Roan sat before two of the eldest graves in the cemetery that were all the way in the back corner and picked at the grass. The headstones were chipping and the names had long since faded. The grass was brown and dying.

"I'm so sorry, mum, dad," she whispered as she stood up. Just before she passed through the cemetery gates, she mumbled, "If only I could have been there to save you."

Roan had lived in Whitechapel for as long as she could remember, she knew most of the secrets it held - including the creatures that roamed the night. One thing she'd always knew, though, was that all the drivers were terrible.

There weren't any street lights, only intersections and seemingly insane people that sped at their fastest.

And that's exactly what happened - a crazy driver driving at full speed, an intersection, and Roan.

The blue Chevy crashed into her at full speed, Roan could feel her bones snap and her teeth break apart from the force. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and hot gravel and glass pressed against her cheek.

Then she just...dissipated into thin air.

Roan appeared, naked, across town in the woods...again. An extra set of clothes and a Nokia cell phone was hidden inside the knot of a tree just by her.

"It's happened again," Roan said once she plugged in the number. "I need you to pick me up."

XXX

A now fully clothed Roan sat down in the front seat of her long-time friend's car. "Thank you so much for picking me up again, Evelyn."

Evelyn smiled at her. Evelyn had aged gracefully, and since she was an Earth Priestess, she aged much slower than normal people. "After all of these years of us knowing each other, you still haven't met my grandson," she chuckled.

"I still haven't met your kids, either. It's for the best, Evelyn." Roan said as they drove. "How is your grandson, anyway?"

"Oh, he's gotten into plenty of trouble. Benny's a lot like you are, actually. You'd like him...if you'd meet him, that is." Evelyn replied.

"Stop trying to guilt me into meeting him - I'll meet him when I'm ready. If I'm ready," Roan said as Evelyn pulled into her own driveway.

"At least come inside - we haven't really talked since Benny had started living with me," Evelyn pleaded.

Roan thought for a moment, and with slight hesitation and reluctance, she said a gritted "fine." Evelyn smiled and led her inside the house.

"Wow," Roan said as she sat down at the kitchen table. "After all of these years, this is the first time I've been inside your house. It looks beautiful, Evelyn."

"Thank you," Evelyn said as she handed Roan a cup of tea. "I suppose you're still hell-bent on never marrying?"

"Marriage is for the mortal," Roan said as she took a sip. "It's overrated and unnecessary."

"I'm sure you'll find your soulmate eventually, Roanna." Evelyn said with a smile.

"Don't call me that," Roan said with a smirk. "Besides, some people don't find their soulmates until after they die, and as you know, I can't."

"You'll find some way out of this curse eventually." Evelyn said.

"Is my love life the only thing you wanted to talk about?" Roan joked.

"No, but I do need to tell you something important. It's about the book. My grandson and his friends are close to finding it. In fact -"

"Grandma?" A voice called from behind the two friends. Roan turned around to see a boy around the age she seemed to be.

"Benny," Evelyn said as she stood up. "I thought you were coming home later."

"Who's this?" Benny asked.

Roan stood up and said, "Someone who is leaving, now." She looked at Evelyn with a smile. "Goodbye, Evelyn."

"Wait -" Evelyn said as Benny grabbed her arm.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Benny asked with a smile.

"Benny, this is Roan." Evelyn replied. "I'd always wanted you to meet, but we never got around to it."

"I'm an old friend," Roan whispered as she yanked her arm out of his grip.

"Well since you've meet, why don't you stay for dinner, Roan?" Evelyn asked.

XXX

"So how do you two know each other?" Benny asked as he slurped up spaghetti.

"Evelyn was my..." Roan trailed off.

"I was a friend of her parents," Evelyn said quickly.

"Was?" Benny asked, looking to his left where Roan sat.

"They died a long, long time ago." This wasn't a lie. They died over sixty years prior.

"I'm sorry," Benny mumbled. "Are you going to Whitechapel High tomorrow?"

"Um..." Roan started.

"Yes, she is. Mind showing her around?"

XOXOXO

Sorry, but my first chapters always suck. But it'll get better, I promise.

Status: UNEDITED