[Oliver]

It had been 5 days since my sister lost control and I was still mad at her, even though after Celine's speech I had started to be a little more forgiving.

I was suspecting Celine was speaking from experience but I wasn't sure and I didn't want to push her, especially now that she was injured.

She kept saying she was getting better, but something told me that wasn't the entire truth.

I had started to get used to working. The coffee shop didn't attract many customers, as no sane person walked for days through the forest in order to come to a nearly forgotten village that could not be found on a map.

See what I mean?

I had started to worry less and less about my life back home. The thrill of the chase and not knowing what will happen when I wake up every morning was something much different than I ever experienced back home- and I liked that.

I liked all about Imyrth. It had helped me show my true self and stop being my mom's pet. I had met nice people that had helped me out and had grown on me (yes, even Felix- but don't tell him I said that).

The only thing I didn't like about Imyrth was Amon. That guy didn't know when to give up. There was also the queen, but she didn't seem to be as much of a problem.

Amon had tried to kill us multiple times, and we didn't even know why. He was the main reason I argued with my sister, and I am not saying that just to give him all the blame. I know I snapped at the wrong time, but I had the right reasons, even if Echo saved my life.

She had no right to keep such a secret from me. And, yes, I know she tried to tell me, repeatedly I may add, but when she did it she knew there was no way I was going to believe her.

And I know I should have realised it when we saw all that crazy stuff on Imyrth, but I guess I just didn't think about it that way.

Don't blame me for being oblivious.

The point is that I was to stubborn to talk to her, especially after the incident with Celine.  It wasn't just stubbornness, but also fear that she would lose control again. I mean, you saw what happened last time (even if it was partially my fault).

Now, I know I said that work was becoming easier and easier, but I never said it has ceased to be stressful. All the unsatisfied customers were quite rude and it looked like everyone was trying to find something they didn't like about their orders or me. It really brought me down, especially since my life wasn't really sunshine and rainbows at the time.

Sometimes people just don't understand, and I am not trying to look smart here, I already told you I am pretty oblivious, and I am definitely not trying to look like a drama queen (even though Echo would say I totally am), but can't they just chill?

The answer is no. Never. No escape.

Sorry for the dose of pessimism, but that's one of the little things I'm good at. You can thank my sister for that.

And no, I am not blaming everything on her.

There were no attacks but that idiot, Amon, but we still had to decide whether we were going to the castle where the Queen invited us for the ball or not.

And that one secret Celine had kept.

It was a little too late when we found out, and even when we did, it was accidentally. She was getting a fever and was really sweaty, so when we told her we should take her to a doctor she panicked. As she sat up to tell us off, her shirt went up and we saw how the burn had expanded.

«What the hell?!» Felix gasped. Celine grimaced.

«That burn wasn't that huge when you got it...» I muttered.

«Oh, really? I hadn't noticed. Thanks for telling me.» she replied.

«This isn't time for sarcasm! How the hell is that possible?» I snapped.

«It could be the fact that the burn came from a magical source, but I'm not sure. Don't go on each other's throats again.» she glared at me and my sister.

Speaking of Echo, she was unusually quiet, just like she had been ever since she lost control. I have to admit, it was scary.

«How long have you known?» Echo asked slowly, not taking her eyes off the floor. She seemed to have made a habit of doing that.

«Echo, stop it. It's not your fault.» Celine said carefully.

«Oh, isn't it, because last time I checked I was the one that threw a fireball in your stomach.» my sister replied.

«I have to agree with Echo on this one...» I muttered avoiding meeting both my sister's and Celine's eyes.

«You are an idiot! Even after everything I told you, you keep being a stubborn idiot! I really don't get boys some times...» Celine snapped.

«Okay, enough! All of you! What the hell is wrong with you people? Celine is dying, but you are all too busy arguing with each other to notice it. Shut up and lets get her to a doctor! After that you can all go back to killing each other!» Felix yelled. Felix was usually a happy ray of sunshine, so it was scary whenever he got mad.

«Okay. How are we going to take her?» Echo agreed.

«Did anyone ask for my opinion?» Celine complained.

«No. We don't really care right now.» Felix replied. «We're just going to carry you. Don't you dare make a sound.» he continued. Celine grumbled, but didn't talk back.

