What's a girl to do when her body and soul are separated on two different planets? In Kyna's case, whatever the hell it takes. Duh!

The night sky shined above with stars brighter than the neon lights of Times Square. And if that wasn't enough to prove Ula's words as truth, a rainbow Milky Way splashed amongst the stars, like mixed paints on an artist's palette.

Kyna sighed and went back inside. Apparently, Nica -who disappeared god know where- brought her to his great aunt's house. It was a two-story peachy brick house, squat and round and with a thatched roof.

In fact, Ula looked just like her house. Kyna chuckled at the thought. If on Earth, some owners look like their dogs, does that mean here on YIberia they resemble their homes?

Ylberia...wow, she still couldn't believe she was on another world. Ula gave her a basic history lesson after Nica left - ran off more like - to speak with some big whig high council person. Kyna walked passed the kitchen, which took up half the first floor. Passed tables and counters overflowed to bursting with glass bottles, short and skinny, round and square. Some as curvy as Betty Boop or more twisted than a roller coaster. Filled with various herbs, toxins, liquids and syrups.

She went down the hallway and opened the door to her left, opposite her room, and into the Ula's library. The old, dusty tome Ula showed her before still lay on the table, tattered and discarded, its loose pages splattered across the floor.

If she had an actual heart, it would've pained her to witness what she'd done with her own hand. It wasn't everyday you were told you were gifted with a power to travel to unimaginable places. But was now trapped with no hope of returning home. The anger of hearing those words spiraled out of her control that she took it out on an innocent book.

She couldn't believe herself capable of destroying a book. And for what? Because she couldn't control her emotions? For as long as she remembered, if she wanted to visit exciting places, she'd crack open a book. They were her precious guides into the unknown. And the one book that held the knowledge of what she is and possibly fix this, no matter what Ula said, she smacked out of the woman's hands.

She partly blamed the blasted doll her soul was currently occupying. They didn't give it organs but they did equip it with an emotion mechanism.

Kyna can't feel physical pain. But oh she can feel emotional pain. She can even tear up too. Just like a realistic baby doll. Only thing missing were the function to roll over, crawl and burp.

Kyna gathered up the fallen pages and gently tried to place them back inside the book. Immediately it opened up to a picture of the same frescoe she saw hours earlier.

The travelers. People with the ability to cross over into other worlds. Guiding people and creatures to safety and a better life like an inter-galactic underground railroad.

A traveler. Like her. When Ula told her about them Kyna had scoffed. Something like that was impossible for sure. If so, she definitely would've traveled the world three, no four times over. To be able to visit Egypt and see the sphinx and three pyramids?

And after all this time of being a traveler why is she now visiting other worlds? Why only her soul and not just her body too? Ula couldn't answer the former and barely gave a decent explanation to the latter. For some unknown reason - Kyna rolled her eyes - a bunch of other people from other worlds decided to put an end to it. But how?

Ula suspiciously changed the subject by offering her sweets. But no matter she was going to find out. As well as find a way back home. No way in hell she's going to live out the rest of her life as Chucky.

"Pack up your stuff," said a voice behind her, startling Kyna. The heavy book knocked off the table and the pages fluttered down to the ground like falling petals.

Sonuva! "Don't sneak up on me!"

Nica stood at arm's length away from her with a sullen expression. His eyes swept her new body from head to toe, before sighing as if he found her wanting. Of course she didn't want him to. She has more important things to do than drool over some cute guy who she'll never see again. God willing.

"Pack your stuff," he repeated, his fingers rubbing his blade's hilt. "We leave for Earth in one canto (hour)."

Then he turned his back on her and swiftly left the room, leaving Kyna with two crippling emotions of pure rage and joy. In wanting to slap him upside his head her mom would be proud of or grab him, thanking him nonstop in between kisses all over his face.

Kyna chose the third option and grudgingly followed his orders, gathering what she thought she might need. Though the clothing was different, from what she'd seen so far, some of Ula's old clothes were a mix of simple brown and green cotton like dresses and leather. She picked out the least cosplay looking outfits, two boots and slipped off the white mumu tent she wore since she woke up in over her head. And changed into a white peplum top, brown leather pants and belted, hooded jacket. Pairing her outfit with a pair of chocolate brown boots that looked like elastic wrap bandages.

The rest, she stuffed into a satchel she found in the bottom of the armoire and she was ready. With trepidation, Kyna finally faced herself in the mirror beside the door before leaving and strived to make some sort of peace with her new face and body. By sheer luck, she assumed the doll now containing her soul was at least the same height of her original body.

