The Beautiful Shaman

Chapter 1: The Shaman

*Listen to song in media*

I sat on the leather seat of the car, feeling the soft vibrations from the engine as I stared blankly through the small window, watching the scenery blur. I looked away from the window as we left the city, not wanting to regret my decision on agreeing to move to another town, another home, another school. Wearing my headphones I closed my eyes and tried to shut myself from the world and my surroundings, to forget my current situation by listening to the soft tune of the song that played. This was the third time we moved places and hopefully the last as I had had enough of being the shy new girl who no one really noticed. An outcast. I felt the hair on my arms rise, forming a trail of goosebumps that spread all over my body. This only meant one thing. Ghosts. Spirits. The dead. The reason why we moved so many times. But this time the reason we moved was because my father got a job opportunity here as being the head of the police department.

My eyes dart open as I began to search for them, not knowing exactly where they might've been or how many there were. Most of the time they don't bother me, but the ones who do always want something from me. Whether it be to possess my body, send them to the afterlife or do some errand it always made me anxious on what they demand. There are others who just like messing with me, playing with my emotions by frightening me or pestering me to get an annoyed reaction from me. When I didn't see anything I slowly began to relax, not letting my guard down as I never know when they might reappear again. Taking off my headphones I placed it near me. A huge sigh escaped my mouth.

"Are you alright there darling?" The concerning tone of my mother's voice brought me back to reality. I shifted in my seat to face her, faking a smile to not worry her and saw her returning the smile with her body turned to mine as she sat in the front seat next to my father who was driving, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"I'm fine mum" My reaction and tone showing otherwise.

"I know you're lying to me Jia Wu, tell me the truth and explain what happened just a moment ago" Jia Wu, the name I was given when I was born which meant beautiful shaman, a name which represented what I am. A shaman. Though I doubt the beautiful bit as I don't find myself as being beautiful or pretty but my parents disagree saying that to them I am. But don't all parents say that to their children? Especially since I'm their only child. What do they see that they concluded to this decision? I'm just your typical Asian girl with a fair complexion, long brown hair, brown eyes which are covered with glasses and an average slightly chubby figure. Nothing special. Being a shaman, however, was something I have been for my whole life as I inherited this power from my grandmother who was one herself. A power I didn't want to have. A power which allowed me to see, speak and touch the dead making me live in fear and isolation from society. For seventeen years.

"I thought I sensed a ghost but it must have been a mistake" I looked down and began to play with my hands, suddenly taking an interest in it, not wanting to see the worried reaction of my mother. I heard a sigh leaving her lips before a pair of hands grabbed mine, spreading its warmth to mine. Looking up I see a soft smile on her face, the sight made me calm down.

"It's alright Jia, I'm sure you're just paranoid", she turned around facing the front, still keeping a hand on mine. "And if anything happens know that the bracelet your grandmother gave you would protect you from the evil spirits." The mention of the bracelet made me look at it in awe as the design was so simple yet had a hint of elegance, the silver band securely wrapped around my wrist. Engraved on the smooth surface was a phrase I was told many times 'Guāng huì zhànshèng hēi'àn' meaning that light will prevail over darkness. The good will defeat evil.