Chapter 1

I was four years old when I found myself abandoned in the midst of winter. I had on ratty clothes, barely able to hold in any body heat, and no shoes. I had little idea of what had befallen me. I have vague memories of children sneering and pelting rocks at me, calling me a monster and a demon spawn and some even running from me as they saw my eyes. Something about my eyes differed from the norm and as young as I was, I had no clue what it could be.

I huddled under a nest of fallen branches, trying hard to shelter myself from the frigid wind that bit into my fingers and toes. I was lying there, tears frozen to my face and no longer shivering, when Ada found me. 

He lifted me immediately into his arms and wrapped me tightly into his clothing, using what little body heat he had to warm me. I think I said nothing as he used his breath to warm my frost bitten fingers, and rubbed my back vigorously in order to stimulate blood flow and heat me through friction. I was near death and he found and tended to me.

I remember Ada told me he instinctively knew I had been abandoned and had no one else to turn to so had taken it upon himself to take me in. He had recently lost a child and taking me in eased an ache in him. 

He had no obligation to me and yet he raised me as his own for many years. He was a halfling, human mixed, and by the grace of his elders had been permitted to stay within his village, yet that changed the day he walked into his village with me held in his arms. They all knew I was a hellish being from the moment we walked through the gates and immediately cursed at us. This I clearly remember. Ada wrapped his arms tightly around me as he assured the village he would leave as soon as he gathered some items. A small sack of clothing later, and we left.

It took many months for us to find a settlement to take shelter in. It was mid winter and freezing yet Ada worked tirelessly to make a shelter for us. We lived there for many years. Thirteen of your human years to be exact. I was no longer as young nor as sickly as the day we had met, and thus was more capable. I was stronger than the average bear that would cross into our territory. We had many pelts from those who were too foolishly brave and lost their lives to my bow and knife.

It was the summer of my seventeenth birth year when they came for me. They were demons, ugly marred skin, sneers and crooked teeth, skin as black as soot. They were there to retrieve me, as was implied from their conversation. My father wanted me brought to him and was not able to retrieve me himself, and had therefore sent these two monstrosities to do his bidding.

Their names were Leviathan and Tomo. Leviathan being the older of the two had quite a nasty temper. He was there to do one job, and by god he would do it.

When they grabbed for me, Leviathan's grip broke my wrist. This shocked me as I was known for my strength, and yet this monster was so much stronger than I could hope to become. I screamed as he pulled my arm and dislocated my shoulder. I had never felt such pain before.

I was struggling to get my arm free, ignoring the sharp pain that had me clenching my jaw, when a blur of movement caught my eye. Before I could comprehend what had happened, a knee had connected with Leviathan's nose, crushing it. 

Blood flew from the injury and I was momentarily released as the monster grabbed at his nose, gritting against the pain as he glared at the offender.

"Run Cugu!" Ada yelled, turning to face the threat head on. 

I stood frozen for a moment before I turned and ran as fast as my feet would carry me. Ada had never needed to defend me. From the moment I had turned ten I had been strong enough to fend off any threat that came my way, but these creatures were different. These creatures were far and beyond stronger than anything I had ever faced before.

I could hear footsteps following me at an alarming rate. I did not dare to look behind me, knowing one of those beasts was following me. I could not spare a glance. I needed to get away. 

My lungs burned and my legs ached, and yet I did not stop. I continued to run, needing to get away. However it was useless as the younger beast, Tomo, inevitably caught up to me and grabbed my broken wrist, pulling violently.

My vision blacked out due to the pain. I was halted in my step and fell backwards, tumbling to the ground. I lay there for a moment, trying to catch my breath and waiting for my vision to return, pain shooting up my arm. 

"Good try." The creature said, barely out of breath. 

My vision was still spotty so I could hardly see his face as he leaned down to look at me. His face was contorted in what I could only assume was a smile as he righted himself and a booted foot slammed into my head. 

My head flew to the side and my ears began to ring at the sheer force behind his kick. I rolled, groaning in pain and tried to crawl away, but that too was useless as my left arm would not move. 

He grabbed my leg and pulled, laughing as I slid on the ground towards him. I kicked at his hand, trying to get his grip to loosen, needing to get away, but to no avail. The being was just as strong as the other. I clawed at the ground, nails making grooves on the forest floor. 

I felt a kick to my side and yelled out in shock as pain flared in my ribs. I coughed and gasped trying to breathe through the agony. His foot slammed into my back causing me to let out a choked scream. 

"Maybe don't run" He bent down, foot still on my back, and lifted me by the hair, looking me in the eye, smile still on his face. 

I spat in his face, glaring at him. "Go to hell." 

He threw his head back and cackled madly. "Oh don't worry your little head about that, we'll get there soon enough"

He grabbed the collar of my shirt and began dragging me, the fabric digging into my throat causing me to choke. My right hand flew up to my collar, pulling and trying to get air into my abused lungs. I kicked at the ground, trying to stand, or move. Trying to do anything to either get away or breathe, I could not say which. My frantic movements did nothing to deter the demon as I continued to claw at my collar, throat raw and bleeding as my nails dug in. 

"We're back." I heard him say and panic immediately set in. 

My heart beat erratically as I was unceremoniously thrown towards the first demon. I opened my eyes and looked up at Leviathan who was holding Ada's lifeless body by the head, his body dangling and limp. Blood seeped from between Leviathan's fingers as he clenched his hand around the crushed skull of the only father I had ever known.

Rage and sorrow boiled beneath my skin as I screamed, tears burning my eyes and clouding my vision. Strength I did not think I had flared through me, helping me stand and rush the beast that had taken Ada from me. I raised my fist and punched the beast with all the strength my anger gave me. He staggered, dropping ada in the process, and my anger immediately dissipated. Rushing forth, I caught Ada's body before it could hit the ground. I felt no pain as my left arm took the brunt of his weight, adrenaline having dulled my senses.

"Ada?" I whispered, looking at the mangled remains of his face. There was nothing left of his face, a mangled mess where a nose, mouth and eyes should have been. 

I could hear nothing over the sound of blood rushing in my ears and my vision blurred. I lifted a shaking hand to touch his face, but my fear of ruining what was already damaged, stopped me. I hugged his body close to mine and screamed. Sobbing and gagging as anguish bled through me. I buried my face in his shoulder and continued to scream. 

Someone grabbed me, pulling me to my feet. I was still holding onto Ada, refusing to part from him, only to have him wretched from my arms and thrown into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch as the bones of his back shattered. 

I have little memory of what happened after. I may have fought, kicking and clawing to free myself and get back to Ada, or I could have fallen limp as the shock finally rendered me useless. 

My next memory is of sitting on the cold ground waiting to die.