That morning, I wake to the chattering of young girls as they file into my home.

"Is it time all ready?" I yawn as I sit up in a daze.

"Yes dearie!" cheerfully calls Ms. Grasmere as she ushers the horde of young girls into the study room.

I yawn once more before kicking off the quilt, which my husband must have laid over me, and letting my feet touch the cool floor. The cool winter air wakes me as it nips at my skin and I quickly dash to my bedroom to change. I toss my gown to the floor and call for Ms. Grasmere to come and help with my corset.

She begins to lace my corset when she notices my quivering hands.

"Dearie? Are you all right? You seem a bit shaken." Ms. Grasmere asks in a concerned motherly tone.

"I'm fine... Do not fret... Just chilled..." I reply halfway lying.

Indeed I am chilled but that is not the true reason why my hands are quivering. Strangely, I do not know exactly why my hands were quivering and why I feel so nauseated. But, these matters did not stay lingering in my thoughts for long. Soon, I found myself opening the mysterious book and reading once more.

Sam 1848-1850

It has been around four years since I last saw Nicole... sighs I can not forget her though. I see her every night in my dreams and hear her angelic voice as she sings a soft sweet song... I can still envision her ruby red eyes, her long flowing hair like spider's silk glistening with dew, and her slow graceful movements.

One thing I remember the most about Nicole was her smile... Her wondrous smile, brimming with beauty and innocence yet tangled and stained with the pain of her past. Her smile can wash away every doubt and replace it with hope... Hope that there is some good in this life and yet... Her smile can tear you apart; fill you with agonizing despair and tormenting fear. It can chill your blood, stop you heart, and make the most horrifying creature bow in submission.

Just one smile, one flash of her red eyes, and you know exactly how she feels and what she means but does not say.

How I wish I could have stopped her from leaving me that night; I wish I could have stopped her and saved her from her fears, protect her from all that threatened her, and wash away her pain. Nicole may have gone but her memory is still quite alive... literally... She left me that night with a little piece of her... A small fragile fox named Yuna... I have taken great care of that fox and I always will till Nicole returns for her... When she returns to me...

The small creature has grown since that day, stretching her fragile legs and sunning by the window which has become her permanent spot. Every day she musters up enough strength to climb up on the window sill and wait her for her savior and friend to return and every night she climbs back down and lays in her bed, ears cocked, listening for the silent sound of her master's footsteps.

I really shouldn't say master... Nicole didn't think of herself as that... She was Yuna's friend... Her family... They lived together in respect of one another... Pulling courage from each other to live another day... God how Yuna misses her...

I can still hear Nicole's solemn song that she sang the night she departed from here...

"I'll never forget, the first day we met. Time did fly and now I do cry, as I say... Goodbye..."

Time has passed... A great deal of time... I am eighteen now and I intend to leave tonight to explore the world... As Nicole had dreamed one day she would... Who's to say I might run into her! What a miracle that would be.

"Come on Yuna!" I cooed grabbing my bag from my desk.

The small fox dashed towards me and accompanied me down the stairs into the kitchen and out the door. It was the dead of night in the late winter and the air was cool and fresh as it filled my lungs. I could see Yuna's breath as she jogged along beside me.

I had to leave a note on my bed for my mother so she would not worry. I could not bear to tell her goodbye for her solemn tears and smile would force me to stay.

I began my journey by heading through the woods. Passing the tree where I first encountered my beloved Nicole and even peering about, hoping to find her hiding. Though it was useless of me to do so... I knew deep down that she was continents away by now. Living a new life of sorts and discovering all matters of things...

If I wished to find her, I knew I would have to ask around and so I came across a ship, the Moon's Eye. I paid my fee and found myself sailing away to Italy. On the trip there, I heard a few of the sailors, whom were quite drunk, speak of their captain whom fought courageously and saved them from warriors. They spoke of their captain as fearless and quite beautiful.

"Who was this captain?" I inquired.

"Why she be Phantess." The sailor replied.

"Phantess?"

"Yes, the late captain whom found her gave her that suiting nickname." He continued.

"WHITE AS A GHOST WAS SHE." Another added.

"YES! And eyes of blood." The first sailor spoke.

They both held their glasses up in the air and the second sailor spoke,

"Long live her where ever she be."

"And may her sails be filled with the strongest of winds." The first sailor added before clanging their rum glasses together and gulping down the contents.

"Was this Phantess young?"

"Aye. She looked to be about twelve when she came aboard." The first sailor, whose name was Mr. Kristian, replied.

"When did she leave?" I inquired.

"Oh, about a year after we found. Close to a year." He replied.

"It has been awhile since I have spoken with her, God bless her." The second sailor spoke, "She left me in charge with this ship... I am James."

"Can you take me to where she last landed?" I inquired my heart racing.

"I... I... suppose so. Why lad?" he inquired.

As I was about to speak he said.

"You know her... Don't you laddie?"

"Yes."

He nodded his head and soon we were on a course straight for Africa.

God, let me find her... Let her be all right.