a/n: thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorite, and added to story alerts, as always! This is a little flashback formatted, just a little warning to you all. And yes, I know I spelled realized "realised." A little reminder: Miss Nettles is Ia's nurse/governess, and Riccio is her brother, the youngest of her six older brothers. Ia is the youngest and the only girl of seven siblings.

Arion. Honestly, Arion? That was the best name I could come up with? How much more unoriginal could I get? I was surprised when the town boy who apparently had just saved me knew the old Greek myth.

It all started when I decided, evidently unwisely, that I wanted to have a look around.

"Ellie? Do you mind if I have a look around? I've never been in town before. Please?"

"Mi-I mean, Master, that is precisely why you mustn't go wandering off on your own! What if some thugs get you and beat you? What will I say to Master Craven then?"

I was dressed as a boy, you see; that was why I had needed Riccio's clothes. His clothes were a little loose-fitting, but they were all right. My ash-blonde hair had been piled up, and hidden under Riccio's cap. His shoes hid the actual miniscule size of my feet, and allowed me to walk clumsily, as all boys do. We almost spilled the beans that I was a girl a few times that day.

"Oh, Ellie-May! I'm not going to get into trouble! Have I ever been in trouble before?"

"Well, I can't deny that you haven't gotten into serious trouble before, but there's always a first time."

"Don't worry, Ellie. We'll meet back at the fruit stand, all right? Should I happen to get a little lost I'll ask around," and with that, I scampered off.

To me, the town was one huge, unexplored world. It was a new city, a new country, even a whole new planet! I had never been outside the house before, whether ours or Uncle Craven's. I had always been especially forbidden from going to town, because I was a girl. My brothers, on the other hand, had been encouraged to keep up with the town's business.

It wasn't long, though, that I realised I should have listened to Riccio and Uncle Craven. The town wasn't the best place in the world. It was dank and moldy, and the fog was so thick you could hardly see.

Knowing that no one was going to see me, I pulled the little music box I had found the other day out of my pocket. I had secretly taken it along with me. Ellie-May had no idea that I had brought it along. At that moment, some thug who called himself Hummel and his repulsive friends attacked. They pinned me down, and seeing my box, they teased and teased.

It reminded me of school. I had been to school once, you know, before Mother had hired Miss Nettles to be my nurse. I came to school as the only one with a grey dress, the only who didn't wear colour. They teased me, because I didn't like the pinks and purples and reds that the other girls liked. They teased me because I like reading so much, and because I didn't bother trying to make any friends. My friends existed in my books, and I didn't need any other friends. It never occurred to me that substantial friends were needed in the world. Who would settle for friends less perfect than the ones in books? I thought. They were always there for you, and they didn't change. They were constant as the Pole Star.

Ever since that year, I never wanted to go to school again. That was why Mother hired Miss Nettles on: to teach me. I still wanted to learn, just not at school. Never.

Then, Oliver came and helped me up. He showed me around, and it was much nicer exploring the eerie streets with a friend. When Hummel and his thugs showed up again, Oliver grabbed my hand, and we ran. I couldn't run very fast, because of Riccio's shoes. When we stopped running, I could feel that the cap was empty. My hair had fallen down.

a/n: how was it? A bit short, as usual, I know. Please review, because reviews are love!