A/N: Friendly reminder, she isn't in Bon Temps yet so for the first few chapters to come, there won't be any of the characters from the Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. Not yet, anyways.

Again, since its a new story, there will be a few characters I created all my own so it will require time to build them. Oh and I'm sure if you look back at "Isabelle: The Beginning" you will notice someone mentioned in the very first chapter that was never mentioned throughout the story until now.

Without further adieu. Read, review, & enjoy! ^-^

Being pregnant was simply a magical thing. Knowing I had someone growing inside of me, nurturing from me, was something words couldn't possibly describe.

She was apart of me, literally, a part of me, and I, of her. I didn't know her name or what she looked like but what I did know was that I loved her. What I did know was that she was mine.

But how can someone love another, whom they haven't officially met? That, I could never explain even if I tried. I didn't know her, I haven't touched her, and yet I loved her with all my heart. I would lay my life on the line before her. And that's how much love I have for her.

I remember hearing her heartbeat for the first time. (Just so we're clear, living in Alcaeus is not like living in some Quaker town. In fact, they are quite modern, of course to a certain point.) I was in a dimly lit room with an ultrasound machine. The woman asked if I wanted to hear the baby's heartbeat. I nodded and within a minute, she flipped the switch which allowed me to hear my baby.

'Ba da dum…ba da dum…ba da dum' her heart beat in a rhythm all her own.

I didn't realize that I was crying until the woman handed me a tissue. Seeing her, hearing her, had brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't help but feel torn in two.

I want to keep her.

Right there, on the screen was living proof of what women were capable of, what I was capable of. My unborn child was the result of a mistake that had happen months before. But I didn't see her as a mistake, no, she was no mistake at all. In fact, she was a gift, she was my gift.

That day I took home the very first picture of my unborn child was the day that I would treasure, the day that I will always remember. This would also be the day that I realize how much I would have to give up in order to keep her safe. I held her close to my heart and promised I wouldn't ever let go. I made a promise to her as well as to myself that I would keep her safe even if it took my last breath.

I was about twenty weeks along when I first felt her move within me. I cherished the first time I saw her kick up against my skin. It was surreal and at that moment, I knew her father would have loved to be here.

Sure, she was made out of pure lust, but that didn't make her any different than any other pregnancy. If I was this fortunate to experience all the joys a child could bring, then I know Nick would be just as delighted to feel what I was experiencing, seeing our daughter grow, day by day.

A life, equal parts of both of us, growing within me.

But that wasn't a choice by made by me. I would want him here with me, it was his parental right. But I had to deal with the fact that he had his debt to pay. He made his bed and now he has to lay in it. If being a gladiator will settle his debt, then I can't argue with that.

I learned that money don't always get you out of tight places in the supernatural world. What's that old saying?

Eye for an eye.

Well lucky for me, I won't be that single mother struggling to raise a child on her own. But then again, I would be more than just a single mother, I would be a single witch with more power than what I know what to do with. And being that I naturally have enemies, I wouldn't dare try to raise her on my own. Not with so much at stake.

When I'm stronger, I will know better. I made a vow to myself and to her.

Of course that didn't ease the pain of having that knowledge that when the time came, she would no longer be mine. I knew at some point in my near future that I would have to give her up. I went over this in my head so many times, over and over, and yet, I couldn't help but cry. After all I was human, humans do cry. And she was a child of destiny, so I had no choice but to give her to them.

What I did have was now. And the 'now' allowed me nine months of her all to myself. I didn't have to share her with anyone else. She was mine, and mine alone. I treasured every moment with her even if I never got to hold her in my arms…yet.

The day that I went into labor, I wanted to go natural but when the pain had gotten too severe, I had changed my mind. I didn't want to feel any of it if I didn't have to. So, after giving me an epidural, six hours of labor, and a shit load of sweat and energy spent, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

She had a full head of black hair like mine and blue eyes with rosy lips. She looked almost exactly like me, well with a few features of her father, but unmistakably, she was my daughter. She had long limbs, so I knew she would be tall one day and she weighed in at eight pounds, ten ounces.

