Serafina Namir (Chapter 1)

The buildings passed by in a whirl of color as Serafina Namir ran down the dank and dirty alley. Her ravens-wing hair flew behind her like a banner as she ran flat out, her lavender eyes sparkling.1

The buildings passing by were supposed to be beautiful jewel-tones, but they had been turned grey and black by all the garbage and refuse of the city. The bright light of Tenars two suns made them dank colors and depressing alley even worse.2

Sera glanced back over her shoulder to see if the group of males was still following her. Her long black hair got in her face, but moved quickly to allow her to see just enough to know they were still coming for her, but from so far behind it was laughable.3

She did laugh at that, and with utter joy. She shot a crude gesture at them and grinned triumphantly. 4

She reached out and grabbed a hold of the corner of an upcoming building that led to a mini-alley which led to the street. Her gathered momentum swung her around the corner into the slimmer mini-alley. Sera kept running until she came to the street, which, just her luck, happened to be filled with people. "Azra!!! I forgot today was the celebration day on this planet!" She mumbled as she looked out at the milling, cheering, and happy mob. She looked behind her and didn't see the men yet. If she didn't hurry they would catch her soon.5

She pushed through the crowd, weaving her way through so she was hidden from sight. For once she thanked her patron goddess Carra for her small and petite size. She was considerably smaller than the surrounding natives, at least half a foot, if not a whole foot than most. 6

Looking around her she noticed the people were eyeing her and paying a lot of attention to her, commenting and pointing her out. "Chakon!!!" She cursed under her breath in her language. This planet was filled with fair people, blonde, golden eyes, golden skin, etc. The darkest you got was honey brown hair. She really didn’t want any notice paid to her or attention. If only she hadn't been forced to lead them away from her ship and the dock, she could have put on her costume.7

Sera looked around her for a likely escape. She kept moving through the crowd, and smiled when she saw a shop that specialized in strange and unusual. She immediately started heading that way. When she saw that no one was watching her, she slipped inside quickly and headed deep into the interior.8

As she looked around at all the unusual items and strange do-dads, she thought to herself, "I definitely qualify as unusual. I am glad I chose this place." She grinned at the thought as she walked directly under a bright light. The light glinted onto a pair of petit and beautiful but deadly canines winking out from between her full lips.9

A woman came out of what Sera presumed was the back of the shop, through a multicolored cloth that make bells jangle and chime when she stepped through. She was tall and very beautiful, older and statues with silky blonde curls cropped short to her head and glowing golden eyes. Her pale skin was barely marred by time and her golden eyes twinkled merrily.10

"Ello m'dear and welcome to Zoe's; The Most Unusual of Unusual. I am Zoe and what can I be doin fer ya?" She asked in a smoky sounding drawl which all the natives here use.11

Sera looked at her and couldn't help but smile, not much, just enough. She was very careful to hide her fangs, for people who see them usually want to kill her, are terrified of her, or want to capture her. She was one of a very rare race, a cursed race, or so most other peoples believed. She was a Marja. Her home world of Mrajanja had blown up from a catalyst forced on it by the ways of her people, their natural forms were always hidden from other people, for they truly looked cursed them.12

"Hello and a great day to you Minya. I was walking around outside, hoping to lose my former Contra. He has been chasing me around and I really wish to avoid him. He was very abusive and had no thoughts for my feelings. He has even brought friends with him this time, so I need to hide before he takes me away by force and makes me agree to be his Azanza. I couldn't stand to stay with him forever. Do you by chance have anything with which I could hide this blasted hair of mine. I gain far too much attention with it, and I fear someone will say something." Sera said with just the right amount of desperation and pleading into her tone. She had become a very accomplished actress at a very young age.13

Zoe laughed and smiled, her mouth moving so wide that you could see all her sparkling white teeth. "Oh, I know what you mean. I don't know of anyone besides you with black hair, not on this planet or nay of the ones surrounding it." Zoe waved her hand in a *Come-hither* way and Sera followed her. She moved towards the far back of the store towards some larger shelves. "I be thinkin I has just the thing fer ya. It be from this far off lill rim world goin bys the name of Earth. Verra pop'lar and in use over there. Used ta have sumin sim'lar wit'in t'e Fed'ration, but it died out a'soon a't'e ole Emp'rar took contr'l. There be one thin he did fer t'e people of t'e galaxie, he gave 's'all health'er and long'r lives, so what if't be just sos he could milk us fer alls we're worth." She turned around one shelf and behind another before she stopped infront of a large and deepest shelf with torking formed heads. Sera looked at them in wonder, there were heads you could use on an android, and they looked so real. "How will these help me?" Sera asked in a confused tone.14

Zoe laughed and reached foreword, taking off a long and very curly, very blonde scalp of hair. "This m'dear, is a wig. Verra fmous ya'know."15

Sera laughed. "Perfect. I will take it."16

Zoe grinned. "Peers ta be just t'e right length 'n'all. Jus has ta pull t'all back a'bit an ya be ready t'go."17

Sera grabbed it and tucked her hair back into a tight pippa tail. She tucked the ends into the band slightly, and pinned it all to her head. She then put the long wig on and fixed it so the bangs hid her black wisps and her hair. She pinned it into place and arranged it slightly as the finishing touch. Her eyebrows she went over with a blonde pencil in her small bag attached to her upper thigh. She looked completely different. "I look like a resident. Nothing much I can do about these eyes, but this will do." She smiled and paid the price stipulated, pretty steep, but this was a shop for the unusual.18

Sera thanked Zoe and headed outside into the daylight. She was already in Tenars style clothing so she fit right in. She saw the males looking through the group of people and even glanced at her for a moment in consideration, but moved one. She grinned as she started moving back towards her ship.19