There were no lights on when we entered the building, but I hadn't really expected any. It was a god awful hour of the morning. The guys led me down a hallway and I saw a faint light coming from a larger hallway. The smells wafting from it told me it was probably the direction of the kitchen. I stumbled twice and Jack caught me both times. So much for me being a possible werewolf, I thought snidely. I can't even see in the dark.

We walked another five minutes and finally stopped towards the back of the first floor. Jack knocked and then opened the door before ushering me in. Logan and Paul stayed outside. The man sitting at the desk wasn't what I'd expected. I kept imagining Dumbledore. I mean it was a school for supernatural creatures with magic of one kind or another, so I assumed the headmaster would be very Dumbledorish, but no. He was rather short and plain. Brown eyes and brown hair blended into an average looking face. There was nothing distinctive about him, he was very nondescript. Until he smiled. His eyes lit up with warmth and it put me at ease almost instantly, which in turn caused my guard to go up. 

His eyebrows rose at my reaction and my own eyes narrowed at his shocked expression. After everything I'd been through tonight, feeling all trusty was not something I was in the mood for. I tried to yank my arm from Jack's grasp, but he held on like a terrier with a bone. He gave me a bored expression that set my temper rising like nothing else. 

"Headmaster Taffer," Jack nodded.

"Good to see you back so soon, Jack," the headmaster smiled. "Hello, Snow."

"My name is S-A-R-A," I spelled it out for him. "Sara."

"She is having a few...challenges acclimating," Jack told him.

A few? Ya think?

"Of course," the headmaster nodded. "I know it probably came as quite a shock to you, my dear, but now that you're home where you belong, I'm sure..."

"Home where I belong?" The nerve of these people. "My home, as I've told your Neanderthal here all night, is California with my dad and my Gran and my friends. This is not home."

The headmaster frowned, clearly not expecting the hostility.

"There are a few other complications, Sir," Jack sighed. "She is showing signs of coming into her abilities..."

"What are they?" the headmaster asked, leaning forward and looking as eager as a little boy about to see his favorite monster truck crush some cars.

"I think she may be a wolf."

"That's not possible," Headmaster Taffer shook his head. "She's never been a wolf in all of Fairytale history."

"She reacted to my Alpha in the car, Sir," Jack told him quietly.

The headmaster stared at Jack in something akin to horror. What, these people were racist against the shifters? Or just the wolves specifically?

"That, that cannot..." the Headmaster sputtered. "Do you realize the ramifications of this?"

"We can only hope for the best, Sir, and that Snow White truly will fall in love with her Prince Charming," Jack told him. To me it sounded about as sarcastic as sarcastic could get, but the Headmaster seemed to calm down a bit.

"Yes, yes, of course," he nodded. "True love will always prevail."

I rolled my eyes. These people were really screwed up in the head if they thought I was going to fall instantly in love with some Prince Charming. I'd already been dissed by two guys tonight, having Prince Charming finding me lacking was not my idea of a good time right now.

"I'm sure Sara has questions for you, Headmaster," Jack said and released me. "I'll leave you to alone so you can talk."

I glared. He wasted no time in dumping me.

"A moment, Jack," the headmaster stopped him. "I have been speaking with Ivervin and we both feel you'd be the best person to head up Snow's guard detail."

"What?" We both shouted, causing the poor little man to wince.

"Look, sir," Jack frowned. "There are more experienced people who should take up her guard. I haven't even graduated the Guardian's program yet."

Taffer smiled slightly. "Ivervan said you are the best he's seen in over a hundred years and he trusted no one more than you with the future queen. Besides, if she is a werewolf as you suspect, then having you near at hand will ease some of her transition."

I could hear Jack's teeth gnashing together. He didn't want to spend any more time around me than I did him, but it looked like he wasn't going to have a choice.

"Fine," he said at last. "I will need a few hours to prepare. I can leave Logan with her until then. If that is acceptable?"

Taffer nodded. "Of course. I've already had a room set up for you in her suite."

Just what did the headmaster mean by that? Did he think..."Don't I get a say in this?"

"Unfortunately, when it comes to your safety, Snow, the decisions are mine and now Jacks."

