped guarded her up the stairs to her room. But Kagome couldn't help feeling that she was abandoning her friend in her time of need but as she was about to turn to go back to Kamaria, Inuyasha stopped her.
"I'll take care of her," Inuyasha assured as helped her sit down on her bed. "Trust me. Now get some sleep."
He tenderly tucked her in and watched as she tried to fight sleep, but her swallowing breathing alerted Inuyasha that Kagome was sleeping soundly. He sat down beside her on the bed and stared down at her before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Inuyasha stilled at the sound of a soft sigh as Kagome shifted towards him in her sleep. He carefully pulled away from her made his way to door, closing it behind he as he head back down to Kamaria.
Inuyasha noticed that during the time he spent upstairs Kamaria had shifted restlessly in her sleep, but she still showed no signs of waking anytime soon. Her peaceful face gave the illusion of her sleep being serene and calming, but Inuyasha knew better.
But deep within the darkness nightmare came alive and plagued her paralyzed body. Her body continued to battle the toxic poisons that were injected into her system. Kamaria could feel the warmth surround melted away the numbness she was feeling but as blood rushed through her vein caused her more pain.
Inuyasha wrinkled his nose as pain radiated off her and into the air around him. How could she appear so serene and calm when her body is racked with such agonizing pain? He tilted his head at the sound of feather like footsteps coming around the corner. Sesshoumaru appeared in the door way and stared at the bundled.
"Didn't know you cared," Inuyasha remarked slyly.
Sesshoumaru glared at Inuyasha. He glared right back at him. The room still as an agitated sigh rose from beneath the bundle. They turned their gazes away from each other to the bundle of blankets that started to shifted and move.
"If you can't stay quiet," a voice mumbled beneath the blankets, "than take it elsewhere there is someone trying to recover in here."
Her hands peeked out pulling the blanket to reveal a very Kamaria annoyed as she glared at the brothers.
"You're alive," Inuyasha gasped in astonishment.
"If you call this living," Kamaria grumbled as the ceiling above her started to spin as a wave of dizziness hit her. She closed her eyes and steadied her breath as tried to fight back nausea that rose from the pit of her stomach. Movement off to her side caught her attention; she slowly turned to watch Inuyasha kneel down beside her.
"How are the others holding up?" Kamaria asked.
"They've worried sick about you," Inuyasha replied as he rose, "I better let them know that you're awake."
Icy fingers wrapped around his wrist stopping him from going anywhere. It startled him as he glanced down at her widen eyed. Her hand slipped away from his wrist and back beneath the blanket. It was like death had touched him and Inuyasha couldn't stop the shiver that ran down into the very core of his body.
"Let them sleep, they'll find out soon enough," Kamaria voiced softly as she closed her eyes.
"Kagome will have my head if I don't…" Inuyasha protested. How can she be still freezing cold?
She slightly opened her eyes to stare in his direction. "You and I both know that she needs her rest as much as everyone else does."
"How do you know that?"
"My body may have laid here motionless, but that doesn't mean I wasn't aware of what was going on around me. Dawn will come soon enough."
"How is it…?" Inuyasha paused and it cause Kamaria to turn her head to glance at him. "How is it that you can are still so cold?"
She blinked up at him with confusion on her face.
"Can't you feel it?" Inuyasha asked.
"It must be the poison," Sesshoumaru stated.
"Poison???" Inuyasha gasped.
"The creature that dragged me under pump me with poisons," Kamaria explained, "It can paralyzed its victim and with the help of the icy water it immobilizes them."
"How can you know that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Mama Ahayla taught me about poisons," she replied, "and she told me that this type is like freezing water in your veins."
"And yet you survived," Sesshoumaru remarked coldly.
"Lay off Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha grumbled. "What about this creature? What happened to it?"
"It sank to the bottom of the lake," she answered.
"Sank to the bottom? How?" Sesshoumaru pressed.
"Why was it after you?" Inuyasha inquired.
"I don't know," Kamaria responded before she drifted off to sleep once more.
He couldn't control that growl that rose in his throat at the many unanswered questions that pierced his mind. Inuyasha pulled the blankets over her shoulder and tucking her in.
