Summary

Prologue

Cassandra lies in bed alone in her home burning up with fever. Cassandra knows that the phoenix stone, her most precious belonging and the source of her magical powers, is the cause. Cassandra is frightened she will burn as other owners of the stone have done. In her fear, Cassandra thinks of the only person who seemed to understand the powers of the stone and wonders if she should have let him tell her how to prevent her inevitable fate. Instead, Cassandra attempts to destroy the stone by crushing it, but the stone protects itself by moving her aim at the final moment and smashing her hand instead.

Chapter 1

Clara wakes on her twelfth birthday excited for the day to come. Clara has convinced her father to allow a puppeteer to come perform at her party. Clara enjoyed the performance...