She Has the Eyes of Death

It was her 13th birthday. Her 13th birthday. It was the 2nd day of the 10th month of the year when Avyanna, the girl who had been my best friend since I could remember, made a request that shook me to my core. She asked me to take off the blindfold I always wear, the one that I've relied on for as long as I can remember to keep the world safe from the power hidden within my eyes. Her voice was casual, but her intent was anything but.

Avyanna wasn't just my best friend; she was like the sister I never had but always wished for. Even though she was two years older than me, the bond we shared felt timeless. She understood me in ways no one else could. We were inseparable, two halves of a whole, and I loved her more than I had ever managed to love myself. That's why her request hurt so much. I didn't want to do it. I couldn't.

You might be curious as to why I had to cover my eyes. It's a fair question and, for most people, the answer would probably be something mundane or simple. For me, it wasn't. My eyes hold a power that's anything but ordinary, anything but safe. If I look someone in the eyes, I can see their death—not just when it will happen, but how. It's not a vision I summon willingly; it's a truth that forces itself upon me the moment our gazes meet. This is why I always wear the blindfold. It's not just a precaution. It's protection—both for me and for everyone around me.

Now you must understand why I never wanted to grant Avyanna's request. The thought of seeing her death, of knowing the exact moment and method of her demise, terrified me. How could I live with that knowledge? And yet, she was nothing if not persistent. She insisted, saying that it was the only gift she wanted for her birthday. She told me, with that unyielding determination Royals seem to carry so naturally, that if I refused, she would stop speaking to me. Avyanna was stubborn, more so than anyone I'd ever known. But when she really wanted something, she didn't just ask for it—she demanded it. Out of all the Royals I'd met, she was by far the most persuasive, and that day was no exception.

After hours of her pleading, pestering, and coaxing me during her party, I finally gave in. It was an exhausting battle, and I'd known from the start that she would win. She always did. But agreeing didn't make it any easier. I hadn't seen her face—not really—since I was three years old. That was the year everything changed. It was when I first awakened the power in my eyes and the enhanced senses that came with it. For eight long years, I had depended on my other senses to navigate the world. My sight was something I couldn't afford to use freely, not since that day.

Despite my blindness, I didn't feel lost in the world. My remaining senses were sharp—sharper than most. I could hear the smallest sounds, distinguish the faintest scents, and feel the energy of the people around me as if I were seeing them with my heart instead of my eyes. I always knew who was near me, what they were doing, and even the subtle emotions that danced through their movements. To everyone else, I might have seemed blind, but in truth, I could perceive more than they ever could.

Still, it had been years since I'd seen my own reflection. I didn't know what I looked like anymore, and I didn't particularly care to find out. The only details I remembered about myself were the ones others occasionally mentioned: my hair, golden and curly, and my eyes, which were as red as fresh blood. People used to say I looked like my mother. But she was gone. She had died when I was three, and hers was the first death I'd ever seen. The image had burned itself into my mind, haunting me in ways no child should ever have to endure. It traumatized not just me but my entire family.

Avyanna didn't seem to care about the weight of my memories as she led me to her room in the southern wing of Soleil Keeper, the grand Royal Palace where she lived. The room was massive, opulent, and glittering with sunlight that filtered through the ornate windows. As soon as we were inside, she locked the door, turning to face me with an expectant expression.

"Come on, Thya. Put on a smile! If you keep looking so grim, people are going to think I'm forcing you to do this against your will."

Her tone was playful, but I couldn't bring myself to return her teasing. Instead, I raised an eyebrow at her. "You are forcing me to do this, Avy. How can you expect me to smile when you're asking me to see how and when my best friend is going to die?"

She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Okay, fair point. But still! I can't help it. My curiosity is killing me—I need to know." Her lilac eyes sparkled with excitement, but I could see the determination behind them too. She wasn't going to back down.

Clenching my teeth, I turned my face away from her, trying to prepare myself for what was about to happen. My fingers trembled as they moved to the knot of my blindfold. Slowly, I began to untie it, my heart pounding louder with every second.

"Open your eyes, Thya," she said softly, her voice gentle and understanding. She knew how difficult this was for me, but her stubbornness outweighed her sympathy.

With the blindfold finally removed, I kept my eyes closed for a moment longer, taking a deep breath before I dared to open them. When I did, I avoided her gaze at first, allowing my eyes to adjust as I took her in.

She was stunning. I hadn't seen her face in so long, and it was almost overwhelming to take in how much she'd changed. Her wavy black hair tumbled down her shoulders like an endless waterfall, cascading all the way to her hips. Her skin, already fair, seemed to glow with an ethereal light, and she stood tall—nearly a head taller than me. She had grown into her height gracefully, carrying herself with the regal air that only Royals seemed to possess.

Finally, my gaze landed on her eyes—those luminous lilac eyes that seemed to gleam like precious jewels. For a moment, I forgot to breathe. My heart skipped a beat as I stared into them, knowing that the moment I truly looked, I would see the truth I had been avoiding all day.