Life reached equilibrium after all of the previous chaos. I wasn't sure it could, but it did. Orientation was nothing special. Classes were fine, and avoiding meaningful conversations with my classmates became normal.

The not-so-casual probing into personal lives held no interest to me. And I watched as students became friends and enemies during our short time together.

Darius grew, and it was time to find a doctor for his annual check-up. Thanks to what our father had prepared, it went smoothly.

Wyatt started his night classes, and Darius began to miss the sunny annoyance.

Best of all, Mordecai stayed gone. I'm sure he was watching from somewhere and chewing some kind of nut. I couldn't see or hear him, but that meant he was out of sight, not out of mind.

So, it had to be a different relative to break the peace.

"You don't have any friends, do you?" Wyatt said over dinner one night.

I stiffened but luckily didn't drop the spoon I was using to give Darius seconds. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"Humans or even animal companions you can communicate with, hang out with, and support one another."

I glared and said, "I know what you mean, but I don't understand what that has to do with anything."

"I have made friends in my class, and even little man Darius has made friends with other kids who live here," Wyatt said.

I pursued my lip and sat back after I handed Darius his plate back. Why was everyone so obsessed with this?

"Don't you get lonely?" Wyatt said.

"I have my books." And there was plenty of company in those pages.

"I haven't seen you read once in this world. I don't remember you reading much in the last one either." He said.

I paused, unsure how to debate that. As a literary witch, I wasn't that into reading books like I used to be. Unfortunately, the monkey boy had a point.

"You should go to the freshman party at your college. I got an invite, but I'll watch Darius, so you can go." Wyatt said.

"How did you get an invite? You don't even go to my college!" I said as I stared at him in disbelief. Wyatt went to a technical school that had no association with my school.

"I make friends and talk to people. Something you clearly need to do more of." Wyatt said.

"I'm learning to live with a stuffy nose and a headache. I also don't need to cope with fake chatter and nonsense questions." I said.

"That's what humans do, Wendy," Wyatt said. "No one can survive independently, so we learn how to make small talk that can forge greater connections. You need some friends."

I looked down at my half-full plate. I had friends. People that I liked and grew close with. All of them thought I was dead. It seemed a vast insurmountable hurdle to get past that when guilt and shame colored my current worldview.

"Look at what you're teaching Darius. What if he ends up being a neurotic type A like yourself?" Wyatt said.

I took the bait, unfortunately, and went to the party.

Loud music, thick throngs of people, and messy floors was what I was expecting. Every movie about college parties had prepared me for such a sight. What I saw was something else entirely and made me glad I wore my face changer in hindsight.

Instead of a frat or sorority house, the party was hosted in a mansion ballroom. They had an actual choir and musical players set up. It was all very classy and tasteful.

I tried to turn around and leave my first chance, but the people behind me prevented such a quick exit. I did the next best thing and took off for the nearest hallway.

I soon found myself in a labyrinth of halls. Each had its own decor and style, and I went from escaping to exploring so that I could stare and admire the choices.

My exploration led me to a door unlike any other. It was the width of the massive hallway and went up to the ceiling. Intricate patterns hinted at hidden meanings upon closer inspection. The door was cracked, so I lifted a hand, ready to close that small opening.

"You either get with the program or disappear."

A voice full of pure malice took my joy and peace away with a jolt. My uplifted hand went to my mouth to cover it. Every muscle in my body tensed. The voice was familiar, too familiar.

"I wonder if you said the same thing to your fiance." A woman's voice said without a trace of fear.

That familiar voice held disdain when he spoke again, "Changing the subject won't stop this from happening, Li Na."

"And yet, you didn't say no." Li Na said. Her voice held no fear.

I leaned forward to peek through the opening of the door. I should have run in the other direction, but my body was moving to confirm what my ears had pieced together.

Unfortunately, it was correct, and my heart went still with fear. That voice belonged to Graham. I watched as he leaned back in his plush chair with an air of disdain and cruelty.

It was an expression I had never seen graced upon his face, yet it was etched as if it belonged to it. Who the fuck was this man? How had I missed all the signs that he was capable of threats and malice?

