Island, 1133

The sky was beginning to grow pinker on the horizon. The sea was calm and there was no one in that corner of the beach. Serena walked to the end of the strip of sand and let the water get to her feet. She could already feel Damien's presence from afar. He was one of the few men who learned the arts of the Island. Many years ago, Raoul had forbidden masters to accept male apprentices. Only two have been accepted in the past 20 years. One of them was Damien.

- You woke up early.

Damien sat beside her on the sand. He wore only the pants that were a part of the Island's uniform. His fair skin drew attention at that time when it was still quite dark. His straight white hair shone. Serena knew that he ran on the beach every day before dawn. He slept no more than four hours a night. All his people were like that.

- Don't be silly, I was hoping to find you.

- I don't like goodbyes.

- It's only for six months - she took his hand. - I don't want anything to change.

- Less than six months, nothing more. I'll be able to visit, did you know?

What she knew was that it was not true. The Island's resources were limited. With them four in Shailaja, Damien would have a lot of work ahead of him. Raoul would not take a minute off. Not even now, they had no time. She was due to leave soon.

- Don't worry about me, Serena. I am well.

- Be honest with me.

- I can't believe we're going to talk about it again ...

- Did he try to talk to you? Did Luc look for you?

- No, Serena. He remains out on the mission to which he was sent. Shall we stop this distrust?

It was not mistrust. She believed in Damien, was sure of his loyalty, he would never betray the Island or Raoul. However, Luc was infinitely more powerful. They had lived the last few years almost as brothers, he was the only one who knew what Damien was going through, the only man.

- Fine, I'm sorry. I'll send you news when we arrive.

- Do you already know how you will communicate?

- We'll see the means when we're there. We'll find a way, of course.

- I'm going to miss you - Damien said, running his fingers through her blond hair. - Watch out for this Ceremony ...

- Are you jealous?

- Of course, I am - he said seriously. She touched his hand.

It would be the first time Serena left the Island for so long since it had become her home. She was only ten years old when she was taken to the Island. Her mother had woken her up in the middle of the night. The suitcase was ready. She brought her herself. At the time, she was told only that she was going to a fortress, that it was normal for ranis to grow up in a court, that she had to be heavily gifted. But her mother never came back to pick her up. For many years, the masters gave her hope that she would return home. They said that everything went well. She had no way of knowing. Many island residents didn't even know their own family, they were there since they were little.

When she turned 15, Serena was sure they would come back for her. She knew that this was the year she had to go to Shailaja with the other young women of the nobility. It was the most expected day of these girls' short lives. But no one came. She was still hopeful until she read the note about her sister in the Weekly. Along with other nobles, Sybilla's name was on Shailaja's freshman list. Why wasn't she there too?

At this time, Serena already knew that she was different from the others. She also knew that the Island was a place for people like her, people capable of doing things that no one else could do. What she did not know was that her powers were considered an abomination among many clans. Her family, her people, her mother... For them, Serena was an aberration, a witch, a force of the occult. She shouldn't exist. Her mother could have killed her and she wouldn't even be condemned! But she didn't do that. Instead, she abandoned her on the Island. Since that day, nine years ago, she had not seen her mother. Her parents cut off all contact with Sybilla. Throughout the first year on the Island, she wrote letters. They were never answered.

The masters thought that she was a girl yet, that she wouldn't understand it, and they didn't want her to feel like an aberration. Their greatest fear was that their prodigies would close in on themselves, abandon their art, as they called it. The day she found out that Sybilla was in Shailaja, she had cried herself to sleep. The next day, she entered Gaetana's room screaming. She said that she was leaving at that moment, that she required a boat, that her sister was in Shailaja, that she too was going, that they had kidnapped her. Gaetana said nothing. Exhausted from screaming, Serena returned to her room and locked herself in there.

It was Damien who opened her eyes. Since infancy they were very close, best friends. Serena had already been in the room for almost a week, practically without eating. All lessons had been missed. Damien asked Gaetana to intervene, but she only said that this discovery was part of Serena's maturation, that she should take her own conclusions and rise up.

