The voice did not answer.

Miyu sighed. "Who are you?"

"Who . . . who . . . who?" The voice echoed like a child taunting.

"Wrong question. My gut says you're not a person. So? What the fu*k are you?" Miyu asked in a "no holds barred" tone.

Something in the dark surrounded her, grazed her leg, brushed against her like a cat.

Miyu let out a string of curses.

It laughed and she could feel it rumbling against her skin.

"Stop repeating my words! Speak clearly, you fuc*ing creep!" Miyu shouted.

"It's been . . . a long . . . a very long time . . . since I've been called . . . since I've used human . . . words," the voice answered, its intonation all wrong, like a being not used to stringing sentences together and speaking it out loud.

"I didn't call you. I'm sure of that. You must have made a mistake in coming here wherever here is," Miyu said.

"The call . . . was not from you . . . Was for you . . . But did not need to be you . . . But it became you . . . Had to be you," the voice said, its intonation improving but still sounding like a broken instrument.

Miyu frowned and rubbed her temples. She was stuck in a dark place with an invisible being that did not make sense and here she thought, she wouldn't have any problems to think of after death.

"So? Why are you here? Do you have something to say to me?" Miyu asked.

"They prayed oh so long and hard. They prayed with blood to demand our attention. They prayed once and Light answered. They prayed again and I answered," the voice said, more clearly, almost as if with pride.

Miyu swallowed. "Are you . . . a god?"

"What do you think, girl?" The voice in the dark answered.

"Shouldn't a god be . . . I dunno . . . More holy-looking? Shouldn't this place filled with light instead?" Miyu asked.

"Where there is Light . . . there is Darkness," the voice whispered.

Miyu shivered.

An evil god. A dark god. Whatever this is, this god wasn't the good one. Figures. She wasn't exactly good when she was alive. But still, she felt she wasn't that high-ranking in the sinner list so why was this god even talking to her?

"You said they prayed to you. What did they pray for? Who prayed to you?" Miyu asked.

"They prayed for a girl not of their world. A girl with power they do not have. You shall meet them soon," the voice answered.

"I don't have any powers! I'm just an ordinary person! I don't want to help those strangers who called you!" Miyu said.

"Then . . . don't," the voice answered with a laugh that echoed in the darkness.

"Are you going to send me back to my world? I think you have the wrong girl. I don't have powers, okay?" Miyu said.

"You have already died in your world. For the power you do not have, I shall be the one to bestow it to you," the voice said.

"I don't have a choice, do I? I really need to go to that other world?" Miyu asked.

"Wouldn't you like another chance in living, girl?" The voice asked back.

Miyu sighed. "I'm not sure. I'm still heartbroken at the moment. I don't trust people enough to think they won't hurt me again."

"You don't need to trust. You can just ensure that they will not hurt you," the voice said.

"That's not possible," Miyu said with a scoff. "If you get hurt, you get hurt. That's the law of living."

"Not if you have me," the voice said, sounding like it was grinning.

"You're going to make sure I don't get hurt?" Miyu asked in confusion.

"Not me but I'll give you that power. Tell me. What is it that you truly desire?" the voice asked in a seductive tone.

"I . . . " Miyu trailed off, her eyes distant as if in a trance.

"Yes, tell me. What is it that you truly desire?" The voice said in its velvet tone, with no trace of its raspy whisper it had before.

"I . . . don't want to get hurt again and if I do get hurt, I want that person to feel the pain! I want the person who hurt me feel how much pain I'm feeling!" Miyu cried out.

"Done."

The blue flames floating above ground suddenly started to pull together like storm clouds. They surrounded her like a tornado, swirling and circling around her. They felt warm. For some reason, she remembered her mother's warm embrace. It was a pleasant feeling.

Then the blue flames dispersed and they were on the ground again but Miyu could still their warmth on her . . . in her.

"What did you do?" Miyu asked.

"I granted your wish, girl. Now, you're no longer just a girl. They will call you Saintess," the voice said.

"I don't want to be a Saintess! I don't want to help those who called for you! I thought you understood me!" Miyu screamed.

"Yes, and that's why I granted your wish. They may call you Saintess but the blessing that you received is not that of a Saintess but that of the dark," the voice said.

"I don't want this," Miyu mumbled as what seemed like a bright doorway emerged from the darkness.

"None of them did," the voice said and Miyu was sucked inside the doorway and there was a flash of blinding light.

*

*

*

She was teleported to a place that looked like a temple. It actually looked impressive, and Miyu felt like a tourist in a new place.

She looked around. There were men in white robes and approaching her was another man in a white robe but with more embellishments.

Maybe he's the Pope in this place, Miyu thought.

She was in a new place, no scratch that. She was in a new world and she had no idea what these people wanted from her.

Oh, right. They want a Saintess.

Crap, she's not a Saintess.

Oh no.

What will they do if they find out she was sent by that dark god?

Okay, calm down.

Acting 101. Pretend no eyes are on you. Breathe slowly to calm your nerves but not in a way they'll notice. Don't look nervous. Let them stare at you but act as if you don't know they're staring at you.

She looked around. There were strange red markings on the floor.

Oh, god.

Blood.

That dark god mentioned that. They prayed with blood to demand the attention of the gods.

These were twisted priests. Were they even priests? What if she was summoned by a cult?!

Crap, the Pope man is extending his hand.

The Pope looked like he could be an actor in a fantasy movie. He looked like he came out from Lord of the Rings with his long silver hair and young man's face.

Miyu took his hand without hesitation and got up with his help. She actually needed the help. She was still wearing the wedding gown and it was heavy. Miyu thought that if she got on their wrong side, she might just be the next blood splattered on the ground so it was better to try to make friends with them.

"We welcome you, Saintess from another world. My name is Anthony. I am the High Priest of this temple. May we know your name, Holy Saintess?" The silver-haired man asked.

Miyu's survival instincts kicked in. Her instincts that allowed her to survive even without her mother. The thing that made her famous and adored by all.

Miyu smiled. She smiled as brightly as she can. She smiled like the sun just opened up, parting the dark clouds away.

Her cute mode was now switched on.

Praying to the dark god that it would also work with these people in another world.

"My name is Hikari Miyu. But you can call me Miyu desu!"

Desu. Crap. They don't know what that means. She doesn't want to be called "Miyu Desu" by everyone.

She blushed and giggled. "Sorry. It's Miyu's habit to say 'desu.' Miyu is delighted to be here. Thank you so much for summoning me."

Did that work?

The priests looked . . . surprised. Then they smiled.

There. The magic of moe. Cuteness, innocence, and feminity.

"It's nice to meet you, Miyu. We are honored to be in your presence. We would like to introduce you to the Light of our Empire, Her Highness, Queen Celestinia, and the future Sun of our Empire, His Highness, Prince Vincent," the High Priest said.

Miyu felt her stomach doing cartwheels but she was a skilled actress. She was still able to look relaxed despite the nervousness brewing inside her.

Miyu did her best to curtsy or what she thought looked like a curtsy. She raised the skirts of her gown slightly, bent her knees, and bowed her head.

"You may rise," the queen said in a beautiful voice.

The queen looked so regal and stunning. She looked like a Greek goddess with her short golden hair, icy beautiful eyes, and a captivating appearance. She had jewels on her head, around her neck, her wrists, and on her gown. She was a dazzling sight to behold.

Miyu turned her eyes to the prince and her eyes widened.

Oh. My. Gosh.

No freaking way.

That hair, those blue eyes, those kissable lips.

It's him. In the flesh.

Her ideal Prince Charming.