AN:/ As usual some characters belong to SM. Intrigued yet? Chapters will get longer, promise. I'm just trying to set the stage right now and get you acquainted with some of the characters and the plot. I know Ryan talks oddly and her views especially about relationships are twisted to say the least, but she doesn't really live a "human" life even though she is a human just will extreme powers. She only needs about three to five hours of sleep a night she sleeps when Jacob sleeps.

Chapter 4

"Something's bothering you." Morsen said looking over me as we walked through the great hall

Which something? I wanted to ask.

"It's.." I said trying to decide which something I wanted to discuss with him, which something wouldn't get me brought before the council for letting loose my emotions. "The lifting." I said

He nodded. "I know it's hard, this is your first, but you've been trained for this. I know you can handle it and these training sessions and briefings will make it a piece of cake". He smiled down at me.

I tried to return his smile but couldn't. He didn't have all the details. He had no idea. I knew I could pull it off . That was not the problem.

He frowned down at me. "Control your emotions Ryan. Control your fear and worry." I wanted to roll my eyes, but instead I nodded. He was always so by the book, but that was why he was protecting the council members themselves. His loyalty was unswerving.

I had been in the meeting with the council members for almost six hours. They were pretty sure they knew the cause of Jacob's unrest. It didn't make sense to the council it had never happened before, at least not with his race, but Jacob's powers were advanced for his race, or so we thought his race hadn't really existed before his eldest brother had been born.

He could somehow sense me. He wasn't aware that he could but it was making him edgy. So I could only guard him for so many hours a day unseen.

The council had decided to lift the shield and give me the power to lift it or put it in place, which was the only positive part about the changes that were being made when it came to guarding my charge.

I would allow him to see me when I could. Meaning right now people were signing me up for school, forging documents and grades. I would only guard him unseen at night.

After I had been released by the council I had went back to my room and almost had a nervous breakdown. I seriously regretted not bringing Aeris with me. Especially now since I had to stay three days so I could be briefed. In other words to I could talk to people as if I was a normal eighteen year old without having them call the asylum to report an escaped patient.

I had no clue about the real world, the everyday goings on. I could speak eight different languages, was proficient in six different styles of fighting, I knew history that the modern world had no knowledge of, but I couldn't sustain a conversation with an everyday human, I wouldn't have a clue what they were talking about. Some guy had once tried to sell me something on the street called a CD. I had made the mistake of asking him what a CD was, he'd looked at me like I was crazy. That's when I realized I had made some fatal error. I'd smiled, said no thank you and quickly headed in the opposite direction.

I wasn't so sure what I was more nervous about. The fact that I had to mingle with common humans and try and communicate with them, something I had never, to my knowledge ever done, or the fact that I had to meet Jacob and pretend that I had never met him and didn't know every single thing about him.

I was pretty sure it was the latter. I did not want to meet Jacob.

Luckily the council was not tipped off by my nerves. Apparently everyone reacted like this there first time.

Human eyes had never really seen me. I walked only through airports and busy cities. When I was noticed it was fleeting and I didn't notice them. No human, well no ungifted human who didn't know who I was had ever talked to me, I had never had to talk about the everyday things that normal people talked about. I never had casual conversations. I had no idea what people even talked about. I never really paid attention to the everyday conversation of the people I guarded. Well sometimes I paid attention to what Jacob was saying, as of late I hadn't been able to help it, but I couldn't admit that.

When it came to this situation I was so far out of my depth.

Which was why I was being briefed.

I would fly back on Sunday and start school on Monday.

I was scared for the first time in my life.

Morsen brought me out of my thoughts.

"There was something I wanted to discuss with you, but seeing as you'll be busy these next two days I think it best to wait. I have leave coming up in a little over a month. I've spoken with the council and they've agreed to let me come visit you. We'll discuss it then?"

I nodded. "Of course. It'll be wonderful to have your company." I said smiling up at him

He nodded looking at me closely.

Lately it had really bothered me when people did that

"Excluding the obvious problems. How has it been going with your charge."

"Fine." I smiled. "Slightly boring of course. Has the council seen any changes?

Morsen shook his head. "No. Patience it will happen. You have a very important and powerful charge. You should feel lucky."

"I do." I said. "You know how I felt at first about this assignment even though I tried to hide it, but now I see how important he's going to be." I stopped myself before I went too far.

The council was only interested in protecting him and his powers, but he was so much more.

Two days later I sat on the plane. Going over the plan in my head. All the things that had been drilled into my head. What was normal for an eighteen year old girl, how to act, how to talk, the clothes I would have to wear, a million answers I had memorized to the most usual questions. Plans for college, music I liked hated, boys, actors, singers, dating history, family history, siblings, parents, important dates.

We'd decided my parents were divorced. My father lived in New York. Which would work well if I had to leave to go see the council. Aeris was going to pose as my mother since she could change a person's perception of what she looked like. So if any one showed up at our house, or the school called or wanted a teacher parent meeting we were covered.

I was to maintain a B average as to not be too perfect. I was sweet nice and outgoing, keep interaction to a minimum don't be standoffish, make friends but don't be too friendly. In other words friends to hang out with at school not friends to invite over after school. Keep my emotions in check don't get attached to this human way of life this was temporary. This was not my life.

Most importantly. Blend in don't stand out.

I could do this piece of cake. I had memorized everything. This persona was so different from who I was it was frightening. I had to change everything my hair style, the way I walked, the way I talked, bringing it up to a higher octave to make me sound less intimidating, even the way I moved, apparently I was to graceful I needed to be more human so part of my persona was being slightly clumsy.

I was more than prepared to pull this off.

So why was I willing to do just about anything to escape this assignment?