The world was different. The old-ones had abandoned the outside world, for glass domed cities. The ones left behind had no choice but to change. They grew accustom to the ever-changing world. The Elders say that we are the Unsullied, since our kind was born after the change and we had no ties to the old world. We still looked human. But we were different, better. Our senses were heightened, our lungs didn't burn because of the air.

　　On this day, we did everything like normal. We headed up the mountain path and into a small clearing towards the top. I heard something coming from the dirt path above. Holding on to my father's neck we hid in the tree line. I relaxed feeling his muscles twitch under my small body as he climbed. He stopped midway up and set me down. I peeked my head out just enough to see, two men with a horse carrying a rickety old cart. The cart was covered by a think velvet blanket. As if on instinct alone, I hopped down and darted in front of the cart. The horse reared but stopped once I started crying. One of the men came off the cart and began to walk over to me. Once he got close, he looked around to see if there was anyone else around.

　　“Where did you come from?” he asked in a soft clear voice. He held out a piece of cloth and told me to dry my tears. I looked at him cautiously. Now that he was closer, I could tell that he had seen many things in his life. He had eyes of a deep evergreen, with skin that showed no pigment and hair as white as mountain tops. Though he had a mask covering the bottom half of his face, his voice came through clearly. “Go on, take it,” he said. “If you’re a good little girl, I may let you have a gift from my cart.”

　　At that the second man, a younger man with icy blue eyes and sun-kissed skin, shouted, his voice sullen and raspy through his mask “Professor Roosevelt, she’s just a child.” He seemed irritated at the thought of it.

　　“Nonsense. She's a child, yes, but that means nothing. If she chooses wisely who knows.” The old man smiled.

　　I wiped the cloth across my face. It smelled of mint leaves and honey. Seeming like it was okay I looked toward the tree where my father was. “There you are Sekhmet. I was worried I would never find you.” He quickly kneeled to me as my arms rose up to meet his face.

　　“Sekhmet? What a befitting name.”

　　“Thank you for your kindness sir. But I have none to repay you with.”

　　“Nonsense,” chuckled the old man “I was the one who promised a gift to your daughter.” He smiled as he turned toward the cart “Please, follow me.” He led us around to the back of the cart. The younger man keeping his icy eyes on us the whole time. He stopped and turned towards us, “Now, before I show you what is under here, I must warn you young lady, choose wisely. Do not be tempted by anything else in the cart.”

　　The man, smiling grabs the blanket and yanks it backwards revealing a cart full of giant golden slabs. Each one containing indentations on them some turned at awkward angles. There was another chest in the back of the cart which appeared to be extremely heavy. My eyes hover over each slab carefully before landing on one in particular. This one was a golden book covered with leather panels, it was similar in size to the others but it seemed to be by itself. I feel myself being pulled to it as if by some form of twisted energy.

　　Before I know it, I’ve fallen onto the cart. “My goodness are you alright?” asked the old man. I sit upright and look for the slab again. The closer I get to it the louder it seems to be, some sort of rhythm in my ears. The slab begins to shine as I reach for it. Before I can grab it, Martin snatches it right from above me. “Don’t you dare touch nothing in this here cart!” he yells. “Professor I don’t trust them. They don’t know how valuable theses are.”

　　“Martin, I told you not to treat these people like criminals!” the Professor walked angrily towards Martin “Now I made a promise to this young lady, and it’s a promise I shall keep.” Holding out his hand he says, “now give me the book.”

　　Martin reluctant, hands over the book. The professor then waddles back over to us. I can already tell my father has moved his men into place.

　　Upon receiving the book, I notice that there are some parts of the first slab turned the wrong way, I flip the first one over to reveal what looked to be a sun. Set into place the piece began to shake. The professor was in awe. “My dear child, I believe that book has picked you, and not the other way around.” He laughed, picking me up and putting me on the ground.

　　“Martin, I believe we should be off, our tanks are getting low. And we are still some ways from the city.” With that, the professor waved goodbye.

　　“Good luck with your discoveries my dear Sekhmet.” he yelled.

　　2 meters out an arrow went straight through Martin’s neck into the leg of the horse. The horse bounds and falls from the pain sending the cart crashing into the ground. The professor tumbled out landing on his face and rolled towards the cliff. Martin's body lay limp on the ground, leaking blood. The last twitches of life sending his limbs into mini frenzies.

　　The trees come to life as the rest of the hunting party comes towards the cart. Each one collecting a piece of the gold. My father began giving orders to recover every piece and to strip the cart of anything useful.

　　Walking over the now injured and crawling professor, jagged pieces of bone protruded from his skin. He stopped as I stood over him. He looked up at me with agony filled eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just thought the book would be enough...” he screeched as a barrage of arrows find their way into his back. “Please listen...the book that you chose...” struggling against the blood, “do not flip the last panel...please...” blood splatted across my face as another arrow found its way through his eye.

　　Curious, I turned to the other slab. This one had a more darkened look to it. Still, the gold glistened in the light. This slab had two pieces that were turned sideways. I turned one piece slowly, this time it showed a moon blade with a swiveled line under it. The last piece seemed stickier. Turning it, there was a crook and flail underneath an Ankh.

　　Suddenly the gold seemed to sing as the sun hit it. A ring of light flashed around us. The air seemed frigid for a moment, as all the hunters stopped. The wind flung the dead leaves into the air and everything went dark. Bodies thudded to the floor one after the other, soon everything was quiet.

　　******** ********

　　Waking up my body ached. Looking around the light made my head spin as my eyes adjusted. My body felt like lead.

　　“Sekhmet!” I see my father standing on wobbly legs. “Sekhmet, where are you?!”

　　“Baba!” my voice was breaking, and I realized I was crying. “Baba!” He turns towards me, his eyes somewhat closed.

　　“Sekhmet? Is that you?” he holds out his arms to embrace me. His hands find their way across my cheeks and are covered instantly by my tears. He opens his eyes to look at me, “Why are you crying?” his eyes have changed. Before they were of a deep amber, now they burn with a bright green rim surrounding the gold coming from the center. “What has happened to your eyes?”

　　I can see the reflection in his eyes, my face still looks the same but it’s somehow different. My eyes glowed gold, expanding into a searing crimson. ‘What have I done?’ My heart is thumping so loud, I feel like he can hear it. Gasping for breath as I try to speak my father runs his hands through my hair. He squeezes me to his chest, “Do not fret. There is no need for your fear.”

　　As we collect ourselves, I hear a bird chirping in my ear. I turn but there is no bird on my shoulder, I turn towards the sound, It’s a small bird, its body is covered with beautiful greens and blues. The top of its head is white with a faint ring of golden yellow around its neck and beak. It’s dark eyes fix on me as it ruffles its feathers. Suddenly I feel a weight on my shoulder and flinch. I turn to see my father with a puzzled look on his face.

　　“Sekhmet, what are you looking at?” he asks.

　　I point to the bird in the tree, “The pretty bird.” He turns and his eyes widen.

　　“That bird is over 10 meters away, how are you able to see it? How am I able to see it?!” He turns towards me grinning,“Ha!” he scoops me up and squeezes me and turns towards the party. “Brothers, Sekhmet has given us a bounty of the gods!” he moves me to his shoulders. I feel myself laughing.

　　The party cheered happily. But little did we know that this sudden blessing would soon turn to a curse before our very eyes.