She left the room, and the Lord didn't have a clue to what or who this woman was.

Later that night

He tossed and turned in his bed. He couldn't sleep.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that woman fighting the officer with great ease and then saw the red stain. He heard her voice, but in all his visions of her, she never had a face. He hadn't seen her face. He had to see her face.

Chapter 2: Scars

She thanked Kamaru and said good night and quietly shut the sliding door to her new room

The room itself was in good condition, much better than most worker's quarters. It was almost as nice as her old room, it had plain walls, but the most beautiful tapestries hanging on them; one of them depicted a scene where a samurai and a maiden held a sword together against a hydra. The maiden had wings and the man had many wounds. He seemed to draw strength from the maiden. The two cast a glow and the hydra withered away from it.

She turned toward the bed. It was a queen-sized mat with two pillows. The sheets were made of red cotton with little blue embroiderments on it. It was nice, not the best of quality but very nice for a healer's room.

She saw a wardrobe on the wall between the bed and the tapestry, opposite the doorway. She walked over to it and opened it, finding nothing in the drawers.

She took the room all in and took at deep breath and started crying.

She missed home.

She missed Papa.

She undressed quickly and slid under the covers adjusting her feathered wings under her, crying into them to muffle herself. She didn't want anyone here to see this and ask her why she was crying, or about her wings.

She would fall asleep for an hour or so then wake up sweating and crying muttering, "I'm sorry Papa, I should've been quicker. I'm so sorry."

Then she would cry herself back to sleep for another hour and repeat. Over all she didn't get much sleep, and what she did get was plagued by nightmares.

The last time she woke up it was a little before dawn, so she figured she'd go take a bath in the bathhouse.

She slid into her white under kimono and walked quietly in the dark of early morning, to the bathhouse that was around a few corners.

She opened the door quietly not to wake anyone and looked side to side to make sure no one saw her. She turned her head back to step inside but she froze.

What she found when she peered inside the bathhouse was the back of a man with dark brown hair that came to the base of his neck.

His back had a large slash in it, and she had seen it before but she didn't know where.

She quickly shut the door and scampered back to her room.

Griffin turned around where he sat in the quiet, warm bathhouse as he heard the door shut.

I wonder who that was. Everyone knows I take my baths in the morning except…

He realized that only one person in the castle didn't know his habits.

He stood up and dried himself off; he wrapped himself in his under kimono and walked back to his room.

She shut the door behind her panting trying to figure out whom she just saw, and why she recognized his scar.

flashback

A young man stood in front of a demon. The demon had gray skin, black hair, gleaming red eyes with fangs and claws. It looked like a female Dracula.

"Stay back demon!" the young man proclaimed.

She hissed in return and charged the young man. He dodged and spun around trying to stab her in the back but he wasn't fast enough; she sliced a big cut down his back.

He yelled in pain and fell on his knees.

He seethed, "Damn you."

The woman demon chuckled and knelt next to the struggling man.

"Come with me," she cooed in a venomous voice, "I can make the pain stop," and she began to move her lips closer to his.

He froze but then quickly realized what was happening and slashed at the demoness.

She jumped back from the blade that cut a wound into her stomach.

She doubled over holding the slice as she watched the man stand.

He used his sword to prop himself up as he put one knee up then the other.

The young man charged the woman again but this time she hoped into a tree, blew a kiss, and then disappeared.

"Damn her…"

"Lord-"

The flashback ended right there.

She knew who the vampire-like demon was, but who was the lord?

Could it be..Lord Griffin?

She covered her mouth and sank down to the floor.

She had attacked him.

She gave him that horrendous scar.

She opened up her kimono to find a little scar across her abdomen.

She never could fully revive herself in her demon form.

She drew her finger along the barely noticeable line.

Just then, a knock came at her sliding door.

She quickly tied up her kimono and said, "Yes?"

"Lord Griffin wishes to see you," answered Kamaru's voice.

Shit...He noticed me…

Ryann wrapped her kimono over herself and walked out of the room, hiding her shivers.

Kamaru gave her a cute smile that made her blush ever so slightly.

"Sh-shall we go?" she stuttered.

"This way," he said, starting to the right.

She nodded her head dumbly and followed him.

"So, eh Kamaru, what is the lord like?" she asked curiously.

"Well, from what I know, he's kind but doesn't like a lot of people. I know it's strange for a lord not to like to deal with people but Lord Griffin is a strange man," he said trying to give her a straight answer.

"Oh I see," she said half to herself.

She looked around at the castle they were in. The wooden hallways were bordered by little lamps that were put out since it was morning. The walls were white with red trim. It was a very nice place but not overly done or pompous. The pathways ran next to koi ponds that held delicate white and purple lilies.

"Here we are," he said a little hesitantly.

"Thank you Kamaru," Ryann said a little sad to leave him.

"Good luck in there," Kamaru cheered giving her a little thumbs up in encouragement.

She smiled weakly and knocked on the door as Kamaru walked away.

"Who is it?" asked a man's voice.

"It's I, my lord. You asked to see me?" Ryann spoke through the door, afraid of what he was going to do.

"Ah, yes Ryann, do come in." he answered bored-like.

Ryann opened the door and stepped into the room with her head bent. She shut the door behind her and turned back around toward Lord Griffin.

He sat looking at the young woman for a moment, trying to find out what she was.

"Please sit, Ryann," he said still digesting her.

"Of course, my lord," and she stepped towards Lord Griffin and then sat down on her knees, awaiting her impending doom.

