Mariska had had a rough few months really years ever since she was small she knew that she was different she had only recently found out that being different could cost your life. Mariska was born into the Romani gypsy culture and life style. Traveling all over with her family Mariska was taught ways of the gypsy, mostly being able to do trade for goods but that was mostly what the men were good for but not to say some of the older gypsy woman had not their way with customers but for the most part gypsy woman would lure gullible woman a few times eager men to come get their fortune read to gaze into the crystal ball that was always lit in the window of their colorful wagon. Some of the older generation did have a some skills invoke curses or blessings, conjure/channel spirits, and skill with illusion casting . When she was younger Mariska had seen her grandmother transformer herself into a black cat when the cat returned she had a group of people following her they demanded to do trade giving double the price for almost worthless pieces of handmade jewelry and oracles that were said to ward off evil. This only happened when her family was in desperate need of money for food or when they first got to a new place making sure that others would want to come.

As Mariska got older she was spending more time with her grandmother becoming a protegee to her from her grandmother she learned many skills she became her favorite out of 20 other grandchildren she always told Mariska that she had an old soul maybe even on of their beginning ancestors had be reborn in her giving her powers beyond any other since olden times. Mariska always brushed that off yes she knew that she very different from her sisters always knowing when something would happen and her parents would still scold her for not telling them about it earlier to prevent it and not to talk about the dreams that she would have always such vivid dreams it was like she could step out of her body and go to any place that her mind wanted too. A few times it was a dark alley way of sorts it was always wet and cold the air smelt of rotten flesh she always heard whimpering of a child but every time she walked closer and was about to reach out she would awake from the dream time and time again she gets a little closer but never enough to see the child.

Months had past her and her family had finally found a new city to exploit. The men went out to do trade the woman back at the caravans setting up for their nightly affair always making a big dinner having all of them together drinking and dancing what gypsies did best. This night started out like so many before music by the family band playing ,the girls dancing by the fire all the youngsters playing around. Mariska didn't take part in much of it not that she wasn't proud of her heritage but she wasn't like all of them she never felt like celebrating and dancing. On this evening she had taken a walk down by the water front she loved feeling the breeze of the salt watered wind in her face. She walked along finally finding a large tree she sat and just listened to the water the waves soothed her so much she fell asleep. She was awakened by screams she jumped up looking around seeing her camp sight in flames she ran as quick as she could passing by villagers who had such evil looks in their eyes holding torches .

When she finally reached the camp sight all you could see where burnt wagon and bodies spread everywhere. Tears started to build in her eyes she ran to closet body it was burnt past recognition every few inches a new body laid there. She yelled out for her family but no reply she kept walking past the bodies and reached the first wagon which was her grandmother it wasn't as bad as the others still almost intact “Grandmother” she yelled out pushing back the door stepping slowly in since she wasn't sure how sturdy it was. Whilst inside she saw the table and curtains all to the floor faintly she heard a voice she pulled away at the curtains seeing her grandmothers arm she used all her strength to pull off the table from on top of her grandmother “Grandmother are you ok” she took her into his arm pulling her out of the rumble she didn't seem to be hurt just weak “Mariska my sweet girl you must go away from this place you are the last of our bloodline you must survive now on your own” her voice was getting weak “you must find other gypsies to make sure that the blood that courses through you will be passed on so that we can continue on” she caressed her grandmothers face taking in all that was saying knowing that she was right but how would she survive on her own where would she go ...she looked down back at her “Mariska its time for my life here to end with my last breath I will send part of my soul to yours making your powers even stronger than before ,….i love you my sweet we will always be with you” and with those words she was gone.

Mariska was now on her own she had been traveling for almost six months now she had only taken what she need from her grandmothers old wagon before setting it on flames before the villagers were back to claim what was not burnt. She had heard rumors after she left that gypsies were no longer wanted in any town and if you were said to be one that you would be killed no questions asked. She didn't let that bother her she kept on going town to town looking for others like her.