I made Helen soak herself in the hot water in order to take away any chill she may have managed to bring on in the chilled water of the ocean. She giggled and laughed as I scrubbed her clean and then dried her off as well as possible. I swaddled her in a clean blanket and sat with her before the fire, brushing her hair as it dried. I didn't realize that I was humming until she spoke.

"That's a pretty tune, Lady Asya. What's it called?" She asked.

I thought for a moment, trying to remember the tune that I'd been singing in my head and humming aloud. "It's called Rock of Ages. It's sung by a woman in my ...in the place where I'm from called Gillian Welch."

"How does it go?"

I thought for a moment before singing the lyrics to her, trying to remember as I went along:

"Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages

Oh, my mother who's gone
she told me I should meet her
Someday streets of gold
Gonna guide me on to greet her

Once my father sat down
and told me of the prophets
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
they're gone but not forgotten

Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
til my body gives out
gonna read the gospel pages

Moses heard a voice
it called him up the mountain
forty days had set
when Moses come a shoutin'

Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages

Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
til my body gives out
gonna read the gospel pages

Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages"

I sang, hoping the words were correct, it had been a while since I'd heard the song. I was surprised-actually, closer to shocked-when Helen sang the song back to me, perfectly, not a word forgotten. By the time she'd finished, I'd joined in and we ended in harmony. She smiled and then covered her mouth as she yawned sleepily.

"Tired?"

"Yes, Lady Asya."

"That's probably best. You'll need to get warm and to rest, that should keep you from becoming so ill again." I picked her up in my arms and carried her to the bed, and then pulling a long-sleeved chemise over her head. I tucked her carefully into the bed, pulling the heavy bedclothes over her. From the window, birds called as the sun began to set. I sat for a few minutes at the side of the bed, watching as Helen began to drift off to sleep, humming lightly the song we'd sung.

When had it happened, I wondered. When had I fallen in love with this little girl? So small, so innocent, so wonderous? I felt my heart fill with warmth, as if it would burst. I loved this little girl. I would do anything for her. For the first time ever, I wondered if this was what it felt like to be a mother.

My reverie was interupted by someone clearing their throat. Startled, I looked up to find Lord Breckon staring at me. I blushed, and moved to close the window, shutting out the night's chill. "Good evening, Lord Breckon." I said softly.

He simply nodded, and then held his hand out to me. "May I escort you to the dining hall?"

Strangely emboldened, I nodded and placed my hand in his. He pulled me to him, against his chest and my heart began to triple it's pace. I felt my face flood with heat as blood rushed to my cheeks, staining them bright red. I tried to look down, look away, but his finger pushed my chin up to look into his piercing eyes. "Thank you." He said simply.

Astonished, I could only gasp. "For..for what?"

He smiled. "For my daughter. You gave her back to me. "

I looked over at the sleeping little girl. And then back to him. "I didn't do it for you, Breckon. "

"Say that again."

"What?" I asked, confused.
"My name."

"Breckon?" I was thoroughly confused now.

"Yes!" He hissed and then placed his lips on mine.

current mood: writer-ish and amazingly happy

School was the same as usual, Ziva spent most of the day with whispers behind her back about the whole Jericho fight thing. Several cheerleaders were spreading the rumor that she had "come out" and was officially a lesbian now. Ziva had actually laughed out loud when she'd heard Jenna Whitmore telling Maddie Clemens that.

After school she and Justin walked to Sofia's, Gabe and Bram had had to go straight home after school, something to do with their dad. As they started to walk away, Bram ran up to her holding something in his hand.

"This is for you...kind of a "thank you" gift, i guess. For saving me and all. I hope you like it." He handed it to her, it was a lovely cameo pendant on a black ribbon. It was carved with a white ivory rose on a black onyx background.

"Wow, Bram, it's beautiful! Thank you!" She said, holding it. It felt strange in her hand, like it belonged to her and she thought she felt a flare of heat for a second. It passed quickly and she thought it must have just been her imagination.

"Could you help me with it please?" She asked. He nodded and stepped behind her, tying the necklace choker-style around her throat. She turned around. "What do you think?" She asked.

"I think it suits you. Very...classy." He grinned at her.

She smiled back. "Thanks Bram." She laughed. "I feel almost like I should be dressed up." She said.

School was pretty dull the next day. Though she enjoyed sitting with Gabe and Bram at lunch. She had noticed by now that unless others were around, Gabe was really quiet. But for some reason, today he seemed even more withdrawn than usual. She grabbed his wrist when he went to leave, after everyone else had left.

"Gabe, are you alright?"

He looked at her, surprised. "Oh, hey Ziva. Yeah, I'm alright, I guess. Just kind of...blah I guess. It's alright. I get depressed sometimes." Suddenly she saw the small cuts and cut-scars on the back of his hand as the sleeve of his shirt slipped backwards.

current mood: ecstatic

When Ziva woke in the morning, she felt better. She wrapped herself in her grandmother's quilt and made her way downstairs. Arabella sat in a chair reading the newspaper, a cup of coffee cooling on the table. Ziva walked like a zombie to the fridge and pulled out a toaster pastry and popped it in te toaster. While that toasted, she pulled a carton of orange juice out of the refrigerator and poured a glass. She grabbed the pastry as it dinged out of the toaster and sat down at the table with it and her juice.

"Morning, darling." Arabella said, peering at her over the paper. Ziva nodded at her sleepily in greeting. "Morning, Mom."

She and Arabella talked about what the plans for the day were. They both decided that Ziva would go to Sofia's after school, just as she had been doing. Arabella agreed that Sofia's was as safe or safer than their own house. Arabella sent her upstairs to get dressed for school.

