Chapter One: The Annoying Rescuer
(edited version)

Tall trees with the widest and greenest leaves enveloped Lake Narlow, which provided a sense of security. The lake itself was a remarkable beauty, with its crystal-blue waters and peaceful waves.

At the very edge of the lake was a dark grey boulder, and there perched two young girls, sitting lazily. One was Tania, soon to be sixteen, while the other was Kylee, her best friend of five years.

"I don't understand how Robert got the idea that I'm interested in him," Kylee groaned as she buried her face in her knees.

"Well, he's delusional. Not to mention obsessed. Being beautiful must be curse," Tania joked.

Kylee scowled. "That is not funny."

Her best friend laughed in reply. "Oh, lighten up. Forget about him. He can't help being so obsessive. I mean, all you did was smile politely at him…what is it about your smile that makes them go wild anyway?"

"They don't go wild!" Kylee retorted.

Tania patted her friend's head in mock sympathy. "So naïve…"

Kylee was truly beautiful. Most girls envied every feature she had. She was the type of girl you would love to hate, but couldn't, because she was so damn nice.

"Why is it so hot?" the girl complained as she tied her jet-black hair into a messy ponytail.

Tania shrugged. "It's summer, what can you expect?" She grinned suddenly. "Let's go for a swim!"

Kylee snorted and rolled her eyes. "I don't want to get soaking wet, thank you."

"We can change when we get back to the manor," Tania protested. She tugged the sleeve of her friend's dress, but to no avail. "Come on," she whined like a two-year-old, "where's your sense of fun?"

"With my common sense," Kylee replied firmly, crossing her (according to the boys) beautifully tanned arms.

"All you have to do is jump off this rock! Just one jump and you'll feel refreshed by the cool water…"

"No."

Tania shrugged. "You're loss," she said with a singsong voice. She rose, and before her Kylee could say her witty comeback (for sure she had one), jumped off the high boulder.

There was a big splash as the refreshing coolness of the lake water welcomed her. She swam up, and when her head was bobbing above the surface, trod water, for it was already deep.

"The water is soooo nice!" she yelled, grinning wolfishly. "Jump in!"

Kylee remained silent. Then, very slowly, her lips curved into a devious grin. "Fine," she said slyly, "I will jump in."

Tania shot her a wry look. "I know that voice," she said dryly. "It's the I'll-do-what-you-want-me-to-do-on-one-condition voice."

Kylee burst out laughing. "You know me too well," she said, shaking her head.

"Well? What's your stupid condition?"

Kylee grinned. "I will only jump in if you swim to the middle and back," she said, then crossed her arms in a triumphant way.

Tania pouted. She would never do that, which Kylee knew. Rumour had it that the very middle of Lake Narlow was bottomless, and there dwelled a large water creature. Thus, children were afraid to venture more than twenty feet away from land. Tania was no longer a child (fifteen-year-old females were always considered "ladies"), but the rumour still frightened her.

"You know that I would never do that," she said accusingly.

Kylee shook her head. "That is just a rumour, Tania," she said. "It isn't true."

"Are you sure about that?" Tania countered.

"W-well…no," Kylee said awkwardly, "but you have to face your fea—"

"Then forget it," Tania said firmly. "I am not going to take any chances."

Kylee sighed. "I…" Suddenly, she trailed off, and for a moment there, colour left her face. Then she smacked her forehead and groaned.

Tania frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Oh…Georgia is going to kill me!" her friend cried. Kylee rose quickly and began to climb down. When her feet touched the grass, she prepared to run off.

But Tania stopped her. "Wait! Why are you leaving so soon?"

Kylee turned. "I'm sorry, Tania, but I have to go," she said hastily. "Georgia, who you know is going to bake a cake for your birthday, told me to buy flour and sugar this morning. She told me to have it by noon…and it's already one o' clock! You know how angry Georgia can get, don't you? Well, bye!" She waved and ran off, not giving Tania a chance to say anything.

"Wait!" Tania shouted. "I'll help you!"

Kylee didn't hear the shout. She was too far off.

Tania gave up, sighed, and began to swim towards the land.

All of a sudden, an icy gust of wind blew, and a strange chill swept through her entire body, making her blood run cold.

Something was not right...

Her surroundings were changing all too quickly. Thick grey clouds were beginning to loom up above, covering the sun entirely. It grew dark and cold, and a fierce bitter wind began to howl loudly and angrily.

