The Crows' Witch

i. freak

         
CHAPTER ONE — "Freak."

Episode 1x1

Akilina Morozova knew very well that people were afraid of her, and she understood that it was due to her innate talents. She inherited her abilities from both of her parents; her father's a Shadow Summoner and her mother was a Chaos Heretic.

      Upon her entrance into any space, silence would ensue, causing individuals to immediately exit in a hurried manner. The reason for their hasty departure was due to their apprehension that she possessed the ability to perceive their thoughts or, even more concerning, manipulate them. It was believed that she bore a resemblance to her mother in this regard.

The manner in which people gazed at Akilina was what she loathed. As she turned the corner, they would murmur under their breath. Although they believed she couldn't hear them, she could easily discern their thoughts from afar, which would make her go insane.

     "Akilina?" She looked up from her book. "What is it Genya?" She closed the book while looking at the red head in front of her. "Your father is summoning you." "Do you know why?" Lena asked while getting off of her bed. "He was mumbling a lot and the only thing I understood was Sun Summoner."

   Akilina bursts into her father's office. "Is it true?" She asks. "Is what true?" General Kirigan turns around to face her. "You know what I'm talking about dad, is the Sun Summoner here?" Lena asks shutting the door. "Yes, Lena she is."

    "I thought she wasn't real." Lena says sitting in a chair. "You of all people should know that myths can be real." She rolls her eyes at her dads comment. "Is she going to take down the fold?" Kirigan stiffens at his daughters question.

"Sweetheart, it's time for bed," he says while opening the door. Curious, she looks at her father, wondering why he didn't answer her question. She stands and approaches the door. Unable to shake her inquiry, she asks, "Why won't you give me an answer?" He lets out a sigh and responds, "It's not an easy task that can be completed overnight. It'll take time and training. Now, please go to bed, Akilina."

Exiting his office, she looks back only to see him shutting the door in her face. Disgusted, she mutters "What a wonderful dad" as she walks away. A group of girls spit hateful words such as "monster", "freak," and "abomination" at her as she walks by. Clutching her necklace with a crow pendant, she whispers to herself. "Breathe Lena, breathe."

"She's such a freak, her mom probably killed herself so she could get away from her." One of the girls whisper. Lena halted her steps and released her necklace. "What did you just say?" Her eyes radiated a menacing red as the room grew dimmer, and she advanced menacingly towards the girls.

       As the room began to tremble, a red glow danced around Akilina, causing the girls to panic. "What...did....you....say?" Lena asks tilting her head. The girls start walking backwards. "I...we...she" One of them stuttered, trying to speak, but stops when Akilina glares at her. The girl starts struggling to breathe, grabbing onto her neck.

   One of the girls stepped forward and asked in a shaky voice, "What are you doing?!" Lena turned her head to look at her, causing the girl to stumble back in shock at the sight of Lena's floating hair and glowing red eyes and veins.

"Stop, Akilina," a commanding voice declared as her father emerged from the shadows. "Don't do anything that you or they will regret." He instructed, motioning for the girls to leave the room. The girls swiftly departed. "What did I tell you?" Lena rolled her eyes as her father scolded her.

"I asked you to go to bed." Lena grumbled in response, "I was when those bit—girls began saying things." "I thought you could handle it," Her father observed. "I can," Lena agreed. "But it's different when they start bringing Mom into it." She whispered, hugging herself.

   He sighs at his daughters words. "Go to bed, we'll talk about this in the morning." "Why do you do that?" She asks getting upset. "Do what?" "You ignore me, just like everyone else. You don't make time for me anymore. You have done nothing but tell me how bored you are. That I'm the chore, the job, you didn't want to do. And the only fucking reason I'm even here is because my mom is dead!!"

     "Go to your room." He says through clenched teeth. "Dad...I'm-" "GO TO YOUR ROOM!" His voice booms, causing her to flinch. Black veins start to appear on his neck, and she backs away from him. "Lena?" She spins around and sprints to her room. Slamming and locking the door behind her.

She begins to walk anxiously back and forth while holding onto her necklace. Memories of her childhood, mother, and best friend Kaz flood her mind, prompting her to long for that time again and especially for Kaz. She wonders if he also remembers the days they spent running around and laughing together and if he misses it as much as she does.

Her father's relentless banging on the door interrupts her thoughts. "Akilina, open up," he demands, but she remains silent, fixated on the door before her. As the knob rattles, she mutters, "Just leave me alone." When her father persists, she raises her voice and commands him to go away. Eventually, she can't take it anymore and unleashes a powerful burst of red magic.

Her vision starts to get blurry, and she starts to stumble. "What is wrong with me?" She mumbles. Suddenly, her legs falter and she collapses, striking her head on the floor. She groans in pain. "Lena?" He calls out but there is no response. "You're going to have to come out of your room eventually." He tells her. "I think you're forgetting one thing."

"Yeah, and what is that?" He asks. "I basically grew up in my room while living here," she responds with a chuckle. As her eyesight deteriorates, she begins to slip in and out of consciousness. He concedes, "Fine, have it your way." With his footsteps slowly fading away, she eventually loses consciousness.