PROLOGUE

LanaDiego
Iwokewithaterribleburningpaininmychest.IfeltlikeIdfallenfromtheskyontomybody. Istruggledtostandfromwhatseemedlikethemostuncomfortablebedever.Thesmellthat surroundedmewasaputridsmell.AndashardasItriedtolookaroundmeitseemed impossible.Icouldnotreallyrecognizeanything.StillIgotup,andmywholebodywassore asifsomethingwasnotrightinme,likemyinnerselfwasjustgettingusedtomybody.It scaredthehelloutofme.ThatswhenInoticedmyhands,theywerenotmine.The palenessofthemsuggestedtheuglytruththatwassoontohitme,butrightthenIwas struckintheback.Ifellrightonmyface,andwhilestrugglingtogetupajaggyvoicecalled frombehindme: Wheredoyouthinkyourgoing,eh? What,why,whoareyou,exceptshedidnotansweratall,sheseemedtohavethesame raggedyclothesasmeandhersmellwasofoldladymixedwithyearsofincarceration. Shetriedtoattackmeagain,thistimewithapieceofwoodenchairshebrokeagainstmy backearlier.ButsomehowImanagedtoblockit.IdidnotknowwhereIwasorwhy,but onethingwasclearthisoldSOBwasnotgonnaruinmychancesoffiguringitout.Iblocked herconstantattacksandmanagedtopushheraway,inamorecivilizedsituationIwould havefeltbadforthat,buttherewasnotimeforthatnow,Ihadtogetout.Imovedinall directionsinmytinycellandquicklyrealizedtherewasnowayout. HowdoIgetoutofhere?IyelledinthemostmenacingtoneIcould.Shegiggledatmy ignorance. Youcantgetoutfool,yourelockedin. Why?WhereamI?shequicklygotupandreachedforthewoodenpeaceofchair,I grabbeditbeforeshecould,andrepeatedmyself:WHEREAMI?! Why,youareinacastle...nowifyoubehaveImightbeabletogetyououtofhere. What!?,lookladyyoujusttriedtokillme,whythehellwouldyouhelpmeknow? Because,nowIknowyouarenother.Shesmiledhertoothlesssmileandsaidsome
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weirdwords,andsuddenlyeverythingwentpitchblackonceagain.
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FiannaAvery
Thescreechingscreamthatescapedmymouthwassomethingtoremember.WhenI realizedwhathappened,thatithadworkedIwasmorethanexcited.Thetearsflowedfreely andIcouldnothelpjumpingupoutofpurejoyandamazement.ItseemsthatIwasweaker thanwethought.TheroomwhereIwasawokenwasquiteextraordinary,nothingIhadever seen.Undermethegroundwascoldbutwarmedbyrags,notthekindyouseeatthe castle,thekindthatshelikes,deadanimalskilledbyherhandandthenlaidtodryinorder toformthemostgruesomewelcomingrag.Butinsteaditwasofabrightcolor,green,like thevalleysinmyhome.OrshouldIsaythehomeIusedtoknow,theonetakenfrommy motherandme.Thehomethatwasinvadedanddestroyed,memoriesofthatnightflooded throughmeandremindedmeoftheachingpaininmybody.IknewthatwhatIhaddone wouldnotbeaneasytaskputuponmybodyandtheconsequencesofitwerejuststarting tostrikeme.Ifeltliketenbarrelsofthemostexpensivewinehadfallenonmybody,itwas notonlythepain,Ialsonoticedsomethingelse.Thisbodywasnotadyingbody,norwasit adeadone.Itwasaliveandhealthy,somuchsothat,memoriesswarmwithinme,sovivid andintense,ofwater,touch,warmth.Yesthespellhadworked,butthiswasnotwhatIhad expected.Ihadsuccessfullytakenoveralivebody,ofapersonwhomostpossiblyhada fulfillinglife,ahappyone.AndIhadstolenit,robbeditfromher.Thefeelingofregretand guiltwerefinallystartingtotakeitstollonme.AndIfeltmykneesfalter,fallingonthe groundIclutchedtheedgeofthebedandletthetearsfall.

