I could not believe I was back here. 

It has been eight years. 

I stared at the strange girl laying on the shabby bed. Her striking yet soft features—she had almost looked so luminous despite the gloom that dawned upon the morning. 

I could almost swear she was not real.

Without meaning to, I have stepped forward, carefully tilting her head to the side. I wanted to confirm my suspicions. I wanted to know why she ended up here.

A circular rune was embedded on her nape. The rune of the Tainted--every Elysian had one.

She was like us.

But the one question that remained lingering in my thoughts was if she was like me.

I wanted to find out if the world had given her the same curse. If the same daunting fate of Lighte bearers had been written in her stars before it even happened.

I could not shake the feeling of the connection I had felt in the waters—how my own rune had reacted with her near. I touched the base of my neck, the lingering pain of my Lighte disappearing still remained.

Lighte runes would appear every sundown and would disappear every rising sun. I will not be able to figure her out until the sun had set. “Who are you?” I breathed, barely a whisper.

“Indi,” Inna stood by the doorway, cheeks flushed and eyes red. She sniffled. I quickly noticed the dark green over-shirt she wore, it was our father’s. She rolled the long sleeves to her forearms. She wrapped her arms to herself. “I found some old clothes.. most of it aren’t that tethered yet.”

She stepped forward and tapped me on the shoulder. I winced, remembering how Inna’s sword sliced me. “Bandage that up and go change into clean clothes, too.”

“I doubt they’re clean.” I tugged on her shirt, teasing.

She cawed, trying not to laugh nor be annoyed at the same time. “What you’re wearing is filthier. You reek of salt water,“—she started shoving me with force, pushing me towards the doorway—“and sweat”—another hit—“and blood and—“

“Alright, now!” I cracked, stumbling out. “I’ll go, I’ll go.”

Before proceeding, I looked back at her. She sat on the floor quietly, not even batting an eye to the girl.

As if she could sense my looking at her, she spoke. “I’m alright. This house just—“ she took a breath, looking up the ceiling. “It floods back memories, doesn’t it?”

Tears prickled my sisters’ eyes. She chuckled, shoulders shaking.  She started fanning her eyes. “Damn me, I hate crying!” 

She waved me away, assuring me she was alright—still simultaneously laughing and tearing up as she did so.

…

My hand caressed the wall as I walked the narrow corridors, as if I could test if my old home felt the same as I used to remember.

My hand continued trailing. Everything felt hollow now. Dust and ivy have eaten up the house, the woods almost looked rotten. Or maybe they were.

Still it held together, refusing to give up.

Memories flooded me back instantly.

A blur, but it soon cleared. 

It was a sunny morning.

A sound of running, and laughter. Twins, the young boy chased his sister as she ran away, laughing devilishly. The boy yelled his sister’s name.

“Give me back my book!” He pleaded.

The girl’s hair was twisted into a singular long braid. She flashed her teeth. “I will—if you go hunting with me!”

“You’re no fair!” The boy shouted back.

They passed by my side as they chased each other. And when I looked back, an empty corridor stood still behind me.

Long gone were the twins who delighted in bliss.

I passed by our old room. My hand hitting the knob, it took me a while to gather my strength to twist the door open. Two beds covered in thick dust rest on each side of the room. On the foot of the right bed was a  pianoforte,

Little Inna leaned on it as she watched her brother play. Her favorite tune had always been the lullaby our mother sang. It had simple notes,  even now I remembered them well,

“Are you ever going to go out?” She rested her chin on her hands, her voice so tiny. “Come with us! You might end up liking it. You won’t know if you don’t try.”

I found myself smiling sadly as I remembered how I’d always refused to hunt with  father and Inna. I hated the thought of having to learn how to harm and kill. I said, still playing the lullaby notes, “I don’t think father will particularly like it if i tagged along.”

“But you’re just here every day,” little Inna sulked.

And I smiled, cheeks dimpled. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

“You’re fingers are so long.” Inna would point, stretching her own fingers to compare to mine.

“Yours are just short.” I teased.

My fingers slid across the instrument, dust trailing along it.

I never imagined that the fragile little boy I once was would be leading a life as harsh as this. I looked around the rooms of the house—my parent’s room, the small kitchen.. No one has returned here since we left. Not my father, not even us.

Even though we always knew where it stood.

I guessed it had always just pained us both to even try to return. The memory of the attack that very fateful day still haunted the both of us, especially Inna. Every night terror she had was unforgettable. The events were not something we enjoyed remembering.

I dressed my wound, and stuffed my undershirt inside the bag I kept hanged on Abyss. I darted my eyes on her saddle, rested there was my vest, which I threw on the side before diving into the waters, and my blade. My blade which I shot straight to the hex who dragged me by my boot.

Inna retrieved both of it and I never noticed. I held my curved dagger, no sign of dried blood, my sister even wiped it clean. I smiled, I would have to thank her for it later, perhaps cook her a meal or buy one of her favorites.

Abyss nuzzled her nose in my hand, 

“Hello, my girl.” I patted her neck in return, turning it into a gentle caress. Abyss seemed rather pleased. “I know, I’m exhausted too. Hold up a little more, yes?”

Hours passed by. I sat on a tiny set of stairs just near the door. I could never bring my self to sleep and I came to the terms of acceptance. It was nearing noon and the girl had not waken up.

I went inside, planning to wake Inna so we could get prepared to set back to the Fortress. I would just have to carry her on the horse again if she remained unconscious. 

I heard a smooth sail of feet walking across the corridors. I stopped and quickly slid behind a corner. My heart beat rapidly.

