A New War

Prologue

In the quiet hours of the morning, the Ghafa's hadn't expected guests. Not family, or friends, but especially not strangers in robes with sticks in their hands.

Inej wasn't supposed to be awake yet. The sun hadn't even risen yet, and she should've been tucked into her bed along with her cousins. But the activities downstairs had woken her, and beijing the curious child she was, she listened and watched.

At the time, Inej could only really understand that her parents were sad, angry, and that the strangers with sticks came to take her. Then, they saw her. The woman and man stood up, and Inej acted on instinct, running.

Inej went out through a window, and ran, ran, and ran. She ran until her lungs were begging for air, and her knees were shaking threatening to collapse.

                                                                                           ~ ~ ~

Inej was starving, but that wasn't really something new. She was able to ignore the dull pain in her stomach, she got better at that every day, but also weaker. She had been able to survive by sneaking into shops at night, and taking things that wouldn't be missed. A loaf of stale bread, less than clean water, and occasionally scraps of meat.

She missed her mama and papa, missed her cousins, her bed which had been so much better than the floor, and the tightrope.

It was late, the time of night where no child should be wandering the streets, especially not alone. The sky was empty of the stars that Inej had love so much, constellations that brought her comfort. Inej could blame the city's factories for that she supposed.

Lost in thought, Inej didn't notice when a tall beautiful but intimidating blonde woman walked straight into her.

"Oh! I'm sorry my dear girl, are you alright?" The woman asked her, face pulled into a mastered look of concern.

Inej jumped back, and looked up at the woman, studying her. The woman had hazel slightly feline eyes, and she shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

After a moment, the women spoke. "You're a pretty little girl, what are you doing out so late?" Inej beamed at the compliment, and wasn't sure how to say what she needed to. The vowels of English didn't come easily to her.

"Never mind that, let's get you a bed and some food, hmm? You can tell me in the morning. I'm Tante Helen." Tante Helen gave her a dazzling but predatory smile, and held out a pale hand. Inej took it.

                                          She never did tell Tante Helen anything in the morning.