It didn't take long at all for baby Joan to become part of the family. Odette and Derek were proud parents of three gorgeous children, one of whom was taking on all the responsibilities of being a protective older sister. Alex fell into the role of a good example quickly and naturally, like she'd been born to help her family.

However, things weren't as calm and quiet as they should have been. Two months after Joan was born, a familiar enemy was making plans to shatter the family of a couple she despised more than anything in the world.

"They think they've won," Zelda muttered as she paced around in her lair, trying to think of a good plan for revenge. "They think they've seen the last of me. They haven't."

Zelda, who had been presumably killed when she fell into a cage of fire she had originally created to keep Odette trapped, had put a spell on the notes she had in her possession as she waited for Derek to bring the missing section as ransom for Odette's safe return.

It was a failsafe; a spell that would allow for the return of anyone killed by The Forbidden Arts while it was in Zelda's possession to be brought back to life, should the notes ever be destroyed. It was an excellent idea and it worked, as Derek immediately burned the notes after Odette's 'death,' hoping that something good would come of it.

Derek had indeed burned the notes, and when Odette came back in grand style – a fire in the shape of a swan – Zelda was in the shadows, watching the reunion. Her eyes were full of hatred at that moment, as well as any other time Derek and Odette crossed her mind.

Zelda had no real, solid idea why she hated them so, Odette especially so much. Perhaps it was because they had destroyed everything she and Rothbart had worked so hard to create. Perhaps it was Derek's meddling with the notes. Or maybe it was because just when Rothbart and Zelda finally felt like they could win against King William, Odette's father, Rothbart betrayed Zelda, took the Arts, and left her to marry Odette.

Never mind the fact that Odette certainly didn't want Rothbart. It didn't matter.

None of it mattered.

The fact remained that Zelda loathed their existence and it was her personal goal to make them as miserable as possible with a plan she would very soon set into motion.

XxX

"Be careful," Odette called lightly to Eli and Alex, who were sword-fighting with wooden swords, just as she and Derek had done when they were young.

It was a beautiful day by the lake. The sun shone uninterrupted by clouds. Birds were everywhere, filling the air with their chatter. Odette could even see the swans swimming around on the lake, a sight that no longer filled her with such depression as she remembered her time as a swan.

"Okay," Alex answered, ducking to the side just as Eli was about to strike. Girl as she was, Alex was definitely the better duelist. But then again, it probably had something to do with the fact that she didn't swing every time Eli so much as blinked.

Odette found a shaded spot in the grass and sat down with Joan, who was unanimously adored by everyone in the castle. Derek, who had been held up by a few last minute preparations for the King of Lincolnshire, Adelaide, who would be visiting later in the day with his son, Matthew, joined them.

The two of them watched as Alex easily leaped around, dodging around Eli's swipes and swings. Their interest soon waned, and they began chatting amongst themselves, only keeping one eye on Alex and Eli.

Eli was struggling to keep up, wearing himself as he did so, but luckily Alex took pity on him and didn't move too far or too fast.

However, when something moving around in the nearby woods caught her attention, Alex stopped, concentrating on what she thought to be someone spying on them from amongst the trees. When she turned back to face Eli, who had thought she was baiting him, she saw that he was charging at him. With only a second to act, she instinctively blocked the wooden sword with her left forearm.

When Eli's sword came down, it hit her arm about two inches below her elbow. It sent a shockwave up to her shoulder, causing her to yelp in pain.

Odette hearing the commotion, jumped up as quickly as she could with Joan in her arms, and dashed over. Derek, whose reflexes hadn't acted so quickly, was close behind.

Alex was clenching her teeth, stoically trying to act like it didn't hurt. But her right hand was wrapped around her arm, giving her away.

Eli was quickly trying to apologize, but most of the words came out as fast spoken gibberish.

When Odette finally reached them, she was relieved to see that Alex didn't seem to be hurt too badly. But then again, by the time Derek, a few seconds later, got there, Alex's attention had shifted back to the spot in the woods she had been watching earlier.

"Alex, are you alright?" Odette asked as she handed Joan to Derek so she could examine Alex's arm. "Let me see."

