“Where did you come from?”

She blinked at the human, then pointed up. He followed the direction of her finger, then looked at her with confusion.

“I . . . I . . . fell from . . . ,” she began, happy she could finally speak, but then abruptly shut her mouth.

What had the golden scroll said? Do not tell anyone you are a fallen one . . . Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

She rubbed her eyes, which helped make the human, who turned out to be a uniformed security guard, a little less blurry, then wracked her equally blurry mind for something to say.

Anything. “I . . . I . . . was skydiving. My . . . chute didn’t open.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. She’d just lied for the first time. And actually, it sounded pretty good, all things considered.

The applause slowed, and a male voice shouted above the crowd: “Dude! She’s, like, totally naked! Get the camera!”

She swallowed and looked down at herself. “Uh . . . nude skydiving. It’s the latest thing.

Haven’t you heard?”

The security guard was having a difficult time keeping his attention fully on her face and his expression turned skeptical. “Nude skydiving. Right.”

Okay, maybe she wasn’t as good a liar as she’d thought.

“Where am I?” she managed.

“MarineLand.” At her frown of confusion, he continued, “In Niagara Falls.”

Niagara Falls. That meant that she just fell . . . to the Falls?

She looked up at the clouds and shot whomever might be watching a very dirty look.

“What’s the date today?”

“Are you kidding?”

“I wish I was. Date? What is it?”

“It’s September the thirtieth. A Saturday. Good enough?” He eyed her warily. “What’s your name?”

She knew this one. She didn’t seem to have anything else, but she did have a name. “It’s V-v-

valerie. Valerie Grace.”