Like bloody hell. It sounded like he was giving the already overbearing jackass the right to tell me what I could and couldn't do. "First my name is Sara. Secondly, he's not staying in my room!"

"He won't be in your actual room unless there is an immediate threat to your life," Taffer clarified. "He will have his own room next to yours."

Like that was any better? These people were way past crazy, they're just plain stupid.

"Headmaster, if that's all, I need to go prepare."

My head swiveled back round to Jack. There was a definite tick in his jaw. He was pissed beyond belief. Like the time I spent a thousand dollars at the mall and my dad nearly had a coronary pissed. The look he gave me said he blamed me. Oh, no you don't. This is so not my fault. If it weren't for him, I'd still be home instead of freezing to death here in this godforsaken place.

"Yes, yes, go ahead, Jack." Taffer picked up his phone and had a hurried whispered conversation when Jack left. I didn't bother trying to listen, because Logan had come in to take up Jack's spot beside me. He gave me a reassuring smile and I glared my best death ray look in return.

"I've had a fire prepared in your rooms, my dear, and there are warm clothes waiting for you as well. The bathroom has the essential toiletries and we've placed a copy of your textbooks and your schedule on your desk."

Schedule? Textbooks? My mind whirled at the types of classes I could potentially expect. It didn't bode well. "When can I have my phone back?"

Taffer pursed his lips. "We feel that you need time to assimilate to life here at Ravenwood before you reconnect with your old life, so we will be holding onto your phone for a bit."

Rage started to boil at those words. They'd kidnapped me while pretending to be rescuing me then had the audacity to try and tell me I needed to assimilate? I was not a victim of the Borg! I didn''t do assimilation.

"Tell me then, Headmaster," I said softly. "When can I talk to my father?"

"In a few weeks," he sighed. "I know you believe we are being unfair, but it truly is in your best interest to break ties with your old life and accept your new one."

"My new one?" I asked, my voice even calmer than before. Logan tensed up, sensing my mood.

"As the future Queen of all Fairytale," Taffer said and smiled at me.

Did he think I'd be impressed?

"Let me explain a few things to you, Headmaster," I smiled myself. "I may be stuck here, held prisoner, but I will never be your queen. I want nothing to do with this or any of you. The sooner you understand that, the sooner I can learn what I need and go home."

"You are not a prisoner..."

"Then I can walk out of here right now and no one will try to stop me?" I interrupted him.

"No, you cannot leave," he told me, his voice even and strained.

"Then, yeah, Headmaster, I'm a prisoner," I laughed, the sound harsh in the sudden silence.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Princess," he said after a moment. "We are only here to help you. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you can accept who you really are."

Not gonna happen, old man, I thought snidely.

There's a knock at the door and I turned to see a girl come through the door, rubbing sleep out of her sky blue eyes. Messy blonde hair fought with the yawn she tried hard to stifle. I wanted to hate her on just the principle she looked gorgeous even though she'd obviously been hauled out of bed. I never look that good when I first woke up.

"You wanted to see my Headmaster?" she asked, her voice soft and tired. Musical. That was the word I'd use for her voice. Yet another checkmark on the hate on sight list.

"My dear Cinderella, I'm so sorry to have to pull you out of bed at this hour, but Snow White has just arrived and I need you to escort her to her rooms. Could you make sure she's settled and has everything she needs?"

Wide eyes turned to me, shocked. What? Never saw freaking Snow White before Cinderella? She took a step back at the open hostility on my face and bumped into Logan. He righted her and she nodded her thanks.

"Of course, Headmaster. I'll be happy to show her to her rooms."

"Good, good, you and the others will be excused from classes tomorrow to help our Snow get acquainted with the school and her new situation."

"I swear to God if you call me Snow one more time, I will not be responsible for my actions."

"There is no need for such hostility, young lady," he said, affronted. "We are only trying to help you."

The glare I gave him could singe the hair off a cat.

"She's having issues," Logan whispered to the blonde princess behind me.

"I can see that," Blondie said.

"Yes, well, I'm sure the Princess's lack of manners are due to lack of sleep," the Headmaster mutters. "If you two will please escort her out now?"

