Nadine was at her home in the hollow. She was depressed, no way of making a living. Something rapped on her door she walked over to open it since her wings were still damaged.

Rain pelted inside as she opened the heavy door and she saw an outline of two figures.

"Nadine, I'm so glad you're home," She recognized Blaire Rye's voice.

"Blaire?" Nadine stood back in surprise. Blaire was a demanding and fiery fairiette. Nadine knew her from the Anti-Royal gatherings and Blaire just happened to trust in her.

She entered, very soggy and dripping wet. Red stringy hair and dark eyes. She was carrying a guy.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were captured?" Nadine asked with wide, evergreen eyes.

"No, I escaped and I need your help. This guy was helping me and he...got injured," she said setting the guy down.

Nadine raised an eyebrow. All Underclasses knew Blaire Rye was independent as fairies get and she hated most men and all Royals.

Nadine turned the firefly lantern up so she could see the man. He was bruised and scratched. His arm was cut deep, still bleeding sticky substance. She studied him, he had dark chocolate-colored hair in his face and he was definitely unconscious.

"Okay, I'll help you," Nadine sighed and brought out a needle and some healing balm.

They laid him on the soft teak wooden stand and Nadine cleaned the wound and applied the balm. She quickly sewed the wound and closed it.

"I'm thinking he'll pull through, who is he anyway?" Nadine asked when she was done.

Blaire shrugged, while ringing the rain drops out of her fiery hair by the fireplace, "He helped me escape. That's all there is to know."

If she told any of her own people that she tried to save Julius Rovan, they would hate her. If they knew that it was him, they would seize him their selves and she wasn't going to let that happen. If anyone was going to take him hostage, it would be her. She still had her pride. Nadine wasn't sure Blaire was telling the truth. Something was insecure in her persuasive and strong voice. This man seemed different from them and she couldn't pin point how.

"Was he a prisoner too?" Nadine asked.

"Look, let's stop talking about him," Blaire became angry and stood her full 2 and a half inch height. Which is not very tall for a fairy.

"Fine," Nadine breathed.

Blaire paced around with thought. She needed to stash him somewhere and be hidden herself. She was a convict and he was missing. A Dynasty Royal was missing and there would soon be guards everywhere looking for him.

Oh it was all his stupid fault, he should have stopped the chase. He had the power but he didn't use it and got himself hurt. Then she remembered about Serus. He wasn't far off, and if anyone around there saw him...they'd know a Royal was about for sure.

"Can we stay with you?" Blaire asked suddenly and stopped pacing.

This suggestion took Nadine by surprise. "Yes, of course."

"Thank you. Nadine Serrinderra, you are a life saver," Blaire hugged her.

The man on the table stirred. He turned his head. Blaire and Nadine ran to him and looked to see if he was waking. His eyes were still closed but his jaw was opened.

"Is he dying?" Blaire asked with surprising worry.

"No, he's in shock...I think," Nadine said lifted his wrist for a pulse. "Yes, he'll be okay."

Blaire sighed and sat on the covered futon. With a tiny yawn she fell asleep. Nadine was cautious, she felt odd about the stranger in her home.

Since they were staying in a hollow, no one could ever tell if morning was there or not. The night rain had stopped but the hollow's dim light remained.

Nadine had left for a job search earlier so Blaire and Julius were the only ones in the hollow. She rubbed her minty green eyes awake and looked around.

She walked to where Julius laid. His mouth was closed and so were his eyes. When she looked at him, she wanted him to wake so she could strangle him for being so stupid. Then again, the color of his eyes she wanted to look at again. They reminded her of dark pools of water.

Blaire went outside and washed her sleep away with a hanging dew drop. Serus was chirping with concern as soon as she saw him.

"He'll be fine, but if you want him to stay like that. You have to leave," Blaire warned. Serus squawked in question.

"He's not safe if you're around," She explained.

Serus cocked his head to one side and appeared to understand.

With a giant squawk he beat his reddish wings and flew away. Blaire sighed in relief, no guards were ever coming near there now.

She went back into the hollow and sat. She thought what was she going to do? A Royal, Dynasty Royal was laying right in front of her, how was she going to handle it? She stood over Julius to look at him again. Some sort of crust was forming on the arm wound. Blaire made a disgusted face and looked back to his.

His eyes were open.

Blaire stood back startled. The deep blue pools were staring at her with puzzlement.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"Um...safe, for now," Blaire said overcoming the shock.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I captured you. You are...my hostage," she said with more ease.

"Oh, okay then," Julius said and closed the blue irises.

"Wait!" Blaire said and grabbed his wrist.

They opened again, "Yes?"

"Do you not understand? I TOOK YOU HOSTAGE; KIDNAPPED YOU!" she said loudly.

"Kidnapped me? Heh. I wouldn't know if that were good or bad, considering I have no clue to who I am," he laughed coldly.

Blaire looked to see if he was serious. "You don't know who you are?"

"Maybe you could fill me in. You look like a smart one," he teased showing all his white teeth.

Blaire thought. Should she tell him he was the prince of all fairy kind or just lie and be safe. Her conscience was evil.

"You're name is Tex. Tex...Ventura," she gave him a name.

"Hmm, that name doesn't sound familiar, but considering I can't remember anything I'll go with it," he said quizzically. "So why did you kidnap me?"

"What?...Oh that was a joke, ha ha ha," Blaire faked a laugh.

"Really? You looked so serious," Julius mentioned.

"Well, I'm good at that kind of thing," she replied solemnly.

Julius shrugged, "So how do I know you?"

"Believe it or not, you saved me," she told him the truth for once.

"Why does my arm hurt?" he asked scrunching his face while he lifted it.

Blaire saw an opportunity. "Don't move! Those blasted Royals tried killing you. Luckily we got you to my healer friend. They just would not stop chasing us," Blaire over dramatized.

"Wow. They sound mean, who are the 'Royals'?" he asked with interest.

"Oh, they are the worst. They treat us fairies like crap. They beat us, torment us, embarrass us...it's awful. Sometimes they even kill us," she said darkly.

Julius gasped in appalled. "That's so awful, but when you say 'us fairies' what do you mean?" he asked with wonder.

"We're Underclasses," she whispered with the same dark tone.