Ziva quickly ran upstairs and threw on a pair of cargo pants in a faded green, a black tshirt with a gothic-style Tinkerbell and a pair of black converse shoes with purple laces. She brushed her hair and pulled it back into a quick braid. Just as she finished dressing, she heard a knock at the door. She brushed her teeth quickly and stumbled down the stairs. She opened the door to find Justin, Gabe and Bram standing there.

"Hey Ziva! Gramma asked me to walk you to school this morning. Gabe and Bram joined up too. Did you know they lived just down the street from you?"

"Hi guys. No, I didn't know that, that's cool." Ziva said. She smiled at them. "Be right back, have to go and get my bag." She walked into the kitchen. Arabella still sat there nursing her cup of coffee. "Hey Mom, Justin, Gabe and Bram are here. Justin says Sofia asked him to walk me to school today. I'll see you after Sofia's, alright?"

"Well, if Sofia sent him, I'm sure it's perfectly alright. I'll be home late tonight, it's unavoidable because of a problem at work with a few of the employees out sick. But I'll pick you up from Sofia's after I get off. I'm not sure how late I'll be, so I'll call Sofia and ask her if it's alright for you to stay there tonight if I'm later than I think I'll be. I'll take over some of your clothes during my lunch break. I love you, baby." She stood and pressed a kiss onto Ziva's forhead. She poured her leftover coffee in the sink and headed upstairs to get ready for work.

Ziva worried for a minute about her mom, and then shook her head and gathered her things together for school. She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked over to meet the guys. "Let's go!" She said and they walked out of the house, chattering about the latest episode of HOUSE.

Arabella watched them from her window. Her insides were knotted with worry. She'd felt the presence of Ziva's father all night, sending spells to try and break the barrier around their home and around Ziva. The dark magic he was using was wreaking havoc on her mind.

And now it seemed like she was sensing his magic everywhere. She felt paranoid, but she'd sensed his magic this morning when Justin and the boys had arrived. She put it out of her mind, sure that she was imagining things. And she hoped and prayed that she WAS just imagining things.

current mood: creative

I don't know how long i kneeled there, weeping. Suddenly I heard laughter and giggles. I looked up, my face streaked with silvery tears, my eyes blurry from crying so long and so hard. Something was riding along the waves. I slowly got to my feet, grasping Helen's shawl in my white-knuckled hands.

Then I saw it, a cap of long, glossy black hair, flowing in the waves. A sob ripped from my throat. "HELEN!" I screamed. And nearly fell to the ground when I saw her look at me, her face a picture of glee. When she saw mine, however, her smile faded. She looked down at something in the water and seemed to speak to it.

Then suddenly she was coming towards the shore, but every once in a while, her body was ...thrown...was the only way i could describe it, right into the air. "Helen!" I called. She looked up and was grinning once more as her body went airborne and then landed softly in the waves. Then she was standing in the shallows. I ran to her, and hugged her tightly.

"Lady Asya...I can't breathe!" She said, and tried to push at me. Tears poured down my cheeks. "I'm sorry, sweetheart!" I said, and kneeled in front of her. "Where were you, what..how...?"

"It would be my fault, Lady." Said a voice behind us. I stood up to look over the top of Helen's head and saw something that made my heart nearly stop. There in front of me was something I'd never before thought I'd ever see, even in this land of magic. Half in and half out of the water, long hair streaming over her back and covering her breasts was a mermaid!

"I do beg your pardon, but I had not seen her outside in a very long time." She said, her voice very strange, but lovely. It contained a strange lilt and the singing of the waves during high tide.

She must have sensed my shock because she simply smiled at me. "I am Merina. My father is Migrael, High King of the oceans. And Helen is a particular favorite of our court. Her mother was my sister, Cortinea. Helen is not yet old enough to have developed the abilities she inherited from her mother, so instead of her coming to visit us, we must come to her."

Her pale ocean-blue tail flicked in the water, sending a light spray up and along her skin. Her skin was an even paler blue, her hair a dark oceanic green with a mother-of-pearl sheen. Even her eyes were the liquid blue-green of the ocean. I knew now why Helen's eyes held such a shockingly green color, it was the same as Merina's but stronger.

I sighed in relief. "I would beg you that next time you take her, please ask first, I was frantic when I couldn't find her." I looked at Helen. "Understand, young lady? And we need to get you inside and warmed, we don't want to have you getting sick on us again, do we?"

She looked slightly ashamed. "Forgive me, Lady Asya. I forgot myself." She ran to Merina and gave her a quick hug. "Goodbye, Auntie Merina."

Merina smiled and hugged her back. "Goodbye, Love. Be safe. I want you to have this." She said, and pulled a necklace from her own neck and placed it over Helen's. Helen grasped it's pendant and squealed. "Look, Lady! It flows like the ocean does!" She said, thrusting it into my face. It was love, and I told her so. It's colors of green, blue and white flowed and ebbed with the tides.

"We must go now, I'm afraid, Mistress Merina. I'm sorry. Perhaps you could visit us soon."

She laughed and nodded. "Once every full moon my people can walk upon your earth. I will visit and soon. It is the first time since Cortinea's death that I have had leave of one in the Black Castle to enter." She turned and swam into the waves.

I took Helen's hand and began to walk back up the pathway we'd come down. I saw Lucy coming towards us, a large basket bundled on her hip. "Oh, Lucy! I'm so sorry, Helen has gotten soaked and I'm afraid she'll become ill again if I don't get her inside, dry and warm. Could you bring the food to the child's room, and we will eat in there?"

"Of course, Lady. I will send the lads up with the tub and hot water." She said.

I nodded. "Thank you, Lucy. I will be getting Helen dried and dressed."

