Author's note: Sorry if this is kinda late. Reason: Traveling. Updating is really important to me and so I really do feel bad. Hopefully since this chapter is relatively long, it'll make up for it.

"Elide! Come on!" Vernon teased, "You actually have to swing the bat!"

"I'm trying, chill," Elide laughed as she failed to hit the ball flying towards her again.

"Sure, sure," Her father chuckled as she noogied her hair.

"Dad, don't let go! Please!" Elide screamed.

"Chill, I won't," Her dad smirked.

"You sure?"

"Yes, dear," A grin.

Slowly Vernon's hand began to drift away from Elide on her bike. She didn't seem to notice its disappearance until she glanced back.

A piercing scream, "DAD!"

A whip cracked through the air. A searing pain jarred through Elide's back. Such a huge price for a little mistake. Elide sobbed and blood spewed around her. Elide kept her head down and she curled on the floor. Another time. Hard, and definite. Elide couldn't move. She was trapped and no one was coming to get her.

And as if Annieth had granted her a blessing, Elide passed out before she could feel any more pain.

She woke in rags. There was so much blood. It was everywhere. She had gone through tortures from her father, but it was becoming too much.

And maybe it was the fact that a full scholarship was being offered nearby, that could offer her a new life, but she decided right then and there that she wasn't going to be tossed around any longer.

And it was very easy to slit her father's throat as he slept. And even easier escape that hellhole.

Elide shot up from the school's doctoring bed. She gulped the cool air around her greedily and gripped her sheets. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to get it together.

As if broken from her daze, she realized the bulk around her ankle. It couldn't be. No. How would she walk around? Will the teacher let her continue?

She closed her eyes for a moment as if this was just her imagination. She opened her eyes and that stupid bulk cast was still there.

Elide glared.

With a resigned sigh, she analyzed her surroundings. She was in the school's hospital. Double glass doors were on either side of the rectangular room. There were beds on either long side, vacant.

Just then the doors swung open and the devil stormed in.

Aelin walked entered the classroom and sat down next to Rowan

"Fireheart, I heard that Elide, that girl who fell, has permanent leg damage."

"That means she won't be able to compete. They'll make her drop out," Aelin realized with a blow to her gut, "How much did she rely on this scholarship?"

Rowan just looked with a sad expression.

Aelin wouldn't sit around and tolerate this, she was going to make sure that Elide stayed.

It turned out someone had already done that.

A woman with white, moon-like hair and burnt gold eyes swaggered through the double doors. She was naturally tall, wore red stilettos, a leather jacket, and chains around her waist.

She wasn't someone to mess with.

Elide got up and shifted her weight to one side.

"Come with me girl, we have things to discuss," the devil spoke.

Elide may have been hurt, but she wasn't stupid, "What's your name?"

"Manon. That's all you need to know." They walked down the hallway.

Elide knew better than to pester her with questions, for Manon could easily slit her throat with her long, acrylic nails.

Well alright, Elide thought. What could she possibly be going?

The principal's office, that's where.

"Your injury is permanent. I'm sorry, but we have no choice but to disqualify you," The admin spoke.

No, she couldn't go back to that hellhole. She didn't even have anyone left. Where would she go? How would she live? "Please, no. I'll do anything, anything at all. Just don't send me away."

"I'm sorry, but you aren't in any condition to fight, you can barely walk."

"I can learn!"

"Sorry, but my decision is final."

Elide felt tears well up in her eyes. She supposed it was foolish that she could ever escape her past. It was foolish to start a new life. It was foolish to seek salvation.

Manon, who had been standing by the door, arms crossed, finally moved beside Elide and said, "Admin, I am sure you can find some use for her."

Though the message she was really sending was, if you don't help this poor girl, I am going to rip your heart out.

The admin, frightened, said, "Well, we could look through your records to see if you'll be of any use to us."

And he did just that, "Well, it seems you have some experience doing labor work. Alright how about this; you can work in the cafeteria during the day and clean the halls at night."

"I need to get paid," Elide wasn't going to be a helpless maid without perks.

"We are a rich school, so alright, I can spare some good money on a little liability."

Manon growled.

Elide knew that if Manon helped her, she would get something out of it. Out of her. She shuddered and pushed that thought aside, the time would come to find out.

But for now, the deal was better than she anticipated. The alternative would have been more than she could handle.

"When do I start working?"

Rowan was somewhat engrossed in one Aelin's cheesy romance novels when he heard a knock at the door. He quickly hid the book under the bed's sheets and tried to look innocent as he opened the door.

He never expected to see the person waiting on the other side.

Meet Lorcan Salvatar. The world's biggest moron. And Rowan's former "friend."

"You better be here for a good reason." Rowan snarled.

Their "friendship" was… complicated.

"I want a job. Ever since you sent our mistress to jail Whitethorn, I've been living on the streets. I need a source of income," Lorcan stated.

Well if he thought he was getting pity from Rowan, then he was wrong.

"And you came to a school to get a job? Really? Out of all places?"

"Word has it some girl got a job here, so can I."

Rowan didn't want Lorcan near Aelin, but he supposed she had been through worse. They could handle him together. And, fine, he didn't want her yelling at him for being too territorial to refuse someone's request for help.

Rowan sighed, maybe Aelin was making him a better person. He wouldn't have done this otherwise. "Alright, you can go to the main office, you'll find the principal there. He can tell you what to do."

"I need a place to stay."

Rowan knew that "I'll give you what you want, but just this once. You can stay in my room."

And just like that, Rowan had a new roommate.

Author's note: So this chapter isn't great, but it's vital. Lorcan and Elide are obviously going to meet. What do you think Manon wants with Elide? Why is Lorcan really here?

Do you like the flashbacks? Just curious.

Review!

PS: Hopefully, I'll get some laughter out in the next chapter.

If you didn't quite grasp Elide's past, it will be much clear soon.