It was spring, the first day of spring, but it didn't feel like it. The snow and ice made the playground almost like a tundra terrain not suitable for the play of children, the nights were still chilly. The only thing that seemed to mark the end of winter was that the days were getting longer, although the sun covered the sun during morning, noon and evening. The orphanage was very poor by the standers of a orphanage, just enough income came in to support the building and its children, even if it wasn't much. Many of the children were grateful for everything these reserved while others wanted more and weren't happy with the lifestyle they held. They made of a group of optimists and pessimists.

There were very few books in the orphanage, considering many of the children couldn't read. But even so, two figures, a boy and a girl were in the small library (Which was only made up of three book shelves, the last one not even filed.) reading away.

A young girl sat on her elder brother's lap, he held a book in front of them, a picture book holding very few words, a fairy tale. She looked to be eight years of age, her pale brown hair curly and in a braid, some stands falling over her ears, her blue eyes scanning the book contently. Her brother seemed at peace as well, dark brown hair falling in straight strands down to his neck, it looked a bit greasy from not being washed in a while. The brother was one of the only children in the orphanage who could read and write properly, though he claimed it was only from reading these books over and over, he felt if he read a different book it would be a completely different concept then these. His sister, Hazel, on the other hand could not read or write, and Daniel wasn't a very good teacher. The only words she knew how to read and write were; 'and', 'what', 'an', 'yes'. 'no', and 'please'. Though her lack of vocabulary did not limit her imagination.

Daniel's concentration was yanked away from him, he looked over to the window of the opposite room, there was a man there. Talking with the headmaster, this...Seemed very curious, the man was very peculiar looking. With white hair even in when he seemed to be in his late forties, he was very tan though, couldn't of been albino.

"Why did you stop reading?" Hazel asked, not noticing the man in the other room as she studied the pictures on the page with firm eyes.

The man turned away from the headmaster and he and Daniel made eye context. He gave a kind smile. Daniel blushed lightly and looked back down at the book. Hazel leaned her head backwards to look up at her brother.
"Dany?" she asked in her sweet voice, like honey.
"Yes?" he replied, giving her a small smile.
"Read, read!" she made a pouting face, crossing her arms across her chest. Daniel smiled and then went back to reading, looking for where he was last.
The two were deep in the book, not noticing someone entering the room and standing by them. Not until they herd the headmaster voice, they looked up.
"Daniel, Hazel.. This is Alexander." The headmaster said pointing at the man from before.
"He is," the headmaster smiled, glancing back at the man and then back at them,"Going to be your new father."
The two were speechless, never thinking they would get adopted so soon.. and by a man this.. rich!

Alexander smiled gently, the dull wrinkles forming on the sides of his mouth tightened and for a split second it looked younger. Hazel seemed to brighten up and she slid off of Daniel, looking up at the headmaster and Alexander with ablaze eyes, eager and strong, even for her poor health. Daniel stood up from the chair, clutching the book in hands with his finger in the place they had left off. "How long will we have to pack?" he asked. Hazel seemed to bounce up and down with excitement, though her feet stayed planted on the ground.

Daniel helped his sister into the carriage. Alexander already sat in it, waiting for the two. He had bought them some new clothes and got them to change into them. Hazel loved what she got, a nice , elegant dress like the ones in the stories Daniel had read to her so many times. For Daniel, it was a much more fair and handsome outfit he saw some 'rich' kids wear it when he had went out into town, with light brown patterns and green
Hazel couldn't keep still as she hanged out the window. Daniel kept a close eye on her to make sure she didn't fall, so did Alexander. "Be careful." he warned moving closer so he was able to grab her in case she slipped.
"Where do you live, Alexander?" Daniel asked, putting the bags down beside his feet and looking up at him.

"Its aways aways, but don't fright. You will be there in no time." Alexander purred, sitting in almost perfect posture, making the young boy feel smaller then him in both social ranking and body stature.
Hazel ended up falling asleep, stretched along her new father's lap. It was a rather long trip, Daniel had to wonder where on Earth were they going, considering Alexander never told him the exact location of where they were going and where they would end up in the end of it all. In safe hands? Or nefarious clutches?

"Rest Daniel," Alexander ordered, stroking Hazel's forehead "You won't miss anything, and maybe you'll even wake up in your new bed!" he smiled. Daniel smiled back. He couldn't wait to see what it looked like. The rest of the trip he forgot his worries. Soon after falling asleep.

He awoke a bit shocked at where he was lying. It was a large, soft bed, much different from that of the orphanage. His vision turned to the rest of the enormous room. The room contained a book shelf on one side, two desks with dark wood side by side on the other. A dresser lied on one side of Daniel's bed, holding a vase, a small journal book, and a silver candelabra. A door leading to the hallway and a smaller room for the bathroom. There was a closet and a wooden chest sitting beside it. Childish wallpaper covering the walls. Behind him was a large window, the sun was shining in in radiant, yellow beams. He looked out and let out a small gasp at what he saw.
A large and what seemed to be endless forest stretched out for ancers, pine trees. These trees had to be decades old, more! Thick and sturdy, he could easily see a tire swing going on one of the branches. The grass was starting to turn green, patches of dead brown here and there. There was a shading spot in which snow still was present.
Across the room was Hazel's bed, leaning against the wall opposite to his . She was sound asleep in her own bed. It was the same size of his but on her own bed, laid much more frilly sheets. The young girl was curled up with a simple teddy bear. He smiled and got out of bed, tiptoeing away from his bed and Hazel's, hoping not to disturb her.

After a few moments of wondering, a gruff yet gentle voice sounded across the room. "Daniel," he seemed a bit edgy. "I don't want you to be wondering around just yet, this castle has many passages ways. Its easy for one to get disorientated... "

Daniel seemed to ignore this order as he went on with questions, "What do you do for a living Alexander?" he asked, staring at the man bright eyed.

"Hm? Oh, yes. I work as an alchemist and well, I am a baron so I mus-"

Daniel's brightness faded as he began to understand, in the small library of the orphanage there was a book about royalty, one section including barons and counts included some very gruesome and dark history to it. Some Daniel had to flip over in frustration and disgust.

"Your a jailer as well?"

"Yes, and I will give you this warning, do not venture into the prison or ...Dungeon." Alexander seemed to have to think of a more appropriate word. Daniel looked down and headed back to his room, seeing to wake up Hazel and interact with her to get his mind off the questions and images in his head.

Good enough for a first chapter? I hope so... Sorry if anything is inaccurate, feel free to correct in the review box.