Nobody saw the grimace on Lucy's face or heard her grumbling as she made her way with the basket of food back to the palace.

current mood: sore

I swayed dizzily and Lord Breckon was beside me in a second. He conjured a chair from nowhere and sat me down in it. Helen was crying and he shushed her. "I'm alright, Helen. Just some new magic I'm not used to."

Lord Breckon looked at me strangely. I just gave him a look that told him I would tell him later. My head finally cleared and I looked over to Helen. "You may go outside today, but not for longer than an hour...one candlemark. Understand? And you must stay in the sunshine, not in the shade, it's too chill yet and you could get sick again."

"Actually," I said, standing up, "I think I'll go myself to get some fresh air." Lord Breckon nodded and helped me to stand. It took me a moment for my balance to kick in, but once it did, I was fine.

Helen's nurse, Margaret, dressed the girl warmly, in a heavy woolen dress with a thickly woven linen undergown. A shawl went over all of it and then heavy stockings tied with garters at her knees and then small slippers of leather. I nodded my approval and took Helen's hand. Lucy waited for us outside the door. She held out a shawl for me and I wrapped it around my shoulders. "Lady, it is nearly time for midday meal. Will you eat before you wander outside the castle walls?"

"Actually Lucy, I would prefer to eat outside. Could you gather together some apples and bread and cheese..and some cold milk," I said, looking at Helen. She was smiling beautifully at Lucy. I couldn't stop myself from smiling as well. "We'll be sitting along the beach."

Lucy nodded and I took Helen's hand firmly in mine and we walked outside the castle. Guards stood at the ready in front of the great double doors that led outside the walls. They nodded and we walked outside the great black stones.

We walked down a narrow pathway to the beach. The waves were flowing and ebbing, whitecapped waves dashing themselves against the shore. Helen ran ahead of me, laughing as she dashed along the shore. I laughed as well, watching her enjoyment of the sunshine that I was sure she had not seen in a long while. i sat down upon a boulder and watched the waves for a short while.

I must have blanked out, when I brought myself back to the present, I looked around for Helen. "Helen!" I called, waiting for her to answer. But she didn't. "Helen! Helen! Answer me, Sweetheart!" I yelled. I saw something floating in a tidal pool. I ran to see what it was. I thought I would die when I saw that it was Helen's shawl. "HELEN!" I screamed. But still, there was no answer.

current mood: creative

I awoke with the Dawn, watching the sunrise through the window, enjoying the slight chill in the air on my skin. When the sun had finally risen, I began to dress. I unbound, brushed, and rebraided my hair. Lucy arrived as I tied the braid off with an elastic I'd found in my bag. "Good morrow, Lady Asya." She placed the tray of food she carried on the small bedside table.

I took the first bite of freshly baked bread and sighed with pleasure. It was still warm and Lucy had slathered the thick slice with fresh butter that was now melted and dripping down the sides. I quickly finished the first slice and started on the second, savoring it and eating it more slowly.

I realized for the first time in days, I felt truly refreshed. I allowed Lucy to help me dress in a very simple green gown. I walked slowly to Helen's room to check on her, she was sitting up in bed, Lord Breckon sitting on the bed's edge. They had been talking, but he went quiet when Helen crawled from under the covers and hopped off the bed, running to me and throwing herself into my arms.

I grinned down at her and laughed. Her eyes sparkled with health, her face was no longer pale, and her hair now held a shine and was no longer limp and lank. "You look lovely, Helen. So much better." I said, kneeling down to her height, running my hands over her hair. It felt so silky, and glinted blue-black in the light. She wrapped her arms around me and i lifted her up when I stood. I balanced her on my hip as I had done many other children when I had been a babysitter.

She snuggled into my side. Lord Breckon stood and walked to me. He took Helen from my arms and put her down. She stood beside me and took my hand in her tiny one. I smiled down at her once more. Lord Breckon just sighed.

"I must admit that she is much better. Your father asked me to return this to you so you would recover more quickly." He said and handed me my father's ring. The instant I touched it, the silver brightened and the opal flared with inner fire. I felt a strange pulling sensation that stopped when I put the ring on my finger, it seemed to glow even brighter. Not enough to give off true light, but enough to glow lightly. I smiled when I felt the ring begin to pulse in time with my heartbeat...it felt strange, but strangely felt right.

"Thank you." I looked at Helen and nearly fell over when instead of looking at her, I seemed to be looking through her. Her body was encased in an outer layer that seemed to glow a dull yellow, and i could see small red spots where there seemed to be cuts and bug bites. Inside there was the spinal system and the nerves that flowed outward, signals of pain ran along them. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, my vision was normal again.

current mood: blah

Ziva woke, stiff and sore, and covered in her grandmother's quilt. She snuggled deeper into the warmth and then opened one eye to find her mom asleep, slumped over on the chair next to her. She sighed and sat up, feeling like every vertebrae in her back popped as she stretched. She pulled herself into a sitting position, leaving the blanket to pool around her waist.

Her movement woke Arabella, sending her jerking into sitting position. "Oh. Hi, sweetheart." She said and smiled. She blinked a few times before her vision cleared. And then they both jumped when the doorbell rang. They looked at each other and grinned.

"I'll get it Mom." She said, slipping from under the blanket and making her way to the door. She opened it to find Justin, Gabe and Bram there. "Well hi!" She said, and flung the door wide to welcome them in. "Mom, Justin, Gabe and Bram are here!" She shouted as she led them into the living room.

"Well, hello!" Arabella said, appearing from the kitchen. Ziva could see that she was using glamour to hide the ravages of earlier, and she had conjoured up a plate full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that were now sitting on the coffee table. "Soda's in the fridge, honey."

