A.N. Hello again readers! It seems like such a long time since I updated! I wrought this chapter on the fly so I hope its okay!

Chapter 7

Gilbert

I had found her when the sun was just peaking through the trees giving them an orange glow. She had been sleeping in the clearing and I had almost stepped on her. The girl was lying in a bed of wild flowers, her brown hair flaring out framing her heart shaped face. This girl's face looked so calm as if she was in no danger in these woods.

I had seen all kinds of monsters in this forest ever since I... left Folkert's house. She seemed harmless but I couldn't be too careful. I walked to the other side of the clearing, climbed a tree and settled in for the night. When the moon was at its peak, a fog started rolling in. It blocked my view of the clearing and I knew that I had to do something about the girl. Whether it was to kill her or get her to safety, I didn't know yet. I moved to a lower branch when I heard laughter. I froze and looked to where the girl was standing in the middle of the clearing with an Akumu. Folkert had told us about the shadow women. He said that they were conjured up by dark magic and could take the form of anyone you love or who you could not save and use it to drive you mad. I had never seen one before but I knew that this had to be one. The girl didn't look frightened though; actually, she looked like she was still half asleep.

I jumped out of the tree and hurriedly made a torch just like Folkert had taught me. I lit it and aimed at the creature's back.

Without thinking of what I was getting myself into, I ran forward and plunged the torch into its mark. With a hiss, the Akumu disappeared and the fog started to fade.

I looked down at the girl and froze. Her eyes were silver! Not the washed out gray that was devoid of any color. But the brilliant silver of the moon's pure light that seemed to glow through even the darkest of nights.

"Are you all right?" I asked without thinking, my eyes never leaving hers.

The girl glared up at me with those haunting silver eyes. I mentally kicked myself for not thinking of something more intelligent to say.

"I'm fine." She said in a monotone voice. She gave me one last glare and then walked off into the woods without another word.

I hadn't realized that I was holding my breath until the girl was out of sight. I sighed and found myself smiling. Something I hadn't done for five years.


A few minutes later, I caught up with the girl. She didn't acknowledge my presence as I sauntered up beside her.

"So where are you going this awesome evening?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye then looked forward again. "Home."

"And... where would that be?"

She didn't answer me and continued walking.

Okay... this ice might be harder to break than I thought.

"What's your favourite color?" I asked.

The girl looked at me confused. "What?"

"What's your favourite color?"

She gave me a hard stare then said softly. "If I had to pick a color I guess I would say... green."

I clapped. "See? That wasn't so hard!"

She smirked. "What's your name?"

I gave her my charming smile. "I am the awesome Gilbert!"

"Elizabeta." She replied.

"Well Elizabeta would you mind if I walked you home?"

Still looking confused Elizabeta looked up at the stars. "I guess that would be alright."

Ice is now broken. I repeat, ice is now broken.

"You don't look like you are from around here so I guess I can help you find your way out of the forest." She winked and brought a finger to her lips. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone that you were lost."

I laughed and scratched the back of my head nervously. "Thank you My Lady!"

For the second time that night, I found myself smiling. This girl still felt odd to me but at the same time, being around her seemed to push back the darkness in my heart.

Elizabeta continued on through the trees unaware that I did not follow. I felt like this girl knew of the darkness in the world by the way she seemed to hide her emotions behind a cold exterior. Nevertheless, this didn't make her appear broken or bitter. This thought filled me with the unrelenting need to protect this girl.

Without hesitating, I ran to catch up.

Maybe I found something that even I can protect...

The thought brought a smile to my face.


Elizabeta's home was probably the biggest house I ever saw. I guess I couldn't compare it to anything other than Folkert's house, which only had one room. But this house looked like it had hundreds of rooms.

Elizabeta caught me staring and leaned over to close my mouth, which apparently had been hanging open.

"You look like you have never seen a mansion before." She said. The words didn't have a mean tone to them. They were just stated like a fact.

"I haven't." I admitted sheepishly. "I've actually never been in a village before either. I lived in a one room house in the woods with my family for as long as I can remember."

"Then you don't have a place to stay the night?" Elizabeta asked. When I didn't answer, she grabbed my hand and started leading me towards her house. "You can stay in one of the guest rooms. Then you can decide what you are going to do in the morning."

"O...okay." I stuttered.

Wow, she must think you are a genius! Where did you learn your awesome way with words?

I stared at the back of this curious girl as she led me to the house. One thought crawled into my mind that made me decide that this girl was different from anyone than I've ever known.