The moment I heard her cry, I cried right along with her. I knew she made it into this world safely and now my job was done. I also knew that not long after, she would be leaving me to be raised by Milly, Sam, and Lisa.

The whole hour I held her, I cried. I stroked her hair back and gazed into her eyes as I whispered a story about her parents into her tiny ears. She stared up at me and smiled, gumby.

I turned to Milly, "You will let her keep the name I've given her right?"

She watched me silently, "I don't think that would be such a bad idea."

"No, I want you to promise me this. Promise me that she will get to keep the final gift I gave her." I sniffled and held her close to my face. "Promise me." I whispered.

"I promise you that she will remain Elena Marie." Melanie told me as she watched from the doorway.

I always thought that Elena was a beautiful name. And I couldn't live with myself I didn't keep my promise to Amy when I said that I would name my first child after her. So I gave her Amethyst's middle name as well.

I stayed in Alcaeus, even after Milly had left with Elena. I can tell you right now, it wasn't as easy as it may sound. Not only did I need time to heal mentally, I also had to heal physically. I was told that my body wouldn't fully heal for about a year. Naturally, of course.

The whole time I was pregnant with Elena, I was kept on a ranch in the valley, private and secluded and only a handful of people from Alcaeus knew I was pregnant. When I say a handful, I meant, a doctor, nurse, and my lady in waiting (Anita's mother/'aunt' who also owned the ranch).

My own relatives (distant) wasn't allowed to know the truth. Elena's existence can never be linked with mine. Everything about her had to be kept under wraps. That also included the sonogram pictures of her. I had to keep that locked away and hidden from the world.

For another two months, I had to remain on the ranch, unseen. During that time, Anita's 'aunt' Rose helped me with my magic. She was a witch, a well known witch around town.

The towns people came to her often. And that's when I figured out that not everyone here was gifted. I would say about one fifth of their population, and most were just kids, were gifted, the rest were regular people. (From what I was told anyways.)

When I asked Rose how that happened. She told me because there has been many creatures hunting, in this realm and in the next. Killing off the offspring, one after the other. Their goal was to send the gifted into extinction. So to protect the gifted, they were now sectioned off and kept in a secret sanctuary and away from the rest. She also added that when I was fully healed, that is where I would be heading next.

"Lucky for you, I figured out an antidote to quickly heal the wounded."

I laughed, "I wasn't wounded in battle. I had a baby."

"Having a child is far more of a battle than that of the first world war in America." she said as she rubbed the cream over my belly.

Rose had invented a cream that helps erase scars and heal wounds on the outside of the body. Then she worked her magic into her special tea to heal me from the inside out.

"Did you remember to drink the tea as well?" she asked. I nodded with agreement.

In just a matter of days, any evidence of giving birth was erased, thanks to her special cream. I also used the cream on my breasts, erasing the stretch marks that developed when my breasts went from a C cup to a full D cup in less than a month.

Unfortunately, my hips will remain this size. Not like it's a bad thing, though. I really didn't mind having slightly bigger hips. In fact, it gave me an hour glass shape now.

Then in just two weeks, I was fully healed down there and my stomach had gone back down dramatically. I looked at myself in disbelief.

This was magical!

"I had seven months to figure out how I was going to get my pre-baby body back. I wasn't like you, everyone knew me." she smiled. "That's how I created these concoctions."

I had to give her credit for working well under pressure. Then you also have to give her kudos for making something that women all around the world would definitely kill for.

I got a lot to learn.

I like to think that she grew on me, given the circumstances. I helped around the ranch, cooking, cleaning, tending the animals, in return for witchery lessons and room and board.

"Why do you live by yourself on this huge ranch?" I asked one day while we were cleaning out the basement.

"I wasn't always alone." she said softly. "I had a family."

I bit my lip so hard, I could taste the salty taste of blood on my tongue.

Damn why can't you mind your business?

"You don't have to talk about it." I quickly said.

She put her hands on her hips and smiled. "I'm getting old. I guess it doesn't matter much now. Besides, you have skeletons in the closet just like I did."

I frowned. I didn't like to think of Elena as a skeleton in the closet. She was my secret daughter, yes, that no one suppose to know I had. But she was no skeleton.

