I glared at the old man in front of me. His snow-white hair was neatly combed back, and he was twisting his curly mustache with his fingers. A signed of nervousness that I had learned he would do through-out my lives.

“Having a pleasant evening, Grandfather?” I snidely asked. His light gray eyes looked at me sharply. I was blatantly being rude, a first for him to have to deal with from family.

“Mallory,” his voice was deep and gruff, a clear warning. “Why did you do it?”

“Pray tell, what was it I did again?” Slap! Ouch. I looked at the other man in the room who had just slapped my left cheek. Sir Sunway, my grandfathers right hand man. His dark green hair had spots of gray, showing his age well. I smiled at him, blood now starting to spill from the corner of my mouth. The old punk hit me hard. His pale red eyes glowered at me ferociously. “My, my. Was that needed Sir Sunway?” Slap! Ouch again. Same freaking cheek. I rolled my tongue around the inside of my mouth, tasting more blood.

“Mallory,” I looked at my grandfather with mocking, curious eyes. “Why did you attempt to assassinate the First Prince?”

“And I shall throw my question back at you, why don't you believe me when I tell you I didn't? Hmmmm? Well, my ever-loving Grandfather?” I prepared for another hit, but it didn't come.

“There is proof, child, PROOF!” he barked at me, slamming down the papers that showed the so-called “proof” on the table.

“Stop.” My eyes glowed a dark purple and my voice rumbled, making the room shake. Sir Sunway and my grandfather looked at me, shock clear on their faces. My warning wasn't to them, however. It was to my two companions and my childhood friend, who were just outside the door. They had finally made their way to me through the many guards and knights. No matter how many times I told them not to, they still came. I calmed myself, letting my eyes return to normal.

“I will not allow such threats!” Grandfather yelled, red in the face. I snort at him, which earned me a punch in the gut. I wheezed, trying to find my breath. Someone grabbed a hand full of my hair and yanked my head back. I watched a Sir Sunway brought out his dagger. Swish... a large clump of my snowy hair fell to the ground. I was officially dishonored. Having one's hair chopped off like this was the way to show that the noble was no longer in good standing. This wasn't the first time I experienced this, but I was still sad to see my hair on the floor.

“For such a grievous attempt on the First Prince's life, you have been sentenced to death by order of the Emperor and Empress.” Grandfather gathered up his papers not bothering to look at me anymore.

“Did you even look at the papers?” I asked him. He stopped at the door and I knew the answer. He didn't even bother. Someone attempted to kill the First Prince and that someone was of more importance than his granddaughter. He was letting me take the fall. I started to laugh, low at first, but it gradually built up to a cackle. Sir Sunway turned from me and Grandfather opened the door. He was greeted by a punch in the face by Master, and fell to the ground with a surprised grunt.

“My Lady!” He yelled over at me, upset by my appearance. I was tied up, hair chopped, and clearly beaten. I shook my head at the three who were making their way towards me. Sir Sunway had taken out his sword and had it pointed at Master. Master ignored him and kneeled in front of me, untying the ropes.

“Call him off, if you don't want him dead, Mallory!” Grandfather had finally stoop up, wiping his bloody nose. He started forward but was held back by a sword to his throat.

“I wouldn't dare, General.” A voice growled at him. I couldn't see the one behind him, since Grandfather was a large man, but I knew Braxton wasn't happy.

“Ugh!” I heard Sir Sunway groan as he collapsed to the floor. Stormy, my second companion, had electrocuted him.... only a little though. Served Sir Sunway right. Master gathered me up in his strong arms and turned toward Grandfather with a face so fierce that even a devil would've fled. I truly believed that the only reason Grandfather didn't run, was because of the sword at his neck.

BANG! A loud noise disrupted the area with a series of flashing lights. Master, having sensed something just before, tensed and was able to put up a quick, small shield. This shield only covered him and I from the magic bomb that was thrown in. Stormy and Braxton weren't able to react fast enough. When the dust cleared, we were surrounded by guards and knights. Stormy and Braxton were on the ground. I heard startled gasps when people realized who Braxton was, and they quickly started to heal him. They also put a sleeping spell on hims to make sure he wouldn't cause more mayhem.

“Because of you, Mallory,” Grandfather snarled, “Master will be charged for treason and put to death!” I shook mt head. He wasn't going to die. None of the three were going to, but Master took his threat ten-fold, and without any warning whatsoever blasted everyone in the room with a thunderous earth magic. Then with a snap, sent he and I into the void.

“Catch them!” A new voice screamed as we disappeared.

“I hope Stormy and Braxton are okay.” I mumbled into Master's chest.

“They'll be fine.” He replied, his voice echoing in the darkness as he sat me down. “I will not forgive any of them for this.” His hands glowed with a white light as he started to heal my wounds.

“Were you able to find out who tried killing The First Prince Chester?”

“No one did.”

“What do you mean?”

“The assassination attempt never happened.” He signed and tried combing through my butchered hair with his fingers. “They made it look like one, but only just put him into a coma.”

“He's fine then? I was informed he was on deaths bed.” I was bewildered by the news. Master nodded. “That's wonderful then. Does he show signs of waking?”

