Chapter 1 - Cassia Nora

• لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰه •

"There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God"

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"You dreamt of this?"

"Yes. Don't judge me."

"I'm not."

"Yes you are. Those are your judging eyes."

"Cassia please. Your mother is very serious about this. The consequences of your actions will be harmful to your loved one into yourself."

Holding in my cries, with a deep breath and calm expression I continue, "Am I clear?"

Dr. John Carter gestures to the door and nods, "See you next Wednesday then Cass, greet your father for me."

"My name is Cassia for you." I leave, slamming the door behind me. Thump. The Mother Mary's and the saviour Jesus statue next to the door almost holds promise for a true path, an ornament for holy regard. ALMOST. "It's a miracle the door is still standing after these six months" jokes Grace, the assistant, from the door. John Carter drops a stack of papers and replies, "With those injuries it's a miracle she still has blood in her body."

You're probably confused on what injures the doctor was talking about, well let me fill you in. For as long as I can remember I've had a heat tolerance, to put it lightly. I can pass my hands through flames and heat without any burns, which is pretty cool I guess but it also means there are cons to it. The downsides include being vulnerable to the cold. Icy weather, snow, I hate it. It feels as if there is an ice growing inside me. Basically the more I'm exposed to flames the more ice grows inside, figuratively yet still damaging to my internal organs.

Finally leaving The Clinic for Children, Cassia sprints down the sidewalk passing the Crystal Palace Park. Breathless she picks up a handful of rocks and throws them against the animal statues. "She's impulsive he says, this vexation response your daughter has is enough to kill her. Honestly!" The water splashes around the grass, leaving water droplets flying in the air. She relaxes her dusky, brunet curly hair on the oakwood bench. "God, this bench has seen better days." As her dark caramel eyes close her heartbeat rapidly fastens, sweat starts down her face with her veins paralyzing. Her body carrying the heat of a thousand fire ignites inside her heart. A star. Two stars. Luminous as a jewel hidden in a vault away from evil eyes. The second star to the right. Straight on till morning. Thump.

On that day I don't know whose voice I heard.

I don't know why I keep having these dreams.

What the stars mean?

I don't feel connected to my culture, my family.

But from this day I remember two things. One, a short sword. Second, a ship.