I looked down at my hips and smiled to myself.

Like Amy won't notice my hips got wider?

Then I glanced at my breasts.

And these bad girls? You're kidding! I have bigger breasts and bigger hips. You have to be blind not to notice.

Rose's voice broke my train of thought, sending me back to the basement.

"My husband wasn't from here. He was from Sarpedon, just like-." she trailed off, willing to never speak of Elena's existence out loud. "Well, you know what I mean." she smiled. "You have heard of that place, right?" I nodded and motioned for her to continue. "We had a hard time trying to conceive. So when we were finally pregnant with my son, I took things to the extreme. I was afraid of losing him, afraid to lose the one thing we worked so hard to get.

"I knew Stephan was gifted long before he was born. I could feel him, inside me. It was like magic. No it was magic." she told me, taking a seat on the old bench. She sighed, "And when he grew to be a young boy, his talents were unbelievable. He was definitely a fighter, much like his father, but he also possessed power far too great for such a little boy. So I did what most parents did at the time and binded his powers until he was eighteen.

"By that time, the attacks on our people had already begun. They were slowly making their way through the realms, targeting the gifted, and killing them off slowly, one by one. So my husband and a few others used the local church to keep only the gifted hidden below. Locking themselves up and away from the chaos." For a moment, sorrow washed over her face. "I refused to go because I was pregnant with our second child. I wasn't showing just yet but I knew…no I dreamt that I had to stay back. For her."

"So you had a vision? A premonition?" I asked.

Rose just nodded before continuing. "The ritual in which we hold for the children who Ascends on their eighteenth birthday is always held at the top of the highest mountain, before the sun rises. But this time it was different. Because of all the murders that has been going around, only three adults stayed behind, protecting the sanctuary and the children in it.

"That morning, however, I felt the atmosphere shift. It was unbalanced somehow. But I wouldn't be able to fully understand until I woke up that very morning.

"I woke up from a vision and ran to the window to see the mountain ablaze. But it was too late, too late to do anything. I could feel it deep within my heart, it was empty, and I was alone. They had took my husband and my son. But I couldn't let them do the same to the rest of my people.

"Worry struck hard, so I quickly took my horse out to town and found the church where the gifted were kept hidden also ablaze." She choked back her tears, trying to keep it together. "I could've helped them, I could've saved them if I had gone with them. But I didn't."

I didn't want to hear it because I knew there would be no happy ending. "Rose, its okay. You don't have to-"

She rubbed her face with her hands, "I think its time that I tell someone. With our story now being told, you will understand why we must protect the next generation." she told me with tear filled eyes. "Its happening again and we can't stop it, not yet."

"And Elena-"

She stood up, "Shh! You must never speak of her again." she looked around, "Walls have ears."

I wanted to tell her that what she said was ridiculous because this was where I had given birth. If the walls had ears, then surely, the walls has eyes too. But given the state she was in, I let it slide and let her continue.

"I thought everyone had died that night. So before anyone would ambush my home, I got there as fast as I could and hid everything I had that would trace me back to witchery and buried them behind those walls." she told me pointing to the old brick wall to my right. "A few weeks later, a group of men went around town, breaking into the homes, searching for any clues that might lead them to any of the gifted that might've survived. They even came here but found nothing.

"I knew they weren't from here or from any other realm that I know of.. They looked different. The men had pointy ears and were quite mesmerizing, almost intoxicating." she shivered. "But I could see beyond their beauty. They scared me more than anything."

I gasped. I knew exactly who she was talking about. I seen one, and despite his exterior, he was evil.

"Fairies."

"Excuse me?" she asked, confused.

"Those were fairies…hunters."

"But why? Why would they come after us?"

I grunted, "That damn council has been corrupted for centuries that's why. They think that they can control the universe with the twitch of those puppet strings. But the Fae has begun to…ugh…rebel. Well the Fae that rebelled against their prince I mean." she cocked her head to the side. I waved my hand, "It's a long story. But I doubt we'll be seeing those fairies for awhile, I hope." I smiled. "Sorry for the interruption. Please continue."

