stions. What did Ryder mean by "something that could change the

ew mirror. "We're almost there," he

g. She had so many questions, but R

l trees and imposing houses. Ryder pulled up to a

mpses of a sprawling mansion. It was enormous, with tur

yder leapt out to open Emily's door. "Welcome

. The mansion was even more impressive up close, w

hearth. The interior of the mansion was just as impressi

kind face. "Welcome, Emily," he said, with a warm smi

owed. "Expecting

ou have a very special gift. One that co

hat gift? And what did

to Emily's. "It's time we told you the tr

skipped a be

ase, child. Sit down. This is

. But Ryder's eyes encouraged her,

d always seemed to be watching her, as if they were waiting for something to happen. And she remembered the strange, rec

ed, her voice barely above a whi

eep sadness. "No, child," he said. "You are not wh

escendant of an ancient bloodline," he said, his voice low and serious.

Ryder's words. She was a descendant of an

Emily's mind. "It means that you have a special gift, Emily," he said.

d. "What gift?" she

ou have the ability to manipulate energy," he said fin

hock. Manipulate energy? Bend reality? It sounde

thing there that made her heart skip a beat. She saw a gli

knew that her life would

learned about the secret societies that had been hiding in plain sight, manipulating world events from behind the scenes. And she learned abou

he knew that she had a crucial role to play in the events that were unfolding, and

y began to feel a sense of exhaustion. She had been running on adrenalin

odded sympathetically. "You need to rest," he

itude towards Ryder. She knew that s

ut feel a sense of wonder at the strange and mysterious world she had stumbled int

her on the bed. "You're safe now, Emily," he said, his

itude towards Ryder. She knew that s

that made her heart skip a beat. She saw a glimmer of attra

g herself she was being ridiculous. Ryder

s ancient bloodline. She had always known that her family was a little... unusu

t my family's history?" Em

e dates back thousands of years," he said. "They were part of an ancient c

ways known that her family was smart and resourceful, but she had

ation?" Emily asked, her curio

ed," he said. "By a rival civilization that sought

. She could sense that there was more to the story, bu

e Order. She had learned that they were a mysterious organization that

ck and do nothing. She had to take action, t

p The Order?" Emily a

eed to get you to a safe location," he s

ash over her. She was ready to do whatever it to

limpse of herself in the mirror. She looked different,

er appearance that had changed. She felt diff

in his eyes. "You're changing," he said, his voice low a

ened to Ryder's words. She was c

airs, Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepi

ONTINUE