"...Because it already belongs to you," she stated, her voice matter-of-fact. "Or rather, it once did..."
"What?" I tried to tell her to 'speak English', but it came out as "Speak Common!" After a slight pause, I continued, "Listen, I have never seen this book!"
"Never is a harsh word," she said with a hint of a laugh. "Harsh words are not to be used lightly. No, you may not have seen it before... but make no mistake, darkling, it does belong to you."
"Darkling..." I repeated. "Why do you keep calling me that? What in the world is going on?"
"I call you darkling because it is what you are," she replied. "And all the world is what is going on..."
I just frowned at this nutty woman. "What is this book? And why is it evil? And who are you, anyway?"
"This book... This book is your destiny," she stated. "There are those who would call it evil, but I am not one of them. Read it for yourself and decide. And who am I? It is best left unsaid. Fare well, darkling." And without another word, her form shifted into nothing more than mist, which lifted past my grip and floated away.
