The Secret Life of Evie

Evie

Get up. Get up. Get up.

That's all i could think while I laid motionless in the tall grass. All the wind was knocked out of me once I landed on my back with a loud thud.

I'm what they call a Martyr - which is basically a glorified bounty hunter for the Gods. Don't ask me why we're called that. I was created with one sole purpose: To serve the Gods by executing anyone who goes against their laws. I wasn't born into it, I was created for it. Every century or so, a handful of creatures are made to cover their specific realms. So there's Martyrs of all creeds: witches, dragons, fae, wolves, etc. Then there's me. The runt of the bunch. Technically I'm human, but I have special powers and weapons to help me. I've been training since I was 10 years old to go to other realms, and deliver "justice". Being a killing machine can be .. exhausting. Both physically and mentally. After the first ten kills, I decided to ignore my feelings of extreme guilt and just treat it like a job. Because that's what it was.

Ofcourse jumping from realm to realm constantly leaves me quite lonely. Since I was created by the Gods I have no family. It's kinda hard explaining to a human school why an orphan is living on her own, no last name, and has supernatural powers. So I never went. I only trained and attended classes at the castle where the rest of the Martyrs lived until we came of age and got our first assignments. They got to go to their respected lands, where as a runt like me, just hung around the castle until I was needed. I learned to find comfort in books with my loneliness. I cooked and cleaned, and helped trained new comers. I spent most of my time alone, until I met a gorgeous siren after my 13th birthday.

"You look terrible" I heard a thick Russian accent state from behind me.

I was laying on a bench in the locker room with a bag of frozen peas on my eye. Another shiner to add to list. Being smaller than all the other supernatural beings must automatically make me the school punching bag. But I mustn't complain because "Pain builds strength and obedience" Eye roll. Rule 567 of a million when it comes to being a martyr.

"Are you living?" she asks impatiently.

No, not really, I think to myself. I peek open my free eye and look at the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. She has long, bone straight black hair with a thick aqua stripe on the left, going down her back. Her olive skin compliments her big ocean blue eyes that look like you could drown in them. She's wearing a bright pink crop top with white high waisted shorts and white wedge heels. She's about 5'7 and slender with the exception of her thick hips that lead to a perfectly round ass. Her slim, muscular arms are folded and she's looking down at me with a frown plastered on her face.

"Am I in your way?" I politely ask groaning as i sit up.

"You are strong. Just kick their ass. They won't bother anymore" she says still looking at me disapprovingly.

I'm almost certain she's a siren. But she must not know english very well, and a Russian siren? That's different. She sits next to me and begins wiping the blood off my back with a wash cloth. She must want something from me, but unfortunately for her, I have nothing to offer. Different possibilities begin to create the perfect storm in my head. Since I've spent most of my life in silence, I've made friends with the storm that frequently brews in my mind. "Only ever speak when spoken to" Another golden rule I've been trained to follow. I've gotten into plenty of trouble getting swept away in the storm.

"Tomorrow we train. You gain control of powers, and make those cocksuckers eat dirt" She says leaving no room for discussion.

I couldn't help but smile and slowly nod my head. Being a human makes me significantly smaller but it also leaves me with little control of my powers. I don't have it in my DNA to gain control like others and I can't shift. I'm actually the first human martyr in 500 centuries. Aside from the vigorous physical training, I also have to learn about each and every rule, custom, and history of the other realms and their people. Everyone else only has to learn of their specific species. I also have to know different tongues to be able to communicate with others. I'd much rather sit in silence, and from the sirens brooding aura, I assume she's the same way. I like her already. I think to myself.

"I'm Evie by the way. It's my pleasure to meet you" I say extending my hand to the siren sitting next to me.

"Jaqui" She says firmly shaking my hand.

"How did human become martyr? I was forced to train as I am next siren queen. But you? Do you have choice?" She asks completely baffled by my presence.

"I was created for this. Literally. I rather like the knowledge I gain though." I say half heartedly.

The look she gives me let's me know she's not buying my half assed explanation. She scrunches up her nose and continues to clean my back. I just received 50 lashings for pushing a warlock out of the window. In my defense, his fist "accidentally" collided with my eye when I ignored his advances. It's not my fault he couldn't summon his magic to break the fall.

"Bullshit" she says looking straight in my eyes.

We both start laughing uncontrollably. Ever since then, Jaqui has been my only family. We became as close as sisters. Even when her training was done, she would come back to visit me at the castle every other day. To help me train and to keep me company. She even paid off one of the witches to cloak me so I can leave the castle with her on weekends. Once I turned 18 and was finally able to leave the castle for good, we decided to move in together on the human realm. She wanted to go back to Russia but I refused. Way too cold for me. She suggested going to the UK where I'm from, but I declined that too. There's nothing for me there. There's nothing for me anywhere really. I wanted to go somewhere the sun would wash away my fears and troubles.

