Prologue
Veronica shut the door behind her, and sat down on her bed. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, then took a deep breath. Chopping firewood was harder work than she’d thought, but she was a strong girl and she wouldn’t let a little tough labor get the better of her. Not after Darrell sacrificed so much for her.
She mentally slapped herself. Don’t think about it. He’ll be back… I hope.
Veronica laid down to catch her breath and drifted off to sleep. She woke up suddenly in the middle of the night when it happened. She gasped and jumped up. She’d felt a heartbeat, it wasn’t her own though. Trembling, she raised her hands to her neck, and unlatched the tiny chain, pulling out the golden locket. It was warm, no hot, almost burning her hand, and seemed like it was glowing shining brilliant beams everywhere. Veronica quickly pulled the curtains over the window in case anyone was watching. It pulsed again and she realized that she didn’t have much time. This was now or never.
She practically tripped across the room to just about her only piece of furniture, the dresser, and ripped open a drawer. Her hands snatched a sheet of parchment, a bottle of ink, and a quill, and she ran back to her bed. Quickly she scrawled, “Who are you?” and grabbed the locket. It was growing hotter and was starting to shine as bright as a star. Her fingers frantically found the small knob at the top. She double checked the needle, and then triple-checked, this couldn’t go wrong.
Veronica stopped for a second to catch her breath then touched the locket to the paper. There was a click as she pressed the button, and then a brilliant flash of light.
The paper had disappeared.