But it wasn't the same. Instead of a milk chocolate, her skin was now dark cocoa. Light brown eyes replaced with a darker brown, short thick curls replaced with thicker kiny hair she had to corn row. She looked nothing like she did before. This doll, her new body, was if FAce Off and RIPD had a baby. But then it came out black and they had to go on the Maury show to find out who was the baby daddy. For Roots to show up in the last minute to claim he's the daddy.

Kyna sighed. One thing for sure, she was unrecognizable even if she gave her entire bio to friends and family as proof of her identity. Turning from the mirror, she pushed out the door, turned left and marched down the hall towards the front door at least thirty minutes early.

"Hello dear," said Ula, bringing Kyna up short. Pointing towards her, she said, "Glad my old clothes fits you."

"I was going to ask permission-Nica didn't even give me much time-I hope you don't mind," Kyna asked hesitantly. Why didn't she stop to find and ask Ula first? If her mother was here, she'd raised a huge bump outside her head with a well placed slap for having no manners. Damn that Nica. His news that we were going back to Earth so soon short circuited her brain.

Chuckling Ula shuffled over to her side and grabbed both of her hands within her own. "Don't worry about it. I'm much too big to wear it now, so you might as well."

"Sorry," mumbled Kyna. No, this woman did much to take care of her, no matter how awkward things became after learning about her body hopping situation. Squaring her shoulders, Kyna looked into Ula's twinkling kind eyes. "Thank you."

Ula squeezed her hand and smiled. Nodding her head towards the kitchen area, she tugged her hands "Come. I have some stuff for your journey home."

Kyna released her hands and nearly ran to her kitchen laboratory like a kid in a candy store, and Kyna the parent following behind in amusement. She stopped at the table and watched Ula whirlwind her way, picking up and putting back down several vials.

Seeing her this way and witnessing how much further help this sweet old lady was willing to give for her made her nostalgic. She hadn't been here for long but already she's going to miss her.

A hot prickling formed behind her eyes and she blinked it away in astonishment. Unbelievable, they really did give her tear ducts. Guess she should be glad she didn't have a string to pull on her back to make her say corny lines.

As silent as a ninja Nica appeared next to her. "Good. You're ready early. Let's go."

Kyna nearly jumped out of her fake skin and glared at him. Never had she met anyone so rude, no matter how cute she was. It didn't take a genius to know that she'll more likely come to an inch to killing him a dozen times before they find the guy riding around in her real body. Ignoring, Kyna jerked her head back to Ula who'd approached her with four vials carried lovingly and precious in her hands.

Ula flicked Nica a disapproving look. "You're lucky my hands are full. Or I'd smack you. The poor thing been through enough. It can't certainly hurt to treat her more gently."

Gently? Although Kyna appreciated Ula backing her and would love to see her continue scolding him, she felt offended. So yeah, her current circumstances weren't ideal but not once did she cry. She almost did a few minutes ago but almost doesn't count. She was no wilting flower.

Ula smiled at Kyna. "I've heard stories that Earth has advanced much since the last time the doorway been closed. So I'm not sure if these will be of any use. But it can't hurt." Curling her fingers into her palm, she picked up the tiny glass bottles between her fingers and held them aloft. "In my right hand are some of my old serums from my youth I've revamped a bit," Kyna stared at the two vials, one a teardrop containing something that look like red Kool-aid. The second one was shaped like the number eight and held something more gaseous. It swirled silvery blue vapors in a lazily counter clockwise motion. "The red will subjugate your enemies. Make them work for you. The other will hide you from them."

Control? Like mind control? And cloaking? Does she smash the bottle on the ground and they disappear in smoke the same as ninjas? More importantly, what kind of person was Ula when she was a younger. Seemed younger Ula was more mercenary than the healer she's now. Wondered what changed.

Eyes sliding to her left to view Nica's reaction about his aunt she was surprised to find that he was no longer there. Confused, she searched for him and found him leaning against the door, arms crossed at his chest and legs crossed at his angles, like a bored sentry.

"And these two," Ula wiggled her left hand, regaining her attention. "Should help retain your body."

What in the retain what?

"I thought you said I can't feel pain-"

"And you won't child. But that doesn't mean it can't sustain damage."

"You sure," demanded Kyna, crossing her arms and gave Ula a dubois look. "You're not lying?"

The bottles tinkled together as she held her stomach to stop from laughing. But from the huge guffaw like crumbling rocks, she failed miserably.

