Sep. 2, 1999

Many whispers danced around the room, as the students spread romours of 'the new girl.' Marymount International School rarely ever got new students, and when they did, it was big news. "Did you hear? I hear that she is from a few towns over." "I heard that she is really smart, that she when to that one school... Oh, yeah, Francis Holland School. That's one of the top girls' schools in the country!" "Amazing!"

"Okay, okay! Calm down, girls! Don't make such a fuss!" the teacher walked into the class, 'tsk'ing at the girls' horrible conduct. "Our new student will be in class shortly, as she is getting her things set up in her room. You girls' should set a good example for her, and show her that we are an honourable school." The teacher watched as the girls' slipped into their desks, and pulled out their lesson books, and note paper.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock that the classroom door, and a young girl with light reddish blond hair, waiting patiently for the teacher to open the door. "Ah, she's here." the teacher said, stepping away from the black board, and going to the door. "Hello, Alyssa. It is great to have you here." she said, as she escorted the young girl to the front of the class. "Okay, please introduce yourself." the teacher said, gesturing to the rest of the class.

Alyssa looked from the teacher to the class. There were only about 12 girls in the class, which was a big step down from her last school, and she had to do the same thing then. "Uhh, My name is Alyssa. Nice to meet you all." Alyssa smiled and curtsied.

"Nice to meet you too, Alyssa. Now, do you know why you were transfered here?" the teacher asked, watching Alyssa's face carefully as if to check and see if she was lying.

"My mum said that it was to further my education." Alyssa said, looking at the class as she spoke the lie. It felt odd, a lie leaving her lips. But she needed this lie to keep some kind of non-existant reputation that might be ruined if she said she didn't know why she was there.

"That's great! This is the place to do it." the teacher said, grinning. "There is a desk over there by Sammi, if you would like to take a seat?"

Alyssa nodded and started to the empty desk that the teacher pointed out. She sat down, trying to be as relaxed as possible, though the others' girls' eyes were burning through Alyssa's clothing.

She pulled out a notebook, and began to write.

Dear Father,

How are you today? I'm okay, though I'm quite confused. Mum sent me away to a boarding school near London. It's so odd, everyone is so polite. At my old school, everyone was wild, always coming up with a new way to break the rules. But here... I just don't know. Daddy, do you think there would be any reason she would send me here? She said something about it being for my safety, but I really just don't understand... I really don't want to be here. I want to be back home.

I still wonder what life would be like if you were still alive... Maybe it would have been easier on mum, or maybe on Grandpa. He has gotten really old since mum has been sicker lately. He left us a month or so ago "on a trip" he says.

Oh well. Forgetting all that, I think mentally and physically I'm okay. I get really worn out after I get really worked up over something. And more and more, little things scare me. But mum warned me that Panic Disorders run in the family, so I was expecting it. It's not that big of a deal, since I've seen how mum takes care of it.

Miss you and Love you,

Alyssa.

Alyssa let out a sigh, as she closed her notebook, and looked up at the class. On the board there were many math equations that from first glance, she seamed to already know how to solve.

She studied her schedule and smiled. Archery was next class, and Alyssa's favorite. She had a natural ability with the bow, her former Archery teacher told her. She had been taking Archery lessons from about year 5 on. She really felt confiden about Achery, even before she started the class in the first place. Her mum had disapproved, but since Alyssa loved it so much, she let her do it anyway. Alyssa was glad for that.

Dry sobs echoed throughout the Hamilton home, originating from the back of the upstairs hallway. A small form cast a shaddow through the large bedroom, making the room have an aura of horror in it. In that corner was Nancy, who still could not believe what she had done. She still felt very horrible about sending her only daughter away to boarding school, even though she knew why she was doing it...

She had been cleaning more and more lately, to try to clear her mind, and as she cleaned more, the more she found. She discovered her father's journals, and the content was excruciating. Dick had written journal entry after journal entry about the Ritual of Engagement, and how he could plan it, how he could kill Alyssa and use her heart to become an Entity. It frightened Nancy very much. She, even before she had sent Alyssa away, had found these entries, and she really felt scared. She had planned this so quickly, after she figured out why her father had left.

