At the small light hidden beneath the thick layers of clouds, was a glimmer of the sun rising. Levi found herself tossing back and forth on her bed; struggling to find some level of peace even in her sleep. She lifted her body up and gazed at the fireplace. Still, it continued to burn brightly. As her eyes remained focused, she could faintly hear a horrible clutter of screams whispering in her head. It kept getting louder and louder no matter how tightly she pressed her hands to her ears.

Flashes of a huge fire surrounding her, made her body felt like it was caught in flames. The smell of the poisonous smoke filled her lungs. Almost felt like she was having trouble breathing. Suddenly, there was a loud angry knock on her door, making Levi snap out of the imagery.

“Come in,” she said. She assumed it was someone bringing her a meal or more firewood. When the door swung open, it was Casitas. He was wearing his typical royal black and blue clothing and kept his sword by his side; but this time his long hair was pulled back into a ponytail. “Lord Casitas! Good morning.”

He didn’t speak a word and closed the door behind him. Levi felt her heart beating rapidly as he walked closer to her. Her hands remained hidden under the sheets, trying to hide her shaken hands. Casitas pulled up a seat next to her bedside and stared at her.

“I need to speak to you,” Casitas ordered. “First, I know you healed my mother.”

Levi's eyes widened with horror. “I am sorry, I thought I was doing the right thing-”

“I am not done speaking,” Casitas glared, forcing Levi to go quiet.

“I cannot forgive you for what you’ve done to my mother. You could have easily killed her. I should have set rules for you the moment you got here. For now on, you are forbidden to use any powers you have as a Baellon.”

Levi easily nodded to the agreement. Casitas was concerned why she was so reluctant so easily.

“Before I continue, I must ask why do your eyes look like that?” he asked. Levi lightly placed her hand on her one golden eye.

“I did this to seal away my abilities. Every trace of myself as a Baellon is trapped in my eye,” she explained. Casitas reached out and grabbed her wrist. Slowly pulled her hand away and gazed again at her eyes.

“Why would you do that?” Casitas asked. That moment, he grabbed a hidden knife inside of his coat. Levi remained expressionless as Casitas got up from his seat. Carefully he held the knife in his hand and aimed it close to her eyes. The tip of the blade managed to only be an inch away from her eye. His hand remained steady the same with herself. “If I cut out your eye, what will happen to you?”

“I will be alive, but helpless,” said Levi. She grabbed Casitas hand and pulled his hand closer to her eye. Showing no sign of fear, not even blinking. “If you tried to kill me in combat or torture, I won’t die so easily. It would take you months. Now, if you want me dead, you have a way now.”

“You are not afraid?”

“Of dying, no,” she replied. Casitas eyes glowed and he could tell she was telling the truth yet again.

“Then, tell me why you are so timid whenever I am near you?”

Levi let go of Casitas’ wrist and stopped staring at the blade but instead stared at him. He had the same emotionless face she had.

“I am not afraid of dying. I am afraid you will kill me. I’d rather die on my own terms but it is clear you will not give me any forms of luxury,” answered Levi.

Casitas moved the blade away from her face and placed it back inside of his coat. Levi and himself didn’t look away from one another as he sat back down. His eyes still glowed hauntingly.

“You cannot use any of your Baellon abilities and you have to keep your eye covered,” Casitas ordered. Before Levi could agree, he broke eye contact and started to look embarrassed. “My mother has taken a liking to you. So, for now you will be her caretaker.”

Levi immediately got confused. “Is your mother still sick?”

“So far no, but you are to watch her in case whatever you did backfires,” said Casitas. Levi remained troubled and wondered if healing would have a negative effect on a Xyiiux. Easily, she nodded to agree to his terms. “Also, you will be meeting with my brother. You’ve proven to me that you are quite intelligent so you will assist my brother as well with his healers.”

Casitas leaned over and planted both of his hands on either side of Levi’s body. She could feel his icy breath touching her skin, making the chill of the cold feel like nothing. The glow in his eye faded away but only to show the hatred in his eyes instead. She stayed motionless.

“If you do anything underhanded, you will be sentenced to death and I will do the honor of doing so Baellon,” he growled. Levi knew this wasn’t a threat, but that he was stating a fact. Still, she nodded in agreement.

“Now get out of bed and I will escort you to the dressing room. My mother wants you to have proper clothing,” said Casitas as he stood up.

Levi snapped out of it. “What? I am getting new clothes?”

