A/N- Hey everyone! :)

So, yeah...I am putting this story first because it is already written out to the beginning of the sequel. Unfortunately for Moon Inheritance, the outline had been erased and I am stuck writing it. So since this story is more fresher in my mind, I will finish this one.

Rest assure all of you that once this story is finished, I will go and try my damnest hardest to finally finish The Moon Inheritance. However, please enjoy this one as well.

Thank you.

The Reluctance of Rising from the Ashes

Chapter 4 - Black Sheep

"Interesting…very interesting."

Eva tried her best not to roll her eyes as her friends stared at the psychic Elena with newfound respect. She never believed in horoscopes, destiny, palm readings, etc. As far as she knew, you took your fate in your own hands and make it.

"There is grief etched deeply in here along with a significant event, hmm, maybe two years ago?" asked the psychic, looking up at Eva for confirmation. The psychic was reading Eva's future in the tarot cards.

She nodded, barely.

"Three times your star will rise in history, three times you will find yourself at a crossroads, and three times you will find love. So far, your star has risen once and the second time is coming." announced the psychic Elena with dramatic flair.

"What does that mean?" asked the twins in unison.

"It means Eva here is already remembered once for something...a significant event...not here but where else?" Elena peered more closely at the cards to find out where. Eva paled, could this psychic really tell that she was the winner of Oban?

"Maybe in a another country?" Sarah suggested.

"Perhaps." mused Elena as she continued with the reading,"Interesting….grief is etched deeply with the times you'll become famous." Pausing, Elena looked up to see the doubt and disbelief on Eva's face before she could mask it.

"You don't believe your destiny? By what I can see from your palms from the first event…. you recovered that which you have lost a long time ago."

At this Eva's eyes widen but shrugged it off. Psychics were ambigous about their predictions she told herself. So people could believe them and pay more. Where the hell was all that "you'll meet a tall dark stranger" crap that was typical? Eva Wei would rather jump off a bridge than admit it but she perfered that type of prediction rather the one she was getting now.

As if sensing her thoughts, Elena added,"Also, I see a tall fair stranger in your near future. He'll sweep you off your feet and disrupt your life but nonetheless, very good-looking. I see a passionate love looming in close for you but many obstacles."

There it was.

After that, Elena moved on to tell Sarah her future and all of them paid their fee before leaving. Just before Eva went through the doors however, the pyschic stopped her.

"Oh, Eva, a moment?"

She turned and the pyschic smiled at her.

"When at the crossroads, don't be afraid. Have courage."

0o0o0

Though it was sort of mean to admit, Eva had completely forgotten the time and the fact that she had a guest coming over that day. That's why Sarah's comment immediately threw her off and she blinked in confusion.

"Hey, who's that hottie in front of your house?" asked Sarah, taking off her sunglasses for a clearer look.

Samara and Eva quickly turned to see a young man standing on the porch steps of Eva's house. He look to be muscular, wore military attire, and his hair was half light and half dark.

He also looked slightly familiar and Eva wondered who did she know that was in the military? The answer came very quickly.

"Jordan!" she exclaimed in surprise.

Her friends jumped at the sudden sound of her voice and Jordan's head raised up to see who was calling his name.

A smile quickly bloomed on his face.

"Eva!"

Without thinking of it more, she launched herself at him and tried to hug the life out of him, causing him to laugh and spin her around. He set her down and gave her a quick look over before smiling.

"You look great. How are you?" he asked, interested.

"Oh, we're fine, just like yourself." interrupted Samara as she boldly gave Jordan a lingering lookover before smirking at him.

"What?" stammered Jordan before blushing.

Sarah and Eva laughed.

0o0o0

Jordan stayed for a week and it was as if they were back on Oban. Minus the room sharing but it was comfortable to the point that Eva wanted to ask Jordan to request another week off but refrained from doing so.

