"Hello, do you have time?" Circe heard a guy calling her. Turning back at him, he pointed towards his wrist, indicating for an answer to his question. Circe got the hint and nodded to herself, understanding his actions.

"It's 11." She replied, looking at her golden wrist watch.

"Not that sort of time..." Circe looked back at him, quizzically.

"Then?"

"The time to write down my number." He smiled a little.

"Did you just..." Circe' face cracked to form a smile and she laughed heartily.

"Use a cheesy pickup line? I did. So, about the time thing, do you have time?" He asked, a little embarrassed.

"Why not. Here." Circe gave her phone to that guy. Never had she ever got any pickup lines from someone. Everyone was too afraid to approach her, because of her eyes. Was he not afraid? She thought to herself, looking at him while he typed his number in her phone.

"Circe, there you are..." Analia, her best friend and the host of the party approached her. Stopping midway she looked at the guy and Circe, with a worried expression.

"I see that you've met Alvin." Analia said, in a hurried tone.

"Alvin... So, that's your name." Circe said absentmindedly, frowning towards her friend. Why was she in such a hurry?

"It's going to be 12 soon. Home..." Analia tried to hint Circe and then, she realized how much time had passed. It was going to be midnight soon. It wasn't good for anyone to be with her after that time.

"I... I need to leave." Circe excused herself and proceeded to leave. She couldn't believe that she had let herself be normal, like others. She wasn't normal, could never be.
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Cerci was already outside the house. She desperately needed some fresh air. The party had to be over before midnight, for her. Or else... She had hardly taken two to three steps when the atmosphere began to change, out of nowhere. Dark clouds had formed, up above in the air and dramatic zigzags appeared across the sky. It was just like a thunderstorm scenery. But, scarcely a drop of rain had fallen and the road started feeling too small to even stand in. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning fell towards Cerci. It happened in such a short amount of time, she couldn't even blink. 

She had moved out of the party to get some fresh air, and a lightning bolt struck in front of her... What was happening, she couldn't figure out. Midnight wasn't there yet... So why? Everything became blurry. When she was finally able to open her eyes, she saw something standing ahead... Something which was definitely not from Earth.

A creature which had hands of fish, a human male like upper face and dog like fur protruding from it's neck. He crawled on all fours. His feet were like a lion's, that too, a very tough skin that could not be pierced by a weapon. A small bird was sitting on it's shoulder which felt like those Greek mythology man-eating bird like monsters with beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers with which, they could launch at their victims.

"You." The creature took a step towards Circe.

"Give me your eyes. I need their power. I'm letting you choose. Between power and humankind. Choose." He took another step towards her. Reflexively, she took a step back.

"Why?" She managed to speak.

"My father. He's no more. Your power. I know you can see him. Please show me where he is." The monster said in a cracked voice. Her eyes softened. She knew what it felt like. Losing someone you love is the worst kind of pain. It feels like you are stuck in a pain loop. You keep revisiting it over and over. Everytime you think about that person. Everything that reminds you of them. It comes in waves. Sometimes you can take it. Sometimes you push it away and distract yourself. And sometimes you let it wash over you, making you feel comfortably numb. You will feel stranded, while everyone, everything else around you moves on. But you can't. You are stuck in the loop. She knew the feeling, too well.

Her eyes shone. Bright red. In colour psychology, red provokes the strongest emotions of any colour. Red was, after all, the warmest and most contradictory of the colours. In fact, this fiery hue had more opposing emotional associations than any other color: Red is linked to passion and love as well as power and anger. A narrow light started to come out of her eyes towards a path.

"He's there." She spoke. In truth, her eyes had the ability to see spiritual beings. Those who have left the reality but, couldn't leave their real bonds.
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After helping the creature see it's father. She started heading back home for the spirits didn't appreciate her special presence. Suddenly, she heard footsteps and, before her, stood Alvin.

"You saw that, right?" Cerci asked, afraid to know the already known answer.

"So, you knew about me all along?"

"My eyes. They aren't ordinary." She mumbled.

"I know right. They are extraordinary. Your eyes can cast spell. Literally. You know he looked like the monsters of Greek mythology, which are non-existent, unreal, created entirely by the ruthless human imagination. Each monster usually combines some realistic elements of various existing creatures and other imaginary characteristics; they usually appear in secondary roles in Greek myths; being an obstacle to great heroes that they need to overcome or, less often, coming to their aid. He was the same, by looks." He smiled, comfort shining through his eyes.

"He did look like that. But, why did you follow me out?"

"My parents had told me to follow my dream, after all." He smirked, to which Cerci couldn't help but laugh.

"Then, are you coming with me?" Cerci extended her hands. He nodded, rather too eagerly and proceeded to join her hand for the walk to home. 
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