"'K. Thanks Mom." She watched as Arabella went upstairs.

Justin seemed strangely withdrawn. "Is everything, ok, Ziva? We didn't see you after school and someone said you'd had a family emergency."

"Everything's alright, just had some bad news about a great-great aunt or something like that. But I had a bad reaction to the news, i guess. I fainted, so Mom came and got me, then brought me home." Ziva made up off the top of her head.

"Oh. Just glad you're ok." He said softly. Ziva thought she might have detected a faint blush, then decided she must be losing her mind. A star football player blushing over her? Yeah, right. And tinkerbell was real, too.

"So what are you guys doing out and about this evening?" She asked.

"Just wandering around. Then we decided to come and check on you." Bram said, snatching a cookie from the plate.

Ziva chuckled. "Me and mom were gonna have a movie night, but she got a phone call from work, so she'll be busy for a while. But y'all are welcome to stay and watch movies if you want. We've got The Covenant, Witches of Eastwick, and Dracula."

Not surprisingly, the boys chose The Covenant. They stayed for about four hours, finally leaving after they'd completely depleted the chips, cookies and soda. "See you at school!" they called as they walked out the door.

Ziva shut the door, then leaned against it with a heavy sigh. Then surveyed the array of dirty glasses, bowls and the crumbs everywhere. With a quick glance to see that nobody was watching, she muttered a quick spell and cleared everything away to it's proper place. And with that, she turned off the light and went to bed.

As she slept, Arabella sat by her beside, comforting herself by slowly sliding her fingers through her hair. There was a fresh scar on her palm, a spell cast to protect her child. And in the midnight calm, an even greater darkness waited.

current mood: sad

He was able to move before I was. He conjured a robe out of midair and tossed it at me, and I quickly wrapped it around myself. "Pardon, Lady Asya. I did not realize you were in a state of undress."

"Did you need something, Lord Breckon?" I asked, slightly annoyed at the intrusion.

"I just wished to ask what your father spoke to you about?"

I finally really looked at him. He seemed slightly annoyed, his eyes flashing, his hair touseled. His robes were, as always, black, but these robes were edged in silvery embroidery with a large silver-embroidered placket in the front, and deep blue sapphires studded it in an intricate pattern in the shape of a dragon.

"I'm not really sure." I said, thinking it over. "I didn't understand what all he was trying to tell me, I remember something about magic dying and that the ring you took from me is his and that he left it for me when he left my mother pregnant with me." My vision seemed to swim for a moment, so I sat down hard on the bed.

He hurried to my side and sat down beside me. He took a wooden goblet from the bedside table and it filled with water in front of my eyes. He pulled some kind of herb from a pouch at his waist and crumbled it into the water, then handed the cup to me. "Drink." He said, brooking no arguments.

So I drank. It was the most disgusting thing I had tasted in my entire life. But within moments my head felt clear and my vision steadied. I tried to speak but could only cough, then cleared my throat and croaked out a barely passable "Thank you."

"I did not realize when I bespelled it that the ring derives its power from you. It is why you feel unstead. As your body rests, its magic will be restored and I will return it to you on the morrow. Until then, Lady. May your dreams be sweet." He stood and bowed before me, those dazzling eyes of his sparkling in the candle's light.

And that's when I realized something. I was at peace. Perfectly calm for the first time I can remember in a VERY long time. I pulled a clean chemise over my head, and pulled my brush from where it sat on the top of a chest. I began to run it through my hair, counting out the 100 strokes I gave it every night. It was a funny ritual I had started after reading about it in a book when I was younger. It had a soothing effect on me and I began to hum.

I heard a light knock on the door and then lucy came in, carrying a tray of food. Besides the bread and cheese she had brought, there was also some grapes and to my great surprise, an orange. "Thank you, Lucy, the fruit was very thoughtful." I said, taking the orange and beginning to peel it.

"You're welcome, Lady." She replied and began busying herself in the room, picking up a fresh blanket and pillow from the chest beside my bed. "For your father, miss." She said, and I nodded.

I finished the orange, poured water into a large basin and washed my hands and my face. Lucy returned as I was braiding my hair into one long braid down my back. She had brought me a mug of milk and stared at me pointedly until I drank it down. I began to feel drowsy and allowed Lucy to tuck me into the bed. She built the fire up a bit, blew out the candles and as I drifted into sleep I heard the click of the door-latch falling into place.

current mood: silly

Sofia took Ziva out to the car while Arabella explained to the principal that they were taking her home, making up a story about a family emergency. The drove in silence, Ziva with tears still sliding from her eyes.

When they entered the house, Arabella escorted Ziva to the couch, wrapping her in blankets, she'd begun shivering the moment she'd stepped out of the car. Ziva watchd as Sofia went through the house, chanting and touching every windowsill and doorframe. "Mama, what's she doing?" Ziva asked, her throat feeling choked, her voice low and strained.

"She's warding the house, Ziva. Putting up magical protections." Arabella and Ziva watched as Sofia cast one final ward, covering the entire house.

"Look with your Othersight, Ziva." Arabella told her. So Ziva closed her eyes and felt the mental click that allowed her to view Magic. She opened her eyes and gazed in wonder at the glorious white-blue shield that covered the entire house, brighter where the doorframes and windows were. "Wow," was all she could think to say. She closed her eyes against the brightness and was greeted to the normal view of the world when she opened them once more.

Sofia, exhausted mentally and magically, sat down in the overstuffed chair that Ziva normally occupied. Arabella sat beside Ziva, pulling her into her lap and stroking her hair.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't think that he would attack you like that. I never would have left you unwarded if I'd known. I didn't feel his magic, but suddenly I couldn't feel yours anymore. Sofia contacted me immediately, she felt your power rising and then be cut off, like someone had whipped it into submission. So we raced to the school, and found you like that, he'd created what is basically a dream-trap to keep you in the dreamstate so he could bully you."