I must be a horrible detector of human nature. How many times has this happened to me so far? Adam, Rex, Wyatt, and now Graham. I always find myself surrounded by crazy people who hide either their madness or their true selves. Didn't I have the power of foresight? Why was it never there when I truly needed it? Even as my mind began to race, I could feel my brain trying to rationalize what I was watching. Maybe I'm wrong? I did come into the conversation relatively late. There could be critical pieces of information that I didn't know yet.

My eyes darted over to the woman. She was absolutely gorgeous, with high cheekbones and legs for days. She sat idly, looking as unbothered by the threats as she sounded. Her almond, black eyes held derision and confidence as she gave stare for stare with Graham.

Stolen story; please report.

"I have no interest in your club." She said casually as she flicked a piece of invisible lint off her leather armchair.

Dark laughter escaped from Graham's lips, and I froze as he entered full villain mode. Maybe that voice was cursed? Adam went mad as Rex with it, and now here was Graham showing that he, too, was batshit crazy.

It shouldn't sound good, but despite the fear making me freeze, I couldn't help but admire the lush, deep laugh. See, this is why I attract crazy people, I thought as I watched the two. Could it actually be me attracting them? I don't understand why. I had little to draw them in…

"The illusion that you have control over this is endearing. The only choice you have, if you refuse this generous offer, is the timing of your death." Graham said.

That was my cue to leave.

I stepped back and tried to recall every time Graham said my aura had disappeared. If I could lower visibility, I could get away.

The woman was currently holding down the fort and wouldn't need me to defend her. My cowardly feet wouldn't move another inch as that realization hit me. I couldn't be really thinking of leaving her to the machinations of Graham the Mad, could I?

"You want me in your club because of my ability." The woman said with a scoff. "Your powers, like your threats, don't work on me."

I watched from the crack in the door as she stood up and walked towards the door. I was too enthralled by her overwhelming confidence and charisma to move out of the way.

Our eyes locked, and for a brief moment, I could see something flicker in her gaze. Her face remained impassive, but her mouth opened and silently formed one simple word, "Run."

I didn't think twice and did as she said.

I didn't get far before a pair of hands grabbed me and tossed me into a dark room.

I started to stammer an apology but was cut off when the lights turned on.

It was Clara who grabbed me, not Graham.

"I think you have the wrong--"

"Dolyn," Clara said, stopping my lie before it could fully form. She reached out and ripped the face changer off.

I blinked and gulped as I tried to stammer more lies.

"I'm glad you're alive." She said as she grabbed me into a hug. "I was so worried he did something."

The he she mentioned had to be Graham. That man was batshit crazy. I hugged her back and soaked in the scent of her floral perfume. It had been so long since I smelled her, and it brought memories of home to mind. My heart hurt as my eyes leaked.

"Were you aware of how Graham was all this time?" I said, stopping the nostalgia from weakening my resolve. I needed to remember the person Graham showed himself to be. And find out if I should trust Clara.

Clara stiffened before she tightened her arms around me. "Everyone but you knew." She said into my hair.

Figures. Once again, I was looking like boo boo the fool.

"Why would you go along with him? Why follow him?" I said, recalling the way Graham led the group during our everyday lives. Why did they submit to him if they knew how wicked he was?

"He's the strongest of us, and no one can win against him," Clara said as she pulled away. Her violet eyes scanned me, and she rubbed my head before putting my face changer back on. "Hide Dolyn so he can't find you."

I grabbed her back into a hug and squeezed. "I missed you, and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you we were safe," I said.

"It was for the best that you didn't," Clara said.

I slipped into my Locket World and escaped a heartbeat later.

I waited until the remaining allotted time ran out, and even then, I merely slipped into my Hideaway home.

All I could do was stare blankly as my thoughts tried reorganizing themselves around my current reality. I didn't want it to be reality. I didn't want to accept what I had seen, but there was no denying it.

Graham is not as simple as he acted around me. His gentle mediator persona was a front. But why would he put on that act with me? The only value I had was in being Daniel Savage's daughter. So, was the purpose to gain a foothold in my father's good graces? If I went down that line of thinking, he could be the invisible enemy my father had been scrambling from the last year of his life.

That seemed ludicrous, though. Daniel Savage was a tycoon and the wealthiest man in the world. Why would Graham be enough to scare him away?