Alex blankly obeyed, still carefully observing the woods. She held out her arm, but did not look as her mother checked it. Odette was relieved to find that Alex's arm had not been broken.

But then again, it didn't make much sense that she had been hit at all. Odette followed Alex's eyes to the woods, but she saw nothing. "Alex, sweetie, what do you see?"

Odette had no doubt at all that something had been in the woods. It took an awful lot to pull Alex's attention away from anything she was doing, especially sword-fighting with her brother. The question was, was the thing in the woods still there?

Alex jerked her attention to her mother. She seemed to be at a loss for words. What did she see? A shadow? A bird? What was in the woods?

"It's… nothing," she finally answered. "It's nothing."

Odette tried to see what had Alex so bothered, but there was nothing to be seen in the spot where she had been so intensely staring.

Meanwhile, Eli had fallen silent. He was staring at his mother and elder sister, confused by the tense exchange of looks that had occurred between them. He looked up at Derek, who had stayed back and observed, but received no answers to his unspoken question regarding what had just happened.

Derek sensed dread from Odette and confusion from Alex. He refrained from looking down at Eli, who Derek knew would be staring up at him.

Finally, Odette rose to her feet and turned to Derek and Eli.

"She's alright," Odette said, not clearing the air. It was only a minor relief that Alex's arm had not been broken. It was overshadowed by the thing in the woods.

Alex knew all the stories. Although she didn't know every detail, she knew how much trouble Zelda, Clavius, and Rothbart had been for her parents. And although her parents had told the story with pleasant endings, Alex knew that the Forbidden Arts were very, very dangerous.

The air cleared when Rogers approached, ignorant of all that had passed moments before. "King Adelaide and Prince Matthew have arrived," he announced.

Derek nodded and looked toward his family, who had shaken off their bad feelings. They seemed to be fine now, so Derek had confidence when he told Rogers to direct Matthew and Adelaide to where they were all gathered.

"Derek, I'll take Joan," Odette volunteered, holding her arms out. Derek passed her over and waited for Adelaide and Matthew, who had just appeared, not too far away.

"Alex," Odette whispered in her eldest daughter's ear, "I want you to be nice to Matthew, okay?"

"Okay…" Alex answered almost unwillingly. It was no secret that, as Derek and Odette couldn't stand each other as children, Alex and Matthew disliked each other in a very similar way. The difference was, Alex was forced to endure Matthew's foolish pranks and jokes more often than every summer.

It was Matthew's foolishness and Alex's maturity that made it seem like they detested each other, but when they weren't carefully keeping their guard up, it was easy to see the slightest bit of admiration they held for one another.

It was ironic to see through Derek and Odette's eyes. From watching their daughter and Matthew, they finally understood why their parents were so bound and determined for them to marry.

All this would explain why Matthew walked straight up to Alex when he and his father arrived.

"Hello princess," he mocked, bowing in a very stupid way. Alex rolled her eyes, but in no other way did she retaliate.

Matthew was eight years old, two years Alex's senior, a fact he repeatedly hung over her head whenever the chance arose. He was taller than she, with dark brown eyes and thick black hair. His mother, Queen Camille, was the one who he inherited his features from. His father, with his fair complexion and light hair, seemed to be without credit in his son's appearance.

"Hello, Matthew," Alex said simply.

Eli bounded up to them like a happy puppy. He considered Matthew to be a much better role model than Alex, which was why he loyally followed and obeyed Matthew when he came to visit.

"Hi Matthew!" Eli panted, forgetting about Alex's arm.

Matthew gave him a quick nod, and turned back to Alex. "You look like you're about to cry."

"I am not about to cry," she said indignantly.

"I bet you are."

"Well, then again, your face is in viewing distance, so maybe I will cry." She smirked triumphantly as he could find no words in retort. Eli made no effort to help either one of them. He was all too used to their bickering, and when it came to brain power, Alex had Matthew beat.

Secretly, Alex was glad Matthew showed up when he did. It gave her a chance to think about what she had seen in the woods without having to waste too much thought on an intelligent conversation with someone else.

Not knowing what was there aside, she had a very bad feeling about it.