"Oh Kyna," wheezed Ula, moving forward to close the gap between them. She tugged her elbows, freeing her arms and placed the containers in her hands. "Don't you know that I'm the best medicine and potions maker in YIberia?" Ula cocked her head. "Well maybe not. The green potion will repair any damage this body might recur during your mission. And be very careful with the pink. It's an acidic that'll destroy this body-"

"Destroy," spluttered Kyna. "What do you mean destroy?"

Ula grabbed Kyna's shoulders and begged her to listen. "Nothing from other worlds should exist in another. Once you return to your original body use the pink bottle to erase this shell."

Kyna hesitated for a moment then nodded at Ula's earnest expression. Pocketing the vials in her satchel, she tried to ignore the unease slowly building in the pit of her stomach. Behind Ula's obvious feelings of wanting to help her there was something else behind her eyes. Fear. She was afraid for her. But why? What wasn't she telling her?

Ula suddenly wrapped her arms around Kyna and pulled her into a suffocating bear hug until she almost saw stars circling her head like a Hanna-Barbera cartoon.

"Ula," gasped Kyna. "Can't breathe." Patting her back to get free Kyna flicked her head to Nica to silently plead for his help. But he just shrugged and looked away.

Sonuva...Forget not liking his attitude. Now she was pissed the fuck off. Ula finally released her and Kyna thought if she had a special potion that she can use on her nephew. Something to make him as ugly on the outside as he was on the inside, with boils, warts and everything in between.

"Let's go," said Nica before standing upright, about faced, turn the knob and walk out the door without a backwards glance.

What a douche.

"What you say dear?"

Kyna's mouth dropped open in horror. "I said that out loud?"

Ula looked at her quizzically as if she wanted to ask what she meant but a gleam of understanding past over her face.Giving her hand a pat, Ula nodded in the direction of her nephew and said, "Don't let him get to you. He's not normally like that. Just this situation has brought back some painful memories for him. Know this, he's as invested in this as you are. Be patient with him?"

Kyna remained silent which Ula took as her tacit agreement that she will. But as far as Kyna was concerned, the faster they get back home and do what they needed to do, the better. Instead she followed after Nica with Ula trailing behind her.

He was already sitting up front in the carriage, the reigns in his hand and tethered to this world's version of horses. They looked like regular horses from home but were furry and had three horns.

As soon as they climbed in Nica snapped the reigns and guided them out of Ula's front yard and down a dirt road. An hour later they reached the woods, the copper smell of blood and charred earth, still wafted in the air. Kyna shuddered at the memories of when she was last here, chased by her her own personal boogey man who had a strange way of saying hello by putting a hole in her chest.

Soon they cleared the forest and made their way to a group of people waiting beside the dais where she sort of died.

That feeling of dread returned again. This time at the five men draped in gold and black robes. "Who are those people?" whispered Kyna, glad that it didn't come out of croak. Just because she was suddenly nervous didn't mean she wanted to appear nervous. Especially not in front of them. For some reason they rubbed her the wrong away.

They alighted from the carriage and then they stood around. Puzzled, Kyna looked around to see if anyone was going to step up to do or say anything. But they just looked back at her as if waiting for her to take the lead. Kyna didn't know what exactly they wanted so continued to stand dumbfounded. All Nica said was they were going to Earth. Didn't that mean they were sending her back? What were they waiting for, a thankyou speech or something?

Well fuck that. If they'd kept their criminals imprisoned better she wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Nica sighed and Kyna lost her patience at the sound. Frustrated and a bit afraid, she lashed out to the people who dared to make her feel this way. "Come on. Can we hurry this up and send me home!?"

"Then open the door," replied Nica.

Kyna turned toward him, hands on her hip, in mounting anger. "How do you expect me to do that, huh?"

With a blank face he looked back at her. "How'd you think you came to YIberia? You're a traveler aren't you? The only way for us to go to Earth is for you to open the door. Or can't you do it?"

Kyna's knees buckled, but managed to stay upright, as the full weight of his words hit her. They lied to her. They had no intention of sending her back. Now after getting her hopes up they had the nerve to stand in front of her and lie about being a traveler? Ula had told her they didn't exist anymore and the secret to traveling to different worlds disappeared with them. What were these YIberia people up to now?

That's it, she was going to kick their asses. Starting with Nica.

Kyna's supposedly a legendary traveler. But can she figure out how to use her abilities or will she remain trapped in Ylberia? Find out in ch8.