Lana
Okay,Imstillalive.ThatsallIcouldthinkabout.Ihadwokenuptotheoldladystaringat mefromacrosstheroom.Shehadonagreendresswithwhatwewouldcallanapron,it wasbrown,butIamnotsureifitwasbecauseofallthedirtshehadorbecauseitwas naturallythiscolor.Iwasstrappedtoachairwithacheapexcuseforrope,whichwas probablyhandmade,inthemiddleofthiscottagestylehomeIswearitlookedrightoutof afairytale.Thewoodenchairsandtables,darkyellowwalls,potshangingfromtheceiling, afireplaceandthebedsonatopfloor.Themostnoticeableofallthingswastheamountof booksandpapersalloverthehouse,innets,bookshelves,floor,wallsandevenkitchento anextremeofusingthemaschairs.Mythoughtswereinterruptedbythelady: Whatdoyouknowaboutyoursituation?shesaidwhilecockingherheadtooneside. Whatdoyoumean,Idontknowanything,andifthisisyourideaofhelpingyourvery misguided,nowgetmeoutofhere.NormallyIwasjustalittlemeanbutgiventhe situation... IcantdothatShehadaraspyvoicewithanaccent,notsurethoughifitwasBritishor Irishorgodknowswhat. Whatthehell,canyouatleastexplainwhatthehellisgoingon?Iwantedtouseother words,butIjustcouldnotthinkofany. Youarenolongerwhoyouwhereandarenotwhoyouare. Wait,what?Nocodesplease Lookatyourselfinthismirror,shebroughtmeamirrorthatlookedtoshinyandnewtoo belongtoher,becausejudgingbymysurroundings,thisladymustbereallypoor.Sheput themirrortomyface.AndthatswhenIsawit,whenIknewthatthisfeelingwastrue,Ijust couldnotacceptit,ittookeverythingthatIhadtonotkickthislady,startscreaminglikea madmanandpossiblygocrazy.Well,Ididstartscreaming.ThereflectionIsawwasof anothergirl,withdarkbrownhair,palewhiteskinanddeepdarkeyes,whowasthis person,andmoreimportantlywhatkindofsickjokewasthis.Istruggledwiththechair, Whatthehellisgoingonhere,whoareyou?Whatshappenedtome?Aquicksob escapedmylips. Itisratherdifficulttoexplain... WELLSTARTEXPLAININGIyelled. WellfirstofallIwouldliketoknowifIweretounstrapyou,willyourun? No...Ineedtoknowwhatthehellisgoingon Couldyoustopsayingthatblasphemousword?Shesaideversopatiently.Iwillexplain
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everything.SheuntiedmeandgavemealittlebitofteaallthewhileImjustcontrollingmy urgestojustpunchherintheface.Howcouldanybodybesocalminasituationlikethis? Well?Iasked. YournameisFiannaAvery.YouaredaughtertoRileyAvery.YourmotherwasEininSmith. Yourmotherisdead.Shediedalongtimeago,andIpromisedherIwouldtakeyouin,to hideyou.Yourfatherhasbeengoneforyears,inbattle.Einindidherbesttoprotectyou, butevilpowerssurroundus.Andreally,thereisnotmuchtime.Wemustmoveforward,find somewheretohideorwithsomeone.Butgiventhecircumstances,Idontknowifitwillbe possible...WhileshekeptramblingonIjustcouldnothandleit. Whatareyoutalkingabout,IdontknowwhoFiannaisorRileyorwhoeverelseyousaid, mynameisLanaDiego,andIhavetogohome,Idontknowwhatisgoingonbutthishas tostop.Whatthehellareyoueventalkingabout? Youarenolongerwhoyouwhere,youarenowFianna.Shesaidwiththecalmestvoice, andforsomereasonthatinfuriatedmemore. WhereamI?Iwasstartingtoshoutmorenow. YouareinDraochta.Theyearisofnorelevancetoyou,forthisisalandthatdoesnot existinyourworld,itisalandlongforgottenbyyourpeople.Youwillunderstandeverything withtimechild. AndwhyshouldItrustyou? Thisyoualreadyknow,Iamtheonlyonewiththeanswersyouseek,nowgototheriver freshenup,Iwillhaveyouachangeofclothes.Sheshooedmeoutofthecottage. OnceoutsideIcouldnotbelievewhatwashappeningtome.WhatdidIdotodeservethis, wasthisevenreal.Isatneartheriver,itwascalmandbeautifulIcouldhearthebirdsand feelthelightcoolbreezeonmyskin.Isattherelookingatmynewreflection.Itouchedmy arms,myhair,myface,andlips.AndIcouldnotbelieveit,itfeltreal,thiswasreal. RealizingthatmyonlyoptionwastofollowthisladyandfindawaybackhomeIthought