Every so often, Eva would catch Jordan looking at her like she was priceless, something precious that he had to have, and the lingering touches he gave her occasionally confirmed it.

It was moments like these that made Eva feel uncomfortable. What should Eva say to Jordan two years after Oban? "I'm sorry for everything, my prince never showed up, so I'm settling for you?"

Although technically, she wasn't in the mood to date anybody at all but Jordan was interested and she owed him a chance.

But despite all that, despite Jordan's increasing obvious intentions, when the moment came to say goodbye to her partner again; Eva smiled and hugged him. Even though deep down, a voice whispered Kiss him.

She whispered back Not yet.

0o0o0

Queen Lyai was furious.

It is hard to tell whether it was from grief or from true anger but nonetheless she was furious. The court was in session to discuss theories on what has happened to the princes and her eldest daughter, Lady of the Lake, had announced that she had scried for Shandar but found nothing.

Now rumours were flapping around, conspiracies shared, and this was just the beginning! Soon the servants would hear and spread them to all the twelve kingdoms.

"Enough!" she demanded, and the court fell to silence. She motioned for her daughter to sit down and she does so beside Arsinoe, Queen Lyai's other daughter.

"Lady Amara had given us something very valuable. If Prince Shandar is indeed unreachable, we all must assume the logical-he has moved on." said the Queen.

"But what if Prince Shandar had fled to another planet?" asked Kathryn, the Queen's cousin.

They all looked to Lady Amara. She is pale from overdrawing her magic and more from the vivid whiteness of her clothes. She frowns and says, "Even then, I assume I would have Seen him since we are blood-related."

Arsinoe looks at her sharply but before Lady Amara could think about that look, Arsinoe says, "Would you still See him if he is being hidden?"

"No." she said before turning to look at Arsinoe and continuing, "What are you trying to say, my Lady Sister?"

The whole court became silent and Queen Lyai motioned to her daughter to speak. Hesitating, Arsinoe stood up and gathered up her strength to speak.

"What are the chances that out of all the princes, Shandar is unharmed and flees? We all know our own history, compared to that, are four dead princes worriedsome? Queen Mother, it saddens my heart to point this out, but it will not be the first time a royal had killed another for the throne." she cried out, tears beginning to form at the corner of her eyes.

At this, the court exploded into heavy debate, denials, and cries of confirmation.

The mask of her face shattering, Queen Lyai turned to her consort. Only King Eshma could see the worry and pain this was causing her, and clasped her hand in comfort.

"We will find Shandar and we will know the events. Nonetheless, prepare yourself, my Queen." he whispered.

Amara, Lady of the Lake and Princess of Avalonia, could only sit there in stunned silence as the peace that had conquered Avalonia for more than decades shattered into pieces.

0o0o0

While others were busy in preparing themselves for the college life, Eva wandered lazily about downtown. Her father had been disappointed to learn that Eva wasn't immediately going to college but backpack around the world for a year by herself instead.

Everything was set for her trip in two weeks and Eva was taking the opportunity to take in the city and tag along with Pancake, hoping she doesn't end up nearly getting arrested like the first time she met him.

A dress caught her eye, and Eva immediately moved towards the window display. She bumped into someone with white-blonde hair and mumbled an apology, never noticing that someone had stopped in shock at her. Eva decided to try on the dress and entered the store.

.

.

.

A quick glamour spell prevented him being seen by the traitors following the earthian girl that had bumped into him. With her unique features-redhaired, face tattoos-it had been easy to recognize her at once and perhaps, easy for them to find her.

He followed them silently from afar as they followed after the girl. As she began to head down an alley, he noticed one take out a small dagger as they too, entered the alley, and tensed.

The girl will be killed. Innocent blood will be on his hands and he couldn't let that happen. He would have to risk getting caught in order to help her.

But none of them expected the girl to suddenly turn around, fiery anger obvious on her face as she harshly and bluntly asked, "Are you following me?"

A/N- Please review. :)