"Leave her be Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha warned as paused brief beside Sesshoumaru on his way to the stairs. "She'll explain everything when she's well rested."
Leaving Sesshoumaru to stand alone in the doorway as he continued to watch the steady rise and fall of her chest. The cabin fell into a comfortable silence as everyone seem to almost knew that everyone would look brighter tomorrow.
It would be so easy to walk over to her and squeeze the life from her body in her defenseless state. But his heart clinched painfully in his chest at the thought of his own hands taking her life, it worsen as he thought of another taking her life.
Why did he suddenly care whether she live or died?
He approached her and watched as her body tensed, it was almost as if she knew he was there, but soon her body relaxed as if there was nothing to worry about. She turned away from him and for the first time since their arrival at the cabin, she was not wearing the leather choker. His father's family crest glowed red hot like a branding iron. She shifted restlessly as if she could feel the heat from the mark.
It was common knowledge that demons seeking a mate would mark them with their family crest, but this mark was different. Sesshoumaru knelt down beside her to study it. The mark looked fresh as the day it was created and it showed no signs of healing as it continued to burn and sizzle at the skin surrounding it.
Could he have possibly marked her that night? Sesshoumaru knew there were many ways to mark a mate, but he had never heard of someone receiving it by a mere scratch. Could it be that whatever creature she may be can receive their mating mark with a mere scratch? Can such a thing even be possible? But there was the proof on her neck glowing hot.
Her sweet scent lured him closer to her and she shifted towards him in her sleep. Their lips merely a breath away from one another. His eyes narrowed down at her somewhat pale lips, but the sight was snatched away from him as she turned away and sighed softly. His eyes were drawn back the mark on her neck before he realized what he was doing he lean closer and lightly brush his lips against it.
He pulled away quickly as she shifted in her sleep to lay flat on her back. Her shirt top lower slightly off her shoulder, he noticed that ugly black wound that darkened with each passing moment with some sort of dark ink. Sesshoumaru lean closer as he caught sight of something sticking out of the wound.
He cautious lightly scraped at it with a claw. Kamaria flinched away from him as the pain announced itself to her in her dreams. Sesshoumaru waited for to settled into a dreamless sleep once more before sinking his claws into the wound and grasped the dart. He yanked it quickly out before pained wretched through her body once more.
Sesshoumaru studied the wound as it started to seal itself close right before his eyes and the dark color faded. She flinched slightly at his movement, her face twisted with pain for a moment, but it was replaced by a serene look came over her and her body relax into the couch. Sesshoumaru pulled away from her dropping the ivory dart tip on the coffee table and rushed out of the room not looking back.
He locked himself in his study as he glance down at his hand that was stained with her blood once more. Blood that smell as sweet as honey and just as warm and the very scent intoxicated him that night. Everything about her intoxicated him to the point of madness. Sesshoumaru clinched his hands into fists as he fought against the raging emotions that screamed at him to go back to her and make her his.
Kamaria woke with a startled and reach over to touch her shoulder. She pulled her hand away and saw that her blood was not red, but black. She rushed into the kitchen to wash the dark liquid away before anyone noticed it.
Who am I? What am I? What will I become?
The thoughts overcame Kamaria as she leaned over the sink when she felt queasiness rose from the pit of her stomach. She touched her head as she became lightheaded and her body slowly swayed with fatigue. The sink slipped from her grasp as her body started to fall backwards, but he was there suddenly and he caught her before she could hit the floor.
Sesshoumaru had watched her from his study as she swayed on her feet and started to slip back. He lifted her up in his arms effortlessly and took her back to couch. He laid her down onto the cushions and her face was ghostly white. Her eyes darted around the room wildly as if trying to catch something before it caught her.
Her body fallen gave way under the stress and she succumb to the darkness as she fainted. Sesshoumaru brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. For the first time since he had met her Sesshoumaru could smell the stronger scent of fear radiating from her. But what could have the power to frighten her in such a manner?
There were many things about her that didn't add up. He watched over her as he pondered over the enigma that was known as Kamaria. The symbol upon her neck, her almost fearless personality when she came face to face with his demonic nature and her scent started to weaken with each passing moment.
