Chapter One: A Dream

"No!"I woke up screaming and drenched in sweat.My heart was racing.I glanced at my bed I was sitting straight up in.I noticed that my blankets were strewn about just as there was a soft knocking at my door.

"Regina?Regina,dear are you all right?I heard you scream.Can I come in?"the voice asked.It was my mom.

"What?"I began to come to my senses,"Oh!Oh,come in,Mom."

The door opened slowly.My mind was frantically picking at the details of my dream.But that would have to wait."Honey,what happened?Are you okay?I-I heard you scream and thought there was a break-in but apparently there isn't,so..."she sounded frightened.

I cut her off."No.No break-in.I'm fine,Mom.It was just a bad dream,"I answered her.Bad was huge understatement.Blood curling nightmare was more like it but sounded corny.Therefore,bad would have to do.

"Oh,okay.You startled me with your scream.I was really worried,sweetie.But...Regina?What made you scream?It had to be more than a bad dream to make you scream like you did.You never scream,"She then came and sat on my bed.

Ugh.I hate it when she senses something troubling me,but she was right.I never scream."Well,um,I sort of guess it was a really bad nightmare,"I answered her too quickly.Again,another huge understatement.

My mom shook her head slowly."I know you better than that,Evelyn-er-Regina.What is really bothering you?"she finished slowly.

But wait!Did I hear that name again?Evelyn?I was sure I did,but how could my own mother know about it?Something was wrong.Very,very,very wrong,and I was going to get to the bottom of it.

"Why...why did you just call me...um,me Evelyn?"I squeaked.Evelyn was what the hunter-Ariana- called me in my dream.Did my my mom know her?God,I hope not.That would totally suck.But Evelyn?Maxine or Katherine I could do but Evelyn?Yuck.It sounded like a name from an earlier century.I can't stand the earlier centuries.

"Oh,"my mom interrupted my thoughts,"oh no.Dear,there's something you should know.I'm not your mother,and George isn't your father.We don't know anything about your parents.Oh my darling,your name is Evelyn and not Regina.We were going to tell you when you turned seventeen,but earlier...when the name slipped out...there was no other way to explain it.I-I'm so sorry!But please,please know that we still love you!We always have and always will!"She was sobbing now,taking my hands and holding them tight.She wouldn't look at me.

"I'm not your daughter?"I asked slowly.She shook her head no,and was no longer crying."I suppose that makes more sense.I look nothing like either you or George.In fact,I look nothing like anyone in our-er-your family.I'm not at all like Daron and Susan,"I said with my voice breaking at Daron and Susan.My supposed siblings.They were twins and six years older than I am.

"Do they know?That I'm not..."I asked softly.I looked at her.

She finally looked at me."Yes,they know.They knew all along.I'm sorry!So sorry!Will you ever forgive us?"she began sobbing again.

What was with this woman?Was she always this sensitive?I couldn't remember.All I could do for her sake is to nod weakly.Which helped nothing.She started sobbing even harder.My mind was racing,and I wanted to ask thousands of questions but held them back.I would get answers,just not now.I was exhausted.But,surprisingly,not sad.Maybe I no longer felt a connection with this family.I knew my real parents were out there somewhere.I could look for them!They could say they missed me and love me very much.It sounded absolutely perfect but was highly unlikely.Now back to the real world.

"What time is it any way?"I asked as there was a flash of light outside my window soon followed by a rumble of thunder.

Louise,my ex-mom,paused and glanced at my alarm clock."Quarter after four,love.I should let you get some sleep.I'm going to try myself,"she got off my bed and was headed for the door."Oh,Evelyn?"

"Yes?"I looked at her sad face and asked weakly.I wasn't sure how to react to my true and new-found name.

"Everything will be solved later this morning.Don't worry,"she assured me.Her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

The last thing I remember was Louise closing my door softly before I drifted back to sleep.

I didn't dream of anything.There was only darkness.Darkness that was eternally empty.It frightened me.

I woke to rough but gentle hands shaking my arm."Honey,it's time to get up.It's a new e on,sweetheart.We have answers for all your questions,"George,my ex-dad,said softly.

"All of my questions?"I asked him with my mouth dry.

His face turned into a grimace."We're going to try our best.Louise told me to tell you there's someone here to see you.She's talking to him now.You and I haven't met him before.Apparently,Louise has.Don't worry,"George reassured me.

I tried to smile at him."Okay,I'll try not to.Why does someone want to see me?"I asked after a long pause.

George sighed."Let's go downstairs into the dining room,and we can explain everything,"he answered.

I nodded."I'll meet you down there,"I told him.George left me in my room so I could change.

I was very anxious to find out what the stranger wanted from me.As I was at the top of the stairs,I heard a deep voice talking to Louise.

"We're finally ready to take her.She has a strong soul but is very stubborn,you say?"the voice asked.

I looked down at the bottom of the stairs and saw George waiting for me.He motioned with his hand for to come down.I scowled as I realized I had to meet Deep-Voiced-Wonder,who comes to take me away from all that I love and hold dear.

"What does he want with me?Surely not to sweep me off my feet!Or is that his purpose?Well,if it is,taking me away isn't the way to come and win my heart.Maybe, bringing me candy and flowers.Oh!And don't forget the forcing him to be my slave for all eternity part of winning my heart,"I stated with heavy sarcasm.

George glanced at me from the corner of his eye,shook his head and chuckled."I'm sure that's not what he's aiming for,Evie,"he turned serious,"so,if one needs your love,they have to be your slave for life?"

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.I also began to feel embarrassed with realising I had said that aloud."Oh,um...well,you see,"I stuttered then looked down at my feet.

George laughed again."Evie,you don't need to explain,"he pats my shoulder then continues,"you don't need to explain your psychotic need for slaves."

I gasped,"George!We both know I don't like the idea of slavery!"I glared at him.

"Okay,okay.Calm down,Evie.I know you don't liked to be teased repeatedly.But it's still fun to do to you anyway.Seriously,we better get to the dining room.You and I both know how Louise gets if she's left waiting too long,"he stated.

I nodded.She had a tendency to become angry and irrational if left waiting."Let's go and see why this stranger came to steal me from you and Louise,"I exaggerated.

George exhaled sharply,"Aw,Evie.He's not-we'll see you again-it's not like that.Not at all."

I felt the anger raging inside me."Then what is it then?!There's something you're not telling me!I deserve to know!"I yelled while refusing to look away from George.

He sighed,"Well,for starters,if you'd stop shouting at me we'll get to the dining room sooner.Secondly,I know just about as much as you do about this.Now let's get going."

"Fine,"I snapped.I had just noticed we had been standing at the bottom of the staircase this whole time.

George and I finally started walking toward where Deep-Voiced-Wonder was.He was most likely talking about me with Louise.I grimaced.I hope she's not telling him any embarrassing stories of mine.

"It'll be alright,Evie.You'll see,"George reassured me once again.

I opened my mouth to speak just as Louise came out of the dining room.Oh!Hurry up now!We don't have all day,"she scolded,"the sooner we get there,the better."

"Humph.Looks like someone is eager to have me leave,"I muttered to myself as Louise ushered George and me into the dining room.Where he was.