Avelyn walked down the hallway towards her fathers office, almost shaking. She stopped outside the black ebony door in the ivory white walls, and steeled herself, before knocking on the door. She heard a lock being slid back, and watched the door slowly open.

Avelyn, being 5'9, stood up straight and tall as she entered the room. 'You wished to see me, Father?' She stated, looking straight at the man behind the desk.

'Indeed.' He said, and stood up. A portly man with black hair, he flicked his wrist, closing and locking the door. 'How was your day?'

Avelyn visibly relaxed, and sat down in a chair by the wall. 'It was alright. I recruited two people today.' She said and crossed her legs.

'That's great. But I believe I asked you to recruit five people, and the two you recruited weren't even on the list, so you disobeyed me. For now though, there are more important things to deal with. It is time for you to get married, and I have a list of potential suitors. Look it over, and tomorrow night we will go out to dinner at the Belthazar for a meeting. We will go with the rest of the family.'

'Rooster, Chuck and Odwin are coming as well?' Avelyn moaned.

Her father's eyes hardened, and Avelyn found herself pinned up on the wall, unable to breath. 'You're behaving like a child Avelyn, and as a punishment, Jaydie, Harlow and Wynter shall not be accompanying us.'

'But, they're part of the family.'

'yes but they're too young.'

'Too young my ass.'

Avelyn, who had been let down from the wall, found herself punching the wall repeatedly. 'Watch your attitude Avelyn. Now, I want you to listen to and do exactly what I say. The Benedicts are in town, and you are going to drug the youngest and make him do our bidding.'

'Daddy stop!' She cried, tears running down her face, as she was still punching the wall.

He glanced down at her hand, and dropped his wrist. Avelyn's hand fell from the wall, knuckles red and bloody.

'You'll need to get Ray to look at that.' He said abruptly.

She nodded once, and, after breathing in sharply, spoke. 'What bidding does he need to do?'

'I'm sorry, I didn't realise that was any of your business.' He snapped, and sent Avelyn flying across the room, slamming her back against the door. 'Just bring him back here.'

Avelyn nodded, and stood up, wincing, before hobbling out of the room.

Standing outside the room was Harlow and Jaydie. Harlow swore. 'Shit, Av, let's take you to Ray.' Harlow said, and lifted one of her sisters arms over her own shoulder. Jaydie followed suit. The three sisters made their way to Ray's office on the first floor of the house.

The door was open when they got there, so the three sisters waited outside, and their wait was awkward, but short-lived. Striding up behind them two minutes later, was Ray, who, as usual, instantly talking. 'Sorry ladies, do you have an appointment, of course you dont you live here and its not like i'm that busy, which of you am i checking up, oh silly me, sorry Avelyn, of course its you, i dont mean of course because that would imply its always you and it isnt, did you fall down the stairs, no, who would thats a silly thing to ask. Gosh how rude of me, I've gone and made myself comfortable and the three of you are standing there like lemons, come in come in, Avelyn it is up to you whether you want your sisters around, it can be awkward, can't it, now if i poke you and prod you here, does it hurt?' He said.

'Ray, you just need to fix it, you know with your savantness?' Harlow prompted.

Ray grinned sheepishly, and laid his hand over Avelyn's hand, gently. She winced, but relaxed as she felt her hand heat up and tingle slightly. He removed his hand, and Avelyn clenched her own, and nodded relieved.

'Anything else?' Ray asked.

Avelyn nodded, and peeled her hair away from the back of her head, turning around.

Jaydie, being 5'2, stood up on tip-toes to view her sister's head. She whistled lowly through her teeth, and Harlow hastily wiped tears from her eyes.

Ray breathed through her teeth. 'Christ Ave. This needs to go to a hospital.'

Avelyn shook her head. 'I can't go to hospital Ray, you know that!'

'Okay, well, we'll clean up your bruises on your throat, and then there's nothing for it. You'll just have to say you fell down the stairs and cracked your head open.' Ray said, leaving no room for arguments.

Avelyn sighed, resigned, but then her eyes widened. 'Cracked my HEAD? Open! Shit.' She tried standing up, but Harlow forced her sister back into the chair.

'You will stay, Avelyn. Jaydie, call the ambulance.' Harlow instructed. 'Ray, we're going to have to move her back to the bottom of the stairs to make it look like she fell down the stairs, and make it bloody.'

Ray nodded, and put his hand on Avelyn's shoulder, healing the bruises on her neck.