"What is he trying to accomplish now?" Gilbert covered his face with his right hand.

"Break, why would Vincent take Alice?" Oz questioned.

"That sewer rat could be aiding the Baskervilles." Break revealed with a bitter revulsion in his voice. Break was drastically unlike his usual jolly self. He was unmistakably unnerved.

"The Baskervilles?" Gilbert lifted his head; his eyes widened.

"They are closing in…" Break confessed, almost in a whisper. "What if they try to snatch another?" I froze.

"What are you saying?" I asked, coldly, fiercely gripping the rim of the table. The teacups and glass plates in front of me clattered. Break had lifted his cup as if in preparation. "Are you saying that these Baskervilles will come after me?"

"Perhaps." Break inexpressively sipped his tea.

"Who are the Baskervilles?"

"The Baskervilles are the followers of the one called Glen Baskerville." Gilbert commented. His amber eyes surveyed my fixed stare. "The Baskervilles want power. They crave power as does their leader."

"Things are not always how they seem, Raven." Break remarked.

"What do they plan to do with Alice?" Oz demanded.

"That I do not know." Break set his chin upon the edge of the table, sighing with utter boredom.

"You're lying."

Break eyed me. "Lying?"

"You know a lot more than what you are saying." I clenched my fists.

"Likewise." Break raised an eyebrow as he sipped his tea. "Tell me. What do you care?

"What?"

Why do you base your decisions on what I know or do not know?

"I…."

You should already know your next step already." Break's cold eyes surprised me.

I was caught off guard. I didn't know what to say to him. My mind could not devise a sly comeback to his arrogant words. That thought made me all the more pissed. All I could do was glare at him. Annoyed, he looked away.

Gilbert and Oz, no doubt could sense the tension between us and they ogled at the both of us with blank expressions.

Unexpectedly, there was a low grumbling. Everyone perked up in confusion. It took me a moment to realize it was my stomach. Suddenly, I realized I hadn't eaten anything in days since I had come to find Break and the others, other than the "contract" chocolate Break had given me.

I was sickly from hunger, and as I glanced up at the contents of the table, one dish caught my eye.

"Mince pie?"

Gilbert, Oz, and Break turned their gazes at my sudden utterance of the words.

Mince pies, piled on top of each other, sat on a large plate in the center. Grabbing hold of two mince pies fresh from the oven, I munched on them both. Once I took a bite out one, I took a chunk out of the other. The sweet flavor of fruit, spice, and cinnamon filled my mouth. As I smiled in happiness, Gilbert and Oz watched, shocked. Break appeared star-struck.

I ate two more, and again two more. I took a light sip of cocoa; still hot, located beside the laced angel cake and slid the plate of mince pies away from me.

"I'm so happy you liked it, Ruin." A delicate hand patted my shoulder, causing me to jump. I turned my gaze straight into the soft pink eyes of Miss Sharon. She smiled in a cute manner. Her light peach face displayed a rosy tint. Fazed, I stared downward.

"Lady Sharon created all of the delicious recipes before you. Her specialty is cakes but she has been practicing baking pies as well." Break smiled, proudly, glancing at Sharon who smiled back in confidence. Break's sudden mood alteration bemused all of us.

"It was very good, Miss Sharon." I said, shyly. I could feel my skin prickling.

Sharon blushed happily. "Thank you."

Break snickered, amusedly. My face flushed red.

"What is up with your mood swings?" I hollered.

"Break, what did you do? Ruin seems to be quite angry with you." Sharon lightly scolded with a small smile.

"It seems." Break sipped his tea, grinning.

I glared begrudgingly then turned sharply, nearly running into Sharon.

"Pardon me." She gasped embarrassedly then backed quietly away. "Forgive me."

I shyly moved out of her way, flushed with embarrassment.

Forgive me? Those words….

"Are you okay…Ruin?" Sharon murmured sadly from behind.

"Never better." I muttered. My tone was obviously indifferent. This did not comfort her. I didn't say another word to her for fear of making it worse.

"Uncute, wouldn't you say? Raven? Oz?" Break sighed. I faced Break.

"Shut up, Break. I don't need your little input…...by the way, we share the same first step."

"The first step?"

"To find Alice, of course."

"There is no need."

"What?"

"I have enrolled you into an academy, the third top prestigious school in the world." Break gave a little smile, although it was somewhat more irritating in this context.

"What for?!" I raged.

"Don't worry we all will accompany you. You will need to pack and we'll be off before noon."

"I don't understand!" I wailed, pitifully.

"Of course you don't." He beamed.

The clopping of the hooves outside set my mind at ease as I thought about what Break said before. You should already know your next step already. I bit my lip in agitation. Resting my hand under my cheek, I glanced beside me where Oz rested his head sleepily.

