Hush

> Chapter Twenty One <

Raine

My eyes flutter open, and I appear to be on the ground. I sit up, brushing dirt from my hands, and that's when I notice.
          My skin is white.
          Ghostly white.
          Lianna never told me being a Shade would change me on the outside!
          "You look confused, dear." Lianna says from behind me. I turn my head to look at her over my shoulder.
          "Why is my skin all white like yours?" I ask, feeling the smoothness of my pale arms.
          "When you become a Shade, there are some changes to your physical appearance. You have features alike to mine, as all Shades do. But no one else can see them except me. And other Shades, of course." Lianna explains, toying with a strand of her silvery locks.
          I instantly reach for my hair. It's still my familiar dark brown waves, besides the fact that it's now glossy and free from tangles. Wait, what about my eyes?
          Lianna read my mind, and a mirror appears in front of me; a floating blob reflecting my face perfectly.
          My eyes aren't completely black like I thought they would be, although, the irises are. They're basically white spheres with pitch black dots in the middle.
          "When you're mad, sad, or murderous, the entirety of your eyes turn black, like mine. But they switch back once you've calmed down." Lianna comments. Murderous? When would I ever...
          It comes with the job, dear.
          Okay, I guess.
          "So, what now?" I ask, standing up.
          "You receive your first Assignment."
          "And that is...?"
          "Assignments are the murder missions I will send you on every now and then. I didn't expect one to be ready, considering you're but a young Shade, but it just came up. I'm debating whether or not I should just get a more experienced Shade to do it or not..."
          "I'll do it!" I shout suddenly, my heart beating fast. Am I actually excited about the chance to kill someone?
          "Eager little girl. I like you as a Shade already." she laughs. "Okay, you can do it. Your Assignment is simple. A young Shade of mine, much like you, betrayed me. All you must do is locate her with your new senses. Every Shade is connected through me, so your instincts will know who she is. After you find her, you must kill both her and the person she revealed our secret to. Got it, dear?"
          "Got it, Lianna." I reply, nodding and smiling. "Do I come back here afterwards?"
          "Yes, and you will be rewarded accordingly." she says.
          I smirk devilishly, an expression I didn't know I was capable of, considering my normally innocent personality. "I like rewards."