Chapter 3

I

The rest of the previous day had been rather uneventful after the explosion several streets away. When Alena watched the news later, there was still little to no information as to what had caused the explosion.

When Alena awoke this morning she was just as unrested as she had been the previous day. She did much the same thing as yesterday, she ate breakfast and began to read. She thought a little about the explosion and made a mental note to watch the news later.

Basically, she was totally unaware that her life was soon going to change forever.

II

Phara crossed the street and began going in the direction of the apartment building where Alena lived.

She knew with little doubt that Ghaleon was following her, but there wasn't really much she could do about it. She would deal with Ghaleon when it was necessary. At the moment, it was only important for her to get there before Ghaleon.

She went into the building, got into the elevator, pressed the button that would take her to the nineteenth floor.

III

Ghaleon watched as Phara entered the building where he presumed the girl lived.

He didn't really know what to do at this point. He had hoped to find the girl long before Phara did, but as that clearly hadn't happened he didn't have much of a plan.

He would wait here until the girl and Phara left the building and would then he would attempt to convince the girl that Phara was lying to her. He supposed it was better than nothing, though not much.

Sighing, Ghaleon stood next to the hotel doors and began to wait.

IV

Phara stood at Alena's apartment door for a few minutes before ringing the bell. She collected her thoughts and made her decision about what to tell her. When she finally had some idea about what she would do, she rung the doorbell.

V

Alena had been reading for about half an hour when the doorbell rang.

She hesitated a moment before getting up. All of her friends lived on the other side of town and she never really saw them during the summer. In fact, when she thought about it, the person at the door would undoubtedly be someone she didn't know.

Still, she went over and looked through the peephole. What she saw confirmed her suspicion. She definitely didn't know the woman on the other side of the door. After a moment's thought, she decided to just pretend she wasn't home.

She had sat back down on the sofa and was about to continue reading when the door suddenly unlocked itself and opened.

The woman she had seen through the peephole walked in and looked around for a moment before seeing Alena on the sofa.

Alena suddenly found herself angry. "Who are you?", she asked, "What are you doing in my apartment?"

The woman studied her for a moment and then said "My name is Phara. I believe I have been looking for you. You're Alena, right?"

"Why have you been looking for me?" Alena asked.

"I have something that I need to tell you.", Phara said, "Something it is vitally important for you to know. You aren't busy, are you? This may take awhile."

Alena thought for a moment, and decided to hear what the woman had to say. She hadn't tried to hurt her or steal anything yet, and it would be hours before her mother came home, and she didn't have anything else to do, so she didn't really have much to lose.

"It will be several hours before my mom comes home." Alena said. "Tell me what it is you have to say."

Phara paused a moment, then sat down and began the story of Alena's ancestors.