“It wasn’t my decision but my mothers,” Casitas groaned as he headed to the door. “I am not waiting on you!”

Levi leaped out of bed and hurried by Casitas' side. Before leaving, she managed to put back on her eyepatch.

Much later, there was a large room filled with rolls of fabric of all colors planted in the rooms walls, glamorous dresses hanging up in the multiple closets, and many comfortable plush couches circled around the room. Lady Celeste sat down on one of the couches, sipping tea that a chambermaid provided for her. She remained by Celeste's side and kept her silence. Meanwhile in the center of the room, Levi stood on a platform with many maids measuring every inch of her size, deciding fabric can carefully stitch the right pattern onto the unfinished dress Levi wore.

“I don’t know about this color,” said Celeste. She saw one of the maids about to stitch on a cheerful pink fabric. “Let me see the green.”

“Lady Celeste,” said Levi. “I don’t need new clothing. I can keep using the dress Sir Avan gave me.”

“Nonsense!” Celeste cheered. “I am so happy to see a dress being made. I love my family but it is tiring only seeing mens clothes being made. With you, I can see it on a proper lady.”

“Thank you my lady,” said Levi. She felt her cheeks becoming pink once again but it quickly faded because she could overhear the chambermaids whispering behind her back. Lady Celeste looked over and saw the two maids looking in disgust at Levi.

“If there is something you wish to say, say it,” Celeste ordered. The maids stopped whispering and stepped forward.

“I am sorry my lady,” said one of the maids. “I just don’t feel comfortable being near the Baellon.”

Levi wished she could stand up for herself but knew she had to stay obedient because it is what Casitas wished.

“Then, I guess my son wouldn’t mind if I made the dresses myself. Do you think it is wise for a sick woman to do such work?” Celeste scolded. “Should I inform my son?”

The maids bowed politely and returned to work on the dress in silence. Celeste smiled proudly at Levi, showing that she would stand up for her when she couldn’t for herself. Levi shyly smiled back at her.

As the hours went by, one dress was fully finished by the end. It was a beautiful green and yellow ball gown, with a lace green choker around her neck. Her hair was pulled back into a bun and she had on shiny silver stone earrings. Celeste's eyes shimmered seeing Levi and she approached her with open arms.

“You look so beautiful,” said Celeste.

“Thank you so much for this Lady Celeste,” said Levi. She turned to the maids. “And thank you for all your hard work. All of you are quite talented.”

The maids stayed distant but still bowed to the two of them.

“My lady, the rest of the dresses will be ready by the end of the day,” a maid said to Celeste.

“Make sure to put them in Lady Levi’s room,” said Celeste. She reached out her hand and assisted Levi off the platform. “Now, let the two of us take a nice walk.”

Celeste took Levi outside of the castle and circled the grounds. The snow was actually barely falling today. The sun's warmth was not felt anywhere. It was even hidden beneath the clouds, where you cannot even see any streaks of light. Levi kept her eyes facing the sky, wishing to reach up to the clouds and beyond. Celeste noticed how deep in thought Levi was.

“Lady Levi, would you like to travel to the village?” asked Celeste.

“I don’t think I am allowed to leave the castle grounds.”

“It is alright. My son has so many guards watching us so it would be hard to do anything suspicious,” Celeste groaned. Levi looked around and noticed there were five guards following behind them and a few watching them from inside the castle, staring down at them through the castle windows.

“Lady Levi, I was hoping we could bond but I guess we won’t have much alone time since the last time we met. My son has grown too cautious,” said Celeste.

“I cannot blame him. By the way, are you feeling alright?” asked Levi.

“I feel invigorated!” Celeste cheered. “It has been so long since I felt like this.”

“I know you asked me to help your grandson but I-”

“Don’t worry, my son told me how you are banned from any forms of your abilities. Which is uncalled for. He is letting my grandson get sicker for his own selfish way of thinking.”

Levi and Celeste reached the otherside of the castle; it was an overlook of the other side of the kingdom but it was on a large hill that had a better view of the icy mountains in the distance. Celeste's eyes started to shake as she stood stiff.

“Is that the mountain where Sir Galen and his knights traveled to? It looks pretty far,” said Levi.

“I cannot help but to worry every time they leave,” said Celeste. “Lady Levi, can I ask you another question?”

“Of course my lady.”

Celeste turned to her and had such a weak smile. “Can you show me your full transformation?”

Levi's eyes widened and she took a step back from fear. “Why would you want to see that, my lady?”

“I’ve never seen a Baellon in its true form before. I hear it is quite a sight. Nothing but purity and allurement.”

