Page 11 of Sin of the Saints

She lingers before answering, and the silence is irritating.

Finally she leans towards me and whispers: “Do you believe in miracles, angel? Because I’ve got a feeling we’ll need one.”

Chapter Seven

Bellcolor

Iflap my wings freely. They don’t ache anymore, thank God. Looks like the training paid off. If I could just use them, that would be perfect. I’ve got to fly away, literally.

My stunt earned me an electric shock that was out of this world. While I lay sprawled on the ground like a ragdoll, Valentina was sent to my room to clean up the warning I’d left in blood on the wallpaper over my bed.

Though Valentina scrubbed the wallpaper with gusto – while incessantly hissing curses – the remnants were still there. When she was done, she stormed out of my room in a rage, though not before having a bit of her own revenge and kicking me in the ribs.

“Patience,”Lilith’s voice within me tries to soothe me, but what’s the point? As long as I’ve got this damned collar and bell around my neck, I’ve got no chance of escape.

Just as I finally regained enough strength to scrape myself off the floor, darkness descended upon my room.

I sat in the chair in front of my vanity, and brushed my long black hair to pass the time. I brushed and brushed until not a single knot remained. Movement became automatic, I was drawn into a vacuous trance and my mind was cleansed of all thought. Just emptiness and desolation. Just me and the pleasant sensation of brushing my hair.

“If I inherited my hair color from you, what does Mom’s hair look like?” I ask my father as he brushes my hair. I don’t have any photos of her, and my father doesn’t mention her often.

“She didn’t like the color of her hair, she’d change it often,” he answers, and I note the sadness sneaking into his eyes, which are as black as mine.

“I think I don’t really like my hair color either,” I wrinkle my nose at my reflection in the mirror.

“Well, you’re too young to change it.”

“I’m not young, I’m already 11! Those are two whole numbers!”

“We’ll agree to disagree, Bellcolor. But supposing you could change it, what color would you choose?” He seems amused.

I carefully consider my answer, and finally answer: “Red.”

My father’s eyes widen. “Red? Why?”

“I want to be like Merida.” I proudly straighten my back and chin.

“Who?”

“From the movieBrave,Dad!” I laugh.

“Do I need to start supervising what Betty lets you watch during your free time?”

“It’s actually a very educational movie. It’s about a princess who wants to determine her own destiny.”

“Don’t get any silly ideas into your head, Bellcolor. Your future is already determined.”

The memory dissipates, and now, with clear vision, I understand what my father meant. My future was never in my hands. I was ultimately meant to be claimed by the demon world, and to try and flee from them as Lilith.

I’ve got no chance.

I lie on my stomach, reading a book that looks at least a hundred years old. The door to my room opens and Valentina steps in.

“You can ask for a transfer, you know,” I tell her without shifting my gaze from the book in front of me. I don’t need to look at her to know she’s frowning and would rather be anywhere but here with me.

“What you wrote stirred up quite a tempest within the Council,” she says, softly closing the door behind her.

“Good, that was my intention,” I flip to the next page.

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