11 20 Seasons Pass (11)

"Another devil falls into our midst!" He pointed directly at Rhosyn. "the holy fire I bear reveals to us the hidden monster." With a gesture of his scepter, the light burned more brightly, focusing into a ray of light that engulfed her. Rhosyn lifted her arm to protect her eyes from the stabbing light, feeling it enwrap her, her skin feeling as if millions of candle's flame burned against it. When the light stopped, the wind buffeted her, kicking the hood off her head.

Rhosyn opened her eyes, and looked at the peasants staring at her in open mouthed horror. She looked around and spotted herself in a shops window. Her trinket failing.

The priest gestured to his men, who immediately turned to surround her. "Look, and bear witness. For the demon now shows its true face!"

Rhosyn turned to Saffir, looking at her with fear in her eyes, and took Saffir by the hand. "Run!"

She bolted, tugging Saffir behind her as she sprinted from the crowd, many of them backing away in terror. Rhosyn heard the sound of jingling chainmail but did not look back, she only ran as fast as she could while dragging the shocked girl behind her. She broke through the crowd and immediately looked for the nearest alley. Seeing one between two stalls, she sprinted for it, ignoring the hoarse cries of the guards that gave chase.

In the alley, she darted randomly through the twisted paths, knocking crates, wagons, anything she could move in the path of their pursuit. When she reached the other side of the block, she found the main road and without thinking, jumped into full view. Those that saw her, shrieked and fled, jumping out of the path of the duo.

If only she could get the trinket working, they could blend into the crowd.

Rhosyn fled into the next alley, once again moving irregularly until all sounds of pursuit vanished from her sharpened hearing.

It was then that she felt a slight tug against her grip. "Rhosyn, stop! You're hurting me."

Rhosyn stopped midstride, ducking into the shadow of a doorway before she turned to her friend, who looked at her with fear. She looked down at their hands and immediately felt shame, as there was already a darkening bruise around Saffir's wrist.

Rhosyn let go. "I'm sorry, Saff." She mumbled, not looking her in the eyes.

Saffir rubbed her wrist, "What has happened to you? Your hair, your eyes, your ears. I don't even recognize you."

Rhosyn pulled at one of her braided locks, instead of the golden blonde she wore around humans, it was snowy white. She felt along her earlobe, feeling the long shape of pointed ears. she looked at her friend, the shock and confusion apparent on her face.

"I'm sorry… Saff. But I am not what you think I am."

"What do you mean,"

Rhosyn looked up at the sky, the silvery clouds parting revealing equally silver light from the shining disc that was the sun. Blinking from the light, she bowed her head and pulled her head over her face.

"I'm not a human like you, Saff." She said it through clenched teeth, like she was in pain. "Your kind see me as a monster, a demon!"

Saffir said nothing.

Rhosyn looked at her, eyes hard like agates. "Forget you ever knew me! that's the only way you'll be safe. Hide and forget about me."

She went to move away, struggling not to cry, but felt herself be stopped. She looked down at her hand, and saw Saffir's bruised hand wrapped around it.

"You are Rhosyn, you will always be my friend Rhosyn. No matter what you look like." Her face was no longer fearful, but determined, adamant.

Tears fell freely down Rhosyn cheek, shocked stiff at her statement. With little thought, Rhosyn embraced her, crying silently into her shoulder for only a moment. She looked at Saffir's cheery face, but silently worried, for she had just put herself in even more danger. Taking her wrist, Rhosyn returned the smile.

"Lets go, my friends will know what to do."