Free Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves by R. R. Willica Page A

different,” she began, not really sure how to explain when she didn't have solid answers. “This is what I really look like.”
    “Your eyes, they have no color, not even pupils. Are you blind?” She could tell Sheyra wanted to touch her hair but didn't dare.
    “No, I'm not blind. Watch.”
    She took a deep breath brushing her hair away from her face she blinked. Once and her eyes were gray, again and they were blue as the sky, then green, hazel, amber, and finally dark brown. Again she blinked and they were purple, then pink, then yellow.
    “I can change them, whenever I want.”
    She settled on her usual favorite; a dark green.
    “Are you feeling up for that?” Brosen asked.
    Was he actually worried or just wanting her to stay conscious for his questions? She couldn't tell.
    “I'm fine. It doesn't take much effort to change my appearance. When I use too much energy it all fades away.”
    She ran her hands over her hair, which she made copper red this time, then her skin darkened to a soft tan.
    “How?” Sheyra asked, her eyes wide.
    “I don't know, actually. I've always been this way. I don't remember my mother very well, but I think she could do it, too.” Impyra sighed.
    “Why haven't they killed you?” It was a harsh question, but Brosen's voice was confused rather than malicious.
    Impyra shrugged, deciding it was better to share what she knew. “I know my mother was captured in one of the free countries, and she was a first generation slave in Re'Orna-Ak. I was born there. She was put through some type of scientific research, but it made her sick. When she died I was still very young. The research they did on her was what gave me special abilities, they were researching me as well.”
    “You're the results of a science experiment?” Brosen asked, bewildered.
    “Basically, yes. When Ha Lenger decided the experiments should end, Dreger Lei'Orthra asked to continue the research in Rau'Tesche-Awn. I was only a little girl,” she frowned. “I don't know why the Emperor allowed it.
    “They also trained me to work as a slave. They used to talk about me like I wasn't really there, or like I was a chair or maybe an interesting painting. I understood, though, and I knew that if I grew too powerful they would kill me.”
    “So you pretended to be weaker than you are to stay alive!” Sheyra clapped her hands together once with a loud bang. Impyra jumped. “Right?” She asked, her face growing red with embarrassment.
    “Right,” Impyra nodded. “Dreger was losing interest in me, but I'd caught the eye of another.”
    Brosen snorted. “Xander,” he said darkly.
    The sound of his name was enough to make her skin crawl.
    “Xander? The prince?” Sheyra gasped. At least she was enjoying the story.
    “Yes, he likes to feel special. He enjoys knowing he has rare trinkets or clothes or food. Having the only girl in the Empire with my abilities was really important.” She shivered.
    “You could have killed him.” Brosen pointed out.
    Impyra stared at him blankly. “Yes, I could have.”
    She had thought about it many times. If he died she would have died too, and many times she would have willingly fallen into the void. There was a spark of something deep within her that never allowed it, however; a hope for something better that she couldn't understand.
    “When I jumped out of the window I tried to pull him out with me.”
    Brosen's eyes widened in surprise.
    “When he saw where we were heading he let me go. He pushed me, actually.” Impyra shrugged at her missed opportunity.
    They were silent for a minute as they considered her words.
    “You can change your appearance, become invisible, make things fly short distances, and survive Field Energy and long falls. What else can you do?” Brosen crossed his arms over his chest.
    Impyra smiled slyly. “I can do this.”
    Holding up her hand she formed a small glowing orb in the air. It didn't fully light the room but illuminated where she was sitting.