I still remember that time so long ago.

When we were so young and everything was okay for the briefest of moments because there was no such thing as 'mortal enemies' just yet.

I was just a little thing, on a search for my uncle.

I'd seen the entire world trying to find him after my father died, and everything I was working for was becoming overwhelming by the time I ended up in Portugal.

How old was I? Around ten? I suppose.

On the streets, I met a little girl. She was wearing a dress; brunette and cute. The tall man beside her handed me a piece of paper: an invitation. Her name was Avelina, and I was to attend her ninth birthday party. Later that night, when I arrived at her party, exhausted and pessimistic that my journey wasn't turning out how I wanted, Avelina led me up to her room and on to her balcony.

She was quite the pampered little girl – that much I could tell already by her room with a bed fit for a queen, a canopy draping over it, and stuffed animals, dolls and jewelry galore. It was more than I had ever had in my life. Avelina pointed down to the world below, where the heads of all present could be seen. I wasn't impressed in the least, for I had been higher than this and bent the air with the simplest of gestures. I simply frowned at all of this, not amused and not really caring if my frown would upset the nine-year-old. The summer air was cool on this night, and thinking back, I wonder if it was because fate knew who was there.

That was the night everything had changed.

He caught my eye immediately. His wavy, raven hair was to his shoulders, skin light, and eyes dark but alluring to me. He stood beside a taller boy – lighter hair than he – who looked like he was having a great time already. However, I couldn't take my eyes off the younger-looking boy beside him. He looked to be about…seventeen, maybe sixteen? I was only ten, so what right did I have to be staring at his beauty?

He was handsome – granted. I knew I shouldn't have, but I was a curious thing, so I nudged Avelina and asked, "Who is that down there?"

The girl – interrupted in her babbling about how fluent she was in speaking English because her daddy bought her the best tutors money can buy – came to my side to look down at the crowd. When she spotted the two boys, she studied them carefully. "Them? Well, I don't know – they were probably invited by my daddy. Why?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No reason."

Unfortunately for me, Avelina caught on to my fascination and grabbed my wrist, leading me all the way down to the backyard where all the adults were chatting and enjoying themselves. Avelina dragged me all the way to them, no matter how hard or loud I protested. And when it all came down to the moment when I was face to face with the handsome man, I lost all words. "Hey," Avelina said to them in Portuguese, "who are you?"

The older-looking one knelt in front of Avelina. "We are with the Millennium Earl. You must be the birthday girl, Avelina," he replied.

Avelina nodded excitedly. "Yeah! It's my ninth birthday," she said quite proudly.

I backed away slowly and carefully; I didn't want the younger one talking to me. To my disappointment, he noticed me and said, "And you? Who are you, sweetheart?" I looked at him blankly, not comprehending the language he spoke. But then he repeated himself in English.

I went ridged. For a moment, I seriously forgot my name, looking into those dark eyes. And when I regained myself, my voice came as a squeak: "Karena."

He smiled at me. "Beautiful name."

I remember thinking how that was the best compliment anyone had ever given me – though it wasn't true; I had been called cute and adorable and very intelligent for my age, too. But beautiful name? Why did that sound like the sweetest thing? Though I felt my cheeks burning, I tried to keep a cool façade and asked him, "Yeah? Well, what're your guys' names?" My eyes darted from Pretty-Eyes to his partner.

Pretty-Eyes put a hand to his heart and gave me a small bow. "I am Tyki Mikk, and this is my brother Sheryl Kamelot."

Brothers with different last names confused me at the time, but I kept quiet, being content with knowing his name now.

Tyki Mikk.

Now that sounded like a beautiful name.

But it wasn't so beautiful later that night when the party became a blood bath. Tyki Mikk was no angel; I don't know anyone that can think that about a person who has his hand through someone's chest, ripping out their heart right in front of you. Avelina and I ran and hid while Tyki Mikk and Sheryl Kamelot went berserk, killing everyone in sight with a strange power I didn't understand at all. All Sheryl had to do make a few simple gestures and a group of people would be distorted into sickening forms. I threw up when a man had his head twisted all the way around landed in front of the bush Avelina and I crouched in. My retching and Avelina's screams are what gave away our position. Tyki made his way over to us.

I couldn't carry Avelina – I just wasn't strong enough to carry someone yet – or if I could, we would be out of there already. But because of my lack of strength, we stood and I pushed Avelina ahead of me so we could run away. I just couldn't bring myself to leave her behind. Tyki wore a smile as he neared us, laughing joyously, calling, "That's right, girls, run and give me some excitement as I kill you!"

Tears of fear streamed down my cheeks as I ran; as I tripped; as I watched Avelina's knees twist in the opposite directions, bones jutting out of the skin, and Avelina collapsed to the floor, screaming more painfully than I had ever heard any of the partygoers. The sight made my gut wrench and I screamed as well. Sheryl came over to Avelina and smiled lightly. "Poor thing," he said dryly, "I was aiming for the redhead, not you." His eyes slid to me. "I'll let Brother handle you, I suppose."

Before I could do anything, a hand grabbed me by my hair and lifted me from the ground. "Karena," said Tyki, enjoying my struggles, tears, and pain, "such a beautiful name." And Tyki raised his hand that glowed dangerously with a pink energy I'd never seen before. For a moment, I looked over to Avelina to see her torso being forced to turn until she'd broken her spine, and I knew I had to leave her then – it was only me left.

So, I activated the power inside me and willed my wings to spread. The large, white wings sprouting from my back brushed against Tyki and he winced, taking in a sharp breath and releasing me. The pain from being held by my hair left my scalp stinging, but I ignored that and took off to the skies with Tyki and Sheryl watching me go, utterly flabbergasted. From above, I saw how much blood there really was, how many corpses there were. It made me sick and I almost vomited again, but I swallowed hard and flew faster than I had ever in my young life.

I thought about how rude I was to Avelina before, and I regretted it the most.