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    We all knew our truce
could not last. Our history has proven that, over and over. It is
simply not in the nature of many of our kind to get along. There
were some who believed this new land would prove too small for the
hundreds of us to co-exist. Despite this, we succeeded in creating
Chimera; ripping land from its place in Europe, transporting it to
the other end of the earth, to the far western edge of the New
World. There we joined together and created an extraordinary spell
that moved Chimera beyond the confines of normal time and
space.
    Creating the gates to
reach our new home was draining, but we were triumphant. With few
entrances, each confined with layers of protection, we would be
safe from non-magickal intrusions. There is only one rule: Protect
the existence of Chimera, whatever the cost. To ensure this, travel
between Chimera and the Mundane world is restricted.
    This has grown easier as
time has passed.
    As more creatures and
users of magick moved to Chimera, magick stopped functioning
properly in the Mundane world. It faded in the minds of men from a
terrifying reality to myth, from myth to legend, and from legend to
bedtime stories told to frighten young children. Knowledge of our
existence was lost, and those in Chimera were safe.
    Some of our kind chose not
to leave the Mundane world. There are still vampires in Italy and
the Americas, shapeshifters in the New World, and a few wizarding
families in Europe.
    To guard our hard-won
home, we who left the Mundane world would have no contact with any
who decided to remain outside. Most of us believe, after all this
time, that those who stayed behind no longer remember our
existence.
    There are no stories of
this place.
    Our alliance has indeed
been broken, but on this one thing we are still in agreement. To
protect our creation, it must never be mentioned to any in the
Mundane world. And any who learn of our existence must forever
become a part of Chimera.

Chapter 8
    Why is She Here?
    Mornings were another way
things were changing. Before this year, the three of us had risen
early, out riding bikes or chatting on-line by 8:00 am. But for
several months now, I’d noticed Olivia sleeping in later and
later.
    At first I kept waiting
for things to return to normal. But lately, I’d begun to realize it
wasn’t going back the way it had been. To be fair, it wasn’t just
Olivia. At school, it was like some strange sleep virus was
infecting everyone in 7 th grade. I really liked
mornings, so it had better not infect me!
    I’d complained to Mom about
Olivia sleeping late, but she just said sleeping in was normal for
teenagers. “Have you forgotten when your brother was your
age?”
    I had forgotten. Who’d want
to remember that? Chris had been a total slug. My parents had to
knock on his door, yelling at him to get up every morning. Dad even
had to go in and pull the covers off the bed. Once Dad got so
impatient he poured a glass of ice water on his head. That got
Chris up.
    Note to self — Don’t
become a teenage slug!
    Maybe this morning I should
have slept in. Every time I tried to imagine who would meet us at
Johnny’s, my stomach started flipping around like something was
doing gymnastics in there.
    It was ten minutes before
8:00 am when the three of us met on our corner.
    “ Let’s go.” Faith turned
to lead the way. I noticed her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks
were flushed. Knowing Faith, she was excited to learn about that
strange place.
    Olivia’s greeting was a
grumbled complaint. “I can’t believe we’ve got to be at Johnny’s so
early. To meet someone we don’t even know.”
    “ Come on, Olivia, aren’t
you excited? We’re going to find who sent those pages and what they
know about that strange place.”
    “ No, Faith. I’m too tired
to care right now. You be excited for both of us.”
    Olivia really must be
tired. Her hair was hanging limp around her face and she hadn’t
slathered on lip-gloss or eye