Logan moved aside and motioned for me to follow Blondie. I gave the Headmaster one more glare for good measure and marched out the door. We went up three flights of stairs before we finally came to a halt. There landing led to a door directly in front of me, one to the right and one to the left.

"Welcome to the Princess Brigade," Blonde said dryly. "I'm Casey."

That got my attention. She didn't refer to herself as Cinderella.

"You're not the only one who isn't happy about being a Fairytale," she grinned. "Aurora, though, she's quite content with it. You'll meet her tomorrow. We all call her Rory."

"What's her real name?" I ask.

"Aurora believe it or not," Casey said. "She didn't have to get used to a name change and she adores her Prince." Casey scrunches up her face in disgust. "You can't separate those two. It was love at first sight."

"What, he already wake her up out of her sleep?" Aurora, or Sleeping Beauty as the character was known, was supposed to prick her finger on a needle and fall into a deep sleep that only true love's kiss could break.

"Nope, not as of yet, but the way she trips on everything?" Casey shook her head. "I'm surprised the girl's lived this long. She's a klutz in the worst sense of the word."

"What about your Prince?" I asked out of curiosity.

She rolled her eyes. "Dalton is, well...he's...he's Dalton."

"Not impressed?" I asked.

"Hardly." Her eyes swung to Logan and then away again. Well, now, what was this? She had a thing for Wolfie?

"So which of these doors is mine?" I asked, the draft in the hallway reminding me I was still dressed for the California sun and not the blizzard raging outside.

"The one right in front of you." She moved out of the way. "It should be unlocked."

The door, or rather doors as it's a double door, felt ominous to me. If I went through that door, then everything that happened over the last few hours became real. There would be no going back. Those door signified the start of Snow White and the end of Sara White.

But it didn't have to be the end of Sara White. I was still me and no one could change that. They might try, might force this lifestyle on me, but they couldn't make me be their precious Snow White. I was just me, plain old Sara who loved chocolate and reading until I fell asleep every single night. They could only change me if I let them and I refuse to give into them. Not ever.

Straightening my shoulders, I forced myself to open the doors. They weren't locked as Casey said, and once I stepped through, my jaw fell so fast, it had to hit China. The room reminded me of one of those fancy hotel suites, only girly. There was a huge white sofa facing an entertainment center in white wood. The black television in the middle was really the only pop of true color. Soft pink and purple throw pillows adorned the big fluffy couch. A desk sat in the corner with a laptop computer sitting open on it. A stack of books sat beside it. My school books. One wall held a window that had an honest to God window seat built big enough for two people to stretch out side by side. The white cushion looked just as fluffy as the couch. A beautiful chandelier shaped like hanging roses complete the room. It was gorgeous.

"Our rooms sorta help make up for the fact they dragged us from our homes," Casey said softly. "At least I tell myself that every day."

I nodded. Yeah, I could see where she'd try and find something to hang onto, even if was her room. The doorway on the right leads to my bedroom and again I stand and stare. A huge king size canopy bed dominates the room. It was done in white with a soft white comforter. The walls were a color that reminded me of honey. Soft blue lacey curtains adorn the windows and the furniture is white accented with softer shades of golds and browns. A massive fireplace stood directly in front of the bed and two huge cushy chairs sat in front of it. Bookshelves lined one wall. Those I would explore later. I loved books. I'd live in a library if I could.

My bathroom was worth its weight in chocolate. The room itself was almost as massive as the bedroom. Black and white décor adorned every fixture, the massive soaker tub called my name. I'd give just about anything right now for a long hot soak to get the cold out of my bones.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Logan grinned from the doorway. "It's not all bad, now is it?"

"Do you want me to hurt you?" I snapped at him. How could any of them believe throwing fancy things at me would make up for the fact they kidnapped me?      

"I think we should let Sara get settled in," Casey said, her voice soft at the look on my face. "I'm the door on the right. Logan will be outside too."

She dragged him out of the rooms and closed the door, leaving me to my own devices for a while. I curled up in the window seat and cried myself to sleep. I had to show no weakness when I meet everyone, but for right now, I could feel sorry for myself.

Until tomorrow anyway.