She nodded, "Well, these fairies didn't know about the portals that we have for those who come or go by foot. Like you."

The portals she speak of were opened twice a day, for just a few minutes at a time. You could crossover from Earth to Alcaeus (or vice versa) when the 'blue hour' hits or better known as twilight. Think of it as a rip between realms.

But earth wasn't the only realm linked to Alcaeus. There were portals hidden across the planes of Alcaeus which lead to other realms and dimensions. Its just that she was referring to this particular portal that leads directly to earth.

"A small number had escaped to Earth during the blue hour."

"Did that include my grandmother?" I asked, now curious.

"Princess Evelynn." she nodded. "She was amongst the gifted, yes. The king and his queen was assassinated the night she fled."

"Why?"

"Because they helped her escape. They also murdered three of her younger sisters because of the powers they already possessed. The Prince however, wasn't gifted the way Princess Evelynn and his sisters were, so they spared him…barely." she sighed, "You should know that Evelynn had left behind her lover. A regular."

That would explain how I had relatives here.

"But she took with her the greatest gift of all." she paused. "Your mother."

And low and behold, I was born.

"What happened to your daughter?" I asked.

I knew she had steered off course a bit. But since she was in the mood to tell tales, she might as well finish her initial story.

"Aww, yes, my daughter." she smiled. "I kept hidden from town. I was literally the last remaining witch in Alcaeus. I trusted my life with only a handful of people who knew who I really was. They were the ones who helped me keep my pregnancy hidden.

"Then a week before I gave birth, Princess Evelynn returned. She was there to help keep my daughter from harm…from them. She told me that she received a vision and that if she helped me, when the time came, I would return the favor."

And this would be that favor. I thought to myself as I slowly pieced together the puzzle.

"So this is why you're helping me? Because my grandmother helped you?"

She nodded. "And because my daughter had a vision of your future just like Princess Evelynn."

"So Anita is the daughter from the pregnancy you had to keep secret?"

I couldn't believe it because Rose looked to be old enough to be her grandmother, maybe even her great grandmother. And Anita seem to be in her late thirties.

The earth's clock is slower than Alcaeus. I reminded myself.

"Yes, that's her. She was raised by a family who originated from here but had moved to Sarpedon decades before the hunt." she dust off her skirt, "But this information must never leave this room."

"Of course."

I promised that day that I would take her secret to the grave knowing she would do the same for me.

When Rose was confident that I was fully healed, she took me to the secret sanctuary they called The Blue Haven . We rode in a cloaked horse carriage that was being moved by magic, her magic. Rose told me that real horses would make too much noise and that they would only attract attention.

After an hour, we finally arrived. When I stepped out of the carriage, I noticed how the entrance to the sanctuary was in a mausoleum that was hidden in a neglected cemetery.

When I say neglected, I do mean neglected. The overgrowth of vines and bushes covered most, if not all, of the headstones. The ground below was uneven as well. The mausoleum itself was covered in vine overgrowth and dead leaves.

"Isabelle, this way." Rose called to me as she pushed open the door to the mausoleum.

I reached in the carriage, gripping my bags, and ran to catch up with her.

This place was creepy and extremely quiet. I didn't want to be left alone in that cemetery, neglected or not. It looks like the perfect movie set for zombies to crawl out from the ground.

Rose laughed softly as she pulled the door close.

"The graves are empty. The only ones that isn't are the ones in the mausoleums." she said, pulling down the third sconce.

From behind, I heard the stone grave cover move, causing me drop my bags. I could feel my heart beating so fast, I thought it might explode.

"What the fudge?" I exclaimed.

That reaction got another giggle from her.

"I forgot to tell you that we have to take the stairs that's located beneath the body."

I pressed my hands to my chest, mentally pushing my heart back down into my chest. "Right, because a stairs behind a door is so much more complicating." I said, picking up my bags with shaky hands.

Rose took the stony steps up the stone coffin and began descending further down the open coffin. I bit my lip before following right behind her, turning my head the other way so that I didn't have to look at the decaying body that laid to my left.

"Just leave your things at the second door there." Rose told me when we got to the bottom of the stairs as she pointed down the hall to my right.

