Prologue

Evi – 6 years old

"Oh my god!" I screamed. " Thank you so much, dad. I love it. This is really what I wanted for Christmas."

I then started to jump all over the place, so happy that I received my first Walkman. Music is my life, I'm telling you. It really is. And dad knows it. I have been begging for a Walkman since my friend Serena walked in the school with it.

"Anything for you, sweetheart." Said my dad. "You know I will do anything to make you the happiest little girl in the world, right?" He hugged me tight and it made me feel so loved and protected. I loved my daddy. "You are the most important person in the world to me. And there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, princess."

See, this is why I loved him. He was always so nice to me and always made me feel like I was his number one princess. Even thought, I know that he is not my reel daddy. A lot of people at school said that because I don't look like him one little bit.

When I got home that day, I was crying. Why were they saying all those horrible things to me? How could they say that my dad, wasn't really my dad? I didn't want to talk to daddy about it because I was scared that he would know and not want me anymore.

But he knew right away that something was wrong. My teacher, Ms. Elizabeth, called him and told him all about the other mean kids. So, he explained everything. He explained that my real dad and my real mom couldn't be with me right now. And that he was taking the place of my dad in the meantime, whatever that means.

He also said that I was the luckiest kid on earth. Because he had the choice to adopt any kid. And the one he chose was me. Because I was unique, special and he knew that I would be his one and only princess. His forever little princess.

Now I know that I am so lucky. Because my daddy picked me and he will keep me no matter what. That's what he pinky promised me. It's a deal that can never be undone, and we both know that.

"I got you something too." I said as I was headed for the stairs. It's so hard to hide things from daddy. He always finds everything that I try to hide. But this, I was able to keep it hidden.

I got it from under my bed, it was stuck between my mattress and the bed frame. Best hiding place ever! I just wanted him to open it, like right now. So, I dashed downstairs.

"Here! This is for you. I made it all myself." I said, so proud that I was able to give him something this Christmas. He always said that the best thing about Christmas was being able to give someone you love what they desire most.

He loves my drawings so much that I made one especially for him. On it were different pictures that I found of both of us, with hearts and I even draw us both princess hats.

"This is the best gift you could have given me princess." He said while still looking at it. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. I told you this was going to be the best holiday ever."

We then went on with our family tradition. For as long as I can remember, we sit in front of the fireplace and watch Christmas movies. It's so fun! There's popcorn, chocolate, soda and candies. All the things that a real princess would have.

During the movie, I must have fallen asleep because when I came to, I was being carried by daddy. Pretty soon, I figured that something was wrong. I heard screams and pleading. That were coming from daddy. But they were so far away. That's when I noticed that the person holding me was not daddy.

"Let go of me!" I screamed as I tried to wiggle out of his arms.

I kicked and scratched and bit. Nothing was happening, I couldn't get free of him and I was starting to get scared. This was not normal. Daddy never screamed. He was never angry.

That's when I started crying uncontrollably. I couldn't stop and it seemed to annoy the man holding me.

"Will you shut up, you stupid brat, or I will make you." He said, so angry. I couldn't stop crying but I wasn't make a sound. That seem to keep him calm. My daddy thought, that was something else. I have never heard him being so angry.

"You will let her go. If you don't I will make personally sure that the rest of your life will be a living hell. And believe me, you will pray for hell to claim you before I am done with you. No one touches her and lives. No. One."

I, for sure, wouldn't argue with dad when he is speaking like that. But this man seemed to think it was a good idea because he laughed in his face.

"There is nothing you can do, dear Mencheres, except everything we tell you to do. Otherwise, it's body parts that you will receive."

Just as he finished talking, I was dropping from his arms. I couldn't believe my luck, he let go of me! As I turned to see what he was going to do next, my daddy went over to me and hugged me against his chest. I was at the best place in the world. Being hugged by the person I loved most.

"It's okay", he kept repeating. "everything will be okay. You are safe now."

He also kept me from looking back at them. Saying that I didn't need to see that and it wasn't for someone my age. I did as he said because daddy always knows best.

I couldn't even understand what happened. But that night I had so many nightmares, dad had to stay me through the night. I kept dreaming about the bad men taking me away and keeping me from daddy forever. I dreamt of me missing my hands, all because of what they said. It was a horrible night.

The next day, everything went as usual. I went to school, played with my friends and got picked up by my dad.

When my dad went to pick me up, I noticed that Miss Elizabeth was talking to my dad and he was angry. When I got home, he told me that someone else tried to pick me up today at school and that we would have to move. That it was too dangerous here, now.

I was about to lose my friends and Miss Elizabeth. I didn't want to leave. But at the end, the choice was not mine and we moved. Far, far away. So far that I couldn't see my friends anymore. That night I heard him talk on the phone.

"We can't stay here. It's too dangerous. They found us and were threatening her. If my enemies figure out that she is my weakness it will get dangerous." There was some silence. He was probably listening to the other person on the phone.

"No, I can't leave her. It's not an option. I will try 1 million avenues before I leave her to the hands of someone else. There is no one that I trust with her. Be a leader for my line, I will be gone for at least a decade."

I also got a new name. I was Evelyn now. I hated it, I liked Evi way better. But daddy said it was necessary and after what I heard; I couldn't disappoint him. So, I pretended not to hate it as much. I also pretended to love it here and made new friends. After a while, it was home and I wished I wouldn't have to give it up in the future.