Based on the Beautiful Creatures book and movie. Tells the story of Ridley and Lena's life before Ridley is Claimed for the dark.

Chapter 1

Macon's POV

November 2001

Although Lena had celebrated every birthday at Ravenwood that still hadn't prepared Macon for the news that he was now Lena's legal guardian.

Macon stood nervously on the unstable whitewashed veranda as he gazed into the distance. Lena was an orphan now, and whilst he felt for her loss, Macon couldn't help but think that maybe it was for the best. Sarafine had never been much of a mother and Lena's father had been killed long before she was born.

Still it scared Macon to think that he was now the only person Lena had. Yes, there was crazy Auntie Del and Lena's cousins, Julia, Larkin and Annabel- but Del was hardly able to look after her own children let alone a Natural like Lena.

Macon heard steps behind him and turned to see Amma. The seer and Caster library keeper had been both a mentor and a teacher in the past few months and, with Lila's help, had taught Macon everything he knew about parenting.

"She's going to be here any minute now," Macon said in agitated tone as he paced backwards and forwards, making the wooden decking creak in an ominous way.

"Relax," Amma said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Everything will be fine."

There were only two people in the world that could calm Macon when he was anxious, one was Lila and the other Amma.

Deep down he knew Amma was right. He could remember how Lena's jade eyes had lit up when she had seen him for the first time after the fire and the way she smiled in her sweet way. She had ran into his arms and wept, and he had comforted her, stroking her long black curly hair, telling her that she would be safe now, that she would move to Ravenwood and live with Uncle M, who would never let anything bad happen to her again.

Macon watch as the silver Audi pulled up in front of the house. Hearing the roar of the engine, Boo, Macon's wolf-dog, raced down the veranda steps to great Lena.

Lena flung the car door wide open and Boo jumped into her arms.

"Hi ya Boo!" she said in her chirpy, four year old voice, "Ya missed me?"

Boo barked in answer and Lena pressed her face into his long dark fur, taking comfort from his warmth.

After a moment, Macon saw the social worker take Lena away from Boo, half dragging her up the wooden steps.

Damn social workers! Macon shouted in his mind, glad that mortals couldn't Kelt, Why couldn't they let Lena do things at her own pace?

"Hello, Uncle," Lena said, almost nervously. Macon was taken aback by his niece's sudden shyness. He felt rage build up inside of him. The social workers hated Macon just as much as he hated them, and although they had searched for every reason to send Lena to a Mortal family they had found none. But living in the children's home had crushed Lena's happy go lucky spirit, something Macon would never forgive.

Macon looked at his niece. Her hair was matted and her blue top and navy jeans looked dirty and poor quality, her trainers had holes in them and were badly scuffed. Lena was thinner than Macon had remembered and looked sickly. Macon felt tears form in his eyes, he was so glad now that his Lena was home.

Lena ran into Macon's outstretched arms.

"I missed you so much," Lena sobbed as Macon stroked her hair.

"Me too," Macon said struggling to hold back tears. He kissed his niece's forehead.

Macon picked Lena up and watched as the social worker gave Amma a carrier bag full of Lena's few possessions before driving off at record speed.

"Will she ever come back?" Lena asked in a trembling voice.

"No, it's just us now," Macon said as he carried her into the house.

The hallway once again had changed. This time it almost looked like a sweet shop, with pink and yellow stripped wallpaper. Any other day, Macon would have been horrified to have seen his home like this. But today was Lena's special day.

"Wow," Lena said in a surprised tone as she gazed around the room. There were tables covered in plates full of cupcakes and cookies, and of course Amma's famous pies. A banner hung from one wall to another with the message 'Welcome home Lena!' written in pink paint. "You all did all this for me."

Macon nodded and placed another kiss on his niece's forehead.

Usually if guests were coming, he would have just let the servants prepare the food and set the tables. But today was Lena's special day and Macon had woken up early to help Amma and Lila make cupcakes and cookies and create a banner. Macon had to admit, if Lena was going to be staying with him permanently, he would have to learn how to cook properly.

Macon watched as Lena ran towards the piano.

"Can you teach me Uncle?" Lena asked.

"Yes, of course," Macon replied smiling. He had tried to teach Larkin and Julia to play only the summer before, but Larkin was certifiably tone deaf and Julia was too impatient. Macon had given up on teaching them within hours.

But Lena wouldn't just learn how to play piano. The Ravenwoods and Duchannes were aristocrats in the Caster world. Lena would have to learn about the arts, culture and language as well as how to cope with the ever increasing amount of power she had as a Natural.

Lena cheekily grabbed a cookie from one of the tables and took a seat on a pink sofa near the fireplace.

"Will Gramma and Auntie Del visit soon?" she asked inquisitively.

"Gramma will be here in the next few days," Macon answered, "Julia's living with her now."

Lena's jade eyes widened in delight, "Will Ridley visit too?"

Ridley was Julia's nickname. Ridley and Lena were like sisters. They had met for the first time at Lena's third birthday party, they had both watched Lion King together for the first time as Lena had demanded that Macon bought it especially, and had stuffed huge slices of chocolate cake and cookies and had both felt sick afterwards. Somehow this had made them best friends and every holiday Ridley would travel down to Gaitlin to meet Lena and Macon, and usually to plot some prank with her cousin.

"I'm sure she wouldn't miss the chance to see you," Macon said, knowing this was more than true. He wondered what prank it would be this time. He knew it would be something more than putting cling film over the toilet seat; both Lena and Julia's powers had developed over the past year. A Siren and a Natural, Macon didn't want to see what would happen as a result.

"So what do you want to do today, Lena Beana?" Macon asked.

Lena stuck her tongue out when Macon used her nickname. He laughed in response.

"Boo says he wants to play hairdresser's," Lena replied thoughtfully.

Boo looked at Macon with distressed eyes and whimpered.

Macon knew the fun was only just beginning.