"Overly carefree, don't you think?" Break whispered from his seat across from me, shadowed amiss the rays of the sunlight.

"What do you mean?" I was perplexed. "What exactly is Oz?"

"He is a taboo….Even he is unaware of this….." Break's eyes shifted out the window, to the passing trees. "But the day he discovers who, or should I say "what" he really is, he will not be so carefree anymore."

I did not say anymore.

Light danced off the white drops of snow among the leaves of the frostbitten trees. Snow covered the ground outside, but the main road was clear of any snow and the steadfast carriage, lent to us by Lady Sharon, easily passed through. The hazy sun beamed behind the fading but spreading grey clouds.

Suddenly, the bright morning light faded from inside the carriage and the carriage slowed to a steady pace.

"We are here." Break uttered.

"Oz." I gently whispered, as I lightly pressed his shoulder. A sudden abrupt stop caused a sharp jolt to run through the carriage. Spooked, Oz sprang up from his seat; his emerald eyes widening in confusion.

The door opened, and the cold air struck us, numbing my fingers almost instantly. I had always hated the cold, even before the time I had no home. Oz rubbed his hands together. Break seemed unbothered by the frigid air.

Before us, was Lutwidge Academy, an extremely massive building, larger than an ordinary mansion constructed of large white stone. A wide stone staircase led the way to the entrance which was open, inviting us inside before we even got close. We continued our walk down the center pathway where thick white pillars lined each side.

I spotted a couple of students; a boy and a girl, carrying a few books in their hands, conversing with each other. The girl suddenly smiled brightly. That expression… Her golden locks became more beautiful in the wake of the sunrays. Suddenly, I noticed something peculiar. That girl…she reminds me of someone. I eyed Oz with interest.

"Oz….do you have a sister?"

Oz turned, and stared at me with curiosity. Though, he had become paler than usual. "Why do you ask?" He answered.

"I was just wondering if you have a sister." Could that girl…? It could be nothing.

"Yes, I have a sister. She's younger than me but we haven't seen each other for a while. I am actually forbidden by my family to see her." Oz said with a smile, although I knew he was putting up a front.

Break fixed his eyes on me; a blank expression sketched his face.

I didn't know how to reply to Oz so I kept silent. Oz noticed this and took a step towards me. He smiled. "You don't have to say anything, Ruin. I'm okay."

I nodded.

"Hey, you lot!" A voice barked from behind us. We all turned our heads.

"What are you doing here on campus? I can see you don't have uniforms. Explain." A young man with his hands in his pockets walked towards us; irritated and ready to blow a fuse.

"Oh. Elliot." Oz walked past me over to the young man to greet him.

"Oh, it's you." Without a moment's hesitation, Elliot knocked Oz over the head with his arm. Oz fell to the ground before him. "And Break too."

My eyes fixed on Elliot, as he passed Oz by and trudged over to Break and I.

"Who is this, Break?" Elliot's irritated expression did not clear up. He simply looked at me, then at Break, then back at me without a word.

"We have come to have a word with the headmaster about enrolling her here into Lutwidge." Break grabbed me by the shoulder.

"Oh. The headmaster…" Astonished, Elliot straightened up.

"Having just witnessed the unsightly treatment to newcomers here...I suppose we should impose elsewhere." Break whispered in my ear with an eerie grin.

Elliot must have heard.

"No! Wait!" He called.

Break and I stared at him.

"I apologize. I'll take you to see the headmaster." Elliot grumbled, resting a hand on his hip. Elliot had tried to remain as composed as he could but his pleading got the better of him.

"Well, okay." Break smiled, releasing my shoulder. "Shall we go?"

"That's all it took?" Elliot bitterly mumbled to himself.

Break faced me. "Oh, um, Ruin, could you wait here?" He smiled.

"How long are you going to be?" I asked, worrisome of his timing.

"Don't know." He professed quickly, waved and followed Elliot out of the hall.

"That cheeky git ….I'll be here all day." I folded my arms.

Suddenly, a sound swept through the hall. Beautiful it was, but it was also faint.

The unique melody carried out, ringing like little sleigh bells against a soft breeze. The music caused my heart to ache, as I felt the sorrow in each note that resonated throughout my being. The captivating song whisked my feet down the hall after it in an attempt to catch it.

As quick as it came, it was gone. The music had left me.

Out of breath, after turning the corner of the hall, I came across an empty room where a large mahogany grand piano sat in the center. The windows were wide open, and the icy breeze outside brushed against the curtains. I leaned against the frame of the door, finding myself trapped in a forlorn trance.