"Are-are you telling me that-that the lunatic who attacked me...is my father?" Ziva shreiked.

Arabella looked ashamed. "Yes, baby. It was. Did he stay in shadow, not revealing himself?"

"Yes."

"That's him, alright. Damn trickster that he is. Bastard!" Sofia said softly.

Ziva had never heard Sofia so angry, never heard her swear before either. She was so confused. And so tired, yet afraid to sleep. Sofia walked over and took her hand. "You're tired now, Ziva. Yes, I know you're afraid to sleep. The magic he used drains your energy, because it's an unnatural dreamtime sleep. And because you fought with it. But he cannot get past my shields. Sleep now."

Ziva felt Sofia's magic sliding up her arm, and into her mind. "Sleep. sleep. sleep. sleep. Sleep." it seemed to say to her brain, and she felt the beginnings of sleep begin to creep upon her. As she closed her eyes, she smiled. And heard her mother's voice. "I love you, baby."

current mood: happy

Just as Sofia had said, everything did turn out alright. Gabriel's father's petition went through and Ziva didn't get punished other than that day's worth of being dismissed. And while she didn't ace her math test, she didn't completely fail either. So all in all, her first day back was a good day.

She was suprised once again when both Bram and Gabriel sat with her and lunch, and was even more surprised when Justin sat down too. "What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd sit down with my new hero. I still can't believe you smashed Jericho into the lockers! That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Justin replied.

Ziva blushed. "Can we please not talk about it?"

"Well, personally, I'd just like to say 'Thank you!'" Bram said softly. He handed her an origami rose he'd made while the others were talking.

"Aww. Thank you Bram! It's lovely." She said, swirling the rose in pleasure.

The bell rang and she and the others dumped their trays. She began to walk to her class when she suddenly noticed a very strange-looking man standing and talking with the principal. He stared at her and held her gaze as she walked by. The minute she was out of his gaze, she began to feel very strange and shivered. All through her class she felt very sickly and when the bell rang, she made her way to the nurse's office.

The nurse diagnosed her with a headache and sent her to lie down. Ziva made her way into the resting room and laid down on the cot and pulled the blanket over herself. She felt a bit better, but when she tried to sit up, it felt as if something slammed her back down and she was immediately drawn into a vision-like dream.

A black shadow stood in a white room. A voice she didn't recognize began to speak, as the shadow walked around her in a circle, as if examining her. "So, you are Arabella's daughter. I can sense the magic in you." She tried to lash out with her own magic, trying to wake herself up and release herself from the dream-world. Her magic was cut off before she could truly even begin the spell.

"You will not escape just yet, girl. I will be watching you. I am, after all-"

Ziva sat bolt upright, tears pouring from her eyes, her head pounding with effort as she felt the dream break. She was absolutely shocked to find Sofia standing over her, gripping her hand. "Ziva, talk to me!" Sofia exclaimed. Arabella suddenly appeared behind her. "Sofia? Is she alright?"

Ziva looked at Sofia and then at her mother. "What the hell is going on!" She cried, throwing herself into Sofia's arms for the second time in a week.

current mood: depressed

I felt all the blood rush to my head and I felt dizzy, so I sat back down in the chair. I must have passed out because the next thing I knew, I was waking in my bed with a cool damp cloth laid across my forehead and Lucy dozing in a chair beside the fireplace.

"About time you woke up, daughter." I looked up to find my father standing, no, towering over me. I sat up and scooted against the headboard of the bed. How did he know who I was?

"Of course I know who you are, child! I know my own blood, and it was I who called you from the Otherworld."
"But why?"

"Because we need you here, Asya. Our magic is dying. Your mother had her own kind of magic, and I loved her. But I could not forsake my own land for hers. I knew that she carried my child, and so I left her my ring to keep for you. I had hoped that you would discover the magic within you, with the help of the ring, but you never delved deep enough into the feelings you had when you put the ring on to discover it."

How had he known about that? Every time I had held or worn the ring, I had felt as if something called to me, and I had wanted to answer it, but I had been afraid. Afraid of being different, perhaps. And knowing that I was.

"You look so much like your mother, Daughter." He said, placing a hand on the side of my face. His hand was cool and dry, and felt like parchment paper. He smelled of herbs and old books.

"Are you awake, Lady Asya?" Lucy's voice met my ears and I looked to see that she was awake now and stood at the end of my bed. She looked slightly frightened of my father and was looking at him strangely.

"Yes, Lucy, I'm well. Could you please bring me a light meal, perhaps some bread and cheese?" She nodded. "Thank you."

When she had left, my father spoke again. "I do not trust that woman, Daughter. Something of her Aura is out of place." He sighed and stood. "I will leave you to rest now, child. "

I nodded and stood as he left, drawing my gown over my head and laying it on the chair. Next came the chemise and I stood there in my bra and underwear when the door opened and Lord Brecken stood there. I stood there in shock and couldn't even move to cover myself, while his mouth stood open in shock as well.

current mood: creative

The evening meal was something I don't think I will ever forget. Servants came out bearing platters of foods, I don't think I'd ever seen so much in my life. I was surprised that they had the time to prepare all of it considering how long it had taken to have the kitchen brought to my standards. Platters of beef and venison, chicken and vegetables in sauces, bread and cheese soon filled every available inch of the table. Servants began to fill the mugs with ale and goblets with watered-down wine.

Lord Brecken turned to me to speak. "I must say, I am quite amazed at how well Helen looks today. It is a complete turn around, quite awe-inspiring. How did you manage this miracle? She has not been this well in years."

