Touched by the Sun
The night had always been Tamela Keket's companion, her realm of existence. Her father, Abaddon, had raised her with an unwavering commitment to their unique way of life. From a young age, she had been raised to follow in his footsteps as a Shinigami, tasked with guiding the souls of the departed to their final resting place in the underworld. A duty that required them to avoid the harsh light of the sun. Or so she believed.
Tamela knew nothing of the sun's warmth, the vibrant colors of daytime, or the simple joy of feeling its rays on her skin. And her childhood was one of seclusion. Her father homeschooled her, imparting knowledge about their mysterious lineage and their solemn responsibilities.
As to her mother, the stories were few, and they all revolved around her tragic death during childbirth, leaving Tamela with nothing but vague, melancholic stories. Lacking any photographs, the woman who had brought her into this world was forever a faceless enigma.
One fateful evening, as Tamela was returning from her duties, she found herself running late. She emerged from the shadowed alleyways into an open square. The sky above was gradually shifting from inky black to shades of indigo and lavender. Panic welled up inside her chest as she realized she might witness something she had never seen before—a sunrise.
The first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the landscape. Tamela's breath caught in her throat as she stared in awe at the breathtaking spectacle. The world seemed to come alive with colors she had only heard of in her father's stories, orange and pink dancing across the sky like a celestial ballet. Her heart swelled with a strange mixture of wonder and fear. She felt a tingling sensation as if the very air around her was charged with an otherworldly energy.
A young woman stood a few paces away, bathed in the gentle morning light. But the woman wasn't looking at Tamela or the sunrise; her gaze was fixed just beyond her. Tamela turned around, her heart pounding, but there was nothing there.
Confusion gnawed at her as movement flickered at the edge of her vision. She turned her head, and there it was—the source of the young woman's fascination. Shining black wings, glistening like onyx in the dim light of dawn, extended from her back. They were wings she had never known she possessed, and they seemed to shimmer with an ethereal luminescence.
As realization struck her, a chilling breeze ruffled her hair, revealing its true color—pale blonde, contrasting starkly with her usual raven locks. Her fingers trembled as she reached up to touch the strands, trying to make sense of this strange transformation.
Time seemed to stand still as Tamala grappled with the inexplicable revelation. The world around her faded into insignificance, and for the first time in her life, she felt a sense of disconnect from her father's teachings and her predetermined destiny as a Shinigami.
Tamela broke into a sprint, her wings retracting as she moved. She had to confront her father and demand answers to the questions that now consumed her. How had he hidden her true identity from her? Why had he kept her ignorant about her own nature?
The city of Centropolis flashed past her. Its history was a tapestry of stories and struggles, from its role in the Revolutionary War to the waves of immigration that had shaped its diverse population. On one side, she passed by a centuries-old cathedral, its spires reaching toward the heavens, a testament to the city's deep religious roots. On the other, sleek, high-tech billboards flashed with neon lights, advertising the latest gadgets and entertainment.
Tamela's breaths came in ragged gasps as she weaved through the bustling streets. She could feel the weight of her newfound knowledge pressing down on her, the questions burning in her mind like a relentless fire. How had her father hidden her true nature? Why had he kept her in the dark all these years?
The city seemed to blur around her as she ran, her surroundings a chaotic backdrop to her turbulent thoughts.
The sun's rays chased her, casting her shadow against the cobblestone pavement. Approaching her home now, the streets were lined with brick townhouses that had seen generations come and go, each leaving their mark on the city's ever-evolving identity. Standing before a stately brownstone nestled amidst the urban sprawl, she steeled herself for the confrontation that awaited.
Tamela's heart pounded with a mix of fear and anticipation.