Here is another edit. Please review.

After Lilly parked her car we followed Max inside. He wasn't a large man, but he had a tallness about him. His clothes had traces of white dog hair on them. He likely had a larger don here. As soon as we walked through the gate said dog pounced on me. It growled and snarled with evil intent, snapping at my neck. It was a fluffy white dog that was likely part wolf considering it's viciousness or perhaps badly treated.

Before Max could do anything to help I pushed the dog off and got into a crouch. Dogs usually were not brave enough to take on a challenge from a human. I stared the dog in the eyes, baring my teeth as an animal would. After a few moments the dog tucked its tail and ears, looking away from my eyes. I had won this, and future confrontations between the dog and me.

I stood, my face emotionless. Lilly and Max stood awestricken at what had just occurred. "I'm sorry. Thorn usually isn't territorial when I lead people in. Are you hurt?" he asked, being careful not to touch me. He seemed more shocked that I wasn't injured than he was at the dog's behavior.

"I'm fine," I replied dusting off my pants. I picked up my bag and continued without another word into the house.

Lilly sat Max down to fill out paperwork as I took my things to my new room.

As I opened the door I observed the room. It wasn't as open as the other parts of the house. It had purple walls and a canopy bed with dark blue drapes and bedding. Everything was new it seemed, The curtains still hung rigid with traces of the folds of the store. I had never had such a nice room and I immediately dropped all my bags and fell on to the soft mattress; likely goose feather.

After awhile I heard footsteps coming towards the door. "It's so quiet. She must be asleep. She had a long day of travel. Maybe I should just go. Will you just tell her I'll be back to see her in a few weeks?" Lucy's soft voice was unmistakable through the door.

"Of course. Feel free to visit any time." Max's voice replied. At that the footsteps retreated. Lucy was nice, but sometimes she could be a bit pathetic in my opinion. I sighed and got up to unpack my things.

I didn't really have much, a few t-shirts, some jeans, socks and undies. I never kept things my temporary families bought me, which wasn't much anyway. As I placed the last of my clothing in the rich, chocolate colored dresser the door opened with a low creak.

Max stood in the doorway smiling. "So you are awake. Pity your lovely friend had to leave without saying goodbye." he said in a soft voice.

I rolled my eyes and kept unpacking."It's better that way. I wouldn't be able to make her believe I was sorry she was leaving. Besides, she's not my friend." I replied slamming the drawer a little too hard. "I don't have friends."

"Ah I see. You're a tough one. Too many years in the system." His smile softened. "I used to be an orphan too you know. I know how it feels when you can't trust anyone. I hope we can change that for you." He started to turn but stopped. " I have some sons that may be joining us for dinner. I think you'll like them. They'll certainly like you." he said, finally turning to go.

It hadn't been the welcome I'd expected. Perhaps he didn't expect me to like him. Perhaps my last few months as a minor wouldn't be as terrible as I'd imagined.

I knew what I must look like to him. Dirty, horrid. My last home had been one of the worst by far. I had almost let myself slip and care about someone. Or maybe I had slipped, but it was worth it to save her. The little girl that haunted my dreams.

She reminded me of someone. Someone I couldn't remember. She had been so innocent, so sweet. She had never deserved to be treated the way she was. Her name was Anastasia. She had bouncing blond curls and eyes as blue as the sky. Her smile shown like diamonds, and her skin was like ivory. Her full, rosy cheeks and pink lips made her look like a doll. She was flawless, inside and out. She reminded me of what I supposed angles must look like if they existed.

She had only been eight when they met. A gentle, kind girl who only did as she was told. Never a cross word left her mouth. At first I believed her to be an angle in disguise, but as she told me the last day I'd seen her, that I was the guardian angel.

I knew it wasn't true of course. I was too cynical and cruel to be such a divine creature as she. My dark brown hair and pale skin made me look more menacing than anything. Perhaps a demon or vampire was more appropriate to describe my character.

I looked at myself in the mirror above my dresser. I had cleaned up a bit before we'd made our trip to California, but I decided a shower was in order anyway. The stench and memory of the orphanage still clung to my skin. The putrid smell only served to remind me of where I really belonged. In a hole in the ground with the rest of my family.

I quickly stripped down revealing the thousands of scars that decorated my body. Some were patterns, carved into my skin by a man who thought himself an artist. Others were gruesome lines that stilled shined in the light, revealing the torn flesh that caused such horrid marks to sear my skin.

I had become accustomed to them. In a way they had become part of me. They reminded me that I'd lived through all those terrors. They reminded me of my strength and gave me pride.

I remembered every solitary one, and the circumstances under which I had earned them. I was no longer afraid of death as I was as a child. I had my taste of hell, and I'd become numb to it. I would never fear anything ever again. I had made myself that promise after Anastasia had been taken from me. After the day I truly lost my heart.