Cursed Blood

Janora winked at me before motioning to the stuff on the bed. "I know you want to go out, Cloud. I'll close the window behind you, and you should be able to fly down and find a way to go unnoticed. The shirt shouldn't tear; the back is thin and low."

A smile found its way to my face. My nerves had been put at ease as I got dressed, Janora giving me privacy by waiting out in the hallway. I was pulling on my boots when she knocked and came back in, watching me clip the scabbard into place and slip on the cloak. I took my pouch and found a safe pocket on the cloak for it, turning to Janora set and ready to go.

The woman frowned for a moment. "You may want to hold the cloak until you get down there. I don't want that ripped."

"Right," I agreed, pulling it off and bundling it up in my arms. The woman walked to the window and pulled it open, the same one that thing had entered through. The one who spoke to me while I was 'asleep'. I grimaced as I slipped through, nearly tripping as I landed on the ground below the window. Janora flashed me a thumbs up before shutting and locking the window, leaving me on my own. No one was on this side of the castle, and I jogged toward the edge of the mountain. My wings shot from my back as the dirt crumbled a bit under my feet. A cold breeze blew past and I shivered, the feathers shaking themselves out.

Here goes nothing, I thought, clutching my bundle of cloth tighter.

The second I jumped, my wings flared out and I was soaring. A laugh bubbled up from my throat as I found myself grinning, directing myself to the edge of the marketplace. My speed allowed me to zoom by without raising too much alarm, but I was still going too slow. Holding my breath, I allowed my wings to fold in and shot like an arrow toward the alleys. The wind was like explosions, the noise was so loud. Just as I was about to hit a building, I flared out my wings and slowed down before my feet reached the ground. I was panting, my wings folding in and melting away before I pulled on the cloak, spotting something on my back.

What the--

No one ever mentioned those.

My shoulder blades had a mess of three or four scars on each -- exactly where the base of my wings were. In my shock, I lifted my shirt and twisted, pulling down my waistband and staring at the scarred skin of my tailbone. My mouth and fingernails had no marks on them, but when I touched my temples underneath my hair, I could also feel the small scars of my horns.

It makes sense to have scars, I realized, but why did no one mention them to me?

I sighed, fixing the cape over my shoulders so that it covered the exposed scars. Messing with my hair, I tried to take a few strands and pull them in front of my face to help block out prying eyes. As I began walking toward the street, my hand instinctively dropped to the dagger strapped to my thigh, and I was ready for anything.

But at the same time, as I stood in the center of the busy road, watching people go by, I felt like I was experiencing this for the first time. Memories of the first time my mother let me out to go into the marketplace alone drifted through my mind as I let the sounds of the people going by wash over me. It all felt new, like something I'd been missing.

My only job is to enjoy myself today, I smiled, searching around for a store to start at. A bakery stood out to me, one I'd never tried before.

Perfect.

Warmth oozed from the bakery doors as I approached, a childish smile on my face. Those behind the counter called out hearty greetings to me as I stepped inside, brushing the cloak's hood off my head. I felt at home here -- I wasn't worried about being found out.

"How can I help you?" An elderly man chirped as I approached the counter. I didn't recognize him, and the feeling of having missed something in my home tried to dampen my mood.

One glance at the man's kind face lifted my spirits again, and I began to point at different things on the other side of the glass. Tarts, muffins, sweets -- he laughed each time I picked another. The man began to ask me about myself as I got my coins from my pouch, handing over the correct number and taking my bundles of deliciousness.

"Are you from the Valley, Miss? Haven't been seeing many people like you," he said offhandedly. I lifted a brow, tilting my head.

"Like me?"

He gestured to my body. "Your aura, Miss. Very powerful, almost overwhelming."

That's what most people say, I wanted to reply, but instead I smiled. "I've been staying up in the castle doing some training. I snuck away today," I admitted with a small laugh, the baker winking at me.

"Enjoy yourself, darling. But if you run into trouble, try to help a Lightblood brother or sister out, okay? Those guards only step in when it's serious."

I nodded fiercely. "Of course. Thank you, sir."

We shared identical smiles before I left the bakery, the warmth and smell lingering as I walked toward the fountain in the center of the marketplace, slipping my pouch into my secure pocket before choosing with treats to begin with. I perched on the edge of the fountain, peacefully watching Lightbloods go by, my hood flipped up as I snacked happily. A memory drifted into mind, one with my brothers and happy parents.

It was around the time when I was maybe seven. The twins were as rowdy as ever, and hyper. Charles was calmer around them, but definitely let his wild side out with me. Whenever we hung out on our own, we would be up for hours using his energy abilities. Our parents were the classic adorable couple, with their affectionate actions and loving smiles. We were going through the stores, and walked by a traveler's supply store. The smooth texture and smell of new leathers got my attention, and that was the day my mother got me my first outfit that was made entirely of leather. My brothers had called me boyish for it, but I had felt badass. After that, I'd always gotten a new set whenever I could.

The thought made me look around, searching for a tailor's. I finished off the last of my baked goods, tossing out the garbage before continuing to search.

"Excuse me, Miss," a small voice said, "can I help you?"

I turned around, eyes meeting those of a young boy. A nametag was on his shirt, one made of leather. He had a hat that was adorably large on him, and big eyes that seemed more like something out of a picture than of reality.

"Help me with what?" I asked, not realizing what was behind him until the little boy grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. It was the same shop from years ago, and my eyes landed on the smoothest looking set of leather armor I'd ever seen. The shopkeeper, who looked like the boy's father, gave me a grin as he noticed me eyeing the set.

"Would you like to try?"

"Would I ever."