So we did what most responsible adults do. We threw a dart at a map and decided to move where it landed. Now we reside in Hawaii, until she goes back to Russia to handle siren business, or when I get called for a mission. We're both 28 and thriving. Martyrs begin their missions when they've hit 16 years of age and usually don't make it past 25. We hunt the worse of the worse. Rebels who don't care who they have to kill to feed their egos and power grabs. One of the rules of being a martyr is never let anyone else know what you are. (Except for other martyrs ofcourse) Because I never know when I'm leaving or if I'll ever make it back, other friendships or relationships are completely out of the question. Speaking of relationships, as a martyr I don't have a destined soulmate. I'm immune to the pulls and attractions other species feel when they find one another. Having a mate is a weakness that we can't afford to have, but I still love to read cheesy, romance novels secretly.

The most important rule is if you've been chosen and you're not destined to be a ruler of your people, you are to be a martyr until the day you die. You live to serve the Gods and do what they tell you. There's no leaving. Ever. And if you try to escape the castle before you're 18, you will be punished. I have the scars on my back to prove that one. I was kept as a prisoner inside the castle, never allowed to leave my room unless I had duties to attend to. And if you refuse to do their work, you will be exiled and a bounty will be put on your head.

Anyways, back to the task at hand. I was hunting vampires in South Carolina. Weird right? As if that wasn't strange enough, I entered the dreary castle and it was blanketed in lights and candles with the curtains drawn. Contrary to the belief Vampires don't turn to dust once sunlight hits them. But they're definitely not super fans of light. Something isn't right. It doesn't feel as if there's been any sign of life here in a while. But this specific clan was chased back into this castle by a group of rookie martyrs after being caught feeding on humans in the dead of night. So I was called as the veteran killing machine to take care of them. The must be here. They should be here. Something definitely isn't right. I think while I cautiously walk up the staircase and to the second floor.

Just then the hairs on the back of neck stand up and I get goosebumps all over my body. I duck as something goes flying over my head. Wtf is a dragon doing in a vampire castle? I watch it as it circles above me like a vulture. Now, I've never been one to run away from a fight, ever. Bit on the rare occasion my gut tells me to run, I follow it. It's kept me alive this long, and who am I to question it now? The storm begins to brew as I realize I'm grossly unprepared and thoroughly confused. So I begin to sprint down the staircase. Whilst doing that, I'm desperately trying to mindlink Jaqui. Usually only werewolves can mindlink with members of their packs. But after reading about it, I just had to learn how to do it. After an absurd amount of headaches, and giving two of my three meals a day to a shifter classmate for two months straight, she taught me how. I, in turn, taught Jaqui. That was a whole 'nother debacle I don't care to re live. I then realized something was blocking me. Magic. This castle is under some sort of black magic. Right before I reach the last step, the floor suddenly turns into lava. WTF.

There's an elemental witch here. I can't see or feel her, but that's the only explanation I have for this recent turn of events. So I did the only thing I could do. Run up. I had no interest in being the stupid chick in the scary movies who runs up towards danger instead out, but I hardly have a choice now. If I can find a body of water, a puddle even, I can summon Jack. Just as I reach the fourth floor, the lava slowly creeping behind me, I come face to face with a vampire. And this one exudes strength and evil. He's standing in front of me, eyes red as blood, and skin as white as milk. He has silky, slicked back hair and is wearing a long black cape wrapped around his slender 6 foot frame. He holds out his hand, his nails black, jagged and sharp.

"Join me princess" he says in a seductive, low tone.

I shiver as the room suddenly becomes so cold that I can see my breath. I take a step back, dumbstruck. What? Join him doing what? He must know what I am, and what i'm here for. And he must certainly know I am no princess. Just then a dragon reaches from the door behind me and grabs me by my shoulders. Due to instincts, I grab my dagger from my waistband and stick it in his side, quickly pulling it out. The dagger is all gold, with pink jewels on the handle. It's blessed by the gods and it automatically coats itself in poison to kill whatever species it digs into. The dragon yelps and immediately lets me go so I take that opportunity to run up the steps. Running to the closest room, I slam the door behind me. I concentrate and create a magical barrier to block the door from opening.

Then I run to the window and punch out the glass. I grab the pink, tear drop shaped pendant on my neck and close my eyes. I try to concentrate with all my might to realm jump. Another gift from the gods. Since I'm a mere human with some magical capabilities, they so graciously gifted me with a number of items to make my "life" easier. This one is a pendant that will take me to where ever I wish to go. Bangs from the door make me jump and lose concentration. Focus. Focus. I feel some kind of black magic trying to stop me from jumping but I know I can bypass it, if I channel all of my energy into it. Come on, come on. I whisper. I see a thin line of glitter hovering just outside the window. Well, here goes nothing. Just as I'm about to jump out the window, I feel a hand grab my hair, and yank me back. Oh f**k. As I'm tumbling backwards, my initial reflex was to fall halfway to the ground and kick up towards the face hovering towards me. I hear a deafening crack, and am covered in blood instantly. What I'm guessing is another dragon, screams in pain and lets my hair go. I jump up and sprint towards the window. Without thinking, I jump out. Thank goddess, my portal was still waiting for me.

On any normal occasion, I can casually realm jump and casually walk out to where I've intended to. I've trained my whole life to master it. But under duress, there's no telling where you'll end up. And I was instantly reminded of my training days. When you're not focused, you'll land on your ass. Hard. I felt myself falling in darkness for a split second, before I hit the ground with a loud thud. My head bounces against the floor and darkness consumes me. Oh f**k. This isn't good.