Something was definitely not right.

The lake water was getting colder now. Tania shivered as goose bumps crawled all over her.

Big waves began to form, violent and lashing. It was like a horrible storm, a phenomenon intent on destroying anything in its way.

The waves were becoming larger and stronger by the second. Tania gasped and held her breath as a wave eight feet high hit her in the face. She felt as if she had been slapped hard, and the after effect was a thousand icy needles prickling her skin.

She began to swim towards land. Swim swim swim swim swim swim swim swim…

It was all she could do. Swim swim swim swim swim swim swim swim…

Her arms and legs began to throb. Her heart was pounding roughly and painfully, and there was a loud roaring in her ears.

I should rest a bit…

No! Don't give up!

But…I'm…tired…

No!

I'll just stop for two seconds…

You'll die! Stop it! Just keep swimming!

But…so tired…I…can't…

Yes, you can! Swim! Swim or drown!

She swam. She kicked and paddled with her aching arms.

But the waves were mocking. They crashed violently against her, pushing her away from land.

Then Tania began to panic when she realized something. She was being led to the middle. The bottomless middle, where the lake monster dwelled…

Are you the one who is doing all this?

Tania's eyes widened. WHAT?! I am not a witch! I am not a witch! I am not a witch! I am not a witch!

The angry waves thrashed again and again. The land seemed farther away than before.

Tania closed her eyes. I can't do this…I'm so tired…

She had come to her last resort. She took a deep breath and screamed: "HELP!!!" And when she did, numbing lake water entered through her nose and mouth…

…and she remembered no more.

Air suddenly flowed in her and she began to cough violently. Her windpipe felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and the throbbing pain in her nose surged all the way up to her brain.

Finally, she eased down after a long series of coughing fits. She sat up slowly and rubbed her temple.

"Are you all right, my lady?"

She turned abruptly. She had sense enough not to gape, for she found herself looking at a very handsome man with ocean-blue eyes and blond hair. He was soaking wet, and there was no doubt that he was her rescuer. He was still young: he looked to be about two or three years older. His garb was simple, consisting of a loose white shirt, with buttons at the front, and brown pants. Beside him rested his black knee-high boots.

He was the one who broke the silence. "Are you all right?" he asked again.

Tania gave a small nod. "I…think so," she said weakly. She made a motion to stand up, but he stopped her from doing so by putting a hand on her arm.

"Maybe you shouldn't move," he said, concern etched in his face. "You are still weak."

Tania shook her head stubbornly and pulled herself away from him. "I'm fine," she said firmly.

She was a little liar. One side of her head was throbbing painfully, as if someone just punched her with all the strength they could muster. Her windpipe still felt clogged, and her leg and arm muscles were aching terribly.

"I'm fine," she repeated again, more firmly this time.

He stared curiously at her, then slumped and sighed in defeat. "Fine."

She nodded and began to stand up. Her knees were shaking, almost knocking, actually, but she ignored it. Which was really idiotic, for the moment she tried to straighten them, they gave in.

She collapsed to the ground.

"I told you," he said with a shrug.

Tania glared at him. "Rub it in, why don't you?"

You would think by now that she had learned her lesson, but no…she went for another attempt. As she tried to stand up, he just watched her amusedly.

She would have collapsed again, but he jumped forward and caught her in time. He set her down on the ground gently and sat beside her.

"Stupid pounding headache," Tania mumbled to herself as she rubbed her temples.

"Don't move," he said sternly. "Would it really kill you if you sit still for a couple of minutes? I'm not that bad of a company…I hope."

Finally, Tania showed some civility. She laughed.

He grinned, pleased with her reaction. "My name is Darrin."

"Tania…and…uh…thank you for saving me."

"You're most welcome, my lady," he replied gallantly.

"It's Tania," she corrected (a bit irritably, though she didn't mean it), "not 'my lady'."

He nodded. "I'll try to remember that."

Tania nodded and looked at the lake. It didn't surprise her that everything was back to normal.

"It's strange," he said, gazing pensively at Lake Narlow. "I've never seen something like that before. The change happened too quickly. It wasn't natural."

She looked at him curiously. "How were you able to save me?"

He shrugged. "I'm an excellent swimmer," he said simply. "And it was fortunate that I happened to pass by when you screamed for help. If I hadn't come, you could have…uh…n-never mind."

