The Shadow Men did not realize the power they imbued Sineya with. Efforts to merge the shadow demon with men were met with death and catastrophe. Despite the low regard that they held for women, the Shadow Men decided that a female might be more docile and suitable. But they had to choose somebody that would not be missed.
Sineya was a young girl that barely set foot out of her village. Now in her late adolescence, she was considered an old maid. Due to her lowly status, she was given the servants' scraps. The Shadow Men saw a starving Sineya take shelter under a savannah tree. They lured her with succulent fufu and clean water. They clothed her in a white burnous and kanga. Their kindness suddenly turned into malevolence when they dragged her to be chained against a rock.
She struggled in hysteria as the demonic forces emerged from its box. Sineya did not have the chance to scream as it merged with her. It was a traumatic experience akin to being skinned alive. When fear turned to vengeance, the fragile heart of a girl was replaced with something far more dangerous. The Shadow Men were enthused that Sineya survived the process, but they never got the chance to explore her talents. Sineya freed herself from the chains and ran off into the night like a crazed cheetah.
This is why it is recorded that Sineya did not have a Watcher.
Each night, she would hunt the vermin that stirred viciously in the night. And with each kill, Sineya lost more of her humanity. The fine burnous and kanga was ripped to shreds by vampires and other creatures. For a time, Sineya rubbed white clay on her face—hoping to cleanse the demon from her body. When the demonic part learned of Sineya's intentions, it made her line her eyes with black kohl to enhance its spiritual energy.
She was a pariah without a name, without a family, without a moment's peace from the power that claimed her soul. That is, until she was slaughtered after slaying the last Old One that arrogantly remained on earth. The other Old Ones were wise enough to flee to other dimensions. It was a fierce battle that took days, but has now been reduced to a sentence in the Watchers Council library.
Her time was supposed to be finite. But Sineya refused to be an animal exploited by the Shadow Men. They themselves must have been surprised when another Slayer manifested to carry on in Sineya's place. She laughed at the Watchers Council for their continued ignorance over the centuries. They foolishly used sorcery to identify who the next Slayer would be…only to be disappointed when their efforts proved futile. All those generations and they have still never figured out how a girl is chosen.
The answer has always been there, but they probably refuse to even entertain the thought. Why should they? Watchers are descended from the Shadow Men...the very men who thought it their right to rob a girl of her innocence and life. Perhaps Watchers believed they were more enlightened because they took an active role in the Slayer's preparation. Sineya believed that they were just as corrupt as their ancestors. Sometimes, when the Watchers are asleep, Sineya whispers playfully in their ears—though her voice sounds raspier than wintry branches:
The Slayer is chosen by me alone.
It has never been a coincidence that the Slayer shares the same prophetic dreams. When a Slayer dies, Sineya takes their spirit in her arms like a mother. She caresses them and calms their fears by offering immortality. She then wanders the earth in a flash, seeing the faces of many girls that possess the strength to be the Slayer. But it is the girl that also has heart that Sineya chooses. Her unorthodox methods would not fit the provincial mindset of the Watchers Council. Nor have her choices always resulted in success.
This was the way until the white-haired witch increased Sineya's reach. Before, Sineya would have attacked anyone who threatened the Slayer's power. But when the veil was lifted, and Sineya found that she could choose any girl, she smiled after spending eons angered by the injustice done to her. She spread her arms to all the Slayers that succeeded her, and lost their lives to the battle. Sineya urged them to welcome the Slayers that were activated. She had her own message for them:
I'm Sineya. First of the Ones. Primeval One. Primitive. First Slayer. Welcome my children. We are absolute…but no longer alone.