But dawn was approaching quickly and Sesshoumaru know that it was only a matter of time before the others awoke. He strolled away from her but paused briefly to glance back at her before continuing on to his study.
Kamaria awoke shortly after and she found herself staring up at the ceiling. She blinked in confusion. How did I get here? She knew she was in the kitchen one minute and the next here she was lying on the couch. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered his arms wrapped securely around her and protected her from falling.
The warmth of his embrace penetrated through the cold that seeped through her body. Kamaria pushed the blankets away and walked over to the stand beside the window to watch the sun rise over the horizon. For the first time since the death of her parents that Kamaria actually felt safe and protected in other's embrace.
Christmas Morning
Her body continued to ache as it fought against the affects of the demon's poisons, but grateful that didn't stop Kamaria from sneaking up stairs for a change of clothes. She sat quietly against the couch and enjoyed the cheerful chirp of the birds as the sun peeked over the horizon.
The sound of footsteps alerted her that the others had awakened and would soon be joining her downstairs. A shadow caught the corner of her eye; she turned sharply and found Sesshoumaru standing only a few inches away watching her. They were interrupted by the rush of footsteps into the living room.
"Kamaria," Kagome gasped, "You alright!"
"Is there a reason why I should be?" Kamaria asked with a soft smile.
"We were so worried about you," Sango added.
"Don't want to waste a perfectly good Christmas morning with worrying, now do you?" Kamaria pointed out.
"How are you feeling?" Miroku asked.
"I am little worse for wear, but nothing too serious," Kamaria replied. She tugged the turtleneck up around her neck. "You plan to stare at me all day or open those presents that are under the tree."
"Why did you tell me that she was awake?" Kagome asked as she turned to stare at Inuyasha.
"Well…" He began.
Kamaria interrupted, "I asked him not to. Forgive and forget life is too short to stay angry for too long."
"Yeah I guess you're right," Kagome mumbled.
"Hey is this Christmas or what," Miroku pointed out as he rubbed his hands together, "those present aren't going to open themselves."
Kamaria watched everyone torn through the wrapping like piranhas through their prey. A soft smiled appeared on her face as she remember the days of her youth with her parents during this time of year. Her glance drew away from them and gaze out the window to watch as it started to flurry.
"Blackbird," Kagome voiced, "Here this is for you."
Kamaria blinked as her thought vanished as Kagome held out a black package for to her take.
"What's this?" Kamaria asked.
"This was left under the tree for you," Kagome answered, hand it over to her with a note. "And this was with it."
Kamaria took the note from her and turned it over to see a blood red seal wax seal with the three crescent moons.
Could it be possible? The torn the seal and pulled open the note, but it merely read.
It is time you knew the truth.
Ahayla
She untied the cloth and found a thick leather bound journal. It had a musky and old smell to with pages that were wrinkled with age. Kamaria could not have mistaken the elegant handwritten words for anyone but her mother's. She remembered wishing she had her elegant hand when she was younger and the awe she felt as she watched her mother write. With great reverence Kamaria opened the book and paged carefully through it, but found a crinkled note a few pages in.
What's this, she thought as she pulled out he note and unfolded and noticed her mother had also written the note.
To our dearest child,
I fear my child that you're quiet and peaceful life has become plagued by darkness that we hoped would never touch you. But if you are reading this then it must mean that your father and I are no longer with you. We have failed in keeping you safe from his clutches.
Beware my child for the darkness can destroy those you hold most dear and you will be unaware of it until it is to late. Oh my precious how I regret that we cannot be there with you now and watch as you grow up into a most beautiful woman. How I regret that you will be facing this darkness alone.
I know over the years that Ahayla has taken good care of you and you have blossom into a beautiful young woman. You would make any parents proud to call you their daughter like you have always been to your father and me. How I would loved to be there to answers the questions that have plagued you since over deaths.
But your father and I are with you in spirit and know that we are always watching over you. You must not be anger with Ahayla for keeping this book from you, but this book would only make sense to you as things began to happen that you didn't understand.
