The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

Signs of Life: Part 1

Prologue: Signs of Life

Marianna Faigon was once an heiress, but that was a lifetime ago. Time changes things. For the last two years, she spent putting her life back together. Once a victim of the DID, Marianna recovered, but at times she still felt like two people. She never truly put her demons behind her. She only silenced them in hopes of hiding it from the rest of the world.

She fell into the life of a college student quite easily. It had been two years since she resumed her education. It started out with her wanting to gain enough knowledge to cure her afflictions, but it wasn't her past mental illness that scared her. It was the creature that was born from it. She feared the destruction that she might cause while lost in her rage.

Her classmates jokingly commented on how even tempered she was, but they were ignorant of her shady past. Even though she chose to be addressed by her given name of Marianna, inside her true identity remained as Fanta. She was the combination of two different parts of a girl who died without ever being born.

She fought too many battles, mostly with herself, the parts beneath the skin. She feared the vindictive entity returning to take over her life again. Although there has been no sign of her for the past two years, she was determined to put that life behind her.

She felt odd at first wearing her protective glasses, but a professor took a liking to her and became intrigued by her situation. Doctor Brenda Dare quickly became friends with Marianna. She even helped her develop a more discreet way to hide her intolerance to light. Contact lenses were more of a hassle to care for, but less noticeable.

It was one of those quieter winter nights when Marianna sat alone in her dorm room. Her roommate, Cynthia Bailey, had yet another date. Marianna wasn't interested in dating, because she spent her days of studying and her nights contemplating on her true purpose. Since saving Ty Whitney from the circus, she heard destiny's voice calling her to do more for the Sadian race. She knew there were others like herself and Ty, and she was determined to find them.

Most people never realized their true purpose until they were too old to pursue it, but Marianna was one of the lucky ones. She knew what she was and not only accepted it but relished in all of its possibilities. The world needed heroes, but she never saw herself in that role. She only did her best to continue the lifeline of her race.

At about three in the morning, Marianna looked up from her journal to see Cynthia staggering into the doorway.

"I take it you had a good time," Marianna said as she put her book down on the nightstand.

"Spectacular," Cynthia said, falling onto her bed. There was a big smile plastered on her face. The girl nearly passed out as her head hit the pillow.

Marianna laughed as she stood over her passed out friend. She spread the blanket over her and prepared to turn out the lights and steal a good night's rest.