"I am well-aware of the fact that I could have died," she said, struggling not to roll her eyes.

"Well," he said with an apologetic grin, "I did not think it was proper for me to say such things to a noble girl."

"Because I have delicate ears and a weak heart?" she said dryly.

He shook his head. "Forgive me, I did not mean to offend you," he said, "but you have to admit that you noble girls are all the same."

"Excuse me?" Tania said incredulously, hardly believing her ears. "How, may I ask, are we the same?"

"Well," he said with an offhand tone in his voice, "you all spend your days not doing any work, you can sleep as long as you want, you have more than two dozen elegant dresses, you have servants, you go to parties and enjoy balls, you brag about how many suitors you have…I can go on, my lady. If you ask me, noble girls are lazy and spoiled. They will never survive in the real world. Tell me, have you ever lifted a finger before to do a simple, servant's task? I seriously doubt it."

Tania stood up angrily. "You narrow-minded…IDIOT!" she shouted, ignoring the amusement in his face, "I've never met a more prejudiced man!" She picked up her drenched skirts and began to stomp away.

"Forgive me," he said lazily, making her stop dead in her tracks, "but I've met many noble girls in my life, and they were all the same. Don't tell me that you don't have a lot of dresses and that you don't think about how many suitors you have."

She turned abruptly and glared at him. "Not that it's any of your business," she said frostily, "but no, I do not have a lot of dresses, and no, I do not have any suitors because people think I am strange…including lowly idiotic men like you."

Unbeknownst to her, her eyes were blazing furiously at him. He started and gazed numbly at them.

"Your eyes...they're…purplish," he stated quietly.

She gasped. "Are they really?" she said with an overly surprised (and sarcastic) voice. "Because nobody has ever said that before, nor have I ever looked at my reflection."

He shifted awkwardly. "I'm sorry." He paused, then looked at her inquisitively. "Did you say that people think you're strange?"

She stiffen, then glared. "Not as much as I think you're annoying, I hope."

"Now, is that the way to show gratitude? Come on, I even had to do mouth to mouth on you."

She stiffened once more, and an untimely redness crept up her cheeks, for that gave him more to grin about.

"Good day," she said coolly, and began to walk away.

"Good day," he said pleasantly. "Until our next meeting."

She blanched at that.

Tania reached her manor in time to see Kylee running towards the back entrance with a bundle in her hand.

"Kylee!" she called.

Kylee turned around, and when she caught sight of her friend, waved. She slowed her pace, while Tania quickened hers.

Tania caught up a few seconds after. "Hi."

Kylee smiled. "Did you have a good swim?"

"I…" Tania paused. She frowned, debating whether to tell her friend about what happened or not. In the end, she decided against it. She knew that Kylee would worry too much. "Yes. The water was great."

The two entered through the back door that led to the enormous kitchen immediately. Golden sunlight poured through the glass windows, and inside, they saw a tall and wiry woman with grey hair fixed into a tight bun. She was wearing a white apron underneath her dark brown dress.

When Georgia spotted Kylee, she frowned. "Little missy, I told you to get the ingredients by noon," she scolded. "Lady Tania's birthday is tomorrow."

"I'm sorry," Kylee apologized. "I—"

"It's my fault," Tania cut in hastily. "I asked her to stay with me at Lake Narlow. Anyway, can I help make the cake, Georgia?"

Georgia shook her head instantly. "Like I said before, Lady, you must not be involved in a servant's task."

Tania sighed wearily. "But I wantto help," she protested. "Besides, there's nothing else to do."

The cook pursed her thin lips together as she observed Tania's defiant stare. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Change out of your dress first—I'm not even going to ask why you're all wet—then get six eggs from the henhouse," she said. "After that, you will measure the ingredients. Personally, Lady, I do not understand why you want to help. Most noble girls are afraid to enter the kitchen in fear of getting soot on their dress."

Tania shrugged. "I am not like them," she replied.

I'm not like anybody, she addedsilently.

With a basket of eggs in her hand, Tania left the henhouse and headed back to the manor. She walked slowly and carefully, as to not to break the eggs (or Georgia would have her head).

Suddenly, she felt a presence. She wheeled around, and when she found herself face to face with someone with stormy blue eyes and an amused grin, she started.

