The Crown Of Ash and Silver
Her hair, once brown and tangled, now shimmered silver in the dim light.
A mark shaped like two scales glowed on her palm.
She stared at it, dazed. "What am I?"
Outside, the screams had gone quiet. Only the fire remained, a dull roar above, consuming everything.
She stood slowly. Every step hurt, but she didn't stop. She looked up toward the stone ceiling and whispered, "If this is mercy, then I don't want it."
The silver light pulsed once more, brighter than before, wrapping around her like a shroud.