“No, My Lady. The spell is a complex one. I didn't have time to even try to rework it. I needed to get to you.” I smiled gently up at him as I hugged him. My simple, adorable Master. He was an extremely smart guy, but sort of had a one track mind when it came to me. I mean, it's to be expected, but since he couldn't wake the Prince and came straight to me, we lost our only lead. They weren't going to put me to death right away. He could've stayed and figured it out. I frowned thinking about Sir Sunway and my Grandfather. At least I was hoping they weren't going to kill me then. Grandfather did seem pretty intent on making me the fall guy... Master probably made the best choice for him, given the circumstance.

With the help of Master, I stood up and dusted myself off. The rag they made me wear was more ragged than before. Master held me close to him and snapped us out of the void. I was greeted by crickets and a soft breeze of the outside world. I gazed up at the nights sky. The moon peeked out from a cloud, shining upon us for a moment.

“The answer is no.” Master growled before I even looked at him.

“Master... Braxton will be fine, maybe some room confinement at the most because they wouldn't dare harm him... but Stormy could be hurt.”

“Stormy can take of of themselves.”

“Please?”

“You are making me and yourself walk into a trap and you know it!” I couldn't refute this. They probably had Stormy in an anti-magic cage by now and it was probably surrounded by anti-magic seals. But Stormy was basically made out of magic... it could kill them... painfully at that. I couldn't see Master's face clearly, but I knew him enough to know that his face was probably showing great disapproval and annoyance.

“I don't want to, Master, but I will command you.” I could see my breath, frost appearing around me.

“Fine,” he bit out and disappeared. I rubbed my arms, trying to bring back warmth. My 'commanding' just made it so he had to do something. He never cared if I did command him. When I was a child, I did this often, not even knowing that it was what I was doing.

“Ma-ther! Dolly, dolly!” I was three, demanding for a doll that was on the table and I couldn't reach. Master smiled charmingly and got the doll for me. This was a command. I only found out when I was older about it and I had stopped doing so. I didn't want to make him do something. I did once, just once in one of my multiple lives, but that is a story for another time. I knew he was cold with me because I wasn't letting him protect me. In his defense, it was kind of his main purpose, but I needed to make sure Stormy was okay.

I started making my way on the path that we made in this forest. This was the way to the Grove and our 'fort', a mud igloo really. Braxton and I had made it when were younger and still go there from time to time. Master probably wanted to make sure it was safe before we popped up there, so he snapped us to this part of the forest instead.

I was aware of the quietness as I stalked through the bushes and trees, having realized what a stupid idea it was to just walk willy-nilly on the path. My feet were in pain from stepping on jagged pebbles and twigs, but I continued. I was climbing over a stump when I heard a branch snap to my left and felt the wind pressure build. I had sunk forward quickly to avoid the arrow that was sent flying my way. They were finally here and had quickly found me. Darn Braxton guards! Of course they would tattle! I grumbled, crawling on the ground as quickly as I could. I rolled when I felt the earth shift, getting out of the way of the giant crack that appeared.

“Lighting Sage, please grant me speed.” I chanted as I got up and ran. My body glowed a pale yellow and with one step, I started to rapidly speed forward. I could hear arrows sing as they flew at me. The earth rumbled, trying to catch me. With my speed, I ran up a tree, and hopped and dashed limb from tree limb. I was no longer heading toward the grove, but now to the river. If I could get there, I could ride the currents and use wind magic to hide underneath the water and breath. I jumped to the next tree when a blur of white appeared before me. I only had time to put my arms up with a shallow shield, when I was hit with tremendous force.

I slammed into a tree trunk, creating a crevice in it, and slid down. I moaned from the impact with my shield crumbling to the ground and disappearing. Ugh! I coughed up blood as I clutched my sides, pain searing through my body. I was enough to make it so I couldn't move. It was a darn miracle that I didn't black out. My eyes wavered, trying to focus on the one who was coming to stand in front of me.

“My repeatedly stupid granddaughter.” Grandfather stood before me, body now starting to glow red. “Your imminent death would've been less painful is you had just stayed put.”

“I still don't... ugh... understand why I'm supposed to die.” I tried to wipe the blood away with a shaky hand. “Especially when it was someone else who tried to kill the First Prince.” I was trying very desperately not to gag on the taste of blood. Gagging would make everything hurt more; my chest was already splitting from trying to breathe as it was.

“Who put the First Prince in a coma, Grandfather?” He didn't look surprised that I knew. He just clicked his tongue and twirled his mustache with his fingers again, the other hand on his hip. He wasn't going to answer, I knew that. “Well... I have an inkling anyhow who it is.” I really didn't, but he didn't need to know that. His gaze was sharp as he looked at me.

“Fire Sage, grant me a devastating flame.” He raised one hand towards me.

“Ha!” This is what he meant by a less painful death it I had stayed there huh? “Master and Stormy will kill you in return, Grandfather.” The air around me was starting to be unbearably hot.

“They wouldn't be able to.” He snorted. He was overconfident, the old coot.

“Ngh! Don't.... hah.... don't you know what they are!?” My blood was boiling. My skin was scarlet and starting to bubble. The howling scream I released was full of agony, as flames came out of my mouth. This horrible man had really put his flame in me and I was melting from the inside out...