Hana placed a leather bound book before me. I looked up at her. "What is this?" I asked her, frowning. I opened the cover and saw writing in a language I didn't understand.
She sat down in front of me, a gentle look in her eyes. She was a demon, one who had kidnapped me like the other two. She was no different from them, no better. She took the book and looked at the cover as she spoke. "This is the book of the Priestesses. It'll help you in your training. Before we really start anything, I need to teach you how to read the ancient language."
I folded my arms across my chest and gave her a defiant look. "I never agreed to this. I don't want to do this. I don't want to help you demons."
She raised her hand and I shied away. It was nearly a reflex now. I realized she wasn't going to hit me, and I felt stupid for being worried. Sighing, I looked away. "Not all demons are bad you know," she told me. "Just like I know all human's aren't bad."
I refused to trust her. She could just be telling me everything that I wanted to hear and lure me into a false sense of security before they would kill me.
"Do you know what the creed of the priestess is?" she asked me. when I didn't answer, she continued, "Acceptant." I turned and looked at her curiously. "We do not judge others until we have gotten to know them. While I do not agree with Hyaku's decision to kidnap you, I know he didn't want any harm to come to you."
"What makes you so sure of that?" I shot back.
"You aren't dead, are you?" she countered. I stopped short, knowing she had me. "And, he has allowed you access into his home where we are all taking very good care of you."
"He's using me to break the curse," I shook my head. I wasn't someone's toy thing.
"He's against this as much as you are. He doesn't want to hope for a miracle in case you don't pull through. He may be rough around the edges, but if you'd just give him a chance, you'll see he isn't as bad as you first thought," Hana assured me.
I was not convinced. He didn't seem to like to do anything other than tease me. I had had enough of that back at the tavern. I didn't think I could handle that here, either.
"Hana, where's the fool," a young kid said as he entering the temple. All talking stopped as everyone's attention turned to the young kid
I frowned, curious. He was kind of cute. "Who's the kid?" I asked Hana.
"That's Hyaku" koori said from his spot behind us, near the alter. I frowned, shaking my head. Did they take me for a fool?
"And that's the curse you can help us release him from," hana said. I stood up, looking at the kid. I could see why he wanted out of the curse so badly. I wouldn't want to be a kid again either. Those were not happy memories for me.
"He is better like that," I shrugged, coming to stand in front of him. He was such a little pipsqueak that I kind of pitied the poor fellow.
"Watch it woman!" he said pointing at me angrily. So, he was the same old, grumpy self in the kid body. How disappointing.
"Kiana" I corrected. I was getting rather tired of being referred to as woman. I rather liked my name. It was the only thing that connected me to my family before I had been thrust into my awful life.
He stared at me for a moment before he looked away defiantly. "Fine, kiana."
I gave the closest thing I could to a smile as I ruffled his hair. "See, was that so bad?" I asked him as I went back and sat down in front of the book Hana had given me. I wasn't keen about staying here for this jerk, but it was better than the tavern.