Darrin.

"Well, well," he said with a cheeky grin, "I see that Lady Tania is doing a servant's job."

Tania shot him her most vicious glare. "Go away," she said coldly. "You are trespassing. This is private property, in case you haven't noticed."

He laughed, which made her loathe him even more. He didn't make the slightest motion to leave. Instead, he walked alongside her, matching her quick and angry steps with long, easy strides. Tania made an annoyed noise and sped up, which did not help. He followed along with no trouble at all,causing her to make an angry noise and settle with just ignoring him.

Before he started to whistle. After that, she just lost all composure.

"What do you want?" she demanded angrily, stopping to glare at him. "You better leave this property…or I'll tell my father!"

"Of course it always ends up with you running to your dear father," he said as he rolled his eyes and placed his hands in his pockets. "Can't you solve your own problems for once?"

Tania tightened her grip on the basket. She took a step forward and peered at him with narrowed eyes. "You are such a…"

She paused, then took a very deep breath. Control yourself. Control yourself. Control yourself.

He grinned, very amused. "Go on…"

She released her breath, then shot him an icy stare. "No," she said stonily, "you are not worth getting mad at."

It was suppertime. Tania and her parents were sitting at the everyday table, eating quietly. For some strange reason, there was a heavy uneasiness in the air. Lady Evelyn was playing nervously with her napkin, while Sir James was focusing too much on his food.

Tania cleared her throat loudly, and they both jumped at the same time. She frowned and shot them an enquiring look. Both responded with a forceful and awkward smile

"Am I…uh…missing something here?" Tania asked quietly. "What's wrong?"

She saw them exchange glances, which irritated her. What were they hiding?

Lady Evelyn shifted in her seat, then cleared her throat. "It's…uh…your birthday tomorrow," she commented.

Tania looked strangely at her. "Yes…" she said slowly. "I know."

"You're turning sixteen," her father spoke up gravely.

Tania wondered why he said it as if he was dreading it. "And that's bad because…?"

"No!" Lady Evelyn cut in hastily. "That's not bad at all! That's wonderful! Really!"

She was a horrible actress. Tania shot her mother a look. Why are they behaving like this? What's bothering them? Even Father, who is usually so calm and collected, is so...edgy.

Suddenly, an idea dawned on her. She cleared her throat nervously. "Mother, Father, does this have something to do with…marriage?"

"No!" her mother said immediately. This time, her voice sounded sincere. "Not at all, Tania."

Tania literally breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm not ready for that.

Her father cleared his throat. "Tania," he began uneasily, "your mother and I think that the moment you turn sixteen, your life will be…uh…different. Stranger things will be happening."

Tania stiffened, hurt at this remark. Her father never talked about her peculiarity. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice void of emotion.

The mistress of the manor shook her head. "We cannot tell you right now, but we think that you should have someone to protect you."

Tania released a snort. She received a disapproving look from her mother because of that, but ignored it. "Protect me?" she echoed amusedly. "What for?" Then a sudden thought came to her. She eyed both of her parents warily. "Does this have anything to do with what happened at the lake?"

Her mother jumped. "Why?" she almost screeched. "What happened at the lake? Tell me!"

Tania gulped. "Uh…n-nothing!" she replied shakily.

Her parents exchanged glances again.

"Tania," Sir James said, "we…uh…hired someone to be your bodyguard."

An amused look appeared on Tania's face. "Why? Does someone want to kill me the moment I turn sixteen?" she joked. She broke into laughter, but it died down immediately when she saw her parents' faces darken.

"Uh…yes," Lady Evelyn said quietly, looking down on her plate.

There was a ringing silence. Tania gaped at her mother, unable to speak.

"I'll bring out the lad," her father spoke up quietly. He wiped his mouth with his napkin, then said, "He is skilled at combat. He will be able to protect you, Tania. I will be back shortly." He stood and walked out of the dining room.

Tania remained silent. Lad? Skilled at combat? Able to protect me? Suddenly, she groaned and banged her head on the table. Somehow she already knew who that particular lad was.

She heard her father's voice a moment later. "Tania…"

She looked up and saw an oh-so-familiar face.

"…meet Darrin."

Tania's mind was unable to function at that moment. Either it was because she banged her head earlier…or because of Darrin's stupid (yet annoyingly handsome) grin.

This should be very interesting.