Chapter 1
Beginnings (Prologue)
The woman in the shadowy hallway hurried down the stairs to a round room at the bottom with a glowing doorway set into the wall. The crying of a child could be heard going up the stairs, and she walked faster and faster to reach the small chamber, looking back over her shoulder frequently. Finally, after what seemed to be forever, the woman stepped into the dim candlelight in the room, illuminating her pale face, jet-black hair, and vibrantly green eyes, and glinting off of a delicate silver crown. The crying of the child was loud and plaintive, and the woman almost ran forward to meet the small, wailing baby girl. The girl had flaming red hair and the same green eyes as the woman. Another figure stepped out of the shadows, this one a tall, lean man with ginger hair. He smiles softly and tells her “We should call her Evelynn. Evelynn, princess of Mairnn.” The queen looked up at him with glistening eyes and nodded. “Yes. Evelynn Animosa.” A voice interrupts the two from the glowing doorway in the wall, “Send her through, we can’t hold the portal for much longer.” And a hand emerged from the glow, waiting. The woman kisses the young girl, reaches up, removes her necklace, and tucks it into the baby’s blanket. “Goodbye, my daughter, I love you.” and the girl disappeared through the door.