"It is a medicine from my time-the place where I came from. The science of medicine is far more advanced than that of this place. I have been wondering, my lord, how it is that I came to be here?"

"I am afraid I cannot answer that, Lady Asya."

"And why not?"

"Because I do not know how you arrived here. I only received word of your arrival after you had been taken to Charming's castle."

Now my mind was reeling. If he hadn't magicked me here, as I'd thought, then how had I gotten here? Suddenly I noticed Lord Brecken was staring at me. Actually, he was staring at my father's ring.

"Where did you get that ring, Lady?" His voice sounded strange, and I began to worry he was angry with me.

"It-it was my fathers, sir." I said. He grabbed my hand and pulled the ring off my finger. I heard him mutter something and suddenly the opal began to glow. The others at the table had gone silent and were staring at us. I was staring at him.

He glanced up and shouted at the guards. "We will be having a guest tonight. Let no one into the castle gates, call for me when they arrive." He grasped my wrist, pulled me to my feet and dragged me along, up the stairs and into a room where a fire blazed.

I looked around the strange room. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, bottles of strange-colored liquids, and small metal boxes with names inscribed on them in strange rune-looking symbols. What looked like herbs were being dried in bundles handing from twine that was roped across the top of a workbench. Others were laid flat on racks and were in large stacks on the floor.

"Where are we?"

"My workroom." He answered. I saw that he was standing in front of another workbench, my father's ring on the table of it.

"What are you doing with it?" I asked, when he pulled a book from a shelf and opened it and began to read from it.

He didn't answer me.

"Sit!" he said, and pointed at a chair. I made noises to protest, but when he pinned me with that electric blue gaze, I simply shut up and sat down in a chair before the fire. Every once in a while he muttered and I'd look up to find him reading from the book and then looking to the ring.

I laid my head back in the chair and stared into the fire. I must have dozed off because I jerked awake when a guard knocked on the door. "Come in!" Lord Brecken barked and the door opened. A guard stood there. "Well?"

"Someone has arrived at the gate, my lord. Do you wish me to allow him entrance?"

"Yes, escort him here, Gaelin."

"There is no need, Nightsong. I am already here." said a strange, new voice. A man stepped forward, his long gray-colored cloak dampened by the rain that had begun outside.

"Go now, Gaelin. You are not in trouble. I'm afraid our guest is a bit of a trickster." Brecken said, nodding at his man at arms. The man nodded back, shut the door and left.

I stood, ready to welcome the guest, and then stopped dead in my tracks when he threw back his hood. I stood looking at him strangely, in a face that was vaguely familiar.

I was looking at the face of my father.

By mid-afternoon, the difference in the castle was amazing. The floors had been swept of the rushes and scrubbed clean. The kitchen, though in a state of turmoil, was being supervised by Lucy and was coming along nicely. The tapestries had been cleaned and re-hung. The walls of the great hall had been scrubbed of grime and the enormous fireplaces on either end had been cleaned of soot. The windows were now bright and clean, allowing light to penetrate into the castle.

I was exhausted, having shown the scullery how to burn out the heavy cauldrons and then scrub them clean with a mixture of lye soap and water. Then they were to be rinsed with cold water several times, I didn't want to take the chance of accidently poisoning anyone with the lye. Confident that the scullery and Cook now knew what to do, I walked out into the great hall, covered in the muck of soot and soap. I was so glad I had taken the time to cover my hair in a heavy linen cap to keep it clean.

I was shocked to find Lord Brecken standing in the center of the great hall. He was looking around, amazed at the changes in his castle in so short a time. He saw me walking towards him and his face changed from a look of wonder to one of blank boredom. I tried my best not to smile, but I don't think it worked. I was amazed myself, especially of how much better the whole place smelled. While it wasn't pine-sol, the mixture of vinegar and water had definitely freshened everything.

Lucy approached me, she'd been standing and watching as the newly-washed tapestries were being rehung. She curtsied before Lord Brecken and myself. "My lady, a bath has been taken to your room, and a fresh garment laid out for you."

I nodded my thanks and made my way upstairs to my room. I was happy to see a brimming tub of hot water, scented soap set onto a chair next to it, and a beautifully woven bed-rug down beside it. Also hanging on the chair was dry toweling material, a fresh gown, chemise and bodice were laid across the bed.

I stripped out of the soiled clothing and sank into the heavenly warm water. I scrubbed my entire body with the rose scented soap and then rinsed in the now-cooing water. I dried myself and had just pulled on the chemise when there was a knock at the door. Before I had the time to say "come in", Lucy was closing it and walking towards me. I smiled as she helped me into the dress and bodice. Finally, she removed my cap and brushed out and dressed my hair with scented oil, twisting it up into a coronet and securing it with a pearl-covered comb. I looked at myself in a small bronze mirror, and satisfied, I thanked her. She merely nodded and smiled.

I walked in to check on Helen and was happy to find her sitting up in the bed, eating her own meal. I'd had it specially prepared, with another fresh chicken and fresh vegetables made into a soup, and then strained for a good broth. Fresh baked brown bread accompanied it, and slices of cheese as well. Milk that had been cooled and strained of it's cream was held in a wooden goblet on a small table beside the bed.

When she saw me she crowed happily. "Lady Asya!" I motioned her to stay in the bed, and sat down on the edge. I reached up to feel her forehead and was surprised at how much cooler it was that when I'd first seen her. I pulled an aspirin I had brought with me from a small pouch attatched to my girdle. I explained to her how to take it and was suprised when she popped the pill into her mouth and downed it with the milk as easily as if she'd been taking them all her short life.

