It’s been a week ever since my house has been destroyed by the Scorpios. I didn’t think life could go any worse, but then again, my life is filled with nothing but misfortunes. Given that I don’t have any other relatives, I had nowhere to go, so my new home became the streets. Living on the streets is not sanitary or safe. I found an empty alley and I set up the space with a flat carboard box I found in the trash as my bed. Luckily, the nights aren’t cold this time of the year. At this point, everybody in town had already heard of what the Scorpios did to the house of the freak and one would think they would show some sympathy; however, they seem to read this as a sign to be even crueler than before. I’ve had no energy to pickpocket these days so I have been waiting until the bars throw away their leftover food in the trash and I eat whatever it’s salvageable. I knew that my life was never the most enviable, but I never knew it would be like this. I take a sniff at myself and I cringe. It’s been days since I’ve showered. I look around at what I have on my little corner. I grab an empty bottle, a bar of soap I stole from one of the market’s stands, and my mother’s necklace. Since I no longer have a house, I have to take my showers at the lake just behind the town.

As the lake enters my line of sight, I can see that it’s shining from the reflection of the moon. A small, gentle breeze passes by, making the trees dance with it. I take a moment to let the scenery sink in. My heart drops thinking of how this place, this town, this Kingdom created all of the green that I see before me.

Raedorah Kingdom is situated in the desert, however, the King ordered low-tiers with the power to control plants to invest in their time in creating vegetation around the Kingdom. It took many months to create such an order, especially because low-tiers don’t have the stamina to use their powers for a long amount of time, and if they exerted themselves, they could end up very sick, or in worst case scenario, they would die. Knowing this didn’t affect the process. Low-tiers were supposed to follow the orders without complaining. Many were pushed to their limits and the only way to get out of it, was if you died. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to my mother. My mother was already very sick when the project started. Somedays she would cough until blood started coming out, she wasn’t able to eat and that caused her to be very malnourished and we had been doing everything we could to save up money so that she could go to the best doctor in the town, but all of our efforts were in vain. When we learned my mother had passed away, father went straight to the bar, leaving me alone, not knowing how to mourn her. I kept hoping that one day she would show up at our doorstep and say that they made a mistake. That day never came.

I approach an area that is filled with lavender flowers and I gather some, placing them in my bottle. Ever since I was a kid, I loved to pick flowers and take them home, especially because I was able to see my mother smile. Closing the bottle, I head towards the water. I make sure my belongings are in an area where I can see them. I undress, grab the bar of soap and enter the water. I shudder because even though the weather is warm, it doesn’t necessarily mean the water will be too. I’m quick to wash myself, not wanting to stay in this cold water for long. After I’m done, I look up at the sky and see the moon and stars shine. I envy the stars. They are so far away and they don’t go through the same problems we do. They don’t need a home, they don’t need food, they are never alone and they don’t know about misfortunes. I wish I could go somewhere where this world couldn’t reach me and hurt me.

“You know, if you keep looking at the sky like that, you may just end up being pulled to it.” A brief moment of distraction causes me to not notice the unwelcomed presence in my bath time. I shriek and turn towards the direction of the voice. This cannot be happening right now. I really do have the worst luck in the world. By the edge of the lake, wearing a smirk on his face, is the man who taught me how men can be so infuriating.

After our strange encounter last week, I thought that that was the first and last time I would see him. Clearly, I was wrong. I quickly cover my breasts and go into the water so that only my head is popping out. Thankfully it’s dark and he won’t see the last piece of dignity that I have left.

“What in the world is wrong with you?!” He laughs. How dare he?! I already didn’t think much of him but now I think even less. “Oh, you think it’s funny spying on a girl while she takes a bath?” He raises his eyebrows.

“And do you think it’s safe for a little girl like you to be wandering these areas alone?”

“Excuse me, but I am not little. I am an adult.” I fume. No one has the right to call me little. After everything that has happened in my life, I’ve had to throw away my childhood and grow up fast because my father certainly wasn’t much help growing up.

“Oh really? How old are you then darling?” He crosses his arms and waits for me to answer.

“As of today, I am eighteen years old.” I say proudly. I have been waiting for this day to come. I made a promise to my mother that once I turned eighteen, I would travel and see what the world looks like. There’s so many different Kingdoms that I would love to visit, people I would like to meet and have new experiences in life. Starting fresh, in places that no one knows about powerless Evana, would be a bliss.

“Wow. So, you weren’t joking about it were you?” He approaches the water, making me back away, not knowing what he plans on doing. I need to keep my guard up around him. He raises his hands in defeat. “Don’t worry darling. I don’t plan on taking away your virtue.” He winks at me making my face heat up. How in the world would he know? He makes me so frustrated that I don’t even know how to react around him. I have to change the subject.

