Preface
Alannah Léan Ferguson was born in the small Village of Dalkey Ireland. Dalkey is located in south County Dublin. While Dalkey was more of a vital part to Dublin's trade during the middle Ages, the only thing keeping the sleeping village afloat these days is the fisherman, the trickle of tourists during the spring and summer and her father's very lucrative trade business. Alannah's father is a very powerful man, not only is he the governor of Dalkey but he is a dealer in fine wares that cannot be found in the small village. For most of her life Alannah was kept in the dark about her father's business, all she knew was that they lived a happy live with money to spare. It wasn't until later in her life that she learned what it was that he dealt in.
Alannah's family was very wealthy and everyone who had heard of her father learned to fear him. Her father General Harry Ferguson was the Governor of the small village and her mother doted after him. The villagers knew enough to keep to themselves and to stay out of her father's affairs if they crossed him they would pay the price. This is how in Dalkey, the Governor got the reputation of a fierce and strict ruler. The rules were simple you obeyed them or you died.
Alannah had three brothers, the eldest was Jakob, and then there were twins Erik and Eraldo, Alannah was the youngest of the family and the only girl. As the youngest child and the only girl, she had three older siblings to look after her, and they did. The boys loved Alannah, all but one, Eraldo was jealous of his sister, he always had been. From the day she was born into the family she was the one that got the most attention and Eraldo did not like that, he vowed one day that he would end her life and become the center of attention once again.
The oldest brother, Jakob was a prime example of that rule. Jakob wanted to be a doctor it was a dream of his, but as the eldest, their father wanted him to take over the "family" business. None of the brothers wanted to turn out like their father a ruthless cold-hearted tyrant. Jakob being strong willed, told their father that he did not want to join the family business. Jakob and their father had an intense argument, after which Jakob disappeared from their home, never to be heard from again. The twins Erik and Eraldo disappeared when she was eleven; she thought that they too had told their father off and that was why they had gone.