1 Chapter One

"ZOE!!!"

Her mother seemed to be overly excited this morning.

"Zoe" her mother said as she opened her door "Zoe get up you only turn 18 once and I want today to be perfect."

Zoe grunted and pulled the covers over her head. Her birthday was here the day she had been dreading. Her mother had planned a huge birthday celebration to celebrate her daughters 18th birthday. The past month had been full of preparations and being dragged from one party planning meeting after another. Zoe had been dragged to 5 different dress stores until her mother had found the perfect dress. Zoe really didn't care which dress she would wear or for the party in that matter. Turning 18 was something she had dreaded since she had turned 16.

Mother pulled the blanket off of her "Zoe get up we have a lot to do before your party tonight. You have a salon appointment in one hour. Get up, get showered and let's get going."

Zoe looked at her mother. She wanted to tell her mother no. She wanted to run away screaming and not indure the party and it's guest that were soon to invade on her. "Okay mom just give me 15 minutes." She smiled at her mother hiding her real feelings. Her father knew all too well that Zoe wasn't interested in celebrating this day. He understood that his daughter really wasn't interested in the life she was born into. He understood all that Zoe wanted was to go to a University and become a Doctor but unfortunately his daughter with her abilities was destined to be the next leader of their tribe. He had quickly talked her into agreeing to her mother's wishes of having this extravagant party.

"Zoe, sweetie I know that this isn't something you wanted for your life. I'm so sorry that we have to put you under this pressure but with your abilities..." Her mother knew the pain in her daughter's heart. She knew what becoming a Doctor ment to Zoe and had wanted this for her daughter. But from the moment Zoe was born her parents knew that she wasn't going to be able to live a normal life.

"Mom, I understand. I do not blame you and dad. If you had the choice you would of never put this on me." Zoe could see the pain in her mother's eyes. They had tried so hard not to put this on her. In fact for the first 5 years of her life her parents hid her from the elders. But they had put their trust in the wrong person and she was soon discovered.

"That's why I want today to be special Zoe. That's why I wanted to give you such an amazing birthday. You have brought so much joy and laughter to your father's and my life that we wanted to show you how much you mean to us." Mother was wiping her eyes as she said this. She told herself she wouldn't cry on this day but was already showing signs of not keeping that promise.

Zoe instantly jumped out of bed and hugged her mother.

"Mom, don't cry. Everything will be okay. I understand that this isn't the life you would have chosen for me if you and dad had a choice. But I've decided that I will do what is expected and I will do so with everything in me. So let's get this special day started."

Hearing Zoe say this made her mother smile "Okay go take a shower I'll meet you down stairs in 15 minutes." Her mother closed the door behind her as she left Zoe's room.

As Zoe got ready her heart felt heavy. She knew if she put up any fight she would hurt her parents in the long run. Zoe knew from a young age she was powerful. She was actually the most powerful sorceress in her tribe. For that reason alone the elders expected her to take over as leader of the tribe and marry Jack. She could not escape this fait no matter what she did. They would find her and bring her back. Then just to prove a point they would hurt her parents. So for the sake of them Zoe unwilling excepted her fate. She decided that today she was going to enjoy everything her mother had planned even if she didn't want too.