That day it was raining, rain always put her mother in a bad mood.
And that bad mood was always vented on her. Calypso was used to that behavior.
Every time she made a small mistake, a small act of clumsiness, her mother would yell at her furiously.
If she was also in a bad mood, she'd be hit. If the anger was very great she could even use a wooden spoon.
At first Calypso cried, apologized, begged. But little by little she faded away.
When her mother told her "It's for your own good" or "I do it because I love you," the girl only nodded, accepting it as normal.
But she knew it wasn't, she could see other families in the streets, children smiling, loving parents hugging their children.
The last time she'd tried to hug her mother, she'd received a beating. In her mother's eyes she was disgusting.
Calypso was starting to understand why. It was because of her wings, her mother didn't have them. Was that why she was hated?
If so, maybe she should cut them off, though that idea filled her with dread.
Accustomed to a life of abuse, Calypso had learned to receive blows without complaining, make no noise and avoid standing out.
However, that day she felt fear, but not for what might happen to her.
A few days ago, she'd found a badly wounded bird, with a broken wing. The girl saw herself reflected in that little bird, a wounded animal, fragile but innocent.
The girl decided to take it home and care for it, using old cloth to create a bandage and a stick for support.
She searched for insects to feed it, cared for it and grew fond of it, but above all... She hid it from her mother.
But today was different, her mother would be home all day in a bad mood.
The girl stroked the small animal's plumage worriedly, while watching the rain fall through the window.
"Don't worry little one, I won't let her find you," the girl said quietly.
That creature was the only thing she could consider a friend, her first friend.
"Hide what from me?" a strict voice then said behind her.
The girl startled, then turned around seeing her mother, hiding the little animal in her hands, behind her back.
"N-nothing," she said with a nervous and barely audible tone.
Her gaze was fixed on the ground, and her body trembled before her mother's stern look.
"Show me. Now!" the woman ordered implacably.
The girl's body trembled, small tears appeared in her eyes, but unfortunately, she had to give in.
She finally showed the small animal trembling in her hands.
The woman grabbed it without hesitation, Calypso closed her eyes, she didn't want to see what was going to happen.
"Oh, but what an adorable creature. Why didn't you introduce it to me before sweety?" she said, with a sweet voice.
Calypso's eyes opened confused, her mother was stroking that little bird.
"Did you do this?" she said pointing at the animal's bandage. Calypso nodded slowly. "Well, how wonderful, you took care of a little creature yourself, I'm very proud of you."
Calypso's eyes widened.
Had she heard right?
Her mother was proud of her, something she'd never heard before. In her chest was born an emotion that could only be described as happiness.
"Were you hiding it from me?" she then said, her voice seemed sweet, but was incredibly cold too.
Calypso's body froze.
"I-I..."
"Why? Were you afraid I'd hurt it? Am I like a monster to you? Is that it?"
"N-no," the girl's voice trembled.
Had she done wrong?
"Well, if that's what you think," the woman stretched her fingers, grabbing the animal's broken wing, and lifting it. "I'll have to prove you right."
"No, mom, no!"
Calypso stretched her arms in fear, but it was already too late, the animal's wing, bending it backward.
An unpleasant crunch was heard, followed by some whimpers from the animal.
"No! You're hurting him," the girl exclaimed, lunging at her mother trying to catch the animal.
But she was only pushed back, hitting her head against the wall as she fell.
A sharp pain spread through her skull, while she saw how the woman dropped the animal.
Calypso couldn't scream, or intervene; only witness how her mother brought her foot down hard against it, again and again.
Each stomp was a reminder of when she'd been hit, a harsh truth.
All this time, who Calypso wanted to protect wasn't the bird, but herself... But again, life had taught her a lesson.
She was worth nothing.
"Look... Look what you've made me do. You're disgusting, a monster," the woman scolded her.
The girl's gaze had darkened, for the first time, Calypso didn't wish for freedom... She wished for justice.
"Die..." she then said.
Doing so, she could feel it; a flow of immaterial energy emerging from her... And disappearing.
Silence.
Calypso waited for it, waited for her mother to hit her for having dared to say those words, however this time, there was no response.
"Mom?" When she looked up, there was no one.
The room was empty... Or that's what her mind wanted her to believe. On the floor lay a corpse... If it could be called that.
That body was rotten, corroded, the flesh had become a repulsive black and wrinkled mass.
But Calypso ignored it, her mind had blocked that image, to protect her.
"Mom where are you? Mom!" the girl began nervously checking the house.
She wasn't anywhere, fear and desperation took hold of her, and with tears in her eyes, she left her house.
The rain kept falling, reducing visibility. The girl ran, not knowing where to look.
Why was she so afraid of being without her? After everything her mother had done to her. Why did she regret that she had disappeared?
Loneliness.
Calypso needed affection, like any child. Even if her mother didn't offer that, she was still the only company she had.
A broken mind like hers couldn't accept the fact she was completely alone; but she wasn't...
Calypso bumped into something then, a figure turned at that moment.
"What the fuck? Damn xeno, how dare you bump into me. Shit, it's bad enough I got caught in the rain without you messing with me now," the boy pushed her, throwing her to the ground.
That blond boy who always bothered her, but now, was just what she needed, someone willing to be with her.
"Gonna cry filthy xeno? Pfft, it won't do you any good. You have nowhere to escape, we'll chase you wherever you go. I swear we'll make every day of your life hell."
He'd noticed her tears, hidden under the raindrops.
No matter how painful his company was, Calypso didn't want to be alone.
Time had passed since then, too much time. Now, everything was more beautiful.
Both were now closer, the maids were very kind to her, just as Barbara was very affectionate.
For the first time Calypso felt she had a real home, but that reality was broken, or rather threatened.
The moment Lloyd proposed learning magic, her mind weakened. That defense she'd forged for survival was starting to disappear.
She was starting to remember her sin, the day she ended her mother... It was a fact, a fact her mind had forced her to forget, but now returned.
But her greatest fear was undoubtedly... That this time it would be Lloyd who would perish before her power.
"Huh?"
Calypso bumped into something, like that day. Arms surrounded her trembling body, an unusual warmth enveloped her, comforting her.
"I don't know where you were going, or what you were running from. But since that night you became mine. Whatever problem afflicts you, don't hesitate to tell me, since my obligation as your master is to care for you. Is that clear?"
They were self-centered words but, to Calypso they sounded sweet, that arrogance wasn't bothersome to her.
It was something "so Lloyd"; something she could only appreciate and admire.
His arms made her feel safe, offering her the warmth her mother never offered.
Those words had comforted her greatly, making sadness turn into happiness.
She looked up, her golden eyes met the boy's.
"Yes..."
But Lloyd's expression left her perplexed.
It wasn't his usual gaze, full of confidence. It was a serious look, and of surprise.
Before she could react, Calypso was pushed to the ground, falling confused.
What had happened?
Her stomach turned when she discovered it... Lloyd's arms had been cut off, just above the shoulder.
An expression of terror reflected on the girl's face, blood spilled on the ground... That was real.
Calypso couldn't accept it... Had it... Had it happened again?