There came a time in my life before you were born that the words welled up within me that begged to be written and so I created this book that I have keep adding to over the years. It was written as a precaution, even before I knew I was with child, I wanted to leave something behind incase anything happened to us.
Over the years I know Ahayla had taught you many things, but she had also keep things from you that only a mother could explain to you. This book will answer all you questions and I hope to answers questions yet to come. Be well my Kamaria and know that you father and I will always love you. If we should dye this day we hope that you live a life of freedom and love.
We love you now and always.
Your mother and father,
Annis and Sachiel
"Whose is it from?" Miroku asked.
"It's from my mother," Kamaria replied.
"But did you say she die," Inuyasha pointed out.
"She did," Kamaria answered, "but she left this behind for me. Ahayla somehow found a way to get it to me."
"So who wants some hot cocoa?" Kagome blurted out as she tried to turn the subject away from her mother.
"That would be lovely," Kamaria answered with a smile. She leaned her head back and rest against the couch closing her eyes hoping to block out everything and calm the thoughts that ran rampage through her mind.
"You not going to tell them, are you?" Inuyasha questioned.
She pulled her head up, "They've worried enough on my account, don't you agree?"
"They have a right to know," Inuyasha argued.
"They do," Kamaria agreed, "but now is not that time. I will not ruin their holidays with something as insignificant."
"Insignificant?!?!" Inuyasha gasped with a bewildered look on his face. "You were attack and you call that nothing."
"Keep your voice down," Kamaria hissed. Her eyes took on a strange tint as she watched him from the couch. "I will not risk their safety and you will swear to me that you won't say a word. Swear it!"
"Alright," Inuyasha mumbled, "I swear."
"The same goes to for you," Kamaria voiced as she turned to glance in Sesshoumaru's direction. "Although I don't see you caring one way or the other."
Sesshoumaru growled, "You…"
"The cocoa is ready," Kagome announced as she placed the tray on the coffee with several mugs of hot cocoa. "Where did Miroku and Sango disappear to?"
"Upstairs," Kamaria answered as she slowly sipped her cocoa.
"I'll just take this up to them," Kagome voiced. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine," Kamaria smiled. "Oh Kagome before you go Inuyasha has something he wants to give you."
"He does?" She questioned as she turned to look at him with surprise. "What is it?"
"Uh…" Inuyasha stuttered. "Well…"
"Why don't you go show her?" Kamaria pressed.
Inuyasha hesitated for a bit not really wanting to leave Kamaria alone with his half brother. She motion with her head towards the stairs and smiled reassuring at him. Kamaria watched silently as Kagome made her way up the steps with a very pinked face Inuyasha quietly following behind.
"You are welcome to ask your questions," Kamaria voiced, "but I don't guarantee answers."
"I grow tired of your games," Sesshoumaru growled.
"What a shame as I am not here to play games," Kamaria retorted.
"Then why have you come?"
"To remember what I've forgotten in hopes that it will save my future."
A loud squeal interrupted them as they glance back at the staircase to see Kagome bound down the steps towards her. She revealed to Kamaria the crystal pendant that she had given to Inuyasha only a few days ago.
"Look, isn't it gorgeous," Kagome voiced breathlessly.
"It's lovely," Kamaria agreed with a soft smile. She held it in her hand for a moment before allowing it slip out of her hand. "Kagome, you better get everyone together."
"Why?" She asked with confusion. Kamaria pointed to the window and she heard Kagome's gasp in awe as she watched the snow fall.
"You better enjoy it before it gets to heavy," Kamaria pointed out.
"But what about you," Kagome inquired. "It wouldn't be fair to leave you here by yourself."
"I won't be myself. I have my mother's journal to keep me company."
"But…"
"No buts Bluebird. Go on and enjoy yourselves." Kamaria ushered her back towards the steps, but she hesitated for a moment. It didn't take Kamaria long to convince that she was going to be just fine as she watched Kagome bounce up the stairs. Moments later the sound of footsteps were heard racing down the stair towards the closet.
"Now are you sure you don't mind," Sango asked she pulled on her coat.
"I do believe that you two become old maids while I was sleep," Kamaria commented, "but like I told Kagome I'll be just fine. I'll be too busy reading my mother's journal to really notice that you guys are gone."
