A couple weeks ago ABC Family contacted me about taking part in a contest leading up to the new show The Nine Lives of Chloe King starring Skyler Samuels and based on the books by Liz Braswell. I enjoyed watching Samuels in her roles as Andie Bates in the short-lived The Gates. Since The Nine Lives of Chloe King has a central heroine character I’d planned to keep an eye on the show regardless. When ABC Family offered me an iPad2 to use to participate in the promotion I couldn’t believe my luck.

In addition to the iPad, the press kit contained a birth certificate, a circle charm, a Father’s Day card, a baby bib and a letter from an adoption agency. In order to follow the First Path, the enclosed letter directed me to the iPad’s Notes app and that to a map and that to an email. I was instructed to look up the meaning of the name of a Ukrainian town called “Smila:”

According to legend, during one of the numerous Golden Horde raids, a local girl guided the Kievan Rus’ army to the rear of the invaders. The enemies were defeated but the girl was killed by one of their arrows. Nobody knew her name, so that when a colony was later established at the place, the settlers named it simply Smila (from the Ukrainian smila, meaning “brave girl”) in her honour.

Soon after, I received another email with a new clue about the first step on the Second Path. Stay tuned on more information on that clue this week. In the meantime, the very first clue email included a scan of the Mai Uniter Scroll and instructed me to share it:

This scroll tells the story of The Uniter and has invaluable information that will help you along your Journey. So that the Circle of Strangers can grow larger and stronger, this sacred scroll must be shared with the world! Only then can more humans come to know the truth about the Mai.

As a tribute to the gathering of the Circle, we, the Mai, have made a limited quantity of Circle Charms available on abcfamily.com/ninepaths. The first of those to step forward with the password “Circle” shall be rewarded. Please share this password with your devoted Followers, so they can become part of the Circle of Strangers.

Here’s how you can enter to win your very own circle charm:

The Nine Paths to Chloe King Free Gift offer (“Offer”) is valid from 5/24/11 at 8:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time (“PDT”) to 6/14/11 at 11:59:59 PM PDT or until supplies last, whichever is sooner. Offer open to residents of 50 US & DC, 13 & older who follow a participating blogger in The Nine Paths to Chloe King Blogger/Journalist Program (“Blogger”) at time of redeeming free gift (“Free Gift”). Each 1 of 3 Free Gifts available is tied to a different code word which will be revealed by Blogger at 3 separate times (estimated to be 5/24/11, 6/6/11, and 6/13/11). To redeem a Free Gift (while supplies last), go to a http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/nine-lives-chloe-king/nine-paths & enter code. Expect Free Gift within 8-10 weeks from 6/14/11. Limit: 1 Free Gift/person. Void where prohibited.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to persons who are, as of entry, 18 years of age or older, legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 United States or D.C. and who are bloggers or journalists specifically invited to participate by Sponsor. Starts May 24, 2011 once game boxes are received and ends on June 14, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM PDT. Void where prohibited. Click here for Official Rules Terms and Conditions and complete entry and prize details.