For the first time ever in all my days, I was the one who had it all, and I felt like the noblest of women. My mother was returned to me, and I had a loving sister. She was not related to me by blood, but that did not matter to either Lenora or me. My career was progressing beautifully. I was treated with respect and nevermore looked upon as a member of the lower class, much as I was in my own time. What was most enthralling to me was that I was betrothed to the handsomest, kindest man I have ever known.

Every time Robin came over to spend time with me, I always fell into his arms, craving his caresses and kisses. Every time he expressed his love for me, my heart swelled with adoration and devotion for him. How I longed to be his wife and begin a family with him!

“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Robin asked me one day as I relaxed in his embrace.

I smiled up at him. “Mother and Lenora are taking me for the final fitting of my gown tomorrow. Och, Robin! I can scarcely believe it. I never imagined it could be me looking forward to such an idyllic life. I am so blessed.”

“It is I who am blessed, my Alina,” Robin said, tilting up my chin so he could look deeply into my eyes. “Life didn’t begin for me until I met you.”

Robin was always a gentleman, and I always attempted to conduct myself with at least a modicum of decorum. It was difficult, for I sometimes entertained carnal thoughts when it came to Robin. I needed him and wanted to love him in every way possible. However, it would be wrong to have him in that way before we were wed. The talk we’d had about such things never left my memory, but changes in terms of such intimate matters were hard for me to fathom. Although I was grateful Robin never pressed me, a part of me wanted him to press so I could easily give in.

A few days later, Robin was working late, so he phoned me to tell me he would be late in arriving to take dinner with me. I decided to pass some time and began a new book I had received from the book club I joined. I was lost in a world of fairies and genies when I received devastating news that turned the world around me upside down.

Lenora was dreadfully ill and had been rushed to the hospital. Nobody knew what was wrong with her, so there was very little the healers could do. It was Robin’s mother who phoned. I had never heard her sound so distressed. “Cian can’t be reached, and neither can your mother and Grandda Liam. I tried phoning Robin at work, but the sergeant on duty said he was out in the field. I have other phone calls to make, sweetheart, so can you keep trying Robin? The two of you should get here as soon as you can. Lenora…it doesn’t look good for her.”

By the time Robin and I arrived at the hospital in Aurora Skies, Lenora’s condition deteriorated further. The healers were doing everything they could to keep her alive, but it was more than evident that she would not survive. Robin and I were allowed to briefly look in on her, but she was unconscious.

Tyrone was completely heartbroken, and Robin and I believed he didn’t even realize we were there. I wanted to offer comfort, but I didn’t know what to say when my own heart was crushed. If I hadn’t seen Lenora lying there so still, I would have never believed she could be so ill. This was so surreal, and I just didn’t know what to do.

Tyrone looked as though all the life had drained from him when he left the waiting area to return to Lenora’s room a little later on the day we’d arrived. Grief was all around us, and all I could do was sob helplessly in Robin’s arms. My beloved sister was dying, and there was nothing I could do to help her.

A few minutes later, the earth began to shake. I had never been in an earthquake before and hope to never experience it again. Objects fell all around us, and people were thrown to the ground. Robin’s grandfather got his daughters under a desk with him, and Crystal and Landon huddled in a doorway, arms locked tightly around each other. Robin pulled me under a large table and drew me close. I wept in both fright and grief, for somehow I knew this earthquake had been triggered the instant Lenora passed. I don’t know how I knew, but I did.

When Robin and I arrived home, Mother came to see us as soon as she could. She looked as devastated as I felt, and when she broke down, all I could do was hold her and weep with her.

“How could this have happened, Mother? Lenora was fine the other day. She was so happy. We all were. How could this have happened?” I sobbed brokenly.

“I don’t know, child. Some things go beyond even my comprehension. All I can tell you is that something is not right. There is more to this than what we can see. Deus knows it, too, and Tyrone senses something. He’s a complete mess and doesn’t know which end is up, but his Wolf’s Sixth Sense is buzzing,” Mother said.

“The children! Oh, Mother, the children!”

“I know, darling. I know. Tyrone and the children are going to need us now more than ever. Lenora would want us to do all we can for them,” Mother replied.

I was living in a nightmarish world of sorrow and was inconsolable most of the time. Robin did his best to comfort me, but my grief ran so deep that my eyes flooded with tears constantly. I was so heartsick that my chest hurt every time my mind conjured a picture of my beautiful sister. My throat was raw and sore from incessant weeping. The day before Lenora’s funeral, he found me on my knees, weeping helplessly. I didn’t resist when he pulled me to my feet and slipped his arms around me.