On the seventh day, Damien went to Serena's quarters. She said she wouldn't open the door even for him, but he sat on the floor in front of it and waited. In the middle of the night, she finally relented. Damien shouldn't go into her room. She was an apprentice, and he was five years older, already teaching his own classes. But Serena was his childhood friend and didn't care. They sat on the balcony and she said just one sentence: "Tell me everything". And he did. He explained that they lived in hiding. The clans did not know what was taught on the Island, much less where it was. There were rumors, but even these were little known. He talked about the fear of the occult, about the intervention in Destiny. With delicacy, he made Serena realize that, yes, she had been abandoned there. Her parents didn't want to see her anymore, they weren't going to come back for her. However, they preferred to bring her over to kill her. She would no longer see Sybilla.

- What are you thinking? - Damien asked. Serena was silent, watching the sea, but her gaze was lost.

- She'll be there.

- It is true...

- Sybilla must not know ... I mean, she knows I exist. What did they say to her?

- You know what they think.

- I'm not going undercover, I'll be myself. Will she get closer?

- I believe so.

When she turned 17, Raoul called Serena for a private chat. This was not common. Gaetana was the master responsible for Serena and she was the one who took care of her studies, her training, her achievements. Talking to Raoul alone was unprecedented for Serena. Raoul asked about her training, said he was very happy with what he heard about her. After a brief chat, he looked at her seriously and revealed the reason for the conversation. He had been with her parents. He had waited until that moment so that they could explain everything to her themselves. But she came of age and nothing happened. For the past seven years, Gaetana had been her tutor. Her parents said in Hyanchinthe that they sent her to the Island because she suffered from mental disorders, aggression attacks.

- They think I'm mad. - Whenever she remembered her family, she felt a great hurt, a pain that started at the top of her stomach. She was going to see her sister for the first time in nine years. She had never said goodbye.

- Serena, don't forget that your family is here. They are not your family anymore. We are - Damien wrapped a lock of her hair around his fingers.

Shortly after Serena reached adulthood, Damien had taken her for a walk on one of the beaches. At the time, he had already finished his training and was teaching the younger classes. Until that day they were just friends. As one of the few men apprentice on the Island, he was admired, but his preference for Serena's company was evident. It was a hot day, so they went for a swim by the sea. Lying in the sand, they talked about the usual: the Island, the masters, Raoul, Luc's oddities, the war to come, but that still seemed so far away. It had been a happy, light and ordinary afternoon, but when they reached the hall that gave access to Serena's room, Damien touched her.

She had been waiting for that moment for a long time, but it was not fast. Firmly, Damien grabbed her left wrist. With his other hand, he pressed the top of her belly and pushed, slowly, until she touched the wall. Her clothes were wet from the sea bath and Serena shivered. Slowly, he moved his fingers up her left arm, touching her shoulder, her collarbone and reaching up to her chin. Taking his time, Damien came over and kissed her. He didn't ask for permission, he wasn't insecure. It was like a closed deal. He knew she would accept him. Then he put his forehead against hers, giving her just enough time for her to absorb that moment. He said nothing when he turned away and went down the hall. Serena remembered how she had entered the room so red that she had been obliged to tell the other girls every detail of what had happened.

But the courtship was unique. After that day, Damien had spent weeks as if nothing had happened. It was like that with him. According to his people, physical contact was something very intimate and built over time. In tradition, the man made it clear that he had chosen a woman when he kissed her. That was the commitment. Although he had little contact with his family, he had inherited the distance from his people. A new touch could take months. Serena's shyness helped her to respect Damien's space. However, six months is a long time to be apart.

***

Bia and Cris were already having breakfast when Serena ran into the room. She still needed to bathe, close the suitcase, and couldn't even think about eating. As she hurried up, Hannah came down the stairs still in her nightgown.

- Aren't you going to introduce yourself? - asked Cris, in the usual ironic tone.

- Nice to meet you, Hannah Maël, straight from the farm - she bowed and sat sulkily.

- Actually, it's not too bad. I think Leila was nice to you.

The formula prepared by Leila contained properties that only she knew. For many years, she studied the effect of the Island's herbs and plants and applied them in her disguises, which she tried herself. They could make someone swell up, appear to gain weight, and even lose several pounds in a few days. One day she had appeared so thin in the Island's dining room that no one had even recognized her. She also knew herbs that acted on each muscle of the face, paralyzing, and swelling, which altered the features. Leila had also studied the effect of plants that paled or darkened skin tones, eyes and even hair. She tested so many different shades of irises that the girls no longer knew which was the real one. But to change the tone of the hair, it was necessary to wait for it to grow back, which took months. Sometimes she spent weeks with her hair in two different colors just to try out a new shade. Now, she was committed to finding an herb that would make her hair grow faster.