Felix picked her up and we left to find a doctor. That was a hell of a day...

(Damon)

I guess you didn't expect an unimportant character like me to help tell the story, did you?

Well, let me remind you that Oliver and Echo weren't around at earth, we're they? There are events they don't even know took place, so I'm not really that unimportant now, am I?

Thank you.

Okay, now, I'm not here to babble about my problems, right? I'm here to babble about Jennifer Waters' problems, all of which weren't her daughter, Echo.

You see, Echo was right about her mother all along and I'm sure she saw that one coming: Jennifer believed Echo had involved Oliver in bad business with weird people and they had kidnapped them.

Now, don't ask me where Jennifer Waters found imagination for this ridiculous story, because I have no idea what's wrong with her head.

She kept running around the house, yelling at everyone and would even fire half the house staff, if Mr Crate's will didn't state that she wasn't allowed to.

That's how crazy she was.

I have to admit, I was worried too. They had disappeared without a trace from the attic, just like an old friend of mine had. I had a faint idea of where they were, but Jennifer wouldn't care about the will if I told her, and would outright fire me.

About the trashed room now, well, that must have been the one that fueled Jennifer's imagination. There was obviously resistance, so it was obviously a kidnapping. Case closed for her.

But it's never that easy. And it wasn't for us either when we woke up that morning about a month after the kids disappeared.

Let's just say that Jennifer Waters knows how to throw a tantrum. A full, toddler-like tantrum that made us all run around the house in panic, just because some of us stood up for Echo.

I know, it's always about Echo, isn't it? Well, she is the black sheep of the family and Oliver is the family's Saint, so I think that kinda  makes up for it... I have no idea. Don't pressure me, I will break like that one glass of water that you never drank, because it fell on the floor in the middle of the night.

We've all been there, don't try to deny it.

See? I'm always right. Most of the time. Rarely. Shut up.

So back to the currently pressing matter and the reason why I'm here; Jennifer.

Yeah, I wouldn't call Jennifer a pressing matter or a good reason either, but considering the circumstances... You know.

Well, you don't really know, that's why I'm here. And I'm babbling again. Sorry, I'm kind of a nervous person...

We all knew there was no escape when she woke up one morning and started screaming because we were out of coffee.

«I don't care what you have to say, Lizzie, I will hear no excuses! My kid is missing, I need to be fully energised in case he comes back!» she yelled. Lizzie, who hated that name (we all called her Beth, instead), was on the verge of tears. Jennifer knew about that, so she kept calling her that to intimidate her. We all hated her, more or less.

«I- I'm so sorry, I didn't know we were out--» Beth rushed before Jennifer could start shrieking again.

«Oh, shut it. If I could, I would have fired every single one of you. You are all useless! You get nothing done right. I wonder why my uncle wanted you to keep your jobs so bad he wrote it on his will.» she yelled again. «Now, Lizzie go get some coffee and be back in ten minutes or I will make your life a living hell in here. I may not fire you, but you will quit before you can say "lipstick". Go!»

«But, Mrs Waters, that's impossible! The town is twenty minutes away by car! How is Beth supposed to go there and be back in ten, on foot?» I said. I couldn't help myself. Jennifer looked baffled, so I continued. «How are we supposed to do everything you say when all your requests are impossible to complete? Everything we do is never enough. If you want your coffee so bad and in ten minutes' time, go get it yourself and see how much time it takes. Go on.» I dared her.

«You're either really lucky or unlucky that I can't fire you. You know, my uncle had special instructions about you. I can't fire you, and you can't quit unless his niece, and mine, Ariadne is found, which I found really weird. He wrote that only she could fire you from this place, so unless she is found, you are kind of doomed. I said I would make Lizzie's life a living hell, wait until you see what I will do to you.» she threatened.

That left me unfazed. I mean, what was the worst thing she could do to me? There was nothing.

The only thing that caught my interest was Mr Crates' special instructions. Why would he care about my job so bad that he would write about it specifically in his will, especially after what happened five years ago?

That was way beyond weird, but I didn't mention anything to Jennifer. I would hate to give her more leverage than she needed. She had already made it crystal clear that she hated me. I wouldn't want her to know about my past with her niece.

And don't think I'm stupid and didn't know where Ariadne was all those years; I knew all about Imyrth, I had seen it myself.