A/N Oh man. I'm sooooo sorry you guys! I can't believe it's been a month since my last update! I feel terrible leaving you guys hanging like that! So bad in fact, that I decided to give you guys another chapter. This one is really really short. But it is really informational. Kinda sorta. But yeah. Soooo sorry! Um... the next one may be out soon, or later. I don't know. I do have a free weekend coming up, finally. I swear... all my days have been so jam packed! I'm very ready for it to end. lol. So here you go! Lots of thanks to...

Mage Light: No need to apologize. It's quite alright. And I'm so glad you like.

FantasyLvr: Sooo sorry it took so long! But I'm so glad you like it.

demeanted-dreamer: thank you!

TPFreak: Well... on the plus side I'm really glad you like the story. But I'm so sorry it took so long.

Zerrion: Hope you enjoy even though it is short.

Chapter Twenty-One:

"As one has said before, appearances are often deceiving. I, Princess, am no older then the age of twenty four," he paused to allow for the gasps that escaped them all. He knew what they were thinking, for he had thought it himself, countless times in his so short life. How was it possible for a twenty four year old man to have the appearance of one that should be knocking on death's door? He could also see the deep sadness in Torianna's eyes. It was part of the reason she was so dear to him. Her complete and total empathy of others. "It is the prophecies that age me so, Princess. If not for them I would have the body of a normal man, the mind of one as well. But I would never give up what I have now for the same things as Prince Ciem, or Derek. Because I have something that none of them have, Princess. I have you.

"When I was seven, probably looking as if I was nearing sixteen or seventeen, I had a vision of you, my dear Princess. And you were the loveliest sight I had ever seen. You took my breath away, even though I barely caught a glimpse of you face. No… it wasn't the physical appearance that captured me, it was your heart, the one that you feel so clearly, and listen to so deeply, something that is so rare to find. You, Princess, have the biggest heart and purest soul that I had ever seen. And I loved you for it. In a world as dark and cruel as my own, I often sought out a gentle hand, feeling only those that were false and clinging to them. It was terrible thing that only made everything that much worse, but I never realized the hole I had dug myself into until I met you. Before, everyone had shoved me away, ignored me, even hated me. I was nothing to them and never would be anything. I was a slave, even less because I hadn't given myself willingly. But you… you who I had never been in the presence of, you were what I needed. And you gave yourself to me in visions.

"I loved you, from that first vision, like a mother, like a sister, like a friend. I loved you in every way possible. So… it's understandable that when I saw a shocking prophecy of your death to come when you were a mere eight, I naturally interfered. I had seen the consequences for both taking action, and allowing myself to sit back and watch. And I see that what I did was right. If I had allowed your destiny to continue without interfering, you, my dear Princess, would be dead. And the world as we know it would be much changed.

"When you were born, a great surge of power shivered across those that followed the Witch. And a great shiver of foreboding washed over those who Bow to the Master. They knew, instinctively from that one wave, that you were different. For thousands of years, sons and daughters born into the royal family had never had power like you. Even in your smallest finger do you carry more power then all of those before you combined. And those who Bow realized it. And they feared. The Master feared. Such a foreign thing to him, but he knows it for what it is. And he took action against it.

"Even as they commissioned an assassin to kill you, I planned. Nathan worked his wiles on a maid and while you were being put to rest on your first night, she took you away, into the city and gave you to Nathan. The ring that was given to you that night was a concealment ring made and used by none other then the Witch herself. It kept you hidden from those who Bow as you grew and learned, and it kept your powers dormant within your body. And when the time was right, and the things that belong to the Witch began to find their way to you, the spell faded. And you grew into what you had inherited from the Witch."

"But why me?" Tori broke in as the Prophet stopped for breath. "Why did I inherit all this power?"

"Because, Princess, you are the one thousandth girl born into the royal family. The one thousandth decedent of the Witch herself. And because of this, you were given her power, and a part of her as well. When the concealment spell faded, the Witch found her way into you and slowly worked her magic until she became a part of you, and was able to share her experiences with you. To prepare you."

"Prepare me for what?" Tori demanded in a loud voice, wishing that she understood. This seemed outrageous, preposterous! How could any of this be true?

"To finish what the Witch started thousands of years ago," the Prophet whispered, but Tori heard.It was more then just words. It was a Prophecy, spoken by a Prophet. And as the prophecey echoed across her skin, shefelt the shiver that started at her feet and worked slowly through her body until it resonated down her hand and caused her fingers to spasm. Her hand jerked loose from Derek's grip. Even as she heard him shout, she felt herself being sucked from her body.

But it wasn't like before, wasn't frightening. She didn't feel what she had felt before. Instead of feeling herself being forced from her body and out into the cold void of non-existence, she felt her body relaxing into a warmth that surrounded her. She felt her body whirling. But instead of fighting against it, she allowed the current causing her to spin to take her away, allowed everything to drain away from her until she was simply Tori, not a care in the world, utterly and completely relaxed.

She sighed and felt as if she had finally come home, it had been so long, so long since she felt this. Even before, when Robert had been alive, she had never felt quite like this. The closest she had ever gotten, was with... Derek.

When her body finally stopped moving, came to a gentle rest in a place where light was there and yet not, she didn't bother to open her eyes. She didn't need to. Here, she had everything in the world.

A sound broke her from her spell of serenity.

"Tori," a teasing laugh whispered along her skin, causing her to frown. She had heard that voice before. Who did it belong to? "Tori," this one came louder, clearer, closer. The knowledge was so close, so close to the surface. Who was speaking? "Tori!"

With a gasp, Tori opened her eyes and stared into entrancing green that mirrored her own. She looked at the face that belonged to the eyes, at the body. She was staring at herself. Only… different.

"Lee…"

A/N Man... you guys must hate me. So many cliffies. And such long pauses inbetween. I'm truly truly sorry! But I'll keep working! I swear! And it's almost finished, this story. Three maybe four chapters left is all! So yeah... review me please!

Nubia