She ran. She ran and ran and ran.

The shouts chased after her. She couldn't stop. They would kill her. Just like they killed her mommy.

She was cursed.

Daddy wanted to kill her when she was born. That's what mommy said. That's why mommy ran away.

But they found her.

So she ran. She followed Dignitas.

Dignitas was her only friend. He was the only one who helped her.

She was cursed.

"So those fools fear my bloodline now," the man mused, hanging upside-down in a glass tube. "It wasn't always like that, you know. They hadn't always feared my blood. In fact, they used to revere it, even if they had to keep it secret."

"Why? If they respected you, then why would they keep their identity a secret? Why did they start hating it?" The little girl asked, curious, her attention on the man even as her hands played with the black cat.

"Aleister Crowley is the name of a famous mage. He advanced magic, was feared and respected. Until he turned to science. That's when other mages started to hunt him," the man continued. "He had a son who disappointed him, so he disowned his boy. He had a daughter, who died young. His bloodline was carried on by his son."

"And?" The girl was impatient.

"When the son was very old, he found out that his father was still alive, and sent his only grandchild with blonde hair to meet his father. For generations, my descendants followed that tradition of sending blonde haired children to me, but only the ones who had my familiar come to them once they were born."

"Familiar?"

"Dignitas, child. Dignitas was my familiar. Even now that he is only a spirit, he continues to remain loyal to me and my blood."

"Oh. Thanks, Dignitas," the girl said, and the cat meowed. "So why are we cursed? Why are we hated?"

"They used to revere me and my bloodline. But the children sent to me were fewer and fewer. There had not been any for many generations. Even then, Dignitas never appeared along with any of them for a long time. I see why, now. They killed off any blonde haired children, and my blood grew weaker in my line," Aleister paused, studying the girl in front of him. "That is why it is strange to find someone with my blood running so strongly in them. You should have no more than a drop of my blood, yet you have many of my features. You have Dignitas with you. You are too much like me to be normal."

The girl pouted. "Why thank you. Now I am cursed and abnormal."

"It may not be a bad thing, child. You are a Crowley, and few people will connect the name with me, as I am not known to have descendants. But those who know about me may still hunt you down. You must grow strong. Strong enough to fight anything, anyone. I will teach you about magic. And you must become an esper."

She had blonde hair.

They all had dark hair.

She belonged to him. She was his blood. His Heir.

So she had to die.