Nancy had discovered that Alyssa was basically wanted, and she then decided that Alyssa needed to be secure. The Hamilton house was not safe from Dick, and Nancy knew that and knew thst Alyssa needed to be evacuated as soon as possible. She had spent a few days thinking of ways that she could hide Alyssa from her grandfather without moving her away, but the only thing she could think of was a boarding school. And hopefully Alyssa didn't feel abandoned or hated because of this.

Her eyes slowly moved down to the small piece of paper in her hand. It was the letter she was planning to send to Alyssa. She really didn't want Alyssa to feel bad about this. She wanted her to think of this as a new oppurtunity. But knowing Alyssa and her worried nature, she would be extremely paranoid about her mother being left alone. She would want to come home to protect her. Nancy sighed. She knew her daughter too well, and it was great that she was polite but she was a very overprotective child. Well, nothing could change that, now that she was older.

Dear Alyssa,

I'm sorry dear, for sending you away. There are some things going on that you just couldn't be here to see. It's dangerous. I want you to know that that is a very good school and it will help you in life. I want you to stay in their potection for the rest of your education. I will come visit for your birthday, and I willl also try to visit you some other times, depending on what is going on here. Trust me sweety, when you get older, you'll understand why I am doing this. I really wish I didn't have to but because of the turn in events. I must...

With Love,

Mum.

She sighed again, and tears were beginning to escape her eyes again. Out of rage she through the letter away from her, and she stood up. She looked around, almost frantically, trying to think of what she was originally planning to do. Her eyes lit up when they lay upon the clock. The minature grandfather clock was chiming three o'clock and it brought the memory back to Nancy.

She wiped her tears away, and sighed. She pushed herself forward towards the clock. She wasn't all too sure how to do this, but she needed to lock her study. Alyssa could never find it. That would be horrible and it would ruin her secret. How... How can I block this? She thought, watching the clock tick. She then remembered. When she was a teen, she had fixed up the wall and the clock to be corresponded. It occured to her... The winding keys! Of course! Nancy went to the clock and opened the glass cabinet. She turned the winding keys in so many which ways and she heard the door of her study lock. A grin appeared on her red, damp face. She pulled the two winding keys out of they slots, and slipped them in her pockets.

Nancy closed the cabinet of the grandfather clock and turned away. A deep sigh escaped her, and she tried her best not to cry some more. She reached into her other pocket and pulled out her father's room key. She was trying to think of a place to hide the winding keys but she was so clueless... Maybe her father's room would be good. She did have the key to that room after all, And-sad to admit-Alyssa is a typical blond.

She left her bedroom without making a stir and continued out of the back branch of the house and to the main hall. From there, she led herself down the stairs, and looped around them from the last step. She went into the wide double doors and to the small door in the right corner. She pulled her father's key out,a dn inserted it into the door. When the door clicked open, she rushed inside.

Everything was dusty, just as she had expected, seeing as though the room had not been touched for at least a month. She looked around, trying to think of a place she could hide the winding keys without Alyssa being able to find them. No, hide them well enough that even Dick couldn't find it. But what kind of place would be there... Nancy took a moment to ponder areas in the room. His desk, the shelves, the stacks of books, the chairs... What about the painting on the wall? That seams to be decent enough. She walked over to it, and slowly placed the winding keys delicately under the painting. It fit perfect.

She moved away from the painting and sighed. It looked like nothing was out of place. She almost smiled, but then she remember why she was doing this in the first place-because Alyssa couldn't know about her family's past and haritage. It was just not possible. Nancy ouldn't train Alyssa in the mental state she was in, and she also feared what might happen to Alyssa if she were to let her Rooder powers develope instead of leaving them dormant.

Many silent moments passed as Nancy got lost in her thoughts, pondering the many different outcome of every way she could approach any problem that occured. She loved that she had the budgit-or rather her family account had the money-to pay for 6 years worth of tuition for Alyssa, paying until she could leave for college. Nancy had already reseached a number of great colleges in the United States for her to go to, so she could get away from here.