A chuckle escaped Miroku's lips before he could stop himself and the air around him became ominous. He fidgeted nervously as he turned to find Sango and Kagome glaring at him.
"Well," Miroku started to inch towards the door, "It's such a nice day and times a wasting. I'll see you later Kamaria."
"Miroku get back here," Sango shouted as she rushed out after him.
"You better get after those two," Kamaria voiced, "before Sango does any permanent damages."
"I left a pot of cocoa on the stove," she shouted as she started to run after Sango. "You can heat it up whenever you want more."
Kamaria giggled as she watched Kagome disappeared behind a snow bank following Sango's foot prints.
"You better catch up with her," Kamaria gently shoved Inuyasha towards the open door.
"Thanks," Inuyasha replied.
"What for," Kamaria tilted her head slightly to the side and smiled softly at him.
"For everything," Inuyasha mumbled as a blush painted on his cheeks.
"It was my pleasure," Kamaria stated kindly. Shouts were heard as they rushed out onto the porch and saw Sango flinging snow ball at heart rating pace. Miroku was pitifully dodging them while hiding by a bid oak tree.
"My sweet Sango," Miroku plead as he popped out his head from behind the tree. "I didn't mean it."
"Don't sweet Sango me," Sango fired back as she flung another snow ball at him, but he duck and it splattered on the tree trunk.
Kamaria laughed out loud at Miroku's futile attempt to get away but Sango was too quick and nailed him with several snow balls. Inuyasha leaped over the railing on the porch and started towards them. She turned away only a few moments before a squeak caught her and then splat. Kamaria watched as Kagome stumbled with Inuyasha as they lost their footing and tumbled back onto the ground.
"You alright," Kamaria laughed a she called out from the porch.
"Do I look alright?" Inuyasha fired back. He glared up at Kamaria until muffled laughter caught his ear as he glanced down at Kagome who was lying against his chest.
"Sorry," giggled Kagome.
"I bet you are," Inuyasha mumbled as he watched her for awhile.
"Inuyasha...no...You won't dare," Kagome squeaked as she noticed the playful spark that melt his amber color eyes as she back away from him, but before she could get too far Inuyasha pounced on her wrapping his arms around her waist tickling her.
Kamaria smiled as she turned away from the railing leaving them to their fun and as she started back she could heard Kagome's laughter follow her every step of the way. She silently closed the door behind her leaving it unlatched. She paused briefly in the foyer and glanced into the living room where the journal laid abandon on the couch. A chill ran through her as she finally realized that she would finally be getting answers to questions that she had searched for her whole life.
Sesshoumaru sulked before the fireplace as her laughter floated in the air around him, he growled at the thought of another seeing her smile and being the source of her laughter. How he envied them to be able to enjoy her company without want to feel the sudden urge to crush her against him and silent her impertinent tongue with a kiss. Those thoughts overwhelm him day and night that the very imagine of her would not let him rest in peace.
Father, what am I to do? But his question was met with silence as he continued to ponder the sudden connection between them.
Kamaria was rummaging around in her bag upstairs until she found comfortable clothes to wear for the night. She made her way into the bathroom and turn on the water letting run while she peeled off her clothes. Her clothes piled beside the tub as she hoped into the shower and relaxed underneath the hot cascading water. The water massaged her aching muscles, but she found that the water soothed her so much that she started to fall asleep where she stood.
The bathroom had filled with steam when Kamaria stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel that hung on the rack. She quickly toweled herself down before getting dressed into her cotton pajamas. She picked up her clothes from the floor and dropped them into a hamper as she walked out into the room. Kamaria went back to her bag and started to search from another leather choker. She hoped as she searched that she had packed another.
She sighed, "Just my luck."
She pulled the dark choker for the bag and strapped it onto her neck. Kamaria flicked off the lights and headed back downstairs feeling quite refreshed. She walked into the kitchen to wash what little dishes there were. Kamaria softly hummed to herself as she finished the last of the dishes leaving one cup on the counter for the hot cocoa she was heating up.
