Chapter One

Keaira stared down at the envelope, hardly believing her eyes.

"Now what do you have?" Lisa, her closest friend asked from her spot on her bed.

Keaira looked up at Lisa, her eyes wide and blank. "It's a letter from my father," she said, her voice eerily calm.

Lisa stared at the other fifteen year old. She had known Keaira since both of them were toddlers, and never had her tall, brunette friend received anything from her father, who both of them suspected didn't even exist. "Maybe it's money! You can buy yourself out of here!"

Keaira shook her head, not in disagreement, but in wonder. "I can't believe it," she said, her voice wavering. "He actually sent me something." She stared at the envelope, at the loopy, titled writing which said,

Keaira Elliot From your loving Father

"Well? Aren't you going to open it up?" Lisa demanded, staring at Keaira.

Keaira smiled warily. "Yes," she said quietly, "I suppose that I should."

Carefully, she tore off the top of the envelope, and pulled out the two pieces of paper inside. One, upon opening, was discovered to be a map.

Keaira glanced at it, confused. "This is odd," she commented, sitting down on her own bed. "This isn't of any place on Earth. Look at the writing." She handed the map to Lisa, who inspected it, an eyebrow raised.

"That's really messed up, Keaira. Maybe it's some kind of joke," Lisa said, chewing at her lower lip.

Keaira shrugged, and un folded the second piece of paper this one was a letter. She looked at it blankly, her heart fluttering quickly, and then almost stopping.

Dear Keaira, it read. I am sorry that I could not contact you sooner. It was very difficult to get past all of the wards that your mother had set up, to keep me away from you, no doubt. I know that you probably have quite a few questions concerning both yourself and myself, but I am afraid that it's not safe enough to write them on paper. Anyway, most of your questions probably concern Secrets, and you know how annoying it is to have the words burn up on the paper the moment you write them. But onto another subject. Your sixteenth birthday is arriving soon, and I wanted to get this to you before than, because I got information that on that day, your mother would be coming to get you, and by then, I would have no chance of ever talking to you again. I am afraid that you must leave your home before your birthday (and mother) and try to get to me as quickly as possible. That is what the map is for. It should be correct, but if it isn't, give it a shake and tell it to stop being such a ----------. Keaira stopped, and gasped. She had never seen any one write such foul words on a piece of paper, and she found it offending. However, she found that she couldn't help but continue, and her eyes moved back onto the letter. If the map continues to be annoying, and shows you some place in Africa, ask it politely, and it SHOULD work. Now, about your mother. I know that you must trust her, and you might believe all the lies that she tells you about me, but don't believe ANY of them. ( No, I am not half demented toad) You must believe me when I tell you this: I am only here to help you, Keaira, and although your mother might not agree, I wish you, nor her, any harm. Please come as quickly as possible. (I believe that you will be able to pass through her wards easier since you are half way of the same blood as her)

Your loving father, Kannaen Jikaeni

"Well?" Lisa sat impatiently on the edge of her bed. "What did it say?"

"I- I don't really know." Keaira said, rereading the letter. "He, he writes as if I should already know something about him."

"Bit you still don't know anything. You at least know his name, right?" Lisa asked.

"Yeah. It's Kannaen. Kannaen Jikaeni." Keaira replied, looking at the signature.

"What a weird name! I wonder what nationality he is!" Lisa said, realizing that it'd do no good to press her friend with further questions about the letter. "Here's the map." She handed the map to Keaira, who took it, and looked at it. She then looked up at Lisa. Than back down at the map.

"Um." Keaira scratched her head. "I'm so confused, Lisa!"

Lisa smiled, and stood up. "Hey, I'll let you mess with your feelings. I'm going to go outside for a while and catch some sun while it's still out, ok?"

"Alright." Keaira sprawled out on her bed, her eyes glancing from the letter to the map.

Lisa shook her head, smiling, and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Keaira took in a deep breath. "Um, excuse me. map. but I was- I was."

You were what?

The words appeared in front of her, written on the map with an invisible hand.

"Oh my gosh!" Keaira stared at it, shocked, and dismayed.

What? Never come across a self-thinking map before, Kannaen's Daughter?

"Um. no." Keaira felt her face flush. This was so weird!

Well get over it. What do you want?

"I-I was wondering if you could show me how to get to my father's lodging, please," Keaira said, her eyes wide, and her voice stammering. She was shocked beyond all reason.

Of course. You know, you're much better than your father about asking nicely. If he could just ask politely the first time we'd get things done in half the time. but your map.

Instantly, a beautiful, hand drawn map materialized on the piece of paper, labeled and showing a red line from a dot labeled "Queen's Academy and Orphanage," to, "Kannaen's Home"

There you go! Happy? Satisfied?

"Oh yes!" Keaira said, beaming. "Thank you very much.."

More words appeared on the map.

