This was one hell of a day, and it wasn't even over yet. Iruma was off at school, and according to Gramps, he would not be back until way in the night. I was not one to like the seven hours I had to be at school, he was doing almost twelve or more. Crazy, all of it. Why would you ever want to be a human?

I hope she knew being human had no upsides. We were powerless and if she did anything to them, she would be investigated. My child was my whole world, and I could not get to him. What was he doing now? Was he safe, and alive? Was she torturing him? A tear streaked my cheek. Would I ever get to see him again? A stream flowed and broke down.

"My Lady, what is wrong?" Opera finished the last braid, Pinning it around a bun.

"I had a child in the human world." I looked down. "I just hope he is okay. Let us start training, I wish to give back what was handed to me."

In the back yard of this pristine mansion, he taught me to fly properly. How to land on my feet and not my face. After a few minutes I got the hang of it, my body already knew what to do, I just had to grow used to it. I was fast and the shape of my wings allowed me to be more agile and glide for a long distance. Like how I descended downwards.

"You are doing well. I have no doubt you will pass the flying test. Your body and mind seem closer now. There are a few ranks up's you have missed so we will move on to defense. You will have to participate in execution cannonball with a group of teachers."

"Teachers? I know I am considered older but that feels harsh?"

He held a ball up in one hand, and one finger on his other hand. "It is a one-time event; students do not play more than once for a rank. So, the teaching staff will participate with you. It will be twice as hard, but if you succeed you will be granted a rank up. Dodge." He threw the ball, it hit me in the gut. My arms curled around the ball, clutching it.

I wheezed a breath. "Does catching count?"

His ears twitched. "You caught that with good reflex."

"I played softball." I reared up, preparing to throw the ball back as hard as I could. I kicked my leg in the air, slamming it down I slung the ball full force. It launched, he tilted his head, and it whizzed by his ear. It slammed into a tree denting it, I cupped my mouth.

"You are doing so well. Let us focus on dodging first, not every ball you can catch." My brain sighed in relief.

For an hour I had balls thrown at me unrelentingly. I was hit so many times I lost count. This was a punishment, not training. I caught a ball, blocking the others from hitting me. I jumped throwing a ball.

"Enough!" I shouted. "This is dumb. Who can dodge like that?"

"Iruma can. I have yet to hit him."

I raised my eyebrows. "You got to be kidding me. Can we take a break then? I have yet to look around the home."

"Oh, I almost forgot. You talked training and I skipped over the tour of your new home."

This house was massive, it reminded me a little of my home. It was not as grand or nearly as big, but it had similarities. Opera opened the doors to a room with a music stand and an instrument case around the edge of the room.

"Each case does have an instrument inside, if you wish we can get you a tutor." I looked around the room.

The music stand had a beginner book on the stand with trumpet music. The Piano had a similar book splayed open. A shelf had all kinds of learning books and theories all categorized by the type of instrument it belonged to.

I grinned at opera as I pulled an advanced violin book out. "What do demons play?"

I flipped through the pages, how everything was so like the human realm it baffled me. Did it come from here or vice versa? I scanned over the cases, looking for a violin. Cracking open a case, my eyes watered. The foliage décor on the outside made of gold. The silver strings shined in the lighting. The bow was no less beautifully made and matched the violin perfectly.

"You play violin?"

"Play?" I said I pulled it from the case, testing the strings. "I competed as a child." I tuned the strings and tightened my bow. Testing for the right sound, I adjusted accordingly. I turned to a page of a slow-paced song and read the notes humming to myself.

"Sit, Opera. I think I may spend a little time here."

"I must prepare dinner, master Iruma will be home in a little while."

"Oh, okay then. I will be here when you return." I was sad to see him go, but being alone was something I also wanted. Digesting the day in my sea of thoughts. I practiced the song, and bow moved to the song, I could see the images in my mind. Something odd happened, music notes danced in the room.

I stopped and the images disappeared. I played again; the notes danced. I grinned, the through of others dancing slowly to this had my heart melting. The dancing notes turned to people and demons dancing a waltz. This world was enchanting at every corner. Who knew a demonic instrument could do something like this?

