His accent was French, like her great-grandmother Cecile’s. The lady’s was definitely Southern, like her mother’s. It was an odd combination. They were an odd pair.

As she took in the two of them, something in the horizon bent, like the shimmer of air in extreme heat. Lara blinked furiously, making sure that she wasn’t seeing things. The world began to twirl and she found that her legs were bendy as she slid down, like she did when she played dead after being shot from a cap gun.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the grass, looking up at the curious pair.

“Does she know?” The woman looked up at the man.

He seemed irritated. “Of course not.”

“Know what?” Lara lifted herself up on her elbows. She’d heard of kidnappers, but these two didn’t look much like kidnappers. Lara figured she could outrun the woman, who was wearing high heels in a field. At least her vision wasn’t bendy and she wasn’t dizzy anymore.

“That you’re special.” He smiled. “But of course, you know that already, don’t you?” His voiced teased at something. “Someone’s magic has just come in.”

What was he talking about? What magic?

“I remember when my magic came in,” said the woman, closing her eyes to savor a memory. “I could turn the radio on without touching it. Drove Maman crazy.” She cocked her head, as if Lara were an exhibit in the zoo. “She’s a pretty child, too. Don’t you think she looks like me?”

The man closed his eyes in disgust. “Why do I bring you along?”

“Because I’m your favorite and you know it.” She touched Lara’s cheek again, maternally. “She’s definitely the one.”

“Oh, she’s the one all right.” The man finally leaned over her. “I’ve made sure of it this time. Remember this, my dear girl. We have bigger plans for you, Lara Barnes. That boy in your future, he is not your destiny.”

“Oh, she’ll never remember.” The woman sniffed slightly with disgust. Her upturned nose and full lips made her look like a movie star. “She’ll think she loves him. We always do.”

“Sadly, yes, I’m afraid,” said the man, pulling his sunglasses down so Lara could see his eyes. They were an amber color, and something struck her as oddly familiar about them. It took Lara a moment for it to register. His pupils were horizontal like those of the goat they’d kept on the farm last summer. She could never tell if the goat was actually looking at her and she had that same familiar feeling now, the desire to look behind her to see what he was staring at.

“Love. It is the bane of my existence.” He shook his head pitifully. “And unfortunately, it’s in the genes for this one, too.” He shot the woman a look.