Chapter 2

The first thing I notice is my clammy skin pressed against porcelain, my stomach felt like it was filled with liquid and my head was spinning so much I had to lie still for a few minutes longer, just breathing heavily. I couldn't open my eyes at all, the brightness hurt. I could vaguely make out that my current location was that of a bathroom floor, which wasn't mine. First of all, my bathroom was dark and had a distinct smell of chemicals and mahogany. This place smelled like smoke and blood.

There's a distant sound of a door slamming open and horrified gasps followed by hushed whispers. I feel my body being lifted off the floor.

"I'm so sorry." I hear a voice whisper before letting myself succumb to the darkness once more.

"Marriage?" I repeat.

The maid, Maria nods soberly. "My Lady, I'm pretty sure you lost your memory in the bathroom! You have to be careful so nobody takes notice of this —this — TRAVESTY!"

Her annoyingly high pitched voice just echoed in my head.

"Me, your honoured companion and long term bestie —I told everyone that you just fainted because of your new diet so you'd fit in your wedding dress. Actually, you know what, that's so rude of me— of course My Lady would look great in anything!"

"Marriage?" I repeat, like a broken record because this girl doesn't seem to answer my question. She sat on a chair next to the huge bed I was sitting in, staring at the wall unmoving, unblinking.

"I take it upon myself to tutor you My Lady. Maria Dulce de Leche is here for you!"

Maria is a tall, lanky young woman similar in age to me. She has white hair, white skin, white eyelashes and blue eyes. Her face was slim with high cheekbones and small but shapely lips.

"Maria." I call on her calmly. She shuts up and stares at me.

"Yes, My Lady?" She asks uncertainly. She looks at me, as if waiting for something to happen

"Just be quiet for a minute." I have read books where two people switch souls. However, as I move to get off the bed and my feet touch the wooden floors. It feels to familiar to not be my own body. I take nine steps towards the fullbody mirror in the corner, it feels like time stops.

I brace myself for the shock and it takes my brain a second to recognise; green eyes, pale skin, dark long hair. It's me. I touch my face in relief and waddle back to the bed. There, Maria is waiting patiently watching me like a hawk. Suddenly, I don't see her as a ditsy person anymore.

The only reliable thing I have had my whole life is my sixth sense. I can sense good people and something is telling me this woman is not genuine.

"Okay." I take a deep breath. "Tell me everything I need to know."

At least I can make the best out of a bad situation. There's no use crying over spilt milk. Maria takes a deep breath and doesn't stop talking for two hours straights.

I dismiss her and go out to the balcony connected to my room. On my way out I notice a framed picture sitting on a mahogany commode. It's a picture of me smiling brightly, standing next to a square faced old man, holding a cigar in one hand and the other placed on my shoulder. The man had salt and pepper hair and matching beard, with striking blue eyes. Next to his stony expression I wondered how my face could shine so brightly. She's not me, she is Daphne.

Daphne Anker is the girl I switched with. I guess that in some way she is me, and I am her, but in different worlds. Something happened and we ended up either swapping places or worst case scenario, Daphne is dead.

I rub my chin carefully whilst staring out at the city below me. Sitting and crying won't get me home so I'll save that for later.

This world is divided up in two societies, the normal citizens who have everyday jobs just like in my world and something called the shinobi. A people with a special power called chakra, they live in modern houses just like this side but are for the most bart separated societies. According to Maria, this is because the shinobi used to cause so much trouble and destruction with their abundant powers that a pact was made to keep them apart. She also said that there are a few chakra users on this side that use their powers to assist the Police and the hospitals, but they are rarely seen.

My biggest problem right now however; Uchiha Madara.

Daphne was supposed to get married to him in four days, but apparently she wasn't a very responsible person. Now, it seems like I have to get married to him instead.

Uchiha Madara, in the shinobi world you address people with their surnames, is the head of the second biggest clan. They are dangerous, described by Maria as monstrous, inhumane and scary. The worst of them all was Madara.

Maria said he once killed a man for serving him the wrong soup.

Tomorrow I'll be sent off to the Uchihas, since it's a two day boat ride and once I arrive I'll have a day to prepare. This leaves me with no time for myself to devise a plan or even put one in action.

There has to be some way to get out of this marriage.

The Anker family is filthy rich and one of the oldest clans in the land, also the most respected. Daphne was raised by her uncle, living under strict conditions, being prepared for marriage her whole life. So the Uchihas need money, presumably to wage war against their enemy clan, the Senjus.

"Fuck." I hiss to myself. The sun was beginning to set.

The only thing I could make out of this whole mess was that Uchiha Madara values money and soup. This information is of absolutely no help.

So I spent the entire night looking for clues in Daphne's room.

She had a huge walk in closet double the size of my entire apartment. My mouth dropped open at all the dresses and hand bags.

At the crack of dawn I found a book, hidden in a makeup bag. I had thought it was an eyeshadow palette at first but turns out my intuition was right.

A knock on the door sounds, breaking the silence. I shove the leather bound book in a white bag and exit the closet just as a maid walks into the bedroom. She looks at me in surprise.

"My Lady, you awoke all by your lonesome?"

I give her a soft smile. "Yes, I couldn't sleep."

I notice she's holding a tray with small plates of breakfast. Right on cue my stomach rumbles.

"I see." She sets the tray down on the table next to my bed and I eye the name tag on her chest. "My Lady must be excited."

"Not really." I answer honestly. This is the worst day of my life, I'm one hug away from a mental breakdown.

She giggles and gives me a cheeky smile. "If you need anything, My Lady, just call for me. Maria is packing her belongings, she has asked me to tend to My Lady's needs until your departure time."

"Thank you, Leila."