The Marks that Define Them

Chapter 8:

"I overheard the conversation you had. This is everything you need to get where you want to be."

"If I am fire, what are you?" »åø« turned back looking at me with a smirk.

"I am air."

"So we need each other. Fire needs air right. We're supposed to be together for a reason." »åø« came towards me, locking in our passion filled gazes. A hand brought my mouth close to theirs until we connected with a kiss. And then another, and another, and another until articles of clothing were being cast aside. Until we were both in our purest forms. »åø«'s lips were electric on my body. Lips leaving shocks to my nerves, every time they touched my skin. We become one in those passionate moments.

When it ended I looked over to see someone looming in the background. I could almost make out who it was until they ran away crying. Maladeana. I smiled at the thought that she was jealous. Rolling over I kissed, the skin of my leader, now I held power being one of »åø«'s lovers. Show strength not weakness.

(Present)

Not standing to be embarrassed, I pushed the guards out my way, ignoring their calls for me, ready to interrogate Anyxa. The lock on the cell, which stood as a metal tent with no windows,w as a rusted and large. I and no key but only a pyramid shaped dagger. Turning the lock around in my hands the key hole facing me I stabbed the lock twisted it until it came unlocked. Before coming to live with the others, I was a thief, able to crack any code or lock in order to get what I wanted, but here everyone though very low of me.

( One year ago)

Looking through my window in this empty house. I wondered how it was there, what they did there. Who they were. I hated being alone. My family left me, I was abandoned as soon as I was born. I was different than the rest. Only faint dark marks underneath a present gold one.

The leader had come to me earlier, trying to persuade me to join. Those people were like me. They knew me. But I hated the distinction that I held. I wanted to stop. Stop my existing.

Staring down on the rocky cliff below my feet wanted to leave the ground. But their leader didn't. Not bothering to turn to face them I said, " Why are you here?"

"You are a flame. I need it, we need it, you need it." The voice was needy, trying to walk me off the edge.

"I am nothing but a mistake. Mistakes don't belong with the world. They don't exist here. They only ruin things." I recited all the evil I had heard over the years. Over and over and over.

"You are not a mistake. Everyone in our group is different. We are unique, a different variety of our species." I turned around to face her. In that moment I decided that I wasn't going to jump.

I was going to fall.

But I never hit the rocks. Only a bed of air that lifted me back to the ground. They wanted me here. For once in my life, I belonged.

I belonged. No longer a mistake or a mishap. But part of the variety. A flame.

(Present)

Just as the Ilois look upon the Shotadi. I kept the level of intelligence I held down. It was beneficial for me to for them to keep thinking I was uneducated and illiterate.

Walking in, it was dark in the room not even a candle was lit. Looking around in the darkness I could make out a bathtub that had water filled to the brim. To the left sits Anyxa, his back against the wall his eyes on me.