“I am sorry. I can’t do that because I sealed my abilities away,” said Levi. Celeste looked closely at Levi and noticed the sadness she was trying to mask.

“Is that why you have your eye covered? That is a shame. I bet you have beautiful eyes,” said Celeste. “Alright. I won’t ask you to change but I am curious on what it looks like. So, can you describe it to me?”

“Well,” Levi started. She glanced down at her hands, seeing them not trembling to the cold anymore. Instead, steady and calm. Being around Celeste was calming to Levi. “I have wings, actually I have six. They are quite large and they’re bright yellow feathers. My hands turn into sharp claws, my ears become long and pointed. Then my skin glitters in gold. As beautiful as it may sound, it is quite dangerous.”

“I bet you look beautiful,” said Celeste. She noticed that Levi didn’t look away from her hands. Inside her mind, she was picturing the haunting bouquet of blue roses in her hand. Her pulse was thumping so loud it sounded like it was in her ear. She felt her mind switching back and forth from the past and the present.

“Lady Levi?” soothed Celeste. She reached out and held Levi’s hand. Immediately she backed away from Celeste and put her hands close to her chest.

“I am sorry! Did I hurt you!?” Levi panicked.

“No,” said Celeste. “Levi, are you alright? Do you wish to talk about it?”

“It is nothing,” said Levi under her breath.

Celeste walked closer to Levi and held her wrist once again. She pulled them close to herself, showing Levi a sign of trust. “You’ve shown my son that you are not afraid. Well, I am not afraid. I would love to get to know you and your life. Good or bad.”

Levi tried not to tear up but couldn’t help but. A small trail of a single tear traveled down her cheek. “Thank you, my lady. I promise to tell you anything you want to hear.”

“I will ask you something simple first,” said Celeste. “Are you a virgin?”

Levi’s face turned red and pulled her hands away from Celeste. “My lady! You shouldn’t ask those things so bluntly!”

Celeste openly laughed. “By that reaction, it is clear that you are.”

Levi covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her shame.

“You are proving to me more and more that you are a good match for my son,” said Celeste. She walked over to Levi and whispered quietly. “I think the reason he is so strict is because he is a virgin too.”

“Really!?” Levi gasped. “He doesn't?”

Celeste rolled her eyes. “My son doesn’t want bastard children so he doesn’t with anyone; and he doesn’t want to portray an image of a leader who seduces the help.”

“I guess I can understand that,” said Levi. “I knew someone who thought the same thing.”

“Who? Someone close to you back home?”

Her teeth gritted. “His name was Pyke. He was selfish, vapid, revolting, hateful and of course he was violent.”

“Violent?” said Celeste.

“If everything isn't perfect, he will get rid of it. I saw him kill his servants over the smallest issues. He thinks he deserves everything and perfection.”

“He sounded awful.”

“He was,” said Levi. She exhaled loudly and wrapped her arms around herself. “It is sad that there are so many like him.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?” asked Celeste. “I swear I won’t tell Casitas anything. It can just be between us girls.”

Levi gave a weak smile. Celeste's kind heart eased her mind. “Well, Pyke and I did grow up together. He is very intelligent but very cunning. He will do anything to get his way no matter what. For as long as I can remember, he hated to lose. He grew up to be a high ranked Duke; people loved him only for his rank but feared him because he would kill over anything. I’ve seen him in battle before where he kept stabbing a man begging for mercy. He had such a sickening smile on his face. He enjoys torturing those lesser than him.”

“He is a monster.”

“I had no choice but to see him all the time,” said Levi. “As sick as Pyke was, it is horrible that most people in Baellon are just like him. The judgment, the desperation to be high ranked. They’re all the same.”

Celeste turned to Levi and saw how unhappy she looked. “My son only agreed to let you be my caretaker just so I can get information from you. However, I will decide on what I want to tell him. Levi, I wanted you to be my caretaker because I enjoy the time I spent with you and I can see that you are more than what my son assumes. I hope you are looking forward to us spending more time together.”

Levi smiled once again and bowed politely to Celeste. “I am looking forward to spending more time with you too, my lady.”

The two continued to walk around the castle. In the tallest tower of the castle, Casitas stood there motionless as he gazed down at his mother and Levi enjoying each other's company. He didn’t realize that he found himself touching his lips with his fingertips once again. His eyes darted back to Levi. Seeing her smile made his chest thumping uncontrollably making him sick with a feeling overwhelming him.