When an unusual death occurs in the village of Arroyo, Mirabella Cortez promises to protect a boy in danger and to find the murderer before he strikes again. But for clever a witch as Mirabella is, the heinous killer remains one step ahead, and she soon finds that it's her granddaughter, Gabriella, who is the true target.

To ensure the girl can defend herself, Mirabella does everything in her power to prepare Gabriella for a fated battle--a predestination that pits a young woman with untested abilities against a deadly foe, giving rise to one of the most enduring legends of the American Southwest.