ANATOMY OF A GIRL

november 7th, 1808

Location:
Shayera, Obscurai

Despite her family's intentions to make an enemy of every living person, despite their misdoings, Nevaeh and her mother had managed to make friends with the people of Shayera. Or, they had managed to make friends with those that had not run at the mention of their last name. Even before the spell, there had been darkness inside them.

Caius and Calantha, the twins and her older siblings, had no one but each other. No friends. When she was younger, she was jealous of them. Of their relationship — how close they were and how much faith they had in each other. Sometimes she thought they could speak to each other without actually speaking. It was a bond not easily undone.

But now, seeing them together, she thought it looked awfully lonely.

Nevaeh, of all things, did not feel lonely in Shayera. But she surely would once she left. Once it was only her and the people she called her family. She supposed she had her mother, but her mother rarely saw her family for what they truly were. Only she saw beyond everything. Her mother only ever saw the best in others. It was not always a good thing.

Kloé, her oldest and dearest friend, was the hardest goodbye. Nevaeh held onto her for a long time, unwilling to let go because when she did, it would be forever. She did not know if she would see Kloé again, but she did not think she wanted to either. She didn't want any of her friends to see her in the way she would surely become. Because above all else, she didn't want to be like her siblings and father. But the spell was a weight on her chest and she wasn't sure how long she would be able to hold it off her heart. It was resting above her ribcage, pushing through the gaps between her ribs, pulsing and writhing. It wasn't long before it would reach her heart.

Tears fell from her eyes before she could stop them, running down her cheeks onto Kloé's shoulder. She only hoped her siblings were not near. Kloé put a reassuring hand on her back, in the space between her shoulder blades.

"Do not cry," her friend whispered. "It will be okay."

Nevaeh wasn't only scared of leaving the only life and the only friends she had ever known, she was scared of moving to a place where the dark at heart dwell. Surely if she lived with that kind of darkness, it would only make the weight heavier, pushing it further into her chest and closer to her heart. There was no goodness or light in Cara'cius, and she didn't want to experience a lightless world.

Nevaeh pulled away and wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve. "Tell everyone that I am sorry for everything my family has done. But you will all be okay now, once we are gone. No one will feel the loss of such evil as my family. They will not mourn us, but that is how it is meant to be, I suppose." She did not want to be a part of this family. She did not want it.

"It is true we will not mourn your family, but there is not a person in this village that will not mourn your loss. The loss of a person so bright and caring and compassionate. Even those that did not speak with you, that only feared your name, saw you and your mother are not the same." Kloé looked to Nevaeh's red eyes and flushed cheeks. As if she could see Nevaeh's thoughts, she said, "And you do not have to worry about leaving for such a dark place as Cara'cius, for even you could find light in the City of Witches."

*

Watching the village before him, watching those that had judged Caius and his family his entire life, he couldn't say he would miss it. And he knew that Shayera would not miss him either. He was okay with that.

Leaving the village behind, he wished he could say he felt lost or even mildly upset, but he didn't. He did not feel a single thing for that infernal village he once called home. And he felt even less for the people within Shayera. The same people he'd grown up with, that hated him for the darkness that grew within him. That darkness the witch and her spell had only strengthened.

It was a short distance to the nearest Portal, only a hundred metres, made even shorter by the thought of what may lay ahead. Freedom, power, and the freedom to have power. He found none of these in Shayera. Not only was it an infernal place with disgustingly kind people, but it was his confinement. The list of rules was never-ending, and at the top of the list: THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

It was a shame really, and definitely not the "freedom" the village claimed its people had.

The Portal was hidden in the shadow between two buildings. Its silver surface gleamed like only something magical could.

His father was the first to step out of the light of the village and into the shadow. Him and Calantha followed behind shortly, sharing a look. At least they had each other. They weren't going to be alone in Cara'cius.

Halcyon waited in front of the Portal, beckoning for Verena and Nevaeh to follow. They did – slowly and carefully. They weren't born for the shadows. Whether Caius liked it or not, he was born to dwell within them.

Halcyon held out his hand and smiled as Verena put her own in his. It was not a pretty smile. His father was not capable of those. His mother and father slipped through the glassy surface soundlessly.

Caius stuck his hand into the Portal, feeling the sensation run over his flesh. He sucked in a breath before stepping in himself.

Stepping out from the blackness that was the space between realms, Caius found himself in a wood. His stomach churned and rolled — an after-effect of Portalling. The wood was quiet and dark, and the wind was cool against the exposed skin of his neck.

Calantha stepped out of the Portal and joined Caius at his side. Nevaeh stepped into the woods last, almost falling to the floor as she took the first step out, the Portal disappearing in a flash. She straightened up quickly, running her hands over the front of her dress — an old thing, dull yellow and utterly bland.

"I am fine," she said, ignoring everyone's gazes.

Halcyon took that as a sign to begin walking. Caius followed, walking deeper into the wood behind his family. Halcyon led the way to the boundary. Twigs snapped beneath Caius's feet, and slowly the sounds of the woods tapered off. They walked in silence, and not even the animals dared make a sound.

As soon as Caius passed the boundary line of the city — an obvious line of thick, gnarled trees forming a circle all around — light and sound burst around him. Bright white light reflections of the moon in the glass windows, and from the tall street lights placed at irregular intervals along a cobblestone path. But also, a burning light came from within the trees and didn't venture far from them. Almost as if the trees themselves lit up.

Venturing further into the city, Caius noticed that almost every plant seemed to be overgrown, growing up the side of glass buildings and steel houses. He thought it was awfully strange how the city was forged within a wood. Tall buildings built amongst the trees. It didn't fit. But, he supposed, neither did he before now. And this dark place was where he now belonged. With witches harbouring equally charred hearts in their chests. They were all one and the same. Seeing them, he knew right then, he would fit in. And that thought warmed some part deep inside him that was supposed to be burnt.