"I knew they were lying!" I thought as I hung from the balcony just behind Rhys and Leif before I went to bed. I KNEW IT! Something was always off about them, ever since they arrived.

"Since we've been here nothing has happened!" Leif shouted, "No fighting! No bloodshed! Nothing!"

"Leif," Rhys said, calmly, as always, "Try to understand we-"

"I've had enough of your talk Rhys!" Leif snapped, "We're here to stop this scary magic crisis on Damos! But none of you would know how to live if we didn't have magic huh?!" He was livid. I swung myself carefully back over the railing, hearing what I needed to. Of course, they're just using us... Why did I think differently?

"What does it matter?" Asch joined in, "You serve me now Leif, and if you know what's best for you, you'll stand down and hold your tongue before I rip it out." I covered my mouth and shuddered. Nowhere was I near scared, but that's a different level of disgusting.

"Why are they acting so hostile?" Noi asked Pierce. He sounded as if he were a scared child. Was this... Do they not normally act like this?

"Perhaps the lack of hostility in this world," Pierce answered. I sat down against the back wall. Unsure of what to do now. Yes, I could go out there and yell at them, yes I could go tell Ava, but... why would I? Ava's been, happier, in some cases, with them around, and, I don't mind them being around. Honestly, the company is nice.

"I AM DONE TOYING WITH AVA AND TRISTIAN!" Leif said and snapped me from my trance, "I'M DONE WORRYING ABOUT THE FRICKEN MAGIC CRISIS! Let's just take their magic and CALL IT!" I let out a slight shudder filled breathe. Take their magic? They think we have magic... if they didn't think that... we'd be dead. But, if there's a crisis, maybe if they didn't leave, they'd be dead too.

"That," Noi began, "Might not actually be a bad idea."

"Noi," Rhys said a bit shocked, "Two humans aren't going to sustain Damos Forever. We-"

"I've been waiting to take them out," Leif said as he wielded his weapons. I stood and looked him over, though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was more than excited about a moment to kill. That's a former Assassin for you.

"Back off Leif," Asch told him as he held his hand out for a fireball, "I'm in charge of our Prisoners execution and I will decide when it's time."

"Your Majesty, please!" Rhys shouted in a whisper, he was turned enough so now I could see him. He, was angry. Very angry. "Stop using your magic!"

"This is getting out of hand.." Noi said even quieter than before. I've never heard him talk like that.

"Then start demanding answers from them Asch!" Leif ordered, "We haven't even been outside her house!"

"Yes, we have," Rhys declared, "And we discovered-Ice cream!" At saying that his eyes lit up. I couldn't help but smile as his face brightened.

"Heh," I said softly, but not soft enough.

"What was that?" Leif asked. I quickly covered my mouth and retreated into the darkness a bit more.

"I heard it too," Rhys said and the two looked around, then all of them.

"Leif do that thing!" Asch demanded and suddenly, no more Leif. He was gone. Just-POOF! Oh no.

"GOTCHA!" Leif shouted as he grabbed me from behind. Long story short. Never, NEVER! Have I screamed-that loud before.

"PUT ME DOWN!" I screamed as he jumped down and landing in front of the others, "LEIF!" I snapped as he dropped me to the ground. I froze, hearing them all gasp at me being there.

"How long were you there for?" Asch demanded from me as I stood up.

"Don't worry Prince Pain-In-The-Butt," I told him while I brushed myself off, "I have no intention of telling Ava or doing anything about why you're really here."

"Y-You don't?" Pierce asked questionably.

"No," I said, "If I'm being honest, I don't. If you hurt her, that's another story. But I don't have the slightest intent on it. I understand why you lied, and honestly... I would've too. I have several times already."

"Really?" Rhys asked while cocking his eyebrow, "But how? How do you understand? What in the name of Damos would you have lied about?"

"Everything?" I said as the thought of what I hide every day of my life flashed through my eyes, "Look just... trust me. If I was really going to tell Ava, I would've run out of here and told her already. Don't ya think?"

"She's right," Pierce said, "She had no reason for waiting after hearing everything we said. She found out what she needed to know, and that's it. I trust her." My mouth dropped at Pierce.

"Okay, you need to talk more or shut up," I said, "You're either to quiet or say too much to stun someone." He nodded. "But, thank you, Pierce." I give him a small smile as I look around towards everyone else. "I understand why you lied to Ava and myself. I don't tell her or our family the truth for a few things either."

"PFT!" Leif said, "Like what? You have nothing you hide from them!"

"I agree," Asch said, "You seem to be close to Ava, there's no way you have any secrets from her." I shake my head. Knowing that they see my body shiver as the memories come back to me. It takes everything I have to hold in my tears, but still, they find a way to rest in my eyes.

"Sorceress Tristian?" Noi asked, "Are you okay?" He saw the tears in my eyes. I know that. I know they all saw the way my body shook. I watched his hand near me and jerked back, almost backing into Rhys.

"I'm fine!" I snapped and I felt the tears-a single tear more like it, roll down my cheek, "J-Just..." I let out a sigh. "Memories."

"Y-You really do hide things from her?" Asch said a bit stunned.

"Everyone hides something from everyone," I said quietly, "Such is life." I wiped my tear away and shook off my teary eyes. "I'm gonna head back to the other side of the wall. Finish your talk or whatever. See you guys in a few!" I waved them off with a smile.

