The Marked People

To be reborn

Indigo

"I have to admit that when you first contacted me, I was a little surprised." Gwydo's voice is full of conceit that almost seems to drown out his words as he speaks.

Patrick, silent as ever stands on Phoenix's left while I hover on his right. Phoenix himself seems at ease with the situation his markings remaining their neutral blue colour that stands out boldly against his skin. "Yes well, you know my thoughts on your interests though it seems I've become in need of your particular skills." Phoenix's voice is barely holding back his disgust as he speaks. Now his markings shift, light threads of yellow blooming across them.

We'd thought that when approaching Phoenix's contacts it should appear that I, like every other human, am nothing but another slave. Which means that Phoenix is to do all the talking while I stand silent beside him.

Phoenix and Patrick had both warned me of the kind of man Gwydo is. He doesn't see humans as individuals or as creatures that have worth. All we are to him are things that he can practise his 'art' on. As one of the best in his line of work he's the only one who can even attempt to change me into a Marked person, and for that we need his help. Which means I can't slip up, I can't speak as if I were his equal. If Gwydo doesn't like me, doesn't think I fit into his idea of how a human is meant to act, then our plans fall apart.

So I stay quiet, though the thought of being the presence of someone like him has my skin itching as I ache to leap forward, to feel his soft skin caving in under my hands. I can see it in his eyes and in the way he moves. He likes to hurt my people; finds joy in twisting the human figure and the thought has me burning.

I study Gwydo, unlike most Marked people whose marks fluctuate between colours depending on their emotions Gwydo's appears to glow continuously, flowing from red to blue to yellow with odd blemishes of green and black appearing every now and then. His skin reminds me of the city lights I use to see far from my forest. It seems Gwydo doesn't just limit himself to experimenting on humans but has dabbled with his own skin as well.

Gwydo, aware of our gazes on his ever-changing marks stretches out his arms to admire his own work " Do you like my art? Of course the effects are only temporary. Unfortunately no matter what I try I can never make these rainbow markings permanent."

Phoenix replies, his voice cool and business like as he attempts to get the conversation back on track, "What is your price?"

Gwydo continues as if Phoenix had never spoken " Of course messing with one's markings is completely illegal, after all society would crumble if we could suddenly hide our emotions behind a wall of pretty colours."

Gwydo sighs as his markings slowly return to a normal shade of blue, the effects of his experiment gradually wearing off. "But then again you wouldn't be here unless you were already outside the law." His eyes slide to me for the first time as if finally deciding that I'm interesting enough to at least gain his attention.

Phoenix speaks again, drawing Gwydo's eyes away from me as he repeats, "What's your price?"

Gwydo taps his finger on his jaw half humming to himself as he begins to walks around me, "Depends what you want. At the moment many of my clients are into the sparkling fashion, they're getting me to make their humans glow. But adding sparkling minerals and serums into a humans skin so they shine like a ruby doesn't seem like something that would interest you."

Gwydo glances around his workshop, "In fact I'd say that you're looking for something a little more high market, maybe a little more drastic?"

Gwydo's eyes are once again watching me and I can see him mind jumping in excitement. That flash of hungering is all I need to see through him. He sees himself as an artist. The work he does for his clients bores him, doesn't push him or his creative genius. But me, I'm a blank canvas that he's now greedily eyeing.