She never asked me why I left...

I stared at the hand that held mine and let a small smile slip out.

Thank you Elizabeta...whoever you are...


I woke the next morning when the sun was just peaking over the trees. I quietly opened the door to my room and slowly closed it behind me. I looked to the left and right trying to remember which way I had to go to get out of the house. I had been too busy looking at everything the night before that I hadn't paid attention to where Elizabeta had led me.

Damn... what am I going to do? I can't just wander around the house.

An idea popped into my head that made me groan. It had been a method that Lili had used to decide which way she would walk whenever she couldn't decide. I could feel my face heat up with the thought of someone catching me doing it. Without another idea, I sighed.

Fine. I will spin around and which ever way I'm facing, I will head in that direction.

I spun around three times and faced the right.

Okay... I guess I'm going right.

I started walking, my eyes catching on the pictures that hung down all the hallways. Most of them were portraits of two men except for the last one at the end of the hallway. That one was a picture of a man and a little girl with light colored hair. These two weren't scowling like the others; they both had a small smile. However, it didn't seem to be out of happiness.

I started walking again and after a few minutes, I knew that I was in trouble when I came to a dead end.

Apparently, right isn't the "right" way...

I snickered at my own joke when a small voice spoke up behind me.

"What are you doing here?"


Elizabeta

I carefully walked out of the kitchen with a plate of food for Gilbert. The sooner that he ate, the sooner he could leave without getting caught.

I hope that he didn't decide to go exploring. This place is like a maze, anyone could get lost in here.

I shuddered at the thought of Ivan finding him. I didn't know him very well but the few times that I had talked to him, Ivan seemed distant. His little sister on the other hand seemed to always know what Ivan or what anyone else was thinking. The siblings were a strange pair but they were also the ones that showed the kindness to take us all in.

I climbed the stairs that led to the bedrooms. I had put Gilbert in the third room on the right without thinking of who used to live in it.

I'm sure Roderich wouldn't mind someone using his room...

I knocked on the door and waited for a response. When none came, I knocked again.

Maybe he is still sleeping.

"Gilbert?" I called softly. No answer. "I'm coming in."

I opened the door and sighed, no one was there.

Where could he have gone?

I was thinking of what to do when I hear d laughter. I don't think I had ever heard laughter ever since Roderich and Vlad had died. The house seemed darker and less welcoming since that day so laughter seemed so out of place.

I stuck my head out the door and saw that Natalia's door was open. I walked to her room and peeked around the corner.

What I saw made me stand in the doorway, eyes wide. I had learned how to act out emotions for different circumstances, but I didn't know how to react in a situation like this.

Natalia was sitting at a little table in the middle of her room, pretending to pour tea into two tea cups. She was laughing, something that I have never heard before. It sounded so sweet, like tinkling bells. When I looked at who was sitting across from her made my eyes widen even more in disbelief.

Gilbert was wearing a pink tea party hat and wore on of Katyusha's pink dresses to match. When he held his tea cup, Gilbert stuck his pinkie finger out just like any lady would at a tea party.

"Would you care for sugar in your tea?" Natalia asked.

"Why yes princess, I would like that very much!" Gilbert answered in a high pitched voice.

This made Natalia burst into giggles again. She caught sight of me standing in the door way and beckoned me to come in.

"Hello Elizabeta! Would you like to join us?"

"U...um what are you doing?" I asked.

Gilbert grinned up at me and in his high pitched "girl" voice he answered, "We are having a tea party My Lady. Wont you please join us?"

Something bubbled in my chest. It was such a strange feeling that made me start laughing so hard that I doubled over, tears coming out of my eyes.

What is this? I thought people cried when they were sad? But I don't feel that pain... I feel...happy?

I straightened, wiping the tears from my eyes, and curtsied. "It would be my pleasure!"


"The boy has found his way out of the forest!"

"What? I thought that it was your turn to watch him?"

"I thought that it was yours?"

"Well what are we going to do now? We can't go back on our contract."

"He is with the girl. She sometimes wanders into the woods. Maybe she will go there again with the boy..."

"And if they don't? What then?"

"We will think about that IF it comes to it. For now I suggest we sit back and watch."

"Stupid frog..."

"Black sheep..."

A.N. Bet you guys can't guess who the new characters are! Lol! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I thought that since the recent chapters have been so sad and depressing I would try to lighten the mood with this chapter! Please review!