The harsh sounds and the pungent smell infiltrates the air. You can almost taste it in your mouth. The fumes lay thick, one could barely see anything. All you could see is orange, like Hell Fire is raining down on Earth. Mothers hold their offspring to their bosoms while they run for safety. Fathers wrap their arms over their families' heads to prevent too much smoke from entering their lungs. From a higher altitude, the Naelundians look like ants running around when their anthills are being filled with water. The neighing horses could be heard throughout the entirety of Naelund. The message is clear. The Devil sent his demons to collect the sinners and everyone who associates with them.

The point is, they know.

Odessa has prepared her whole life for this day yet nothing stops the fear inside her now that it is here. Historically—not that Odessa would know—Frecka magic was stronger in comparison to any Gaidde magic the Casteron family could throw at them. However, Odessa didn't have anyone but her parents to confide in with her magic or anyone to help her. Surrounded by a nation full of people who feared her, she was alone. Her parents discovered her curse when she was six and they woke up to screams in the neighborhood. Her mother had prayed since Odessa was in the womb for it not to be passed down to her.

Her parents rushed out, leaving the sleeping daughter in bed, bursting through the large crowd of concerned villagers to find out that the father of a small family of two children and a wife was killed. All eyes were focused on the thick dark cloud that hovered over the roof of the house and drifted away. They followed the cloud to the Penteau's house and horror came over them when they uncovered that their own daughter was behind it. All while she slept peacefully on the stack of hay. That day was the beginning of hatred and being outcasted by the fellow Naelundians.

However, with much convincing, they helped them find many ways to train her to control that power. As well as prepare her for the day that King Silas of Varusa finds out and seeks to kill her. Except, he wasn't here for just her, he was killing them all.

The hysterical screams of frightened Naelundians echoes through the village as they run around frantically as if they lost their heads. Silas' Royal guards come storming into everyone's houses and killing their families—women and children included. All while his dragon, Kalodor, soars high in the sky breathing out smoldering fire, burning anyone that manages to have escaped.

"You need to leave, Odessa. Run as far from here as possible." Her mother picks up the bag they have already prepared and pushes it into her daughter's hands. Envisioning this day before was completely different now that the time is finally here. Their hearts are pounding hard against their chests in fear and sorrow. Their heads are throbbing in tension and an unsettling ache in their bellies telling them there is no way all of them can survive this.

"I can't leave you, either of you. You can come with me," Odessa proposes as she looks at the getaway bag in her trembling hands. She knows they couldn't but she didn't want to have to leave her parents here to die while she ran for her safety. What was the point of living if she had to live in a cruel world without them?

"We're not as young as we were, Odessa. We won't last longer than a day out there. You are ready, you'll be okay. Protect yourself and stay hidden." Her mom runs her hand through Odessa's hair then cups her face. Her eyes trace the outline of her daughter's face one last time before time runs out.

Her parents circle each side of her and hug her as tight as they can. They all wished it was another person from another nation that had to deal with this but they had to deal with the cards they were dealt. The way Odessa's parents saw it, it was better they die than suffer anymore years in Naelund where they were barely surviving. At least she would get the chance to leave and live a better life, maybe fall in love.

"Te amamus, my little Odessa." She may be nineteen but she will always be his 'little Odessa'. Her father whispers as he places a kiss on the top of her head full of Afro curls. They cry quietly and give a firm squeeze before letting go. They can hear the heavy thumping from the soldiers getting closer to their house. Blood drains from their faces. It was like cold spider-like fingers racing up and down their spines.

"I love you too." She bids farewell and leaves out the back door after ensuring that the coast is clear. Odessa ran as fast as she could to the wispy forest, the sharp crackling noises due to the breaking branches and preparing for the naturally cold temperatures in Esadom. She tries to move light on her feet, being careful not to step on any twig that could alert a knight or guard, Also trying to avoid being seen by Kalodor because Silas could use the link he had with his dragon and look through its eyes. As she rows her boat across the Devil's Run lake, she looks back at her people who were dying because of her while she fled in cowardice.

"I'm sorry. Familia in aeternum." She whispers under her breath, brushing a tear away and turns her focus back to the path in front of her as she rows harder on the razor's edge of panic.

Familia in aeternum is the Naelundians' motto which means 'Family forever'. They would place their left hand vertically over their hearts and recite it. It is more than a motto; it was a promise. No matter where they are in the world, rich or poor, dead or alive. You are a Naelundian and you are never alone or forgotten.

Her eyes catch a glimpse of a small yet torn Naelundian flag. In its purple and whihte magnificence, the image of two olive twigs parallel to each other. The meaning of the olive tree dates back to the first Ruler who vowed that Naelundian would be a nation of peace, friendship and prosperity. To this day, they've upheld that vow but it didn't repel the negative from their borders.

The Devil's Run is not a lake one would cross unless you know your way over it. It gained its name for a reason. No amateur is known to make it to the other side of the lake. Luckily for Odessa, the part of Devil's Run that separates Naelund and Esadom is calm. Therefore, she won't have to worry until she has to pass through Esadom to Swuybia. Then, she might have to send prayers to every god of land and sea.

She finally arrives on the other side of the lake and onto Esadom soil. She looks behind her and still sees Kalodor flying in the sky and scouring Naelund, black smoke covering the sky and fire blazing from the trees, houses and ground. She hurries into the forest and behind a tree, pulling the thin clothing closer to her body in an attempt to keep her warm from the cold air in Esadom. She rubs her hands together and blows on them. Though it is in vain because anyone from a mile away can hear her teeth chatter together. The freezing temperature wasn't her only concern, it was the notorious animal that is said to roam the barren forest.

