(This was draft #27! Thanks Shadow for picking this number because it was not actually that hard to finish. Just needed a push!)

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Pain is her friend. Her best friend.

People say that Amerie finds pleasure in redirecting pain. She doesn’t, but it doesn’t matter what she does or doesn’t like.

She’ll never change their minds.

Pain follows her.

And where pain goes, death is right behind it.

Rumors and whispers down the alley twist and distort the truth until it is unrecognizable. Until her ability to distribute pain becomes that she kills for enjoyment. That she has some dark desires to give pain.

While her siblings are the angel healers, she is the devil. Waiting for everyone’s demise. At her hands.

Some part of her, in a deep crevice of her heart, wishes to prove them right. Make them pay for their harsh judgements and cruel words.

But she cannot. Not when she holds a royal title and has a loving family. She will not tarnish their name.

So she puts on her best face and smiles through the piercing glares. If she must pretend that they do not affect her, then that is what she will do.

For in the light, she will play nice, and in the dark, she will be friends with death.