She wiped her hand on the dish cloth and lean up against the counter allowing her weary body rest for a moment. Even with the hot shower her body protested with sudden movements it was making. Kamaria rested up and grabbed her shoulder as it pulse beneath her palm. She bit back a gasp at the pain and turned to focus her attention on the pot that was whistling beside her.
Kamaria poured herself a cup and started for the living room when Sesshoumaru suddenly appeared her. It had startled her so much that she nearly dropped her cup of cocoa. She glared at him, "I really wish you would stop doing that."
They glared at one another, but the door sprang open and the sound of stomping feet interrupted before either of them could speak their minds. Sango walked in with a satisfying smile it remember Kamaria of the cat that ate the canary and was lounging comfortable on a rug after her meal. Miroku followed her was soaking with from head to toe.
Poor Miroku, she thought as she hid her smile behind her cup. A rosy cheeked Kagome trailed behind him with Inuyasha close by, but either of them stepped into the cabin. Inuyasha took it upon himself to brush out the snow from her hair before allowing her inside.
"Glad to see you had fun," Kamaria voiced from the doorway of the kitchen, but glanced at Miroku who frowned. "Well at least some of you had fun."
She turned away to head back into the kitchen until a collective gasp made her whirl around to stare at them.
"What?" Kamaria asked as she noticed everyone staring up above her head. Her eyes widen in horror as she saw a small twig with white berries hanging in the doorway. "Nope, no I am sorry. Not going to do it."
"It is tradition after all," Miroku remarked.
"Who am I going kiss huh," Kamaria pointed out.
"Well Sesshoumaru of course," Miroku stated slyly. "He is under there with you."
Kamaria glanced at him and noticed that for once the lecher was right. Sesshoumaru was standing beneath it with her. Everyone watched the pair anxiously awaiting the kiss, but Kamaria turned back to them. "Forget it."
"Aww come on," Miroku insisted, "What can one kiss hurt? Beside do you want to start out the New Year with bad luck?"
Sesshoumaru glared at him, but before he could make a move towards, Kamaria framed his face with her soft, delicate hands—leaning up, she planted a soft kissed on his cheek.
"Satisfied," Kamaria glared at him before turning to head into the kitchen. "Good night."
"Very," Inuyasha snickered at the look of utter shock on Sesshoumaru's face. Kagome nudge him with her elbow before dragging him up the stairs with her before he could start any trouble. Sango followed Kagome with Miroku pulling him by the ear.
Kamaria duck out of the doorway and lean up against the wall. The cup in her hand splattered on the floor at her feet. She placed her hand on her pound heart and she bit back the groan that arose within her at the tingling sensation the mark was giving off in her body. It seem to only last for seconds until scorching sensation returned full force turning her body into liquid fire.
Kamaria stumbled towards the sink yanking the dish rag off the ring and wet it under running water. She untied the choker and replaced it with the wet rag in hopes that it would give her some sort of relief from the burning. And it did if only for a short time, she could stop the tears that ran down her face from the pain that wretched her body.
Kamaria silently mopped up the cocoa she spilt but she paused briefly as she bent to pick up the cup and placed it on the counter. She took the rag from her neck and used it to wipe her face before hanging it over the sink. Kamaria retired the choker around her neck before making her way to the living room to curl up on the couch, pulling up the covers to snuggle into the cushions.
But sleep evaded her as she caught sight of her mother's journal, Kamaria sighed as she flicked on the lamp light. Sleep was only a dream as Kamaria couldn't remember a day that she had a peaceful night sleep since arrival in Kagome's home. She leaned over gingerly as she pick up the journal and lean back into the couch's armrest.
Kamaria stared out of the window and watched the night was painted in an orange glow as the snow became heavier, but her eyes fell on the journal that lied in her lap. She paused briefly as she felt the poison shift and pound in her veins. It was time to learn the answer to the question.
Why didn't she died when first Sesshoumaru and now Seadra's poison coursing through her vein?
Why her pitch black hair had white highlights in them?
Why she had been blessed with slivery gray eyes?
Kamaria pushed aside her discomfort and flipped open her book to the first page. Her mother's words leap off the page at her as she began her search for answers.