Chapter IV

Miranda

The two girls heard a crash out side a few seconds after the cloaked figure disappeared.

"What was that?" Miranda whispered as Cassie jumped up and sprinted to the window. Opening it, she looked up.

"Ow!" a pebble had suddenly hit Cassie in the side of the head. Hard. "What the-" Looking down, she gasped and put her hand to her mouth.

"What is it?" Miranda asked, forgetting to be quiet. Jumping off the bed, she came to the window and looked down at the lawn.

She gasped loudly, trying to hide her tears. Oh no! No, no! Right below her window, unconscious, with a length of rope spread across him, was...

"Sebastian!"

"Yes, he took a rather nasty fall from the rope that we put up. The idiot was trying to climb up after me. Had to cut him down."

The girls spun around, and standing right there in their door way was Skotos. "Oh look. Our witches who brought back the dragon. I see you both care for the elf down there. Why not join him?"

But before he even took a step into Miranda's bedroom, a thin fencing sword came down on his left shoulder from off to the right side of the doorway, the holder unseen.

"Damn you, Aisling! But I'll be back!" Skotos shouted, then suddenly disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Right after Skotos disappeared, Alan Aisling, their father, came into the doorway, wearing his pajamas, holding a fencing sword, now with a small splotch of blood on the tip.

"Are you girls all right?" he asked worried. "I heard you two talking, but couldn't understand what."

"Dad," Miranda sobbed, some tears trickling down her cheek. "He hurt Sebastian. Maybe killed him." Cassie finished for her, pointing to the window, then cast a sympathetic glance towards her.

Sometimes I don't think that I deserve Cassie for a sister. I would never tell her that out loud though!

"What?" his father said, surprised. As he strode over to the window, Miranda walked over to her bed and sat down, shaking all over. She heard her father gasp.

"Oh my God! Cassie, Miranda. I'll need your help bringing him inside." he said, commanding. "Dad, I think he came here on the Unicorn. Overon and Titania might be more help than doctors here." Cassie suggested, trying not to sound shaken up.

Sebastian! Oh my God! Oh. My. God.

"Good suggestion, Cassie. Miranda, come on. I know what you're feeling, but sitting there won't help anyone. Come on." Alan said, walking over to Miranda's bed. "Come on. The sooner we get to help, the better."