"But I don't wanna go to school, Mama!" Valerie watched as her daughter clung to her leg. "I wanna stay home with you!"

"Now, Angel." Valerie leaned down, running a comforting hand through the girl's crimson hair. "Everyone has to go to school." The child looked up at her. She kneeled down to face her, smiling kindly. "There will be plenty of other kids there to. You'll make lots of friends and have a wonderful time."

"Really?"

Valerie placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Angelica, everything will be fine. Everyone is nervous about their first day of school. Now come on, get your backpack and let's go."

Angelica snatched up her backpack and took her mother's hand. The two left their home and got into the car. It was a short drive to the nearby school, and Valerie was soon leading Angelica into the building and to her classroom. Inside, at least a dozen other kids her age were playing with toys, coloring, and just having fun. A woman wearing glasses with brown hair fixed up in a ponytail approached the two.

"Good morning," she greeted with a cheery smile. Her gaze went down to the child attempting to hide behind her mother's leg. "And who might you be?"

Valerie gently pulled her daughter out from behind her. "This is Angelica. Sorry, she's a bit nervous about her first day."

The woman bent down and took Angelica by the hand. "Well hello, Angelica. No need to worry. We're going to have a great time today."

Angelica smiled lightly. Valerie crouched down and said, "Now, Angel, you have a good time. I'll be back to pick you up after school, okay?"

"Okay, Mama."

Valerie kissed her daughter's forehead and stood up. She waved to the girl and left the room. Angelica looked all around at the other kids. None of them paid her a bit of attention, and the teacher hurried over to keep a boy from climbing on her desk. Not knowing what to do, Angelica quietly went over to a vacant area where a pile of building blocks laid. She slipped off her backpack, sat down, and began stacking a few blocks.

"Hey, can I play too?"

Angelica looked up, seeing a brown-haired boy standing in front of her with a friendly smile. "Uh, sure."

The little boy sat beside her and picked up a block. "My name's Henry. What's yours?"

"Angelica," she answered. She was beginning to loosen up at having someone talk to her. "But you can call me Angel. That's what my mama calls me."

The two began stacking up the blocks. They talked about all kinds of things as they constructed a grand building. "It looks like the Citadel!" Henry cried joyfully.

"That's where my mama works!"

"Whoa, really?!" the boy exclaimed.

She nodded. "Yep! She's a cook! I wanna work there with her one day!"

"I wish I could work at the Citadel! Then I could meet the king!"

The pair had become fast friends, talking and laughing together. Angelica had made her very first friend, and she couldn't be more thrilled. Henry got up and rushed off to grab a milk carton. Meanwhile, Angelica continued working on creating a small city around the block-made Citadel. After a moment, her concentration was broken by rapid footsteps behind her, followed by a hand gripping her shoulder.

Angelica instantly reacted, a strange instinct taking over her. She grabbed the person's arm and twisted it. There was an audible snap followed by a shriek of pain. Angelica released the person and whirled around, seeing Henry now writhing on the floor, clutching his arm as he screamed and cried. Angelica realized what she had done and backed away as the teacher and other children gathered around.

"I-I'm sorry!" she shouted. "I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Everything happened so fast. It seemed like only moments later, she was sitting in the principal's office, her mother right next to her. "I'm terribly sorry, sir," Valerie apologized. "I'll pay for the child's medical expenses, and I promise it will never happen again."

The man at his desk sighed. "It better not. I'll give her another chance. But if anything like this happens again, she will be expelled."

The car ride home was quiet. Angelica sat silently, her head hung down as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She was devastated by her own actions. She had no idea why she reacted in such a way. It was as if something deep inside her told her to defend herself. Her body then followed the odd instinct. Once they returned home, the questioning began.

"Angelica." Her mother's stern voice made the girl tremble. "Tell me what happened."

"I... I don't know!" she replied, tears now pouring from her eyes. "I was playing with Henry, but when he surprised me, everything just happened so fast! I... I broke his arm! I didn't mean to hurt him!"

Valerie crouched down and rubbed the girl's shoulders. "I know, Angel. It was just an accident." She pulled the sobbing child into a hug. "Seems you've got the instincts of a Solani," she muttered. She pulled away and gazed at the girl. "I think it's time I tell you the truth. I believe you're old enough to know."

Valerie sat the girl down with her on the couch. "You were born as a Solani, a clan of some of the best assassins. You see, back in my village, everyone was an assassin. It was a simple occupation for us. I was among the best and the last of my clan. I believe your hereditary instincts are the reason you lashed out at that boy."

The girl's eyes were wide with astonishment. "You mean... we're supposed to hurt people?"

Valerie shook her head. "No, we do NOT bring harm to ordinary people. I abandoned my ruthless ways when I met your father. But in all honesty, I would gladly kill anyone who threatens my family, my home, or my king. That is where my skills are put to use."

Angelica suddenly slid out of her seat. "I've gotta tell Henry about this! Maybe he'll forgive me!"

Valerie was quick to catch her hand, stopping her. "No, no, no, Angel. We never tell anyone about our assassin heritage, and we don't attack innocent people either." She pulled her closer, staring straight into her daughter's deep blue eyes. "Promise me that you won't tell a soul about any of this. This must stay our little secret."

After a moment, Angelica nodded in understanding. "I promise, Mama."

Valerie smiled. "Good. King Regis and his bodyguard, Clarus, are the only ones who know, and it should stay that way."

Angelica sat down next to her mother again. "So, we're not from here, in Lucis?"

The woman shook her head. "No, but our allegiance is with Lucis. The king gave us both a second chance. We're indebted to him." She then grinned. "You know, I think you and I should start training. I'll teach you how to better control those assassin instincts, and we'll put them to good use in service to our king."

The child clasped her hands together on her lap and hung her head down. "Okay, Mama."

"And then tomorrow, I'll take you back to school."

"No!" The girl jumped to her feet. "Everyone's gonna hate me after today!"

Valerie sighed. "I know it'll be difficult to handle, but you must be strong and push through. Every child needs an education and I'm certainly not equipped to teach you myself."

Angelica stubbornly shook her head. "I'm not going back! You can't make me!"

In her anger, Valerie caught sight of something unsettling in her daughter's eyes. Their was a cold and distant look in them. It was a look that was all too familiar to Valerie. Angelica darted past her mother and to her room. The woman was left standing there, looking back in the direction her daughter went.

"Oh, Than," she muttered. "She's definitely your daughter."

The following day, Angelica was brought back to school. But as soon as she entered the classroom, silence fell and everyone stared at her with fearful eyes. She cautiously walked over to a small desk and set her backpack down. The kids around her all scooted away. Looking around, Angelica caught sight of Henry sitting on the floor with some blocks, a cast now covering his arm. The girl slowly went over to him.

"Hi, Henry. I-"

"Stay away from me!" he shouted, backing away in terror. "I don't want another broken arm! Just leave me alone!"

Angelica was hurt. She thought maybe he'd understand and still be her friend. But now she was trapped in a place where she was alone and feared. She wanted nothing more than to go home right then. She felt so different from everyone else. They're nothing like me, she told herself. I don't fit in. I'm dangerous. Unfortunately for her, she had many school years still ahead of her.