“The other day you disappeared without telling me your name. It would be unfair if only I gave you my name.” He smirks and I already know nothing good is coming out of his mouth.

“If I had known that I would leave you so heartbroken, I would’ve told you right away.” Huh? Who’s heartbroken around here? He has such a big ego! He laughs seeing my disgusted face expression. Good to know one of us is having fun around here. “Well, to make it up, I’ll tell you my name.” Without a warning, he gets in the water with his clothes on and starts making his way to me. His black shirt is wet and sticking to his chest. It doesn’t take much to notice the muscles that the shirt is hiding. When I get back to reality, he’s already standing in front of me. I try to move back to create a distance between us but he grabs me by the waist. I freeze, not wanting to make too many movements and making him touch something he shouldn’t.

“What are you doing?” My voice is weak. I’m so overwhelmed by his strength, his smell, the way his smoldering eyes are eating up every inch of my body. He leans closer so his mouth grazes my ear.

“You asked for my name and I plan on telling you.” This is the closest I’ve ever been to a man and I have never been so vulnerable before.

“Couldn’t you have said it all the way back there?” He chuckles.

“I prefer to whisper it in your ear.” I just want this to be over with. I don’t like the emotions he’s erupting in me. “Leonárd.” The way his name flowed out of his lips made me shiver and gave me goosebumps. It isn’t the name itself that is making me this way, but the how he speaks towards me and presses all the righ-, ahem, wrong buttons.

He backs away and his face is serious. His gaze is burning through me and my face just keeps getting warmer and I’m pretty sure that at this point my face is as red as a tomato. I snap out of it because I can’t be doing this. What would my mother think if she saw me in this position with a man I barely know? I back away from him and turn away. “Please leave.”

“Is that really what you want?” Ever since I met him, I noticed that something doesn’t feel right. I feel calm around him, as if I’ve known him for quite some time and even in situation like this, where I should be scared, I’m actually calm. My heart is telling me to say yes to him and accept him. However, my instincts still tell me that there’s something weird going on and that I should keep my distance.

“Yes. That is what I want.” He sighs and I can feel the disappointment coming from him. “Very well, I’ll go.” The water starts moving and I hear the splashing sounds as he walks back to land. The sounds suddenly stop. I turn around to see why and I find myself alone. Again. In a way, I’m grateful that he left as fast as he came. I didn’t want to be in this situation any longer. I walk back towards by belongings. I have been in the water for way too long.

As I’m getting dressed, I hear a hustling sound. I hope it’s an animal and not stupid Leonárd trying to peep on me. “Leonárd! This is not funny!” I wait to see if I’ll get an answer but everything is quiet. I don’t see or hear anything so I go back to getting dressed. As soon as turnaround, someone grabs my arms and covers my mouth. I enter my panic mode. I struggle against whoever is holding me but to not avail. This person is strong.

“Hello there, little kitten.” The person whispers in my ear and I freeze. The person releases my mouth and grabs my hair pulling it back so I can see his face. Yvan. The member of the Scorpios. The man who destroyed my house. The man who swore to get me back for spitting on his face. My whole body freezes and I can’t even let a sound out. It’s like facing a wild animal. If you make sudden movement, they will attack.

“Lost for words? I did say I would finish what I started when we meet again and just my luck. I find this little kitten here, all alone, naked, tempting me. How could I resist?” Yvan looks at my body up and down and licks his lips. He releases my hair and grabs my right breast. I’m mortified and I try to wiggle my way out of his grasps but he holds me tightly. “Now where do you think you’re going? We have unfinished business.”

“Please, I’m sorry! Please let me go!” Hot tears are falling out of my eyes. I have never been more afraid in my life.

“Too late for that, kitten. Should’ve thought of that when you decided to humiliate me in front of the people and of my group. You’re only getting what you deserve.” He pushes me down onto the grass, face down, still keeping a tight grip on me. Tears keep flowing out but I’m too scared to move. I try to think of my mother. She always made me feel better, however, in this moment, she can’t. Nothing can make this feel better. Everything starts getting blurry. I can feel a pain in my chest. This pain makes me snap out of my trance and scream.

“What the hell is going on?!” Yvan spins me around to face him. “Shut up right now you bitch!” No matter how much I try, the pain is too much and I just keep screaming. “I said shut up!” Yvan raises his hand to slap me but all of a sudden, his weight is lifted from me. He is thrown far from me and I see a dark figure approach us. The person kneels beside me and caresses my cheek. It feels warm.

“Don’t worry. I’m here. You’re okay.” Those are the last words I hear before my eyes close.