She watched the book flitter closed blinking. She opened the book again and it was her story. The one she’d written. Though the binding was the same as the Effect series confusing her. The first page wasn’t her writing though. It was in the same script as the reviews that came with her books.

  ‘There are many worlds and in each you can find hints of the others’ She closed it again. She looked up at her father, who’d handed her the book that had come in his order, but was filled with what he’d taken for nonsense so it hadn’t interested him and like her… mother often had gave it to her. He caught her gaze and raised his bush brows.

  “What is it Aloka?” He asked with a prim and proper tone that expected the sky but only ever gave a bit. Aloka. Yes. That was her. Aloka Navan the five year old daughter of the Lord and Lady Navan. Not Nerezza the teenage daughter of the most feared dark Sorceress Thana. Yet. She flipped through the book again and found the segment of notes she remembered. She found her name Aloka written in letters she could read perfectly.

  Aloka the daughter of a corrupt Lord who is raised by her father as a naive tool used by everyone around her striving for affection and would have an unwavering belief in people’s goodness.

  “It’s nothing Father.” She stated. Catching too late that she usually called him Papa. He though didn’t seem to notice already turning back to his work. Aloka was always dressed in the finest cloths and her father often bragged and complimented her but Aloka was no less used by her parent then Nerezza was. Manipulation. It was a word Aloka in the story would never fathom but Nerezza knew it all too well watching her mother.

  Nerezza. Aloka. What was the difference. They were children raised to be sacrificed.

  Aloka would be sold into a marriage just to be used and abused by that man before dying with her mother and father and husband ignorant to the end about so many things.

  Five minutes ago, Aloka wouldn’t have known how to search for her own soul which resembled Nerezza’s if a little off and locate a magic potential that she would have only learned about in the moment of her death. Reincarnation. Nerezza’s memories held many stories and histories of the concept of reincarnation, yet it was extremely rare to remember a previous incarnation and it seemed even rarer to have a history of the new incarnation provided.

  To think five minutes before she would have smiled like a foolish child and state that her father was a businessman. Wanting for nothin but affection and approval from those in her life.

  Nerezza’s mother had been no better but at least she always knew her mother would use her. She’d stopped reaching for love a long time ago.

  No. She grimaced because two truths battled in her head. She’d been a lot like Aloka. She’d been a lot like Nerezza. She didn’t know who she was right then.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Neither of us fought death.

  It was a cold way for her to accept things but neither of her lives had been destined to be warm.

  “Aloka.” Her father called looking at a letter smiling in a way that made her heart skip foolishly though her heart gripped because she now knew what that smile meant.

  “You’ve been accepted to Astell Academy.” He informed. The name of the Academy where she’d meet Belladonna who would pity her for being so foolishly pushed around. Disregarded because of her lack of magic. The start to her end. The start of being passed from one manipulator to another.

  Aloka smiled but she felt it was more similar to Nerezza. She wasn’t going to blindly follow. She had the tools to change her life this time.

  “Actually, father. I am going to find a magic instructor.” She informed him looking over his desk looking for what her previous life’s knowledge knew would be there. Her father finally looked directly at her giving her his full attention even if he was frowning.

  “And how do you expect to fins a magic instructor without my permission. It’s been decided you’ll go to Astell.” He insisted. Like the conversation was over. She held out a paper smiling innocently.

  “Father, what do you think Lord Carin would think about the fact that you’ve been changing these numbers all night?” She asked him holding up budget sheets. Nerezza had spent so long trying to hide any similarity to her mother but in this world it wasn’t a crime to be simply like her. Right then she let all of her mother’s cunningness and power drip from her.

  Her father gaped at her.

  “Where in the world did you learn that Aloka?” He asked her. She offered him a bright Aloka smile.

  “Well you see I just remembered my previous life and I realized I don’t like to be manipulated, father.” She chirped. She stood with her notes feeling freer then she ever had. “I wouldn’t try to send me to Astell and don’t worry I’ll handle everything. And when I’m say seventeen I’ll give you the two thousand links you would have sold me to a husband for and I’ll leave the family quietly and without embarrassment.” He looked at her terrified. “Also father the Blue Roses will only bring you death.” She gave him a last bit of advice.

  Walking through the halls she stopped to see her Mama. Nerezza felt a sharp thump in her chest and she ran forward.

  “Mama!” She called. Her Mama paused and smiled a war if a bit dizzy smiled.

  “Baby!” She called and held her really close. The little girl closed her eyes and soaked up the love and affection.

  “Mama promise me you’ll avoid Blue Roses.” She demanded. The woman who was so easily pushed around like Aloka blinked then grinned.

  “I prefer daisies any way shall we go find some?” She asked and the little girl took her hand and went.

  When back in her room she looked at the book and her small hands. Magic in this world was different. Not fundamentally but enough though that she could recognize Nerezza’s world’s magic radiating from her and could find the tangled core in herself. That was the only thing holding her magic back she realized.

  In this world this magic wasn’t evil. She thought with anticipation. It was rare and needed a strong will to manage it but she’d been managing it if not being able to use it forever. Aloka sat closing her eyes focusing on her core unthreading it. The pain was not nearly as bad as the other bruises on her soul.

  Opening her eyes when it was done she caught herself in the mirror. She still looked like Aloka, but Aloka’s eyes had been a pretty blue and now they were that grey with silver sparks making her even more Nerezza. It wasn’t fear or regret she felt just more solidity.