Cynthia Arden

Born the third of three children, there didn't seem to be anything unusual about Cynthia, at least not to her parents. She had the same flaming red hair as her mother and siblings, but she lacked their zest for life and outgoing nature. Her mother doted on her, treasuring her as the least rebellious of her brood, while her father largely ignored her as he did everyone, focused as he was on his dealings with the shadier elements of Ylelon society.

But as time went by, it became clear that Cynthia was talented. She often knew things about the people around her that no small child had any business knowing. Sometimes she would blurt out a deep secret of someone nearby, not understanding the implications of her actions. More than one of her father's business associates disappeared after the precocious child mentioned their recent activities in front of the wrong company.

Strange things happened around Cynthia, too. Animals tended to act oddly when she was nearby, sometimes being unusually friendly, other times unnaturally hostile. Cynthia never asked for help in reaching anything or opening a door. On more than one occasion her mother caught her with items that had been hidden on high shelves or other places that should have been well out of reach for a toddler.

As Cynthia grew older, she grew more distant. She always seemed to know what others around her were thinking, and since they rarely thought pleasant things about her, her reactions tended to be appropriate. She rarely had friends for more than a few days. Inevitably, she would drift away from others she formed bonds with, complaining under her breath that they never say what they really think.

Desperate to be rid of the girl and the oddities that seemed to follow her, Cynthia's parents set her up with a sizable trust account the moment she finished school and practically drop-kicked her out the door. She took up a very lonely existence, spending her days brooding quietly and her nights wandering Ylelon City, desperately searching for someone, anyone, she could connect with. Her search was fruitless for years, until one night by chance, she met a young man named Will.