Aria screams, kicking at the strange men holding her. She glances around the village, searching for anyone who would help her, to no avail. Her people all stare, disdain and disgust in their silver eyes. One word leaves the lips of the people. Gurka. A mutt, an abomination. Aria tries to hold in the tears, not wanting them to see her cry. The strange men drag her towards the tent where anja and the anjuhwo are waiting with a strange pale man. His eyes are a stark blue. She couldn’t describe his hair as any other color than pale yellow. She had heard that there were people that were pale and with hair without curls, but she has never seen them before. She looks around the tent, seeing the anja and the anjuhwo standing at the table speaking with strange man and she sniffles.

“ Sae laogè! Quà eri ohier? Quiem erim?“  Aria cries, looking at her anja and anjuhwo. The anjuhwo, a man with curly silver hair and silvery gray eyes narrowed at the pale men, ignores her, and speaks in the strange language. She watches as their voices become louder and louder, then suddenly the pale man pulls out a weapon of sorts. Everything seems to slow as the weapon produces a loud bang, causing Aria’s ears to ring. She whips her head up, to look at the pale man. He has a smirk on his face, before shouting orders at his men.

Aria turns her attention to her anjuhwo, who has crumpled to the ground, unmoving. She can feel the energy drain out of him and her eyes water. He was one of the only people to train and raise her. At least look out for her and make sure she is eating and getting the same amount of training and education as the other Eliari children. Another loud bang shakes her and down falls the anja. Her silver eyes roll back as she falls next to her mate.

Then there are screams everywhere. Fire burning houses and trees. Eliari and animals alike running for safety. For their lives. Only to be shot dead by the machines these… salgrim carry. These strange men that pushed their way into the congressional with the Eliari clan, having no respect for the role we play in the world. Aria can see the people on the ground, blood pooling from their wounds. Their eyes are void of life, but their lips are moving. All of them, screaming at her.

“Help us!”

“You are supposed to be the Guardian?”

“Abomination!”

The voices get louder, drowning out everything. Aria can only lay and wallow in the screams, as shackles are fastened on her. She is restrained, not only by the shackles, but by the voices condemning her. She was never supposed to be born. She isn’t pure. Tainted is what she is.

~

Aria jerks awake, her head pounding. Her grey eyes open only to immediately be blinded by the stark white room. The room smells of chemicals and it burns her nose, adding injury to her headache. There is only a cot and a chair in the room, only because they are afraid.

She sighs, taking in deep gulps of the air. The same kind of dream. More like a memory, to remind her of her failure and what she lost. To instill the reality that she has no home, no place to belong in the world. Aria takes a step to move, only to hear chains. She looks down at her legs, adorned with shackles on the ankles and attached to the wall. Her wrists are attached behind her as well.

Of course.

She had an altercation with one of the soldiers last week. He simply challenged her, and she abided. Nobody told her not to incinerate his clothes and hair. Nobody laid any stipulating rules on this bout. She could have done worse, a lot worse.

As she ponders the circumstance that she has landed herself in, the door clicks and slides open. A man, the same man from her nightmares, steps in. His hair (blonde, as she has learned), is cut low to his head. The blue eyes still pierce through her with evil and derision, but they have aged and now also wear pride and ambition. “Good morning, little guardian,” he smiles a toothy smile, one filled with malice.

Aria only glares, her nose flaring in anger at the sight of this man… this salgri has the gall to waltz in here with no fear of his life. It is not in her nature to kill, but he will be her first victim when she escapes. If she escapes.

“Aw, not willing to talk? I know you can. You can understand what I’m saying after all these years, can’t you?” he taunts, taking a seat in the chair. She narrows her eyes, wondering why he is trying to rile her up now. Normally, this man, Khail does not come into her cell. He rather stands outside of the room and oversees her detainment and the tests that have been done on her.

She declines answering him and instead moves towards him threateningly. “Oh no, little guardian. I wouldn’t do that, remember? The consequences would not be pleasant for you.” She does notice his body tense slightly and has to hold back a grin. He may seem unmoved, but they both know she is a force to be reckoned with, even when she is sedated as heavily as she normally is.

Khail collects himself and continues,” I just came to inform you that soon you will be leaving this citadel.” This catches Aria’s attention because for so many years, all she has known is this room in this place. It’s a bit daunting that she won’t see this room again.

“Why?” she asks, her voice a bit gruff. She hasn’t talked a lot because of the language barrier when she was brought to this citadel. Nobody but Khail and some of the doctors could understand her. She had to listen and watch in order to pick up some of the words and she still hasn’t learned many words but has been able to respond simple answers and singles sentences.

Khail grins, maliciously. He has her attention. “The General will be sending someone to come pick you up and transfer you to Irion’s Hub, where General Dorius resides. Nod if you understand.” Aria slowly nods her head, understanding many of the words.

She glares. She’s being moved from one prison to another? How lovely.

Khail moves closer, getting bolder,” You see, little guardian. My General has a use for you, so you should be grateful that there will be a place for you at long last.” While his tone is sweet and calm, the words punch through her. She never really had a place to call home. A place where she could belong. In the Eliari clan village, she is ostracized from the other children because she is not considered pure. In efforts to keep her from tainting others, they did not permit her to play with the other children or learn the same things the other children learned.

Aria holds back her tears, refusing to show his effect on her. She closes her eyes, composing herself. When she opens her eyes, her grey eyes glow in anger. Her voice is low, a bit deep and raspy,” Salgri, remirè. Amie ho kiroier. You can’t run or hide from this fate.”

Khail steps back, his eyes widening at the resolution in her eyes. She is making a promise. “Hah, trying to threaten me? Good luck with that,” he chuckles, turning to leave before he can test her anymore.

Aria watches as the door closes and clicks. She growls, angry at herself. Of course. She has never belonged anywhere. There never will be any place for her to belong. The tears flow down her cheeks, dripping slowly before flowing freely.