10 years ago

Third person

A young girl wore a simple blue dress, faded and well-worn, and her hair, usually free and flowing like a golden river, was tied up in two neat braids. She sat quietly in a shadowed corner of the courtyard, watching the other children play, their laughter ringing out as they chased each other across the grassy clearing. A small book rested on her lap, her fingers tracing the lines of inked words as she lost herself in the story.

Nearby, her mother stood tall and imposing, wearing a striking red skirt that swept the ground and a tightly laced maroon corset. Her gaze was sharp and unsmiling as she watched the other mothers chatting and laughing. But every few moments, her attention drifted back to her daughter sitting alone, her disapproval growing. She narrowed her eyes and strode over, her boots tapping against the cobblestones. Stopping in front of her daughter, she cast a cold shadow over her, blocking the sunlight.

"Why are you sitting there?" her mother demanded, her voice hard and clipped. "Go play with the other children."

The girl looked up, blinking in confusion. "But Mom, I'm reading," she whispered, holding up the book as if to explain.

Her mother's gaze turned to ice, and without a word, she grabbed her daughter's arm, pulling her roughly to her feet. The book fell to the ground, its pages fluttering.

"You need to spend time with the other children," her mother hissed, "instead of sitting here with your silly books. They'll rot your mind." She dragged her across the courtyard toward a group of girls gathered around a small game.

"They're about your age," her mother said, giving her a slight push. "Go on, socialize."

Left to fend for herself, the girl looked at the group, her heart pounding as she tried to find words. She gave a small, awkward wave. "Um... hi."

The girls turned, their expressions curious as they looked her up and down. One of them, a girl with curly brown hair and a sprinkle of freckles, stepped forward, offering a polite smile. "Hi! What's your name?" she asked, extending her hand.

The girl hesitated, then reached out, gripping the offered hand tentatively. "I'm... Elisabetta."

A couple of the older girls exchanged glances, one of them suppressing a giggle. Another girl, slightly taller, moved closer, her eyes narrowing as she looked at her pale skin. "You're so pale... and quiet. Do you even talk?"

She blushed, brushing her messy blonde hair back with trembling fingers. "Oh... well, my dad doesn't like me going in the sun," she mumbled, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

The taller girl's mouth twisted into a mocking smile. "Really? And why's that? Is he trying to keep you hidden from the world or something?" The girls laughed, a cruel, pointed laughter that echoed through the courtyard.

"Maybe he doesn't want people to realize how weird you are," another girl added with a smirk.

The girl felt her face heat up, stumbling over her words. "I—I'm not weird."

The girls glanced at each other, their gazes sharpening with curiosity and something darker. They started to circle her, studying her closely. The oldest girl leaned in, her lips curling as she spoke. "You just seem... strange, you know? So quiet. Are you sure you're... completely human?" Her eyebrow arched as she spoke, her tone thick with condescension.

The girl swallowed, feeling a pang of confusion and hurt. "I am human," she stammered.

The older girl tilted her head, smirking like she already knew the answer. "Then prove it."

Something inside the girl snapped. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and shoved the older girl with all her strength. She stumbled back, landing hard on the ground with a startled yelp. The other girls gasped and stepped back, their faces wide with shock. The fallen girl pushed herself up, eyes blazing.

"What the hell are you doing?!" she spat, her hands clenched into fists. The others retreated slightly, but the older girl took a menacing step forward, her gaze filled with fury. The girl instinctively raised her hands in defense, and suddenly, a light blue orb flickered to life between her palms, shimmering in the air.

The girls screamed, backing up even further, terror in their eyes as they stared at the glowing orb. It pulsed for a moment, then disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The group looked on in horror, frozen in place.

The older girl shook off her shock, her face pale as she tried to regain her composure. "W-what did you just do?!" she demanded, her voice shaking.

"I... I don't know," the girl whispered, still reeling.

The older girl's expression twisted with anger and disbelief. "What are you? You just made a freaking light orb!"

From across the courtyard, her mother had noticed the commotion and stormed over, her face dark with anger. Without a word, she seized her daughter's arm in an iron grip. The girls continued to stare, some of them trembling as they watched the mother-daughter duo disappear from the courtyard.

"Come on," her mother hissed, not even looking back at the other children. She kept silent as she dragged her daughter away, the air between them thick with tension.

When they were far enough away from the others, her mother stopped, turning on her with narrowed eyes. "What the hell was that? Why were you using your powers on those kids? You know how dangerous that is!"

The girl felt her eyes prick with tears. "I... I didn't mean to."

Her mother's face softened briefly, but her eyes turned cold again. She gripped her daughter's shoulders, giving her a small shake. "And what if they tell someone? If they told the village? Or worse, the church?"

The girl lowered her head, whispering, "It's not my fault I'm half-angel."

Her mother's jaw clenched, her voice a low hiss. "Of course it's your fault!" She shook her harder. "You have to learn control. If you can't keep yourself in check, you're going to end up exposing us both and getting yourself killed!"

The girl swallowed, her eyes on the ground as she whispered, "Yes, Mum."

Her mother huffed, releasing her with a final shake. "You're such a nuisance. I swear, you don't listen to a word I say."

Her head still bowed, the girl winced at her mother's harsh words. Her mother cast a look back toward the courtyard, where the group of girls lingered, watching from a distance, their faces a mixture of shock and fear.

"Come on," her mother snapped, grabbing her arm again. "We're going home. You're not allowed out for the rest of the day, and we'll discuss that foolish orb when we get there."