backtomyfamily.Howarethey?DotheyknowImgone?Willmybodybemoving?WillI bedead?Thatsuddenthoughtbrokemyheart.Notformebutformyfamily,friendsand speciallymymother,mysaddepressedmother.Whobyherselfwascapableofverylittle,I washedmyselfIwasnumb,justdoingastold.Thiswasveryuncharacteristicofme,of course.Iwasalwaystheonewhodidnotbackdown,thatnomatterwhatthesituationI foundthewaytosurvive.Thishelplessnesswaskillingme.Thewaterwascoldagainstmy skin.Icouldseevalleysandmountainsaheadofme.Longgreenvalleys,nothinglikethe parkinglotsandmallsbackhome.No,thiswaspurenature,amazingcolorsandschemes. InanothercircumstanceIwouldhavebeenexcitedtobeabletophotographthis.Behind mewasthecottagealmosthiddenbybeardedtrees,astallasbuildings,theflowerswere ofallcolors.Theredidnotseemtobeanyroadsleadinguptothehouse,justflowersand treessurroundingit,asifthetreesdiditthemselves,inordertoprotectthoselostinthe
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woods. AaaahSomebodyhadjerkedmeup.Whoeveritwasdidnotletgoofmyarmeven thoughmyscreamingsuggestedalotofpain. Whoareyou? Letgoofme,whatsthematterwithyou?Isaid,hewasblondwithfairskin,maybealittle tallerthanmemaybe57.Itriedtogetaglimpseofhisfacebutheimmediatelyturnedme around.Whatdoyouwant?Ifeltdefenseless.Okaythatsit.Ihithimwithmydefense classtechniquesandmanagedtoscrambleaway.IranasfastasIcouldtowardsthe woods.Ikeptrunningwithoutlookingback,butIcouldfeelhimbehindme.Therewasalog, justmyluck,andItripped.FellfaceforwardwithleavesallovermyfaceItriedtoquickly wipeitoffandstartrunningagain,buthegrabbedmebymywastewithonlyonehand,I hadtogetusedtothisextremelyskinnyframe,nowaycouldhedothatwithmynormal body.Heturnedmetofacehimalmostimmediately.AndthatswaswhenIsawthose gorgeousgreeneyes.Greenlikeeverythingaroundhim,heblendedperfectlywithhis surroundings,asifhewaspartoftheforest,suggestinghelivedamongstthetreesand survivedontheirgifts,hishairwasshort,youcouldtellthathehadchoppeditoff,spikes weregoingonalldirections.Whenhisgazemetminewewerelostinwhatseemed forever.Iswearifkilledbyhishand,Iwouldnothavefeltathing.Wefinallybrokethetrance whenIgaspedloudlyandembarrassingly.Icouldfeelallthememories,wellFiannas memories.Thefeelingofhishandsonmine,thewindagainstmyface,theriver surroundingme,thejoybouncingallaroundme... Whyhaveyourun?Youaresupposedtobedead,Fianna?Icouldheartendernessnow, anddisbelief.Nothiscannotbe,IwilltakeyoutoMarinaatonce. Uh,nowaybuddy,letgoofmeYeah,andthatworked,hegrabbedmebymywaistand hoistedmetohisshoulder.NeedlesstosayIwaskickingandscreamingthewholeway. Wefinallygottothecottage.OhfinallyIknowhername,Marina. Iseeyoufoundher,Shesaid. Marina,Ithoughtthespellwouldkillher,whyisshestillalive? WellElijah,thingsdontalwaysworkasplanned,itseemsFiannaisnowoccupyingthis younggirl'sbodyintheotherplane.ThishereisLanaDiego. Spell?Youaretellingmeyoumadeaspelltorobmybody?Isaidincredulous. Yes,butitwasnotintendedforyoutobehere,Fiannawastotakeholdofadyingsouls bodyandinhabitingit,allthewhileherbodywoulddiehere.Ifsuccessful,shewouldbe abletocreateanewlifeandfinallybesafe.Butourgodshaveotherplans. Okay,soinwhattypeofdangeramIin?Andhowdowefixthis,howdoIgetmybody back?
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Youcant.TheysaidinUnison. Whatdoyoumean? Marinalookedatherfeetandupatme,theregretinhereyeswaspalpable.Whateverhad happenedwasnotplannedthisway,andIknewthatwhatawaitedme,wasnoteasy. Thespellisverycomplicatedandifweconductitagainthereisagreatchanceofyouboth dying.Elijahtoldmethesewordsslowlyasifhewasafraidofscaringme,toolate.You meanImstuckinthisbodyforever?IdontevenknowwhoyouareorwhoIam,forthat matter. Andthereismuchmoregravenewsmydear,youarewanted,dead.Elijahsaid.