With this disguise, Leila had prepared subtle changes, but that transformed Hannah into a totally different person. The height and weight were the same, but her skin was lighter. It was her natural tone, but without the tan of years on the Island. After all, the farm in Tegalaan was not in such a bright region. Her eyes were still light brown, but they had lost the hues of honey, which she had inherited from her father. In addition, they were smaller and more rounded. Her mouth was now small and her lips were thin. Hannah tried to get used to the swollen, paralyzed muscles that compressed her lips and made her cheeks bigger. Meanwhile, her cheekbones had withered, and her features were no longer as striking as her mother's. Early in the morning, Leila had entered her room to check her adaptation and had taken the opportunity to cut her hair at shoulder level. She had kept her wavy brown hair, common to palatial women. The custom was to keep them long, but Leila had chosen to cut them to draw less attention. Few people of the northern nobility knew the palatial customs anyway. Hannah stood up. Next to the table where they had breakfast there was a beautiful bar, carved in marble. She observed herself in the mirror behind the drinks.

- That mouth is strange. So small.

- A lot of people have a small mouth and don't think it's strange ... - Bia started.

- But those thin lips ...

- Be careful not to offend me - Cris said, laughing.

- By the gods, my mouth looks just like yours! Did Leila get inspired by you?

The girls started laughing and, finally, when Serena came down from her room, Bia was already as red as her hair.

- What did I miss?

- How about your dignity? Arriving at that time? - Cris joked.

- I was late! It was nothing! And what are they drinking? - asked Serena suspiciously.

- Drinking? So early? - countered Chris.

- Mani is drinking ... - Serena pointed out.

- It's just a shot - Hannah replied matter-of-factly, finishing pouring the whiskey into a crystal glass. Sometimes she hated how Serena was such an observer.

Chris turned to Hannah, seriously.

- I thought the disguise would help with the pain.

Better not to answer, Hannah thought, avoiding rolling her eyes.

- Did you at least wait to see if it made any difference? I know you're using a reduced dose, but until they produce more ...

- Chris, it's over. There is no reduced dose, no more.

Chris looked at Bia and then at Serena. She didn't know what to say. Hannah didn't like to drink. When she drank, it was because she was in pain. And it was a lot of pain.

- Mani ... Right now...

- It was over a month ago, in fact - Hannah replied bitterly. - I didn't wanted to worry you - she admitted. She felt the disapproving looks of the three of them on her, as she took the whiskey in a quick swig. The liquid burned her throat and she closed her eyes tightly, awaiting criticism, but none of them broke the silence. They knew she was suffering, but there was nothing to say. She put the glass aside: - You can stop now! Just stop looking at me like that. I cheated you for a month, didn't I? I'm fine, as you can see. Furthermore, Leila assured me that she will soon be able to produce more. Chris, come on. Put a smile on your thin lips ...

- Oh, stop! - shouted Chris.

After the others were gone, Hannah went back to her bedroom. She would travel only in the afternoon. She sat on the dressing table and starred at her new face in the mirror. She could be any palatial girl, from the nobility to the palace kitchens. Her new features were absolutely ordinary, neither ugly nor beautiful, completely normal. However, there in front of her was a young woman covered in the finest jewelry, and that made her a rani. Carefully, she found the clasp behind her neck and removed the gold choker, adorned with tiny pearls along its length. From the middle of the choker, another thread came out, which went down her lap and found another gold chain that went around her waist. Removing the sleeves from her dress, she found this clasp as well and opened it. She deposited her mother's necklace next to an emerald-encrusted tiara that was already abandoned on the dressing table, where it would stay for the next few months. Then, trying not to look at it, she pulled her father's ring from her right index finger and deposited it carefully next to the other jewels she would abandon. The aged gold ring with the largest emerald she had ever seen would be there, as well as the fire in her eyes, as her mother said. She has Ammiel's eyes, like red-hot wood. Now, finally, Leila's disguise was complete.

Resigned, she lay down on the bed and dozed off for another hour. As usual, her sleep was troubled. The pain in her back felt like an insistent burn and she dreamed of the fire ... The fire destroying her home's garden. The fire advancing slowly, burning the plants, the bodies of the guards, knocking down the pilasters, advancing on the carpets, climbing on the curtains...

~*~

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Ps: I am a brazilian author and a dear friend is translating this book for me. Please feel free to point out any mistakes. Hope you like it!