I was amazed at how modern this sanctuary was since I was actually expecting a castle like interior. The halls were white and clean, like a doctor's office. No windows though. Not that it would make sense to put windows in a hidden, underground sanctuary.

I dropped my bags against the wall by the second door like Rose had said and walked back to her.

"Follow me. I'll introduce you to the crew." she said walking down the left hall. "The rooms down this hall leads to the training rooms. We also have a fully equipped gym if you feel like you need a run." she said without turning back to look at me. "The rooms down the opposite hall leads to the kitchen and such. There's also a lounge for adults only."

"Where do I sleep?" I asked.

"The living quarters are two floors below. You could take the elevator there." she said pointing to the glass elevator to my right. "Or the one down the other hall. Then there are the stairs toward the end of each hall." she smiled. "But never mind that. Right now, you need to meet everyone." she said, opening the double doors at the end of the hall. "This here is the Arena."

I gulped. "Am I going to fight anyone?" I asked, hesitant.

She laughed. "This is where you train basic one on one combat, mostly."

I watched her walk in.

You can do this Bella. You were born a fighter.

I had to tell myself, trying to build up the courage to cross that threshold.

"If she think she will run this place just because she is royalty, then she is fucking crazy."

"How powerful is she, really? I bet I could take her down in a minute."

"She don't even belong here. She was raised on Earth."

"Hope she's hot."

I bit my lip again.

They don't even know me and yet they hate me already. Well, three out of four, anyways.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"You can do this." I whispered to myself as I walked in.

I could feel all eyes on me, watching me, probably burning me through and through. I glanced around and found Rose talking to a much older male. He just nodded.

Then she turned around and waved me over. "Isabelle, I want you to meet the director, or the dean of the sanctuary."

I practically ran over to them and shook his hand, and gave him a smile, creepy wide.

"Hi, my names Isabelle."

He paused, looking me over. "Rose wasn't kidding when she said you looked just like Evelynn." he chuckled. "Forgive me Isabelle, my names Amadeus." he bowed before me. "Welcome."

I shrugged, "Ugh, thanks."

Rose grabbed his arm, "Come now, we have some things we need to go over."

"But-" he began.

"Oh let them get to know one another. I'm sure they won't kill each other." she said pulling him toward the doors we just walked through moments earlier. "We'll be right back." she said, pulling the doors close behind them.

I slowly turned around to find a small group of individuals standing there, watching me.

Oh sugar.

I waved, "Hi."

Out of the group, I noticed the tall, skinny guy first. He looked to be about forty years old, with salt and pepper hair, thick eyebrows, and roughly seven feet tall. He was awfully skinny, and his long limbs didn't do him any justice.

"Bobby's the name." he introduced himself with a smile.

The one next was a young guy, maybe twenty one. He looked like a member of a boy band, brown hair, brown eyes, clean cut. He didn't look that tall, well compared to Bobby. I would say he's about five eleven, max.

"Ch-" he began, putting his hand out.

Well, until the woman next to him pushed him aside. "Fuck introductions. Lets get going. Its not like we have all day."

From behind me was a deep voice. "Jo, take your testosterone down a notch will ya?" His voice was very demanding.

I was afraid of turning around to see who belonged to that voice.

"I'm Chad, that rude bitch is Joey. This princess here is Tammy." the pretty boy said, nodding to the skinny blond in pink. "Ronnie is the one in the baseball cap, Lorraine is the one in the suit and that's Billy over there on the mat." then he pointed behind me, "That's Cristiano."

Now or never.

I turned around to see…a fucking brute! Okay, I'm exaggerating. Sort of. He was about six five, six six, give or take. He had long dark brown hair that was pulled back at the nape of his neck in a pony tail and green eyes. Everything about his body was bulky and well defined, even under his tee shirt and jeans, you could see the definition.

"Alright, now that we all know one another, lets get started." he said, keeping his eyes on me. "Who wants to go first?" he asked, glancing at Joey.

She grinned. "How about the new girl go first?" she said, crossing her arms over her small breasts.

If you didn't hear her speak, she could almost pass as a guy. Maybe she really was a he.

