Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Dark-Hunter characters.

8 years later

"Young Mistress?" a soft rap sounded on the door. "'S time for dinner." Mille peeked her head through the door. Mary was on the floor playing with her toys, Mille just stood there in the doorway. "Young Mistress? The Master 'ill 'ave your 'hind if you doona get to dinner on time."

Mary finally turned her attention to the maid and she stared at the Millie with her unusual eyes. Instinctively, Millie crossed herself before she could catch herself. Having understood the meaning behind Millie's reaction Mary flinched as if she'd been slapped. The maid never intended to hurt Mary, but she was never nice to her either.

Mary followed Millie down to the dining room. There her mother and father were already there waiting to eat dinner.

"Mary." Aldrich said in a stern voice. The way he did when he was cross. "Why are you late to dinner?" Mary just stood there, tight lipped, eyes on the ground. "Mary! You know the rules of this house and when dinner is held at a specific time you are supposed to be here on time!" He stopped talking for a minute and he looked at his daughter. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Her eyes flashed to his and their gazes locked. In her eyes, Mary's anger churned silently. She looked calm but it all was said in her eyes. Aldrich stood up in his chair so fast that it clattered to the floor. Losing his cool, Aldrich now had a snarl on his face.

"Don't you dare talk to me that tone with me, Mary!" She continued to stare at him not saying anything. Then he strode over to her and he slapped her across the face. The slap held such force that Mary tumbled to the floor.

"My lord!" cried Elizabeth as she ran to Mary. "What has gotten into you?" She stared at him with incredulity in her eyes. How can a loving father do such a thing to his own child, let alone his own flesh and blood?

Aldrich just stood there tense. "I'll not be disrespected in my own house!" he bit out. "Let alone by some mutt who doesn't even share my blood!"

With that, he strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him. When he was gone, the room instantly filled with silence. Elizabeth and Millie were shocked at Aldrich's behavior. Elizabeth stared after her husband even though he was long gone. She whispered, "He loved Mary very much and being his only child she's always lavished with everything she wanted."

Elizabeth stopped for a moment as if remembering better days, then she continued. "But recently he has become short tempered. But even as he changed, his outburst still came as a surprise. He was normally known for his calm demeanor and his ability to remain level headed as he quarreled with someone. But not today." Elizabeth looked down at her precious Mary, her gift from God. She reached down and she stroked her daughter's hair as her shoulders shook from her sobs.

Ever since that morning, Mary had felt a change in the air and from everyone around her. She just knew something was just about to happen and it would happen soon.

Sorry that this chapter was so short when I wrote I couldn't really think of what I wanted to happen in the story. So, what do you think?