Hey readers! This is my very first story so I rated it as T because I have no idea what's going to end up getting put in here. I made it short just to see how would feel. I will try to make some longer chapters later on. I would love some reviews telling me how you like it and what I need to change. Enjoy!

"Shia, where are you?"

In the middle of the grand Opera Populaire in Paris, France, a petit young woman with flaming red hair was looking around desperately for her friend. Her bright green eyes searched everywhere for a glimpse of her gypsy friend but she was nowhere to be found. Suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind.

"Lauren, what are you yelling about?" asked the woman in front of her.

"Shia! Goodness, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Where have you been?" exclaimed Lauren.

"Wandering around."

Lauren stood examining her friend, trying to see if she could wheedle the truth out of her. Shia had beautiful, tan skin, bright gray eyes that could flash from companionable to deadly in an instant, straight teeth that flashed white out of the frame of her ruby lips, and thick, curly, black hair that bounced as she walked. Her step was light and springy, her voice was silky, and her laugh was the babbling of a forest brook. Lauren looked up into Shia's face and glared.

"Fine. Don't tell me then," said the redhead as she turned and pouted.

"Aw, come on, don't be mad. I can't tell you because it's a surprise. Is that better?"

Lauren turned and looked up at her tall friend. "Sure. But when will you tell me?"

"Later, you silly goose!" laughed Shia. "Anyway, Loic is looking for us. There'll be hell to pay if we're late to the meeting."

"God, that was the longest two hours of my life," groaned Lauren.

"Yeah, who woulda thought that someone could rant for forty-five minutes about paint colors?"

"Shia, you can't complain. You fell asleep in the first five minutes of the meeting!"

"Well, I didn't actually need to be there. I am the chief scene-shifter's daughter, it's not like I needed to pay attention when my dad was there, too!" complained Shia.

"I suppose that's true. Thanks for coming with me, though. I would've died if you hadn't been there."

"No problem. I'm going to go back to my room for a little while. I'll see you at dinner then, little ginger?"

"Sure. But you're paying, Shia!" called Lauren.

She shook her head as she headed back to her room. What on earth was she going to do with that crazy gypsy?

When Lauren got back to her room, she immediately set about taking out all the pins out of her red mane. She absolutely hated having to tame it every morning. She went into her bathroom to change into a more comfortable dress for dinner.

Lauren came back out feeling refreshed and ready for anything. Anything, that is, except for what happened next.

"Lauren… Remember…" came a voice. It came from the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the very air of her room. It was a deep, rumbling voice that had a musical quality to it. It sounded as if it could turn from passionately angry to passionately loving at the flip of a coin.

"Who- Who's there?" asked Lauren in a nervous voice.

"Your Angel has returned, little lioness…" The voice faded out. Whoever it belonged to had left.

Lauren stood speechless. She hadn't been called that since… Oh God. It couldn't be him. It had been so long. Far too long…