"I heard she is quite powerful. She might even over take you Cristiano." Joey continued.

I spun around, "Excuse me?"

Is she fucking joking? Am I the only one who finds Cristiano intimidating?

She laughed. "Scared, are we?"

Bitch was challenging me.

I closed my eyes, taking in deep breaths, trying to calm my nerve.

Its just practice. Nothing serious. I reminded myself.

"Alright. I'll bite. What are we doing?" I asked, turning around to face the brute.

"One on one combat." Not bad. "With me." he added as he dropped his duffle bag, gripping what appeared to be a whip with a silver tip. "You're not scared are you?" he asked as he took his place on the mat.

"Of you?"

At that moment, I was glad that I wore jeans, a tank top, and a thin sweater. I may not be dressed for combat, but then again, no one is when being attacked by surprise.

I walked onto the mat and positioned myself in a defensive position.

"Have you fought anyone before?" he asked.

"Not really."

I heard giggling behind me.

"This should be quick." I heard someone else snicker.

I half turned to look at who had said that when I heard the whip snap in the air. A second following that sound was the sound of the whip wrapping around my right arm, pulling me to the mat with a thud. As it pulled away, whatever it was that had dug its way into my skin, tore away at my flesh.

I screamed at the agonizing pain.

That fucking silver shit has small spikes at the end! I thought as I quickly scrambled back to my feet.

"I thought this was practice." I asked, voice shaky.

He grinned, "This is." he paused. "Now fight me!" he demanded.

His whip wrapped around my wrist this time but I managed to catch the tip before it latched onto my skin. Then, using his whip, he pulled me closer to him, as I tumbled to the ground. This time, I didn't scream even if it hurt just as bad as the first time. I wrapped my hand around the whip and pulled back. He didn't move of course.

Go figure.

That got another roll of laughter from behind.

"I thought he said she had powers?" more laughter.

"She's pathetic." another shouted.

Fuck them all.

I felt the fire burning through the whip as it grew bigger and bigger in my hands. I threw the first one toward his stomach, causing him to fall back. The second one, I used to light up the ground, separating the crowd from Cristiano and I. Then I ran up to him and kicked him in the face. I was going for another one to his ribs, when he grabbed my leg out from under me, causing me to fall flat on my back. He stood up with his arms burning with wild flames.

Oh fuck me!

I quickly scrambled to my feet and spotted a pile of punching bags at the bottom of the stage. I used my telekinetic powers to knock him down with them one by one. But he got up as if I was throwing bean bags at him instead of two hundred pounds of sand.

I only had one option left. I knew I wasn't any good at spells, yet (not under pressure either), so I manipulated the air around us, turning it into a whirl wind tunnel and isolated it around Cristiano. The flames that surrounded us blew out, sucking up the oxygen around the tunnel. A second later, the wild flames that was blazed along his arms died out as he collapsed to the ground, digging at his throat desperately trying to get a breath.

The moment he hit the ground, I calmed the wind tunnel until the air stood still once again. Cristiano was gasping for air as he glanced up at me. My eyes pierced his. I was furious at him for taking out his anger on me. Fuck that shit, this was something much more than just practice. He wanted to hurt me and he did just that. Blood trickling down my arm is evidence enough about his intentions.

Then I took a look around the room. Everyone backed up as they gathered together near the stage.

Fuck them too. I thought as I covered my wound with my hand and walked out of there. I don't need this shit. I won't stay where I'm not wanted.

I made it maybe half way down the hall when Rose and Amadeus ran into me.

"Oh my, what happened to you?"

I smiled. "Practice." I growled. "I've learned a few things already. I think I'm good."

Amadeus didn't say one word. He left her side and ran back into the room that I had just came out from.

"Please tell me you didn't kill them."

I scoffed, "Kill them? They're the ones that got it out for me!" I yelled. "I was attacked by that fucking brute in there!" I told her, pealing my arm away to reveal my torn flesh. "He's lucky I let him live to see another day. Fuck that shit if I'm staying here. I was safer back home with demons and hunters."

"Isabelle, I'm truly sorry. This isn't how we normally behave." she said taking a closer look at my arm. "Let me see that. I can heal-"

I shook my head, "No, I want this scar to remind me why I can't trust everyone."

