Transformation

In a world teeming with magic, where every childhood monster was known to exist, humans could only rely on one of two things to survive. Most common was hiding. While those who hid could endure the worst of life and make it to the other side, those who followed their instincts were often transformed beyond recognition. This was especially true for those who were hungry for knowledge. Those who researched and honed their minds for survival to be but a stepping stool toward a better future.

Her entire life, Rana Moon had been one such person.

A truth seeker.

A survivor driven by instinct.

Perhaps it was all the stories she'd been hearing of late. Of Faes, stealing children from their bedrooms on full moons, leaving a sea of blood in their wake. Perhaps it was why she knew her life would change that day. She didn't know why or how, but she sensed it would.

It was a little before sundown when she walked home to find that it had been broken into. Violence was shown through the fallen furniture, the broken vases and the splatter of blood across the walls. A chill settled in her bones while her eyes moved to the other side of the house, where inhuman footprints tracked blood down the hall.

Instinct pushed her forward.

Blood rushed to her ears as she reached the end of the hall and saw. In the middle of the bedroom stood a two legged creature who looked more human than beast, with hind legs and hair like tree sprigs. It crowned her head like the forest itself had taken root and refused to let go. Her pale skin glowed like moonlight in the darkeness while her bloodied hands pulled a wailing newborn from her dead mother's body. Snuffing the surging emotion inside her, Rana's eyes moved to the other side of the room where her young sisters were still very much alive as they hugged each other in a silent ball full of terror.

A sense of calm removed the noise of Rana's pounding heartbeat from her ears. Stored knowledge rushed to the forefront of her mind as she parted her lips to speak.

"I'm Rana Moon."

"I'm FHREN," the Fae uttered without missing a beat.

An instant reply that sealed its fate.

While they were known to guard their names with their lives, Faes shared the same weakness. When first spoken to, they would instictually reply with the truth. This then bound them to their interlocutor until a wish was granted. To know a Fae's name was to hold one's fate in one's hands.

Rana knew her knowledge was correct when dark heinous pupils plunged in her own, and the creature sneered.

"I cannot return the dead," she warned. "But I can leave."

An option anyone would've chosen in her situation.

Rana did not take the bait as she maintained eye contact with FHREN.

"Make me more powerful than you are."

The Fae's sneer was no more.