The Faceless Woman by Emma Hamm (i love reading .txt) 📕

most feared Tuatha de Danann to ever live. A mirrored reflection and sister of Morrighan, goddess of battle and war, Badb was known to soar over battlefields, inciting fear and panic in warrior’s hearts. Most only saw her as a hooded crow, speckled like her skin. They feasted on the carrion of war and answered only to her call.

And yet, she had been a staple in Aisling’s life. Badb was her silent protector and the quiet figure who healed her scraped knees.

“Child, you did nothing wrong. They are small-minded creatures and incapable of understanding what you offer.”

“I offer nothing but friendship,” she whispered, “but they threw rocks at me.”

She was only seven years old, and already she’d lost so much. Her family had abandoned her a year ago. No human wanted to take her in but a scruffy young witch who made her work more than cared for her. Faeries wouldn’t even look at her because she was a changeling and, therefore, unworthy. She was nothing to every person who looked at her.

Badb sighed and tucked a strand of Aisling’s hair behind her ear. The slow swipe of dark locks was gentle but still scraped against bruises and tiny cuts caused by pelted stones. It wasn’t the first time the villagers had attacked Aisling, although it was the first time she’d called the Tuatha de Danann to her side.

“They do not understand outward beauty like yours.”

“I’m not beautiful.” Aisling shook her head, causing the hair to fall forward in front of her face again. “Not like you.”

“You're sweet, but there are many who think I am ugly. Beauty changes in the hearts of every living creature. Remember that. Now, I cannot protect you from man. That is your curse to bear. But I can protect you from faeries.”

“I’m not worried about the Fae. They’ve always been kind to me.”

Badb’s expression hardened. She narrowed her eyes, and something dark passed through her gaze that made Aisling shiver. “The Fae are not your friends, child. We do not know how to be friends with people like you.”

“Like me?”

“You are a marvelous creature made for great things, Aisling. But you are not to consort with the Fae. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

She didn’t like it. Faeries were oddly addicting creatures. She’d seen them in the woods her entire life. Their wings fluttered in the moonlight, laughter dancing on the wind and magic pulsing in the air until she could taste citrus on her tongue. Aisling loved to play in the faerie circles and dance with them in the evenings.

Perhaps that was why the humans didn’t like her. She knew things she shouldn’t.

Aisling ducked her head and blew out a breath. “But do I have to give up my face?”

“The only way to hide you from the faeries is to make sure they don't know who you are.”

“I don’t know who I am.”

Badb leaned forward and pressed her lips to Aisling’s forehead. “I’m sorry we have to keep it that way, my little warrior. Someday, you will find out who you are. Until then, we must hide you in whatever way possible.”

She didn’t want to hide. She wanted to run away from the humans who hated her and live with the faeries. But she’d begged Badb for that future so many times it made her throat raw.

Aisling was not meant to live with the faeries. It wasn’t safe, Badb had told her.

She sighed and held out her hands. “Will it hurt?”

“A little. Some pain is worth enduring.”

Badb traced her fingertips over Aisling’s palm, drawing lines that felt white hot. Her nails left dark streaks like fine calligraphy. Over and over she traced until Aisling stared down at an eye in the center of her hand.

“Why an eye?” she asked.

“To keep your energy open. I want you to protect yourself regardless of your chains. Give me the other.”

Magic slithered up Aisling’s fingers and arms. It wasn’t pain, not really, but it wasn’t comfortable either. She hissed out a breath and focused on steadying her heartbeat as the second eye was drawn. It was worse this time now that she knew what to expect.

Electricity sparked in the air, lifting strands of hair from her head and stinging her body wherever it touched. Badb worked diligently until twin eyes stared up at her.

Aisling lifted her hands and met the strange gaze. They blinked, the tattoos shifting against her skin.

“Whose are they?” she asked.

“Yours from another time. Who better to look after you than the woman you will become?”

She nodded. It was a good decision. Even in her young age, Aisling had learned long ago she could trust no one other than herself. “And now?”

“Now is when you will feel pain.”

Badb reached for her hands again and pinched the tips of her fingers. Fire burned the sensitive pads, so painful she couldn’t breathe.

“It hurts,” she whimpered. “Badb, please.”

Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades, but there were still seven fingers to go. Her jaw ached from clenching, and she held her breath. Had her hands been severed? It felt like Badb was slowly sawing through the joints, but they were still attached. Why wouldn’t they fall off if she was cutting through the bone?

“Done,” Badb said with a sigh. She pinched the tip of Aisling’s last finger and all the pain disappeared.

Slumping to the side, Aisling wiped at her sweaty brow. “You're finished?”

Badb reached out and cupped her cheek. “I can no longer see your pretty face. You're safe.”

Aisling lurched upright, gasping at the painful memory. She pressed a hand to her chest and tried to force herself to breathe.

That hated dream again. The moment when she lost all sense of self and became the witch. It would plague her for the rest of her life.

The curse lingered at the edges of her existence, always lifting its ugly head at the worst moments. She wasn’t human; she wasn’t Fae. She wasn’t anything other than a marked creature who hovered between both worlds.

What had brought about the