"This violin is the greatest thing in this world. Who knew music could be any better."

"Oh, my goodness, my granddaughter, Viola, has a true ability with instruments." My head turned, Sullivan was hugging me and spinning me around.

"Uh. S... Grandpa. Please put me down."

"Yes, of course. That was not the violin that made those images. It was you. You have a bloodline gift. I doubt she knew or did not tell a soul. I have not heard of someone else having this gift in years. Play something else, your grandpa wants to hear more."

"Sure."

He was full on in this grandpa mode. A blood line gift: I know I changed the outside, but the inside was still the same. If I never picked this up, if he never stopped by. I would not think anything of this. Would that mean that others with the same blood would notice? Would they come after me?

I hesitated. "You said blood line, does that mean others will come for me?"

"Only one other person I know has this ability. Sometimes they disappear for generations, and gifts sometimes appear out of need. This one seems to let you use music and turn it into something you can see and possibly touch. Now play something nice for your grandpa." His giddy smile made one peek on my face.

I raised my violin, playing a song I already knew. One that had a lot of feeling and meaning. The room erupted in images, children playing, parents laughing. Dancing around in the nighttime like all worries were gone. Stars swirled around the moon. The kids swung around, and a tear streaked down my cheek. I missed my own, and I would make that woman pay.

They changed face and I halted the show. The images evaporated. "I am sorry."

He smiled in glee. "Nonsense, I have a talented and powerful daughter. I have no doubt you will become a successful demon in the future. The gift you have is all interpretation and emotions. If you think and will it, it could have this grow into an exceptionally powerful gift."

"GRANDPA!" His attention snapped to the door.

"My Iruma is home." He skipped out of the room like a schoolchild. If he was ranked nine, why did he act like that? I set the violin down in the case. Joining them in the hallway.

My face stiffened at the man behind Iruma, The angry one. What was his name again? Kalbi Kal-something. "You must be the new grandchild." He had a stack of books in his hands. "If you really wish to join the class you have to complete the end of terms exam." I walked up to him, holding my hands out.

He dropped the books in my hands. "I will see you tomorrow for your entrance exams." I nodded.

I moved behind Sullivan looking off in the distance at the pretty ornate foliage carvings around the door. That face was scary, he looked like he wanted to rip every person apart. If he smiled, he might look attractive and less intimidating. Wonder if he is staving off wrinkles with this tactic or if it was just him.

"My granddaughter is quite talented. I am sure she will exceed your expectations."

"Are you sure, the mind seems distant." It was his personality.

I glared from the side. "Not looking at someone does not insinuate absence of listening. I was pondering as to why you have a constant look of constipation on your face."

His teeth gritted. "You need to be more respectful around those at a higher rank than you."

I scoffed. "Respect is earned like a rank. You did not earn that from me thus far." I turned my head.

"Will she be like my sister?" Iruma asked.

"Yes. Kalego, I will make sure she arrives to school tomorrow."

"Right, I need to go now. Study hard, you are vastly behind your… peers."

I glanced over my shoulder. I wanted to say something, but I refrained. Whipping my head back away from him, I walked down the hall, and to the left where Opera stood.

"I can take those to your room."

"I got it. Kalego is out there, go say hi to him for me." His ears twitched, and a faint grin enlightened his lips. I knew there was something weird between them, the way Kalego shrunk to get away from Opera. Whatever history was there, I might be able to use it to my advantage.

My doors opened automatically for me, and I set all the books on the table. Astrology, transfiguration, topics I had thought of based on grandpa. Diabotany looked like plants and animals. Torture, Demons will be demons. Interacting with Familiars, this book intrigued me. Like a witch familiar. There was more but I stopped for the familiar book.

There were all kinds of familiars you could gain, and this book taught you how to train and become a good partner to your familiar. Each contract was a yearlong, and most never had the same one twice in a row. It was because they could switch based on the need of the demon or by who they were in power. The interest had to line up somewhere.

If I wanted to pass this exam I would have to work sevenfold. I did not like doing things that uninterested me, but this whole world was something new. I had to reread some paragraphs in that book already. I wonder if Opera would help me with this learning delay. One thing that has not changed about me.