*Xelina*

The first light of dawn slips through the crack of the cellar door, painting soft gold streaks across the rough-hewn floor. I’m already awake, dressing, pulling on my worn boots, and running a brush through my hair. Before I head outside, I kneel beside my bed and open the wooden box tucked beneath it. Inside, I gently place the mask from last night, closing the lid.

The animals need tending first, before the rest of the household stirs. It’s routine, a rhythm I’ve known for years, but feels different today.

Today, there’s a fire in my veins, and a buzz beneath my skin that wasn’t there yesterday. Today, I’m...