MADAME ZHOU

The Old Lady stood and stretched, it had been a long time since she had enjoyed the easy suppleness that comes with being young.

Her face was a myriad of lines, reflective of a long and full life.

She spoke to herself in her native tongue, Mandarin .... 'it won't be long now'.

Madame Zhou was a highly regarded and respected figure within the London Chinese community. She had arrived in the capital as a little girl, her family leaving Shanghai for a 'better' life in England.

That had been nearly ninety years ago and Madame Zhou felt an increasing desire to return to her homeland, to the country of her roots. She dreamed of the misty hills and the spirituality of China.

She had only been a little girl when her Mother realised that, like her Mother before her, her daughter had inherited 'the gift'.

It was 'the gift' that guided Madame Zhou, it was 'the gift' that had kept her in China Town in the centre of London.

Twenty five years ago she had seen new and very powerful signs, a baby girl was born who would be instrumental in a battle between the forces of dark and light, night and day, good and evil. This little baby would grow to be a woman who's role, whos destiny would affect many others. If she accepted her place, her fate then she may be able to prevent a great force of evil that was building and the inevitable death of many innocents.

In her dream talks with the 'elders' they warned and advised her of the dark forces that where at work and how she could mentor the chosen one, Amanda.

She sat back down and looked at the scattered stones on the table top .... some bright, some dull ... to the untrained eye they meant nothing, to Madame Zhou they spoke volumes.

The killing was starting already ... it was time to let the girl, now a woman, know her destiny.

Madame Zhou rubbed the small of her back and sat down again, it was time to speak to the Elders again.

She did take some comfort in this for she knew that before the first battle was over she would be with them .......