It was the plot of a teen YA novel, not the dangerous world-ending novel on which this world was actually based. Graham was seeking Li Na because of her powers, so maybe it wasn't the company Graham wanted? Graham desried power, and with his aura abilities, he could easily sense them.

Then again, what if it wasn't my father or the family company that he wanted. Could my Godblood be what drew his attention? This body was mortal, but my soul was inherited from Mordecai.

My thoughts gave me no rest, and as I could feel panic and hysteria build, my cell phone rang.

I flipped it open and was surprised that Wyatt had sent me a picture of Darius. My baby brother was tucked into bed and already asleep. Tears blurred my sight, and I wiped my cheeks clean impatiently. No matter what kind of person Graham was, I wasn't alone. I have Wyatt, and I have Darius. I must get out of this situation and return home to them.

I emerged from my escape with a pale face and a determined jut of my chin.

The hallway was empty, and the door that had once captivated my attention was wide open. The room I had peered intrusively was empty and too vast to explore. I paid no mind to it as I all but ran down the hall. I had already changed my outfit and kept the face scrambler on. Graham could spot me even with these changes if he were still at the party. My only true plan was to keep thinking of Mordecai, Adam Wyatt, and all the other depressing thoughts that dimmed my light.

I managed to slip past the elegantly clad people, waiters, and prying eyes to wind up at the entrance, aka my exit.

I was out the door and tasting the sweet, fresh air of freedom when a voice called out.

"Dolyn, I presume?"

I hiccuped and jumped. I knew without looking it was Li Na. She had seen me before and had clearly recognized me. That didn't explain how she knew it was me now? It could have something to do with her power.

"Before you run, I hope you understand I didn't tell your fiance about you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said with a squeaky voice. Any attempt to disguise my voice led to failure because she looked unconvinced.

I could hear stifled laughter in her voice when she said, "Judging from your expression, you had no idea your fiance was like that."

My lips thinned into a flat line. How could I have known that? Like so many others, he had hidden his true nature from me.

"I commend you for staying hidden, but you won't be able to hide from him forever. He's not only formidable but determined to find you. He's even trying to gain my services in doing so."

"What are your powers?" I said it before I could stop my stupid mouth from speaking.

"They are similar to yours. I gain knowledge and insight from the world around me, allowing me to predict things. I saw this happening when we met at your engagement party." She said.

I looked up to meet her eyes. They were much kinder than in that room with Graham, but I couldn't relax. I had no recollection of her at my engagement party, but that didn't say much. I was so out of it that day there was no way I could recall every guest let alone one.

"Use your ability to read me." She said with a faint smile of expectation and excitement.

"My power hasn't been stable the past few years," I said. It used to be stable and predictable, annoying even, and training with my father should have strengthened it. Still, for some reason, it was stifled and hard to gain anything other than feelings about things. I couldn't dream up visions, and over the years, I only had them happen a handful of times.

"You might want to think long and hard about why that could be." Li Na said with a soft smile. "When did that change occur?"

Well, when I was dumped into this world, it was easy to be pulled into visions. I had it happen often; although they were scary, they were expected. The last vivid one I had as a kid was when I was sick and may or may not have uttered a spell to find a lost love.

After that, Graham and the rest of the crew moved into the building…wait Graham. I could feel puzzle pieces fall into place against my will. My vision of the engagement party happened when he was away from town. That was insane, though, right? It had to be a coincidence.

"His power is just auras…" The words slipped out before I could stop them.

"It's not." Li Na said, "And if your senses weren't blinded, you would have noticed the danger he posed. I had hoped you finally had due to your extended absence from this world."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" I said, meeting her eyes and shoving aside all the turmoil in my heart.

"We're a lot alike. I've always wanted to meet someone like me." She said, stepping forward, and before I could prevent it, her cold hands snagged my wrist. "I want to pass something on to you before it's too late."

Where she touched me began to tingle, and I jumped as her palm heated up. Something was unfurling in my chest, and I gasped as my knees buckled. I could see dots start to dance around the outside of my vision.

"What are you doing to me…"

"Removing your limits." The last thing I could see was her lips as the words left her mouth.

"Naughty girl, you shouldn't have done that." A familiar male voice said, and I knew as I passed out that that voice belonged to Mordecai.