My name's Zirrach.

"Well than thank you, Zirrach," Keaira said, looking again at the printed map.

Are you going to get going? The map asked.

"Um." Keaira flushed. She hadn't really thought about that part. She supposed, that. no. This was stupid. She had never even met her father- how could she trust him? At least her mother wrote her letters once a month, and kept in constant contact. Her father. she knew nothing but what he had written about himself.

Don't be a wussy. GO! What the heck do you have here worth staying for? The map demanded.

"I have my friends and." Keaira paused. In fact, she had nothing else worth staying for. She had lived in the orphanage for so long. she hardly owned anything of material value or worth, and she hardly loved this place.

You're friends. And you think that by leaving you'll never see them again? Listen; aren't you tired of this dump? Go already!

"I- I really want to," she said, stammering, "but- but- I've never been away alone before or anything."

Suddenly, there was a knock, and Lisa entered.

"Hey Keaira. Where you just talking to some one?" Lisa asked, smiling as she sprawled onto her bed.

"N-no," Keaira lied, rolling up the map, and turning pink.

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Ok. So, do you have things figured out yet? What did your dad want?"

Keaira took in a breath. She supposed that she could tell Lisa- after all- they had always been the closest of friends. "He wants me to go live with him."

Lisa's eyes grew wide. "Is he coming to get you?"

Keaira's thoughts raced. No, no, she couldn't tell Lisa that she was planning to run away. "Yes," she said faintly. "Yes," she said again, making it sound true this time. "He is hoping to come around my birthday."

"Oh Keaira! That's wonderful!" Lisa beamed at her friend.

Keaira shifted position. Something wasn't right. Lisa was never this formal around her. She usually would be hugging her friend and crying happily for her- not smiling and nodding her head.

"And just think! When you're mom's there too, maybe the two of them will get back together!" Lisa said, enthralled.

Keaira's eyebrows snapped together. "How do you know that my mom's coming on my birthday?" She demanded.

Lisa smiled at her. "Don't be stupid, Keaira. You told me yesterday."

But Keaira knew that she hadn't. Something was seriously wrong. Yawning, she pretended like everything was ok. "Wow, I really have to pee. Be right back." She picked up the letter and the map, and strolled out of the room.

Once in the hall, she bolted.

Running hard, she skidded around corners, until she was as far away from her room as she could get. She clutched the map, and then whispered, "How do you think I should get out?"

Leave during the night, stupid. Act like nothing's up meanwhile, Zirrach said, the letters appearing on the side facing her.

"Ok. Thanks." Panting, she straightened up, and bit her lip. What had been wrong with Lisa?

The same thing that had always been wrong with her, a part of her mind told her. She frowned. It was true, Lisa always had been strange, different from the other girls, and she was beginning to suspect why.

"I think my mom might have something to do with it," she muttered.

She usually does, Zirrach replied to no one in particular.

"Hey! Keaira!" It was Jenny, a girl who had recently come to the orphanage after losing both parents in a car accident.

"Yeah?" Keaira turned around, smiling.

"Lisa's looking for you. is something wrong?" Jenny wondered, strolling beside Keaira.

Keaira smiled. "Why do you think that?" She asked, her heart beat quickening. Jenny was a good friend, but she was already beginning to feel odd and out of place here.

"Well, Lisa seemed really mad. Also. Keaira? Keaira? What's wrong?" Jenny stared at her friend.

Keaira looked at her. "What do you mean? Nothing's wrong. Why? Is something on my face?"

Jenny smiled. "Nah, you just looked like you were really sick. You're face when all red, and you're eyes watered.

"Oh." Keaira pursed her lips. "That's weird."

"Yeah." Jenny glanced at the older girl out of the corners of her eyes.

Keaira felt Jenny's gaze, and she felt her face go red. Was something wrong with her? She did feel different, but.

"Wow, I really don't feel well," Keaira clutched her stomach, her fingers tightening around the map. "Ugh. I think I really am sick!"

Jenny blinked, and then said, "Do you want me to go to the nurse with you?"

"Nah, nah, I- I think I'll be ok." Keaira grinned wanly, and hurried away, straightening up.

I suppose that you aren't going to the nurse? The map asked as Keaira sprinted down the halls.

"Oh no. I'm getting out of here NOW." Keaira muttered, pushing her way past a door into an empty classroom. She hurried to the window in it, and pushed it open, grunting with effort.

How do you plan to get away safely? The map wondered.

"I dunno," Keaira said, succeeding in pushing the window open all the way.

She looked down, and when the last person was around the corner, she climbed out of the window, and shutting her eyes, dropped to the ground.

She landed heavily on the ground, but she was back on her feet quickly. Running and half limping, she made her way towards the back gate, which she ran into. Surprisingly, it quietly swung open, and for the first time in her life, Keaira Elliot was free.