• “Dad, whats wrong?”
    “Sit.” I walked into the kitchen and sat on the counter, “Okay there is…well a story that I thought wasn’t real til now. I think you might be the prodigy.”…


    “What are you talking about?” I looked at him, my eyes wide, my brows bent to worry, and mouth slightly open to make remark at anytime.
    He paced back and forth his eyes flashed to my face every other second but went back to the floor the next. After five minutes of this he spoke, “Show me your strength.”
    I stood up and walked to the front door, he trailed behind. I motioned towards the door, “I kicked it.” His jaw dropped and he quickly brought it back up. He walked outside and examined the door.
    “Remarkable, the door hinges are broken too.” He looked up at me and grabbed my arm and extended it in the hall light. He traced his finger of a weird shaped vein I had never seen before, but when I looked closer it looked as if it was a tattoo, “Do you see this?” I nodded. He closed his eyes trying to remember something, “This is the mark of Ankh. The legend says that this mark is put upon thee who changes back into their mortal-self but still containing enough strength to save us all-”
    “Wait, What?! I have to save you all! No way! No! NO!”
    “Jayne, you have no choice…just let me finish.” He closed his eyes again, “Thee who gains the power of Ankh is called upon by the goddess of protection. The goddess puts faint paint like substances on your arm when you don’t know and then at night she comes upon you and darkens it. That someone is now called upon. Until their death they server with their strength and mind. They are the kiss of death to danger.”
    “Wait, I don’t have a choice?! What does Ankh mean anyway.”
    “Ankh is an Egyptian cross symbolizing a mythical eternal life, rebirth, and the life-giving power of the sun.”
    I shook my head and pulled my hand away from him. His eyes flashed open looked at his hands that had nothing in them. I walked around him to get outside. I stood in my lawn and laughed a painful laugh. I screamed and Emma, Damon, and my father came out. Damon came to me and I held my hand up, “Im only sixteen almost seventeen. I shouldn’t have been immortal I shouldn’t have to deal with this. I should be…I don’t know! I want a normal life. Im not going to protect you guys…Im just sixteen.” My lips quivered and I fell to my knees and sobbed. The sobs tore from my chest and I rocked back in forth.
    My father dare to speak, “Jayne…Im sorry you have to…its your job.”
    I stood up and whipped my hair from my face, “NO! I don’t have to! My only job is to be a person!” I ran to Emma’s car and grabbed the spare she kept under the car and got in. They all were at the car and trying to get me to calm down. I started the car and drove off. I didn’t want to do this, why was it my life that this happened to. I drove to the local supermarket and went inside I grabbed a bottle of hair dye that was a light brown almost blonde. I wanted change again. I purchased it and drove to Jessy’s house, the last place anybody would check. I tapped on the door. Of course she answered, “Oh look its little miss. Know it all. What do you want.” Her lip was pulled up in disgust.
    “Look can I use your bathroom to dye my hair? In fact I need your help dying it. Please.”
    She took a deep breath and smiled defeated, “Fine, come on in.” She led me up her stairs and into a pink bathroom. She grabbed a chair and sat it in front of the mirror. While her back was turned and she was getting everything set up, “Hey look Im sorry about being a snob and leaving you in the rain.”
    “Its okay…thanks for this.”
    “No problem.” She started work on my hair, “You know this blonde one will suit you just fine. The red made you stand out to much and brown made you well boring.” We laughed and I spoke, “Blondes do have more fun.”
    After we were done I walked to the door and hugged Jessy good-bye, “Im glad we are sort of friends.”
    “Yeah.” She grabbed my hands, “You’ve got bad cuticles.” I left on that note.
    I drove back home and Emma was inside while everyone was gone, “Hey Ems.”
    “Jayne…come here.” Her voice sounded dead. I walked into the living room and waved, “You’re blonde now. Whatever. Look you need to face up to your challenge.”
    “Emma, Im only sixteen. I don’t want to have a huge responsibility like this.”
    “Im fifteen and I would take the responsibility if I were you.”
    “Fine! Here” I grabbed a blue pen and grabbed her arm hard and she screeched oh while I held her arm and drew the ankh on her. I let go of her arm, “There. Now you have the power or whatever.”…