I smiled and listened as she explained that her father had come to see her earlier, then my eyes filled with tears when she said that she'd seen him weeping in the doorway whenhe thought she'd been sleeping. I wiped the tears away, bid her good night and left her with her nurse. I made my way downstairs and into the great hall where the large table had been set up. Lord Brecken was sitting at the head of the table and a chair was sitting at his left. He motioned for me to sit there and I nodded and sat.

current mood: tired

"I'm proud of you for sticking up for your friend. However, I'm also very concerned, Ziva, dear. When you allow your anger to control you as you did this afternoon, you don't think about what you are doing. Think of what could have happened, it could have been a disaster! You could have lashed out with your magic in anger, or your magic could have lashed out in protection. Either one would be very dangerous, as well as difficult to explain, my darling."

Slightly disheartened, Ziva nodded and lowered her head in shame, sipping the hot tea gratefully as it raced down her hoarse throat. She knew that she had done wrong, she had even felt her magic flare during the fight and it had worried her. She still didn't have fine control over it yet.

"The good thing, however, is that now I know what area we will work on next in your training. Finer control as far as offensive and defensive magics go...and perhaps some control as far as anger and other emotions add into it."

They were interrupted when Justin walked through the back door with a surprising guest. "Hi Grandma. This is Gabriel, he's new at school. We're gonna go play some Halo 3, alright? Oh, Hi, Ziva!" Gabriel just grinned at her.

Ziva was a bit surprised to hear him happy to see her, seeing as how she was pretty sure Jericho wouldn't be able to play anytime soon and Justin was on the football team too. She figured the entire school would be a bit upset with her for taking their best player off the roster. Maybe for good, since Jericho was a Senior this year.

"Hi, Justin. Hi, Gabriel." Ziva said, shyly and staring at the floor.

"Hey Ziva, want to come play Halo 3 with us? Then you can tell us how it felt to knock that asshole through the wall of lockers!" Justin crowed.

"Justin! Language. Don't make me get out the soap to wash your mouth out with." Sofia exclaimed.

Ziva was shocked. First of all, she'd never heard Justin swear. Secondly, he was HAPPY she'd knocked Jericho into the lockers.

"Sorry, Gram. But you didn't see it. It was AWESOME! Ziva was like a linebacker herself, knocking that jerk into the lockers. And he had it coming, he'd knocked her down hard. The whole school saw it. Gabriel told me his dad's putting her in for a recommendation for in-school suspension because of her standing up for another student...what's your brother's name again, Gabe?"

"Bram."

"Yeah, 'cause Jericho was messing with him and nearly broke his glasses. Ziva was trying to help, told Jericho to leave Bram alone. Jericho laughed and knocked her into the wall and then Ziva got way pissed and slammed into him and they both went WHAM! Right into the lockers. Actually managed to pull a couple off the hinges. You shoulda seen it, Gram, it was great! Everyone knows Jericho gets away with way too much crap and the school lets him. Well I don't think it's gonna happen this time."

"Well. Isn't that nice, Ziva?" Sofia said, smiling at her. "But I'm afraid that Ziva can't come and play right now, she's got to go home, her mother needs her. Justin, dear, there's a basket of muffins there on the counter and your drinks are in the fridge. Go ahead and get those, I'll be in to check on you in a while. I need to talk to Ziva privately for a moment and then I'm going to take her home, alright?"

"Sure, Gram. Bye Ziva!" He said, grabbing some drinks from the fridge and grabbing the basket of chocolate-chip-peanut-butter muffins to take in the den with them.

"Bye, Ziva. See ya later." Gabriel said, nodding her way.

"Bye Justin, bye, Gabriel." Ziva said quietly.

Once the door was shut, Ziva turned back to Sofia. The entire time the boys were in the room, Ziva could feel Sofia's discomfort. "Is something wrong, Sofia?"

"Something's very wrong, but I can't put my finger on it, exactly. But there is something very strange about that boy. Well, nothing to do about it for now, darling child. Come along, I'll take you home. Promise me for now on, dear, no walking over here by yourself. I'll have Justin bring you to me after school. And you need not worry about anything, Gabriel's father's petition will work, you won't even get in-school suspension. The principal will call your mother tomorrow morning before school. So be ready for that math test." Sofia grinned at her as she closed the kitchen door behind them.

Ziva spent the rest of the day in a pit of despair. Her mother had barely spoken to her once they got home, had just looked at her sadly and walked into her room and shut the door. Ziva stood there for a moment, before walking to the fridge, grabbing a pint of peanut butter fudge-cup ice cream and a spoon and going to her room. She shut the door and sat down in front of her computer.

She opened a window to her myspace page and began writing a blog while she munched on her ice cream:

I can't believe it. I must have lost my mind. I can't believe it! I pushed Jericho Johnson into the lockers...nearly THROUGH them. For those of you who don't know, here's the story. I was helping this new kid, named Bram, around the school. Showing him where the classes were and stuff. All of a sudden Jericho shows up and started pushing Bram around. I tried to get him to stop and he knocked me down. I jumped back up and next thing I know I got really mad...and then we were slamming into and nearly through the lockers. *SIGH* Principal Carlin called mom and told her I'd gotten into a fight. He didn't tell her that Jericho started it or that I'd simply been defending a weaker student. Mom won't talk to me, won't even look at me. And she'd been making all this talk about wanting to open up lines of communication and stuff like this. Guess that's out the window now. Principal Carlin said he'd call Mom in the morning and tell her what he'd decided about whether I'm suspended or expelled or whatever. I'm pretty nervous and hope I don't get expelled.

She clicked "post" and then closed the page. An instant message popped up from someone she didn't know and the sound on the computer was up so loud that the sudden "ding" scared her so badly she fell out of the chair. And then she nearly choked on her ice cream. She swallowed hard and forced the ice cream down. She stood and righed her chair then opened the IM.

