Prologue

Fiona caressed the mahogany box gently before picking it up. It was not very remarkable compared to other extravagantly decorated boxes she had seen, but even though the box itself had once been precious to her, now it was the inside that felt much more important.

In the centre of the lid embellished letters spelled out her name and she traced the name before tracing the single rose that was carved into the lid to the right of her name. Without taking her eyes off her name she opened it with a tiny key that she kept on her at all times.

The inside of the box was by no means plain. It was lined with a dark green silk and in the lid directly underneath the place her name was on on the outside was a picture of Fiona and her parents from the day Fiona had been christened.

The slightly faded picture was her most treasured possession and inside the box itself were a few letters that her parents had given her before she had left them for the Black Order.

She didn't feel resentment or anger towards the Order, nor at her parents for letting her go so easily, without any kind of fight. It was too long ago and she had long since gotten over her initial fear and anger, well, initial might be an understatement.

Fiona picked up the last letter she had opened, it had been sealed in this box for years before she opened it a few months back. One the front of the envelope was the number '18'. It had been the very last sealed letter in the box, until recently.

She unfolded it carefully and glanced at the names at the bottom. Both of her parents wished her lots of luck and there was even a childish scrawl from her brother who had been barely two when he had signed this letter.

Fiona wondered briefly if her brother even remembered her at all. Surely her parents talked about her with her younger brother. She closed the letter and put it onto one of the piles in the box.

Then Fiona reached over to her bed and picked up another envelope, it was stiff and perfectly white. It made all the other envelopes look old. She slid out the photographs in this new envelope and thumbed through them carefully trying not to touch them too much. She had all the pictures she wanted and was going to get. Fred, Marie, Renny Epstain, various other exorcists, scientists and nurses at the Branch, even a sketch of Aldea that another exorcist had drawn for her after his death.

Fiona closed the envelope again and locked the box, before placing it half heartedly in the small wooden trunk at her feet. She felt extremely nervous about the fact that her luggage was going before she was. She had been told it would be safer this way and she would be unencumbered if she was attacked. However, a small part of her insisted she'd rather die with this box in her hands than see it lost.

She looked down and registered that the trunk was very empty, she had no personal possessions after all apart from the box and not a large collection of clothes as she usually travelled. Maybe she should steal a book or two from the library, due to it's size she doubted anyone would notice.

But then she closed the lid with a sigh and decided that it could wait until the morning. Her bare room looked even more spartan even though there had been little more in it an hour before. Simply the lack of a few items of clothing that usually hung on the back of the chair or the end of her bed made the room look not only bare, but downright hollow and empty.

"Hey! Fiona! Are you there?" Someone called through the door. The voice was male and eager.

"Yeah, I'm here. Come in." The young man entered and looked around, his eyes lingering on Fiona's trunk for a moment before he turned to face her. He was wearing his uniform, but his coat was open and his straggly hair was damp. She crossed the room and hugged him. He patted her on the head.

"I'm going to miss you." She said softly as she pulled away.

"Yeah, I'll miss you too." But then his grin was back in place and he ruffled her hair. "Come on to dinner. Everyone finally managed to get together so we can have a farewell party."

"I'm not quite gone yet." Fiona smiled, tightening her hold on his hand slightly before letting go.

"Yes, but considering how most people here barely eat or sleep because of their workload, I think it's best we have it a little early." said Marie, who was leaning against the doorframe.

She also hugged Fiona before they started walking towards the canteen.

"I think, I need to say thank you." Marie said softly as the three walked side by side. Fiona was startled. "What for?"

"For saving my life a couple of times. For teaching me a few things. For not just listening but understanding. And for being my... friend." Marie was talking so low now she was whispering and Fiona respected her for it. Marie preferred to be private, a habit that sometimes made her look withdrawn and unsociable. "Especially the last mission."

Fiona felt slightly thrown by the things her friend was telling her. "You're welcome." But unable to keep from teasing completely, her smile became a grin. "But do try not to sleep like the dead in future." The girls laughed and Fred joined in.

Their hearty laughter echoed through the corridor even after they had long turned the corner.