Marked For Death

Charra walked around town, noting each establishment's unique aesthetic: worn-out shops, cobblestone streets, and a small-town feel. Lumilla brimmed with little shops, all carrying the old-time feel from when gods walked among them so long ago. The smell of the many shops filled the air, making everyone feel at home. As the many colors faded, it was still beautiful in its own way. She felt at home here, heading to her favorite shop for candied delights. The rustic charm fit the worn shop, its welcoming smell inviting to those who knew it. Each worn shelf held the candy for some time. Yet it held its charm throughout the many years it had delighted the population.

“Great is the strength of the sons of man who defeated the gods in the end,” Charra stated to the guard in the front.

He looked over at her with suspicion and even walked around her. He sniffed the air and returned to the front of the door.

“I can smell a god better than anyone, and you seem to have that stench,” the guard snarled.

“I am the daughter of man and bear no sign of the gods; you must be smelling someone else,” Charra replied.

“Then prove you have no mark of the gods, or will I catch you lying?” the guard replied.

Charra pulled her shirt off her shoulder as he took out his light to examine. Charra could feel her heart pound, but could not show it. Each scan heightened her unease as her secret could be revealed by over zealous guards. He shone it over her shoulder repeatedly, ignoring courtesy. With a final scan, he stepped back, no mark ever appearing. His face looked glum as he acknowledged the result. Charra could breathe as she was allowed to enter despite the guard's best attempt.

Charra entered the shop, visibly shaken. Her flustered face softened at the sight of the peppermint sticks. The freshly filled jar scented the air. Maxter smiled, greeted her warmly, and offered a compliment. Charra accepted and started eating. Chocolates were being baked in the back, filling the shop with sweet delight.

“You have a new guard with even more stringent policies,” Charra commented.

“You can never be too careful, the sons of gods, there is still a population of them about,” Maxter replied.

“The gods have been kicked out and have no chance even if there is a remnant of them,” Charra replied.

“I still do not trust them; they were very tricky when they ruled,” Maxter replied.

Charra shrugged as she placed her treats on the counter. They were an assortment, but her mother loved to snack too. She left the shop, sucking on her peppermint stick. Charra was enjoying walking around the corner when she ran into her friend Bartimus. His hat was crooked, as usual, but his bright blue eyes always shone.

“Did you leave any sweets for me in there?” Bartimus stated as he hurried over and handed her another peppermint stick.

“Did you hear that a new café just opened?” Bartimus asked.

“I did not, and I would like to visit to see if it has any good food,” Charra answered.

After the incident at the last place, they both headed to the shop. It still looked the same, but now it smelled good, unlike the other place. The red paint was gone, replaced with blue, and the sign now read The Blue Bonnet. Although the look was different, they figured a try couldn't hurt. As they approached, a guard stood at the door.

“Great is the strength of the sons of man who defeated the gods in the end,” Charra and Bartimus stated.

The guard examined them as they stood as still as possible. The guard could walk around them with more suspicion. The guard stared at Charra and Bartimus as if he would not allow entry.

“You shine like the gods with their arrogance on display. I will have to check for a mark,” the guard stated.

“I am no son of the gods, but if you must check, you can,” Charra replied.

She tugged her shirt down as he flashed his light. With a few quick passes, the check was over. The guard glanced at Bartimus and checked him, too. Both passed, but the guard waited until the owner yelled before letting them in. They entered the café, which was brighter and had cleaner tables. The food smelled great. They sat as the waiter approached for their order. Both Charra and Bartimus called him Jax. Jax was happy to see them and brought some rolls. Menus in hand, they explored their options; the meat dishes sounded delicious as they decided what to eat.

Jax came over, waiting for the order, as Charra decided on the chicken salad while Bartimus ordered the beef with onions. Jax grabbed the menus, and Charra looked around the room. The colors made the place come alive. It was a lively place, but it felt a little hot. Charra could only sit back as she waited for the new meal. The minutes passed, more customers arrived, and finally the food arrived. It smelled as if it came straight out of the oven. Charra gulped down her meal as she filled her stomach with joy. The smiles on their faces were too even to order the decadent dessert of apple pie. It was a treat as they finished even more and showed up. The place was full of a waiting line and a very busy guard.

The sun was going to fade as they came out, and it was time to get home. Charra still had her candy and was tired from the day of shopping. Bartimus headed off to his evening job as the streetlights turned bright. Charra could feel her heartbeat with the beauty of the evening and the sunsets. It was the best time to relax and cool off. Charra had hated the heat since her childhood, but dealing with it was a duty of growing up. She walked through the streets and watched the shops close in their typical manner. Home was the next stop, as she had been much later than her mother had wanted. Even skipping her mother’s home-cooked meal, but it was a day off to explore and not be hassled by the overzealous guards. The stores were costly enough, and the day was ending. The walk was nice as her full stomach and extra candy from the shop filled her appetite.

The familiar small cottage appeared as Charra walked down the stone road, signaling her return and the day's end.

“Great is the strength of the sons of men who defeated the gods in the end,” Charra announced.

Her mother, Celeste, sat by the fireplace reading as she noticed Charra’s late return. Charra hesitated, knowing hours had passed.

“I have some chocolate drops for you this time,” Charra stated.

“That was very kind of you, but where have you been all evening?” Celeste replied.

“I had to try the new café in town, and it was the best food of all the others,” Charra replied.

“You were supposed to save your money in case of any trouble,” Celeste answered.

“I was very careful, but the guards still have not noticed anything with this new makeup, though I was search several time,” Charra responded.

“You can never be too careful, and the last thing you need is to expose yourself as a half god,” Celeste replied.

“I will be on my best behavior from now on and not end like my dad after his exposure,” Charra responded.

Charra went into her chamber and stripped off the armor and makeup on her shoulder. The protection was successful as the light gleamed from the stars of her father. The mark was the mark of death to any that bore it. Charra could finally breathe after the suffocating mark and no longer had to wear a second skin. Charra understood the cruelty of the gods, but the half-gods are not them. Each stab hurt, as many disregarded the lives of those they did not understand. Playing the part was now the game of her life. Being hunted down was the last thing she wanted to think about. The second skin was hiding everything; she was nothing but a character in the town. Dreams floated in her head about being herself and not having to hide anything. Fear was around every corner in case the second skin would reveal her secret and lose her life for it. The battles fought and the bitterness of revenge resonate as if the war were not over. As the night waned, the tiredness took control, and hopefully the nightmares would not come in the night as her mother looked in pain, trying to protect her.