MARKED(Lisa McDonald) She stood staring out the window as rain fell on the lush green rolling landscape stretched out below her to the cliff overlooking the sea. Her eyes shifted to the billowy gray clouds above that showed no signs of cowering to the sun. A sense of mirthful bliss welled inside her; painting a portrait of contentment across her delicate features. A beautiful land that she had dreamt about on many occasions and had an almost desperate longing to visit since childhood, was just outside the window.-- A land that had inspired all her youthful desires and captivated her attention like no other. A dream come true.

Few young ladies came from such an elite station in life so as to afford such trivial nonsensical pursuit's, as her father would call it during a moment of playful banter; right before handing her an envelope containing the affluence necessary to make the voyage. She could hardly believe it was true, but she was finally here. Her heart seemed to flutter with anticipation as her mind filled with questions. Her days would be filled with all the time in the world to pursue a young woman's girlish fantasies--What would she do first? At home in the comfort of her warm cozy bed, she would lay awake at night for hours-on-end dreaming of this moment; calculating a million and one things to do if given the opportunity; here, her mind was completely void out of sheer exhilaration.

Perhaps if the rain stopped long enough, she would borrow one of the horses from the stable and take a ride through the countryside.--Where the cool fingers of the wind could flow through her golden hair as the moist air collected beads of dewdrops on her apple blossom cheeks.

She closed her eyes for a moment and imagined the feeling of the earth rise and fall beneath the horse's graceful gallop as they wandered aimlessly through the glen; just the way she had always dreamt. A smile swept across her perfect features as she imagined a chance meeting with a handsome, chivalrous Knight riding atop his royal steed. Surely true love would strike his heart the moment his eyes caught sight of the rare beauty before him. A disturbing thought crept into her mind; marring the beautiful scene that had been indelibly branded in her mind since early childhood. --Dragons. --What if she were to come across a dragon? What would she do? What could she do? Surely there was no such danger. Still, she wondered. She had been warned of the possibility. But Dragons have been extinct for nearly two centuries now, ever since Sir Balin Le Savage slayed the last of the fearsome beasts in 2990. Or so she thought. Still, it was said that many of the locals claimed to have heard the terrible roar of a dragon that is rumored to still live in one of the caves not far from Gleshire. They say there is no other sound quite so terrifying as the-- Her thoughts were interrupted once more; startled by a sudden twinkling sound. "Oh no-no-no!" Her heart sank in the pit of her stomach. "This mustn't happen, not here, not now!" She rushed to the other side of the room and rummaged frantically through her corsets bag where it was secretly tucked away; carefully removing it from the black velvet satchel, desperately seeking to quiet the forbidden object.

No-one must know of it's existence! She peered carefully around the corner into the long corridor leading to the royal dining hall; searching for clandestine ears. Perhaps a sly chambermaid, or the dutiful Lord Steward Of The Household, eager to report what they see and hear. It was said that spy's were not uncommon; and as guest of the Royal Court, she must be, "cautious as a serpent, yet innocent as a dove." She was quite aware of the need to exercise the utmost caution.

If the authorities were to ever find out, it would all be over for her. There would be nothing her father could do to save her from such a terrible and inevitable fate. Yes, she was all too aware that if she were ever caught with such an object in her possession, the repercussions would be entirely her fault.

She could trust no-one! Or her life here would most assuredly end before it ever began. She had known better; she had been warned more than once; three times and did not take it to heart. She was no-longer safe at home under the watchful care of her father and his entourage. She was far away from any who cared that she came from privilege; the daughter of a well respected Statesman. Here, she was just like everyone else, subject to the same cruel harsh penalties if she failed to live by the rules. Her situation was most dire. Indeed possessing such an object would surely label her a witch.

But what was she to do? She had paid a hefty price to possess it. She could not bring herself to part with it as easily as she had once thought. She was at once reminded of a statement Her father had made.--It was not she who possessed it, but it possessed her!

Perhaps he was right. She had found it almost impossible to part with. --She tried to.--She wanted to.--But she knew there was no-one she could trust.
She might have left it in the care of Daniel, her younger brother by five years. Danny was kind in heart. Still she dare not trust leaving such a valuable asset in the hands of someone so young; nor would her father have approved. Danny was nothing more than a mere boy of 13 years.

Danny had wanted her to leave it with him; he pleaded with her on bended knee to leave it in his watchful care; swearing an oath to guard it with his own life. But she saw avaricious obsession slowly eating away at him. Danny was still sweet and innocent but none-the-less, foolhardy. She knew better of it.

Quivering inside, she returned to the privacy of her sleeping quarters and shut the door, bolting it behind her. She walked to the corner of the room and pulled it out from under the sash where she had hidden it.

It sang it's enchanting melody in the palm of her hands as it glowed with a mesmerizing blue aura, shining hypnotically into her gaping stare. For the moment, she was safe. But her hands trembled in fear, aware that at any moment others may discover her secret. She carefully ran her trembling fingers across it's smooth glowing surface, as an exasperated sigh escaped the back of her throat, tilting her head back against the wall and gently placing the glowing object against her cheek.

"Shhh--I can't talk right now. You can't call me here. The brochure said no cell phones; they're against the rule. Crap! I'm sooo gonna get busted! Apparently If you get caught with any modern conveniences you're labeled a witch which means you're marked for almost instant disqualification! So don't call me, I'll call you as soon as I get a chance I promise...I've gotta go, somebody's coming!"

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