“It’s all right. Oh, my Alina, it’s all right…all right. I’m here.” Robin crooned to me in low, soothing tones as I held onto him for all I was worth.

“It cannot be, Robin! It just cannot be! Not Lenora! Oh, I beseech thee! Tell me Lenora is not truly gone and that I am only dreaming,” I said desperately.

Robin breathed out on a sob, and I knew my pleas were in vain. “I wish I could, Alina, my heart. I can hardly believe it myself.”

Despair overtook me, and I went limp in Robin’s arms. I barely felt him lift me and carry me to the sofa where he sat down with me in his lap. Both Robin and I wept for what the loss of Lenora meant to both of us. Lenora had been Robin’s aunt and the sister I had always longed for. My heart was broken for Tyrone and their beautiful children, who would now grow up without the loving mother they adored.

Amidst all of this, thoughts of our upcoming wedding surfaced, and I wailed all the more. I had asked Lenora to be my Matron of Honor. The bottomless pit of grief loomed before me as I thought of my wedding day without Lenora to share it with.

I could no longer deny what was happening when we arrived at the church and saw Lenora in her finery. She looked so beautiful, as if she would sit up and tell us not to worry, that it had all been a horrible mistake. Sadly, that did not happen. I gingerly touched her hand and nearly drew back as I felt how cold it was. I had to recognize that she was lost to us forever, that Lenora had gone into that eternal sleep that all of us, except for a very blessed few, would have to face.

Tears spilled down my cheeks, and I heard Robin weeping softly beside me. This was supposed to be the happiest time of our lives, but instead, we were burying one of my most precious treasures; my beloved sister.

As Lenora’s service progressed, I caught my mother’s eye. I saw her looking around discreetly, ever watchful of all that was happening. My mother had an eagle’s eye for detail, and it was working diligently this day. I was amazed that, although grief-stricken, she held herself with dignity and grace.

I was not handling my loss very well at all. The abyss of despair swam closer and closer to me every day, and I found it nearly impossible to not fall into it. Robin stayed with me constantly, for he had told me over and over how worried he was about me. I hated myself for not feeling stronger and more courageous to battle my grief and despaired at seeing how vexed Robin looked. He, too, was hurting, and I could do very little to comfort him.

A few days after we put Lenora in the ground, Robin came over for his usual visit, and the discussion of our wedding arose. “Robin, please do not be angry with me, but I feel we should postpone the wedding. It is not right for us to marry when we are all still so heartsick. I plead with thee to understand.”

Robin heaved a large sigh, looking so very sorrowful that it maimed my soul. “I understand, Alina. Truly, I do. The family will understand, too.”

“It will not be forever, my Robin, for even in my grief, I long to be your wife,” I choked out. “I am just so sick at heart right now.”

“We all are, Alina. So are we all,” Robin sighed, sounding as though he carried the weight of a hundred planets on his shoulders.

My morale continued to decline. I had difficulty sleeping and would toss and turn most of the night. When I did sleep, it was only fitfully, and I had terrible nightmares. I ate only enough to survive, and I discovered I was rapidly losing weight.

The things I once took pleasure in meant very little to me now. I could not hold concentration for very long, for my mind veered toward dark thoughts such as what it was like on the Other Side. Was Lenora with my father and little brother now? Were they in forever torment or was there some sort of benevolent spirit guide to help them? Was Ariadne there to comfort Lenora? Could Ariadne send Lenora back to us if we all wished and prayed hard enough?

I should have recognized that I was in no shape to be mixing Alchemy elixirs. As I carelessly added ingredients to the cauldron, my mind wandered. I misread the recipe and erred in my measurements of the ingredients. The potion glowed an eerie orange color, and my cauldron melted before my eyes. I backed away, coughing but was too slow to avoid the noxious fumes altogether.

In less than an hour, I was frightfully ill. I had always taken great pains to have a care while mixing elixirs, but I had made a grievous error this time. The little that was in my stomach was disgorged into the toilet, and I began to experience uncontrollable chills. My teeth chattered and then, I felt unbearably hot the next instant. Minute by minute, I was finding it more and more difficult to draw breath. I reached for my cell phone, but alas, it was nowhere to be found. Vaguely, I remembered setting it on the table. I tried calling out for help, but my voice was only a weak gurgle. Stars began dancing before my vision, and everything was drifting far, far away. I fell to my knees, my legs unable to support me any longer. I tried to crawl toward the door but could not. As my remaining strength left my body, the floor tilted upward to meet me. Everything went black.