Goddess of Despair

Prologue: Judgey Rich People

Sixteen years ago

A wealthy couple entered the hovel that served as the adoption center. The woman's straight blonde hair almost shined in the dim light. She was tall, elegant, the type of woman you expected to see on a throne in a fantasy novel. She gripped her husband's arm as her expensive gown brushed an unknown substance on the floor.

"Do you want to wait outside, Marcela?" He asks in a soft tone, one that was reserved for her and her alone. He looked down into her soft brown eyes and she shook her head.

"I want to be here to pick the baby, Carl." Her voice had an almost angelic ring to it as she spoke. Her husband, Carl, sighed and ran a hand over his bald head. He was tall and buff as if he spent everyday in a gym. His finely pressed suit fit him to perfection but it gave him a stiff appearance while his wife's flowy dress gave her a soft and gentle appearance next to him.

"Hello, sir and ma'am, how may we help you today?" The young woman at the desk asks. Her face was covered in scars and Marcela wondered how the children didn't cry when they saw the woman.

"Hello, miss, my name is Carl Everglen and this is my wife, Marcela Everglen, and we are here to adopt a baby." Carl huffed out quickly as he continued to take in the disgusting establishment.

"Oh! Everglen!?" He nods to the young woman. "My apologies sir, I couldn't recognize you with my poor eyes. We were told of your visit ahead of time and set aside a baby that should be perfect for you." He raised one brown eyebrow at the young woman who was trembling as she rushed to a room behind her.

"A baby set aside just for us?" Marcela says in a questioning tone. "That sounds somewhat questionable. Not to mention I came all this way to pick out the baby."

"Who knows, honey, you might love the baby they have set aside." She looked up into his eyes, they were a dark gray and she could almost see the lightning that flicked through them. After all, her husband was no ordinary man. He was one of the few in the human population with an ability. "As long as this baby doesn't have an ability she will be suitable for our use."

"Darling, I know that the whole point of this adoption is to gain a distraction that they can't harm because of the rules set in place by your grandfather but I also want a child." They could never conceive and even if they could the child would have an ability with its father's genes. It is better to be powerless and unaware of the war taking place between the ones with abilities.

"I understand, Marcela, but think about the greater good here." She frowned up at him, her lips were thin but never chapped. The young woman rushed back to the desk with a bundle in her arms.

"She got here three months ago, about." She says, out of breath.

"Hand her to me." Marcela demanded and the young woman did just that. Marcela smiled at the baby. "She is perfect." Carl leaned over to look at the bundle. Her skin was warm and flushed at the cheeks. Long, dark, beautiful lashes framed beautiful blue eyes that opened wide to look into their faces. Her eyes were an endless expense like the blue sky above them. She had a small nose and pouty lips that spread into a soft smile. Dark curls sprang free of the blankets.

"She is perfect." Carl nodded. He handled the paperwork as Marcela took the baby outside. This was a three month old baby but she was by far the most beautiful Marcela had ever seen. She took a seat in their nice car, staring at the baby lovingly. Carl followed soon after. The driver started the car and they began moving back home.

The couple quickly realized that this baby would never cry. Not when they left her at the doors of their enemies to distract them while they infiltrated their bases. Not when blood splashed on her. Never. Not once.

"She is odd." Carl whispered as Marcela rocked her in her arms. "She hasn't cried even when full grown men have sobbed. She shows no fear and she is only a few months old. That can't be normal."

"I don't know why but she gives me this odd sense of calm when I hold her." His wife replies as she rocks. "You have never held her but the other wives here agree. She settles our minds when we hold her. There is an endless calmness here."

"May I hold her?" Marcela nods and begins to hand Carl the baby that was now six months old, having been in their care for the last three. The second Carl's hands come in contact with the baby he falls to his knees.

"Carl?!" Marcela shrieks as Carl becomes pale and pained.

"Marcela, my powers are gone." As the words left his mouth the baby giggled as lightning zapped between her small hands. It glowed in her eyes as the sparks danced. They stared in horror at the baby they had thought was powerless. No one had been able to sense an ability from her.

They quickly learned that she was the only one to ever have this ability, that has ever been recorded at least. She has no control over it either. The second someone with magic touches her, their powers become hers. They began training her to hunt down their rivals the second she was big enough to hold a gun, at four years old. She was precise and powerful and was forced onto a battlefield when she was old enough. She would no longer be the distraction because she would consume everything in her way.

Her power was named Consumption.