She was awake, footsteps so quiet. A funny sight, her hair looked of a lion’s mane. Wild and tangled. I smiled to myself as I peered towards her disheveled self. She peaked at every corner carefully, as if looking for something. She stopped by my parent’s room and stepped inside.

I strode quietly, thankful for the fast pace my long limbs offered. I hoped she did not hear the wood creak as I neared. 

Her back turned to me, she flipped the pages of a book on my mother’s nightstand, studying each page carefully. I raised my chin a little, hoping to catch a glimpse of the contents. A slight chill spiraled through me as I caught a glimmer at her lowered hand. 

She held a dagger.

I decided it was time to confront her. I stood in the middle of the doorway and crossed my arms.

“You’re awake.”

In a quick motion, she turned around—and the blade flew across the room—aimed for my head. 

The wooden wall thudded loud, the sharp dagger penetrated it deep. Goodness, that could have been my face. She knew how to aim—even attacking with no second thoughts. A sly smile escaped my lips and she glared.

“You’re a lot more charming than when you were asleep.” I grinned.

She reached for the other dagger inside her boot, motioning it towards me. I was not surprised by this sudden attack, please, she threw a bloody dagger to my face. I dodged, holding her arm still—the sharp tip of the dagger was so near the base of my throat.

Her eyes were a different level of unique, her left iris displayed a warm hue—a shade between red and orange. Her right iris was icy blue. The combination unnerved me. I leaned forward, ignoring the blade aimed near my throat.

“You’re skilled.” I said, still amused.

“Even more than you.” She hissed.

I could not let go of my smile. I rarely saw women who fought with such spunk. It always amazed me. Just like how Inna, armed with her sword and all, still chose to aim her fist first to her opponent.

“Oh, you’re not so certain about that.” My tone was playful. Then the dagger’s tip grazed my skin and my smile vanished. “Drop the blade.”

Her lip curled, she tightened her grip on the dagger even more. “Not until you tell me what you did.”

I paused, dumbfounded. I scavenged cold waters to retrieve her, even put me and my sister in danger by agreeing to her retrieval. These thoughts ran through my head but I chose not to say. “What I did?”

“My Lighte!” Well, that confirmed it. I thought it would take me great effort to figure it out. She stepped forward stoically until I am pushed against the wall. She continued, “It is gone!”

“Just what—” she pushed the dagger deeper, a sharp pain crosses my skin. “—sort of spell did you cast on me?”

I choked a laughed. She had such a temper that she made no sense. Unless I did something I was not aware of, I highly doubted that.

“I’d say my charms but clearly you’re not too interested.” I raised both my hands in surrender and tilted my head. A murderous intent settled upon her face. “And I’d appreciate a little gratitude from you, Miss. It is not easy to dive deep into the waters for you.”

She flinched, taking a moment to find the blurred memory of the two of us, surging the waves. Seeming to be lost in thoughts, her hand lowered. I took my chance to immediately swat the dagger from her hand. The blade flung and clanged on the other side of the room. “Don’t let your anger out on me. I suggest we talk.”

She reached for the dagger on the wall and I stopped her, grabbing her arm. Now it was my turn to pin her to the wall. 

I had to keep her from moving, somehow. I kept my grip on her pinned hand, my arm pushed against her shoulders lightly. I sighed, peering down at her. “You have such a bad temper.”

She raised her chin, those striking eyes met mine. Our faces were mere inches apart. I cocked a smile, “you have to stop attacking me for no reason, Miss. I shall forgive you if you swear to stop from now.”

She kept quiet for a moment, her gaze never faltering from me. Done with contemplation, she blinked once and nodded. “Alright.” 

I would have believed her.

Not until a blow lands on my lower jaw. I stumbled backward, my teeth quaking. She had landed a strike on me head-on. Her delicate features certainly could not justify the amount of violence she was capable of.

“How’s the view from down there?” She looked down on me, arms crossed. Before she could act another savagery—Inna, rope slung on her shoulders, blasted into the room and quickly pinned her to the ground. 

I stood up, hand still supporting the side of my jaw. 

With the rope, my sister tied the girl’s hands behind her back. 

Well deserved, I would say. 

Inna glanced at me then back down at her, cackling. “What entertainment!”

Miss Enne Scythe struggled under my sister’s weight. “You don’t look the feral woman that you are, Miss Enne Scythe!” She exclaimed, locking the ropes tightly. “I was going to keep watching you harass my brother, but I’ve had enough.”

Inna flipped her head to my direction, her dark untied hair fluttering. She raised an eyebrow, confirming if what she had done was alright or too inhumane.

I shrugged. “I don’t have any better ideas.”

She clapped her hands together and pulled the girl up by the ropes. “Very well then! You, miss,” she tugged on the knot, “shall either calm down and we sort this out—“

“Or we knock you out.” I finished, Inna smiled in agreement.

The girl huffed. Her eyes darted in different directions, observing every detail she could use. She stuck her gaze around Inna's right, the crease between her brows refused to lie low. 

In surrender, her shoulders finally relaxed. Looking displeased, she nodded towards Inna’s crest. “That crest.”

Elina nodded to the crest on her right shoulder. The crest which she never refused to take off unless she needed. It was a symbol of our alliance, a symbol of our safety and power. “What about it?”

“The people I would meet has that crest. I made sure I remembered.” Despite being put out of action, Miss Enne Scythe stood straight. “Allies of the Madam Fort.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Inns shifted around and grabbed her by the elbows. The girl had a face of amusement and irritation on behalf of my sister’s energy. “Honestly, you could have saved the violence for another set of time. Lucky for you, that people is us!”

Realization daunted me. If only I had worn my crest, perhaps a blade wouldn’t be thrown near my head and I could have saved my self from being head -butted in the jaw.