The crowd of onlookers resembled ravenous crows ready to tear a carcass to shreds. And Emilie Deveraux was the carcass.

She’d heard tales of wolves and crows striking up a bizarre, unspoken bargain with each other. The birds would alert the wolves to the whereabouts of carcasses and the wolves would repay the courtesy by leaving behind shreds on the remains. That way, they were both satisfied.

It had always sounded like a strange companionship to her, an unlikely way for opposites to peacefully co-exist. Now, bound and peering down at the growing crowd watching her demise, she realized the world was full of strange companions.

The people milled around the town square. They were simple townsfolk like her. Yet their fear of being victimized forced them to align their loyalty with the Church. These people were the crows, the Church the wolves.

Always better to be on the dominant side than the side she was on.

The flames rose, licking her bare feet. The rags they’d allowed her to keep around her body for months were also sparked by the fire. Every inch of the fiber was burning, melting and tracing a line of flames along her chest. The skin beneath was blistered, the stench enough to make vomit rise and fall through her mouth until it stained her front. But no one made a move; they all stared. She could see shame in most of their eyes, but some actually looked like they were enjoying it... every single one glad it was her burning at the stake, rather than them.

Someone had pointed the finger her way, but she’d never found out who. She’d denied the charges of Heresy and even lied about being a witch. But the Inquisitors didn’t hear logic. As long as their mighty belief was spreading throughout France, they happily lined their pockets with the wealth of the Kings and Queens who commissioned these barbaric acts all across Europe.

With her hair smoldering along her scalp, Emilie started to laugh. The raspy snicker ignited as the flames tore away her skin. Until eventually her laughter echoed hauntingly through the square. It was all she could do to keep from screaming with agony.

Though the pain would only be temporary.

The fire would burn her, even kill her, but this wasn’t the first time she’d suffered this fate.

In another town, over half a century ago, she’d been sentenced to the same fate. That first time she’d called out for help, to the angels in the sky or the demons below. Emilie hadn’t cared who answered the call, though it was the latter who answered her cry. The deal had been struck as the flames licked away her human skin.

Emilie had made a deal with unknown demons and it had changed her forever.

She laughed some more, continued until the fire burned away her vocal cords and her lungs caught on fire. But even when the sound stopped and the flames began to calm, Emilie was still alive. Her carcass hung on the stake, skin shriveled and melted onto her bones.

Fire hurt, yet empowered her.

The spark of her own flame ignited like a phoenix that would rise elsewhere. The crowd looked horrified, confused. She felt her shriveled lips curving into a smile. The price for suffering an untimely death was to be dumped in another place, another time. She didn’t know who pulled the strings. It could be the Devil himself, but the next time she opened her eyes, she’d be in a strange place.

This was her life.

Chapter One

Sydney, Australia

2007

Emmy was a much more suitable name in this time of technology and science. This was the first time she’d traveled through several centuries to wake up in the future. She’d been here less than a day and already loved this place. She was quickly adapting to their way of life, even to the new speech these foreigners spoke. Emilie was no longer in her native France but after all the pain and betrayal her own country caused her, she wasn’t too upset by the notion.

She pushed her hands off the railing, enjoying the feel of the breeze sweeping through her long red hair. Her eyes were focused on the giant metal bridge to her left. The Sydney Harbor Bridge they called it. Fitting, since it sat on Sydney Harbor.

As she took a lazy step back, Emmy collided with someone. Her legs were unsteady beneath her, until she was helped upright by a pair of strong hands.

“I am so sorry,” she said with an apologetic smile, looking up to meet the stranger’s face.

“It’s no problem,” the male voice replied. His eyes were a deep blue like the water behind her. He held her shoulders as he gazed into her eyes for several seconds, then dropped his hands when he realized they’d lingered there too long.

Emmy missed his warmth when he pulled away. Words stuck on her tongue. She wanted to introduce herself, say hello and talk about the weather — anything to keep him here a little longer. He was such a lovely sight with his short blond hair sparkling in the sun. His arms now hung awkwardly at his sides, sleeves rolled up to the forearms. He was thin, but still alluring. Emmy had no problem fantasizing about running her fingers over his chest, admiring what he had to offer under the shirt.

“Well, I’ll see ya,” he said with an offhanded wave.

“Yes, see you...” she whispered watching him go. Who was this man? A stranger whom she’d shared an intimate moment with, yet knew nothing about. All of a sudden it was hard to breathe, even so close to the ocean with the slight scent of salt in the air.

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