Chapter One

Rose laughed as she ran through the large crowd of the alley, her two friends right behind her calling out for her to wait up. It was finally summer holidays, she had spent the last week catching up with her family after being at boarding school for the last nine months and was now out shopping for supplies for the summer and new clothes to replace the ones that she had grown out of.

She turned at the sound of her father's voice calling for her to rejoin them when the air suddenly sounded like it shattered, pain ripped through her entire body before she realised that anything was wrong and fell unconscious just as she felt herself go airborne.

0000

Darkness.

Pain.

Her skin felt too tight. It throbbed in time to her heart beat. Her head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.

The noise around her was deafening, people yelling for potions, extra hands and calling out orders, patience screaming in pain, kids crying for their parents, adults hysterical with shock.

"Here drink this little one." A voice whispered in her ear and a phial was placed at her lips. She gagged down the foul tasting potion, recognising it as a strong pain potion. "Can you tell me your name?" The voice was soft, gentle and kind.

"Rose…" She managed to croak out, her jaw hurt, her skin tight. "Rose Prince" She flinched at a cool cloth touched her left cheek which began to burn and sting. "Where?"

"You're at Saint Aradia, there was an attack on Murdock Alley. You'll be here for a few days for your injuries to heal." The voice slowly became clearer that she could identify it as female. "How old are you dear?"

"Sixteen." Her voice caught in her throat. "Mama? Papa?"

"I don't know yet dear, we are still collecting names…" The voice hesitated a moment. "Can you tell me their names and I'll keep an eye out for them?"

"Jean and Sean Prince, my little brother is Lucas, he's only four." Tears burned in her eyes even through they were closed and slid down her temples.

"I still have people to talk to dear, your going to be moved to a ward in a little bit, I'll come and find you later." Another phial was placed at her lips and she drank it down, recognising it as dreamless sleep, it was only a few breaths later darkness claimed her again.