No.

Every instinct, except for that one.

That instinct that said to fight or break, but never run.

"By the adventurer, Ikarus Vhalnich." The village elder walked out of the crowd, looking around nervously. "He captured her yesterday."

"Captured? Not killed?"

"He solved the problem." The elder said, nervously wetting his lips. "So, we gave him part of the reward."

"How did he capture the witch?"

"Didn't ask." The elder caught sight of me in the crowd, visibly jumping. "You could ask him, maybe?"

Well, shit. I stepped forward, seeing no other way forward; my chance to run had passed. I stuffed my hands into my pockets, giving off a nonchalant air. The hooded woman looked at me and so did May. Neither reacted to my appearance, which was good; I looked entirely human, and I was very well-fed. "Hey."

"You captured the witch?"

"Killed now." I offered a shrug. "She was more trouble then she was worth."

That red light flashed from under the hood, and I resisted the urge to fight or strike. May was looking warily at me now, and I realized that my voice wasn't much changed compared to my voice. "I see. Are you human?"

"Far as I'm aware." I answered, giving a yawn. "Are you?"

She pulled down her hood at that, revealing a truly breathtaking beauty. Her hair was red, true red, and it was pulled back into a practical tail that left only a few strands to frame her amber eyes and full lips. Her's was the beauty of a doll, something sculpted and cold, and she had all the expression of a doll. One of her eyes was encircled by a mark or a tattoo, the image of a snake biting it's own tail.

"I am Exciser Alva, of the Holy Church." She said, pulling a symbol from under her cloak, the two-barred cross of the some faith. "You didn't answer my question; I will now verify your humanity."

"That's a bit invasive." I said, feeling my shoulders tense. She proffered the cross, the demon in me blanching at it. She began to speak and I couldn't hear the words, though they beat at me with the **** of a tornado. I threw up my arms to resist the ****, but I couldn't stop it; it pulled at my life-****, at my magic, and not at anything physical.

My fingers went to claws and my horns shot spiraling out of my head, I tried to stop it, but it was too late; even if the transformation slowed, all had already seen it. The Exciser looked at me, her marked eye flashing red, and I tried to speak.

The last thing I heard was May's screaming and the swishing of a silver blade.