She sighed. "At least let me help you get cleaned up." she said, taking my other arm.

"Here, drink this." Rose said, handing me a shot glass of something clear.

"I told you I don't want you to heal me. I'll be fine."

She smiled. "This is Moon. It should help with the pain." she thought a moment, then pushed the bottle next to me. "Or a few."

I grabbed the glass and looked at it.

"What's Moon?" I asked.

"Moonshine."

She didn't have to tell me twice. I would much rather go to sleep cradling this bottle than dealing with a room full of judgmental assholes.

Fuck this shit.

I nodded before taking the shot. It was wicked as it went down my throat, coating every inch of me. Slowly numbing the pain.

"He's not that bad once you get to know him."

I looked up from the empty shot glass.

"You're kidding right?"

"Will you at least give this place a chance?" she told me, pausing only to take a shot of Moon herself. "You don't have to like the people here. They are here for the same reason as you, to learn. And I think you could really use the help we offer here."

I laughed. "Help? If I wanted to die, I could do that on my own without the help of any of them, thank you very much."

She nodded, "They're just intimidated by you. That's all."

"Intimidated my ass." I shook my head before taking another shot. "They got a shitty way of showing it."

Rose walked around the table and took the seat beside me.

"Give it another shot, please? And if you decide to leave, then I won't stop you."

I poured me another shot then took it. I winced as I slammed the glass down.

"One shot, that's all?" I asked.

She nodded. "What we teach you here, you won't be able to learn anywhere else. Our people were created for this."

After a minute, I closed my eyes. I can't believe I'm even reconsidering this shit. Especially after what happened.

Fuck it!

I looked up at Rose. "Fine."

Everyone avoided me the remaining evening, well everyone except Amadeus. He went over the rules with me and the type of schedule that is kept here.

What the fuck is this, boot camp?

Breakfast is between seven and eight. Then there are lessons, which varies from day to day, from eight thirty to eleven. Then lunch is served between eleven thirty and one. More lessons, again, between two and five. Then dinner is between seven and eight.

If you have a job, that is done on the weekends. He gave me a list of options to choose from.

"And why do we need a job?" I asked, "Not that I'm complaining."

"We all have to help out anyway we can." was all he said.

Then he showed me the children's ward. There were children of all ages, from infants to teens. I was told that they weren't only the elder's children, they were sent here from several dimensions to learn the supernatural ways.

Wish I had that growing up.

The children were educated just like a normal school but with the added benefits of knowing how to use their gifts.

I made a mental note to take a look around the children's ward. I wouldn't mind helping out with the kids on the weekend. Better than dealing with the immature adults.

But as I passed by, I noticed they didn't have an art class. Or at least Amadeus didn't mention it.

Art teacher? I toyed with the thought. Maybe.

Finally, I was shown to my room on the third floor. I couldn't be anymore happier than to end this night and hopefully wake up to a better tomorrow.

"I'm glad that you didn't let them scare you off." he said, debating whether or not he should mention the confrontation I had earlier with the other students. "That was their intention, to run you out of here. But I'm glad that you're a lot tougher than you look." he saw the look on my face when I winced at his statement and he immediately regretted it. "I would like to apologize for that." he said, nodding to my arm.

I laughed and glanced at my arm that was now bandaged.

"Oh this old thing?" I snorted, "Nothing makeup and clothes can't cover."

He frowned. "Rose could've taken care of that scar you know."

I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant.

How do you think I was able to fool others into thinking I never had a baby?

"Oh, believe me, she offered. I had to deny her generosity."

"Do you mind if I ask why?" he asked slowly as he turned around at the door. I brushed against my bandage, "Because this will teach me that you can't always trust everyone." I told him. "This scar will remind me everyday about what happened when I let my guard down for just one moment."

I saw his face crumble with hurt.

"I apologize for their-"

I put my hand up. "Its not your fault. Its mine." I smiled. "And I'm no princess, blood or not, I'm just me. So don't you dare treat me any different."

He closed his eyes and inhaled. "Yes, Miss Isabelle." he said as he closed the door.