Only Noi smiled back.

I come back out and I see Ava, right by the open window, in a sports bra and black jean shorts. It doesn't take me a minute, because I hear exactly what she's planning as she talks out loud to herself. "I'm going to destroy Lorelai's stupid friends, with an Instagram, more popular than theirs."

"Heh," I smiled behind her, "Mind if I join you? Sister picks for Instagram would be different. Nice almost?"

"Oh, sure Tristian, just get changed," Ava said as I walked in and changed to my semi-normal camo sports bra and black leggings. I walked right over to her and crouched beside her for the first picture. We did a weird kissy-face together and she called it good. Then we took a few more, soonly realizing, Asch and Leif were in the other pictures-right behind us. Our final picture their eyes were wide. The three of them screamed, and I just stood there, hands on my waist, a smirk on my lips.

"Did you see that!?" Leif yelled with panic in his voice, I looked to Ava confused.

"She took our bodies into that thing!" Asch yelled

"W-WHAT?!" Ava and I shouted in unison.

"LOOK ASCH!" Leif yelled while motioning to us, "THEY'RE WEARING THEIR SOURCES OF POWER!" Our faces... red. Very, very, red. Ava screamed and covered herself. I did nothing. I stood there. Wasn't the first time, wasn't the last time they'd see me like this. Two words: Workout Clothes.

"I thought I destroyed it," Asch said while cocking his eyebrow, "Where did she get another one?"

"Victoria's Secre-Wait why am I telling you?" Ava hushed.

"That secret shall be mine," Asch declared. His face was so grim, it was almost impossible to not want to laugh.

"What is going on in here?" Rhys asked as he, Pierce, and Noi walked through the wall. Pierce's eyes locked on me, now I was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Ava's took our bodies into her magic slab!" Leif said, "That's enough reason to kill her."

"No," Pierce said breaking eye contact with me.

"Ugh! Jesus take the wheel," Ava said, "Okay! So I guess we have to explain to you guys what a picture is."

"A picture," I said and nodded towards her, "Is a magical mirror that humans use to record our history with. We can see it at any time, and play it back later. Sometimes pictures move and we watch them. They generally are harmless and most humans find them pleasing to look at."

"Whoa!" Noi said, his eyes getting that flashy light up they get whenever we explain something. He's a curious little one. Heh. "That sounds so cool."

"Wait," Rhys said, "That's like-" He picked up his necklace and stared at the gem on the end. It looked like a lapis gemstone.

"Can I try?" Noi asked sweetly as he and everyone else ignored Rhys.

"NO!" Ava shouted, "W-Well, at least not right now. We're engaged in a fierce picture battle with other humans who don't even care about our existence."

"You're so... powerful," Rhys said, putting down his gemstone and looking back at us, "They must not even care because they know she'll destroy them anyway."

"Impressive," Pierce said. He reminds me of that voice in Candy Crush... weird.

"Y-Yeah, something like that," Ava said, "I'm just hoping this picture gets me a thousand likes and then I can shove it in their other stupid human faces." She let out a soft growl as she spoke, then calmed herself, just before posting the picture of her and I doing kissy-faces. "There, posted."

"Alrighty, hey, I'm gonna head for a run, get my bike from Cody," I told Ava, "He called me last night and said it was ready for pick-up."

"Alright, take one of the guys with you though," Ava said, "I know you can hold your own, but down by Cody's Shop... it's not exactly the place to be by yourself."

"Okay," I said, "Who wants to go-"

"I will!" Asch said and jumped for the offer. I let out a slight giggle at his willingness and sent him back to change.

"You should change to," Ava told me.

"Right," I agreed, "Need me to pick up anything on my way back?"

"Food?" She said and all I could do was a laugh in response as I headed around the corner to get changed.

"Sorceress Tristain?" Asch said knocking on the door, "Are you ready yet?"

"Yeah! One second!" I called from the door. I swung it opened about five seconds later and ran out to get my coat from the kitchen. "We'll be back in a few hours Ava! And don't worry! I won't let fire boy kill anyone!" I smiled and threw my coat on as I turned the corner to see him already outside the door. He stopped and stared at my tight black jeans, a bright red shirt, and a leather jacket. Not to mention my new black boots. "Horns, Fire-Boy." I heard him growl, but I saw the light.

~*~*~TIME SKIP~*~*~

We came back, and long story short-Asch and motorcycles, do not mix. He was screaming the whole ride back, he even started hitting me after I popped the third wheely. All I could do was laugh the whole way back, and coming up to everyone while laughing. They were all there, talking like nothing was wrong. It put a smile on my face.

"Ava fell asleep on your bed," Pierce told me as I walked in. I held a finger to my lips, quietly setting my jacket and keys down on the counter.

"I've got it," I whispered while coming around to the front of the couch and carefully picking her up. "Thanks for not hurting her." I smile and bring her into her room. After the day she probably had with them... I wouldn't doubt her being that tired. "I'll have to take them off your hands for a day. Huh?" I kissed her forehead and heading back out. Seeing only a blanket on my couch, and the window shut. I smiled again.

Maybe they were scared... I was back then too, but not anymore. Heh, I guess Damos are more understanding than I thought.

"Goodnight Mom," I said as I laid down on the couch. Falling asleep slowly.