"Hey, it's Bram, add me plz."

She quickly clicked his name and added it to her messenger list. "Hey Bram, how's it going?" She looked at the clock and was surprised to find that it was almost 5 o'clock in the evening. "Bram, I've gotta go for now, I'll chat with you later, k?"

"Sure thing! Bye now"

She left a message on the fridge for her mom and pulled a coat on. She walked quickly to Sofia's and walked into the warm kitchen. Sofia looked up from the pot she was stirring and there was instantly concern on her face. Ziva's face crumpled and she walked into the waiting, welcoming arms of Sofia.

As she bawled the story out to her, Sofia made soft, shushing sounds. When she could no longer cry and felt better, she sat down at the table with Sofia, who conjured a pot of tea and some of her oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins. While Sofia poured tea, Ziva was able to more calmly explain what had happened.Sofia listened intently and didn't inject any comments while Ziva spoke. Once she finished, however, she had plenty to say.

current mood: creative

"So are you anti-social or something?"

She nearly choked on the bit of spaghetti she'd just taken. She coughed it down, chugged some of her milk and then answered when she could talk again. "No, I-I like you just fine, I'm just quiet. I'm a quiet person, I mean." God she felt like a complete idiot. And her throat hurt now too, thanks to nearly choking.

"So what kind of music do you like? Have any brothers and sisters? What're your parents like?" Bram asked in a single breath.

A little stunned, Ziva tried to answer him. "I like all kinds of music, just depends on my mood. No brothers or sisters. I live with my mom, dad's out of the picture."

"Wow. I've always wondered what it would be like to be a single child," Gabriel said, staring pointedly at Bram.

"That's funny," Ziva said with a little smile. "I've always wondered what it would be like to have a brother or sister, haha."

"You can have mine!" Bram and Gabriel said simultaneously, then glared at each other.

Ziva choked back a laugh. Then they all three jerked to attention when the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch period. All three of them quickly gathered their trays and books, dropped the trays in the tray window to be cleaned and made their way to their next classes.

Ziva showed Bram to his Art For Beginners class and then hurried halfway across the school to her Math class. An hour later, and nearly brain dead, Ziva made her way back to pick up Bram and show him to his Physical Science class. She chatted with him as they walked.

"You are in a few different science classes. Are you thinking of becoming a scientist or something?" She began, then quickly pulled him out of the way of an oncoming group of football players.

Unfortunately, some of them saw her do it, and immediately began to surround them. The guys on the football team in her school got away with anything, and everyone knew it. So the best idea was to stay out of their way if it was possible. Ziva tried to joke them out of what she knew they were going to try. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Keep outta this Devlin. We just found ourselves a new plaything." Jericho Johnson, the ringleader growled at her. Frustrated and a bit afraid, she retorted, "I'm afraid I can't do that, Jericho. This is a new friend of mine, I'm showing him around the place."

He just looked at her as if she was crazy...and at that moment she thought she probably had lost her mind. She stepped forward to leave, with her hand still on Bram's wrist. Jericho knocked Bram's books out of his hands, sending papers flying. Bram looked furious, anger sparking in his eyes.

"You gonna do something, new boy?" Jericho taunted.

"Stop that!" Ziva said, then grunted as Jericho pushed her aside and she slammed into a locker, her own school supplies flying. Students up and down the hall had stopped and were staring at the confrontation. Ziva stood up, horrified as Jericho took Bram's glasses and slowly bent them in half, then back again, splitting the metal almost all the way through.

She was instantly furious, and without thinking about it, her power began to surround her. "Leave him alone!" She shouted and ran and shoved Jericho, slamming him into the lockers on the other side of the wall. Jericho and Ziva had crushed the lockers inward nearly all the way to the inside wall. She hit him a couple times and then stopped when she realized what she was doing, something completely against a witch's creed to harm none.

There were gasps up and down the hallway, then shouts as the principal made his way to the site of the confrontation. He could simply stare at Ziva on top of the best football player they had this season. "Miss Devlin!" She cringed at the shout. Her power instantly dissipated, drawing itself back into her. She looked around at what she had done in horror.

Bram helped her up, and she saw that he had gathered together their papers and books. He handed her hers. "Thanks!" He whispered to her. He had his glasses back on his face, he'd bent them back into shape, but there was still a small bend-mark in the nose of them.

She simply nodded, and hung her head, knowing how much trouble she was in. Fighting was prohibited in school, she'd be suspended, if not out and out expelled. Principal Carlin helped Jericho to his feet. Blood flowed from his nose, he had bruises and scrapes on his arm, and it looked like he had a black eye forming.

After sending Jericho to the school nurse, he placed his hand on Ziva's shoulder and escorted her to the office to call her mother. She stood outside and waited with Principal Carlin until her mother got there.

Bram and Gabriel stood at the doorway, watching and waiting for their father to come and get them. Gabriel looked at Bram for a minute before grinning. "What do you think Father will think of our dear little sister?"

current mood: sick

We're doing a bit better. My mom's aunt died this past friday...her name was Thelma and everyone called her "Thelmie" or "Tumble"... and so it's been a really rough weekend for all of us. She'll be traveling to West Virginia for the funeral, and I will be staying here to take care of dad. I really hate when she travels without us, cause I worry about her like crazy, so thanks, everyone,  for the prayers and good thoughts for us. Not a whole lot else going on, just working on my stories, watching TV and playing Sims 2 as usual. My Matthew got to spend the night with me last night. I hadn't seen him in a couple weeks, so I'd missed seeing my little cousin! 

current mood: just a bit silly