Chapter 9: "Pillow Feathers and Voices"

A soft, cool wind blew through Lane's open balcony door, and across her sleeping body. Another, stronger breeze followed it, waking the sheet-covered girl from dreamland.

Lane blinked and yawned. Glancing at her clock, she learned that it was nearly 2:30 in the morning. The breeze blew again, and something caught her eye. The wind had picked up several feathers and they floated down to the floor, only to drift further across the carpet.

Sighing, Lane got out of bed, wrapped a blanket around her bare shoulders and turned the lights on. Blinking away the sleep in her eyes, she saw that on her floor scattered about were soft, white feathers. Wondering which pillow she had ripped in her sleep this time, Lane picked up the feathers and threw them in the trash. She hoped it had been one of her small spares again. Lane owned quite possibly a gazillion of them, and as very few held any sentimental value, she didn't mind when she woke up and one had been ripped in her sleep. Though it was a very odd habit she had developed…

Turning the lights back off, Lane walked to the doors of her balcony. While she closed one door, the moon caught her eye. She always loved the way the moon shone brightly at night, it was so beautiful. Leaning on the closed door, wind blowing through her hair, Lane gazed at the moon.

"Is she the One?"

"We cannot be sure. Not until we have better observations of her."

"It is her. There is only one known other who holds a Stone, and he is unattainable. Endure the wait. "

"The others do not wish to wait any longer. They want the Stone of Power now. I want the Stone of Power now."

"Patience, patience reckless one. We all want the Stone. The time will come. The time will come."

"The others are restless. I am restless."

"We must wait until the time is right, for it will come to us."

"Come to us? Is that not impossible? We and the Girl Who Holds the Stone are planets apart. How will she bring it to us? She would not do that willingly."

"It is not impossible. The Fate Machine has great powers yet. She will not know what is happening. She does not know what great treasure she bears."


"What he states is correct."

"We shall see, old ones. We shall see who controls destiny and fate. We shall see who steals the Stone of Power and rule all of Gaea!!!"

With the second man's outburst, Lane jerked awake. Still leaning against her balcony door and gazing at the moon, she had somehow fallen back to sleep. And what a strange dream too! Lane wondered where her mind had conjured that from.

She also wondered about the girl that the speakers wanted, and about the Stone of Power. And what on earth was Gaea?

Lane shook her head and let it go. She knew she had quite the over-active imagination, and it had probably just run off with her again. Turning from the shining moon, she went back to bed and slept peacefully for the rest of the night.

Little did she know she was being watched.