"So Ryann, how do you like your quarters?" he was avoiding the subject.

"Oh, there wonderful my lord. Why is there an empty wardrobe in it though?" she let the question slip.

The lord was terribly amused at her boldness. "For you of course."

Ryann outburst, "My lord I really don't need such a fine wardrobe in my room for I have no belongings!"

"Would you like me to take it out?" he asked confused.

"No, not really my lord, I mean it is nice but I don't know what I shall do with it," she said tripping over her words.

Griffin mentally chuckled at the way she was so easily flustered.

He changed the subject. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Fine, my lord," she lied.

If he could've seen her face, he would've seen the sacks under her sleepy eyes.

"Did you get a bath?"

She froze.

What am I supposed to say? Oh my god! What am I supposed to say!

"I'm sorry my lord! I truly am! I didn't know about you and the bathhouse and-"

He cut her off with a hand gesture.

"What did you see?"

"Oh, my lord, I-I-I just saw the scar. I'm sorry!"

He smiled at the way she ranted.

"Would you like to know the story of my scar?" he asked, getting up.

"If you would tell it, my lord," she said, restraining herself not to yell out in excitement. This was her chance to know if it was her or not.

"Well, I was wondering in the woods about 3 years ago. It was very late at night but the full moon lit up most things in the forest."

She cringed at the full moon.

"I escaped from my escort-I've always hated being escorted-which was a very stupid thing to do at the moment. I turned the corner and there stood one of the most beautiful creatures in the forest. She sat sleeping in a tree but as soon as I stepped on a branch, her hypnotic red eyes opened up and at first…fear struck them but then suddenly a seducing look came over them."

'Hello,' it said in a venomous hiss.

I could do nothing but stare.

The lady demon hopped down from her perch and approached me, and I was hardly aware of what was happening. I couldn't turn my gaze away from her stare.

She started caressing my cheek, which snapped me into reality when I saw her long black claws.

I jumped back, drawing my sword. I starting yelling at her to get back but she just kept coming on to me and finally she attacked me. She got me in the back then blew a kiss then disappeared."

She sat in silence.

Her fear had been confirmed.

"Well, you have duties to go to. Please, ask the guard outside the door where you are to go," he said brushing her off.

"Yes, my lord," she said standing. She bowed and headed towards the door.

"Oh, Ryann," he said half asking.

"Yes, my lord?" She answered not turning around as she paused.

"Don't take baths in the morning."

She walked out of the room crimson.

Ryann turned to look up at a very, very tall guard with long brown hair and the darkest brown eyes.

"Em Lord G-" she began.

"Go to the left then straight until you see the courtyard then go to the 5th door on the right," he answered without even looking at her.

"Thank you."

She began walking the way she was told.

He still didn't see her face.

Damnit!

She knocked on the door and entered. She looked around and found many wounded soldiers; some asleep and others screaming in waking pain.

A man dressed in a blue kimono similar to priest's clothing walked over and stuck out his hand.

"Lady Ryann?" he asked kindly.

"Just Ryann please, sir," she answered back with a smile.

"Only if you don't call me sir," he said.

"What shall I call you then?" she asked, glad of some merriment.

"Alexander," he said turning toward the patient, gesturing her to follow.

"OK Alexander, where are the supplies?" she asked ready to help these people.

"Over there," he pointed to a small cabinet, smaller than her empty wardrobe, and it wasn't even half full. What it contained was a small amount of bandages, a quart of antiseptic, and an empty container for painkillers.

"Is this it?" she asked, confused.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," he answered sadly.

"Ok then…"

She grabbed a few bandages and a little bit of antiseptic and walked over to the first man.

He was awake but barely.

"Hello, my lady," he greeted in a labored breath.

"Hello, my name is Ryann," she said smiling," this might hurt a bit."

She poured a little bit of the antiseptic on the wound in his left thigh. It was a very deep wound, done by a very sharp arrow.

He didn't even flinch.

She wrapped the bandages around his leg swiftly with deft hands and then placed her hands on the wound.

Her hands began glowing a soft blue as she muttered something under her breath, and the soldier just stared.

His pain was leaving him.

She smiled softly, "You will be just fine. Just go to sleep. Ok?"

He smiled back with a few teeth missing and he thanked her.

She walked over to the next person in the dingy room and found a sleeping man.

Good this will be easier to disguise.

She immediately wrapped the wound that bled on his shoulder and did the same soft spoken spell as before.

His sleep became easier and he didn't move so much.

She walked around the room doing the same thing to every patient, them all thanking her kindly gaping or sleeping easier, one man even asked her to bare his children.

She laughed it off as a joke, but he seemed to take it quite seriously.

"But Ryann please!"

"Sorry sir I must decline," she said trying to move away.

"Please!"

She hated doing that. Most girls enjoyed breaking guys hearts but she hated it with a passion. Who could hurt someone like that and then feel good about it?

She walked to the front of the room near the door and wiped her brow. It was rather hot in the room.

"Wow, you sure do clean them up well," Alexander noted the difference in the room.

"Thank you, I am going to talk to the lord about more supplies though. This is horrible!" Ryann said angry at the lack of supplies needed for most of them.

"Why are there so many wounded anyway?" she asked.

"We are warring with the demon kingdom of the Northern Lands," he said bitterly.

"The Northern Lands?" she asked confused.

Tada? Whatcha think guys? Don't worry if you don't know what Ryann is yet because it will be explained much later your not exactly supposed to know lol! Bye bye and Review please!