They call it Exspiravit, Latin for Ghost. No one knows what it is even after trying for decades hunting the animal. Horror stories have been spread all through Udriles Kingdom to it being a large animal with a spiky tail, massive claws and even sharper teeth. They say the eyes were so terrifying, you would have nightmares about it for the rest of your life. The only thing left behind on their scavenger hunt is a trail of bodies.

While Odessa treads deeper into Mellow Woods, her ears perk up at the sound of movement. She stops in her tracks and looks around. She finds herself staring at a particular spot between the snow covered ruffling branches. Of course, she sees nothing, but the churning in her gut tells her something different. Or it could be that she is hungry. Either way, unfortunately for her, she has no sword or any sort of weapon to protect herself because the Naelundians were not granted help nor means of protection. It is law that anyone caught offering them food or anything to help them survive would be sentenced to death. For her sake, she breaks off a branch and removes the small twigs and leaves on the other end, doubting it could do harm though it was better than nothing.

Exspiravit jumps out of hiding behind her and snarls in Odessa's direction. She drops her bag and puts her afro curls in a quick bun as she prepares to fight her way past the huge bobcat. She runs the probability of her succeeding in this cat fight and as if it wasn't obvious before, she has zero chances.

She lifts her hand in surrender, already defeated. "I bring no harm, I'm simply trying to get to safety."

Ignoring the poor girl's pleas, Exspiravit leaps causing Odessa to jump aside to escape its sharp claws. Her breathing rate accelerates as well as her heartbeat but she puts on a brave face to hide her fear. She maintains a firm grip on her branch and squares her shoulders in a fighting position. She knows nothing about fighting, so if anyone sees her right now, they would laugh at how ridiculous she probably looks.

She screams running towards the bobcat and slides under it while it extends its paw revealing its claws. As Odessa stands to her feet, she feels a throbbing pain on her neck. She reaches her hand to the spot and winces when she realizes Exspiravit managed to claw her. It wasn't bad but it would leave a scar. She was so close to losing her head. She makes eye contact with the bobcat who continues to growl lowly at her.

She sees no point in this and fighting a dangerous cat for her freedom is not on her list. Hence, she drops the branch to the ground and sinks to her knees in another attempt at surrender, bending her head to the ground. If she is to die, then so be it. It is the least she can do for her people who died not long ago.

She takes a deep breath hearing the huge cat approach her slowly. At low hearing range, he growls in her ear and sniffs her scent. When Odessa thinks that it might be the end for her, she feels a wet and rough surface trail on her cheek. Her eyes gradually peek up to see Exspiravit is accepting her surrender. Apprehensively, she extends one hand to its neck and the other caressing the bridge of its nose. This was not the direction she thought it was going to go in but she accepts it. It was better than being dead.

"I'm sorry for intruding but I had to. King Silas killed my family looking for me. So, I hope you can try to understand my desperation. I'm hoping to get to Esadom. In order to get what I want, I need their help." Odessa declares to the animal that strikes fear in the people of Esadom. Her heart beating a million miles an hour and her mind doing circles to drive her to insanity of the brutal things Exspiravit can do to her body.

As if he understood what she said, he bends low allowing her to climb onto its back and leads her to a place warm enough for them to stay the night. It is almost like a cave but it is covered with trees. It is now Odessa realized how he was so difficult to spot. How easy it is for him to hide and jump out without being detected.

She rethinks the stories she has heard about the wild Exspiravit and almost laughs at how preposterous they were. He isn't something that needed to be feared at all. He has no sharp tail, it is rather furry. Her neck is evidence that he has extremely sharp claws and naturally he has sharp teeth as a cat. Except, they don't look like broken glass in his mouth like the villagers described. He is just a feral cat. Maybe if they were a little more friendly and not have threatened the cat then maybe the number of deaths that occurred in the forest would be a lot less.

Heavy-hearted, Jothan enters the Throne Room and addresses Silas on bended knee, his hand on the pommel of his sword. Silas sips on his expensive wine, his legs crossed with his wife sitting at his side, being fed grapes and being fanned by her handmaiden.

"Is it done?" He swallows and dabs his mouth with a napkin and asks his loyal Captain. "Are they all dead?"

"Even to the last fir of grass."

That night, Odessa is haunted by the screams of her parents while they were slaughtered to protect her. She awakes shivering and let out an involuntary scream filled by the pain from the loss of her loved ones causing Exspiravit to jump in alert to attack the threat. Her friends and neighbors who trouble her subconscious. The shadow she is cursed with, leaves her body and engulfs the sky, filling the forest. It is pitch black and thick. When her scream dies down, all she could hear were the cries of Esadomics. She can almost feel their pain. She might as well be known as The Reaper because that's what happens when she loses control. People die and their souls haunt her. Heaven knows how many she killed just now.

Exspiravit purrs and rubs his head on her arm. She smiles at how tender the animal could be for a large thing and rubs her hand on his head, ruffling the fur.

"It's okay. Everything is fine. Let's just go back to sleep." She manages to convince him while he pulls her body back into his furry one, warming her from the cold.

Nothing is fine. Tonight, she killed innocents and now Silas will know that she is indeed alive. She has no choice but to lay low for a while until it was time to come out of hiding. Odessa's normal days are over. She is the hunted but soon she will have to become the hunter.

13/02/22

Au revoir...

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