Forced to endure the emotional turmoil of a child, Emilia impatiently waited for the memory to move on. After some time had passed, the door to Nina's room creaked open and shut before heavy footsteps approached the little bundle in the middle of the bed. Nina felt the bed dip as the housekeeper, Frannie Estella, who Nina lovingly called aunt Fran, rested her large frame down. Aunt Fran patted the little lump.

"My little girl, my little Nina."

Nina sprang out of the covers and wrapped her arms tightly around the older woman's neck, still crying. "Wyy do twey ave to be so mwean?!" The little girl wailed through a stuffed nose to the helpless old lady.

"Shh, come now, you have to stop crying or I will not be able to understand a word you say," Aunt Fran coaxed gently while rocking the child in her arms. The housekeeper's patience paid off in time as Nina's sobs slowly reduced to sniffles.

"Now tell me what happened. Did something go wrong with your performance?"

"No, it went well. All the elders loved it. But the kids... the kids kept saying mean things about me. They said I was made, and that I have no parents, and that the Committee owns me. They said I am no better than a family pet, made to do tricks for the Committee elders." Nina's sniffles threatened to turn to sobs once more.

"Those children have no manners, saying such awful things," the housekeeper fiercely said, feeling just as upset. She had never imagined that youngsters these days would know so much gossip. It took the simple-minded and guileless Aunt Fran a while to come to the realisation that they knew it because their parents had unashamedly repeated those very words in front of them.

From within her arms, a trembling voice asked,"But is it true? Am I a freak because I have no parents?"

Aunt Fran racked her brain on how to broach the subject. "Nina, remember when I told you that you are the Committee's responsibility and that you will forever be under their care because you are special?"

"Is special another way to say freak?"

Aunt Fran's round face puckered like a prune, as she was quick to deny, "Hush. You are not a freak. You are my beautiful little Nina, let no one else convince you otherwise."

Nina's eyes were downcast but she obediently replied, "Okay."

Aunt Fran deliberated for quite a while, her mouth opening and closing several times as if wanting to say something before stopping herself. Finally making up her mind, she managed to find her voice, "I think you are old enough for me to tell you more about why you are special. Would you like to know more?"

Nina nodded albeit uncertainly.

"Good. Let me begin from the beginning. Our Committee elders have spent many, many years, searching for the most powerful witches among us. They are looking for those with Talents that far surpass others."

"Why?"

"Because they hope for a witch who can act as a guardian for our people. A protector powerful enough to fight against threats to our world."

"Oh," the girl replied, still not fully comprehending it all.

Ignoring the youngster's puzzlement, the older witch continued, "When they find such a witch, they help them meet other witches who are as special as they are and they... they encourage them to marry. Do you know why?"

Nina had a sudden inkling, "So that they can fall in love and become a family and live happily ever after?"

"Well, yes. I guess that is one way of looking at it. But more importantly, the Committee wants them to have children who are special, just like their parents. If two powerful witches were to have a child, then that child may be even more powerful than their parents. Do you understand?"

The girl nodded silently.

"This is why you are special, Nina, because you are the descendent of some of the most powerful witches in modern history. Your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond, they were all a part of this important mission to bring about the wonderful child that you are."

Nina was not the least bit bothered about being special, her focus entirely on something else the housekeeper said, "But where are my parents? If they made me, why are we not a family?"

Aunt Fran struggled to find words that would lessen the blow, pausing several times before eventually saying, "Your mother and father had already made their own families before the Committee could introduce them to one another. The Committee tried to...make them form a new family but they loved their old families too much to give them up. In the end, they came to a compromise with the Committee and agreed to help bring you into this world."

"Oh." Nina's voice was small.

As a silent observer, Emilia was in shock. This was all new to her. How was it possible that information as important as this had slipped through the current Committee's grasp? Not much was known about Nina Forst, but it was pretty obvious that the Committee should have at least had a file on her background ancestry. Emilia could only think of one reason. Someone intentionally destroyed all information regarding the witch. The question was why?

Back in the memory, the kind housekeeper said, "Now do you believe me when I say that you are special?"

Instead of looking upbeat, Aunt Fran's words only sunk the child's mood to an even greater low. Nina lowered her eyes to stare at the ground, saying in a barely audible whisper, "They did not want me after all."

Aunt Fran's mood plummeted just as low as she hugged Nina close, not refuting her words and realising that her revelations did more harm than good. As a silent spectator to the whole thing, even Emilia's hardened heart hurt for the little girl.

As she grew older, the bullying continued but Nina grew accustomed to mean words and friendless days. She had long accepted solitude, from the moment Aunt Fran left, not long after the talk. Conscious that Nina was forming too much of an attachment to the elderly housekeeper, the Committee had Aunt Fran replaced with a new housekeeper every year. Nina personally opined Frannie Estella was replaced because she had spoken to Nina about her ancestry without the Committee's authorisation.

"Hey thoroughbred, going somewhere?" Without turning around, thirteen year old Nina recognised the deep baritone of one of the older boys from school whose speciality was name calling her something new at each encounter. As usual, she made it a point to treat him like air as she continued heading towards the cottage. He moved past her, treading so close that dirt from his horse's hooves dirtied her shoes.

'Luckily they are brown coloured to begin with,' Nina mused, having no intention of cleaning them when she reached home. Her newest housekeeper, whatever her name was, could do it if she so wished but Nina could not care less.

"Off to play favourite pet with the higher ups eh?" The boy turned his horse around to circle Nina, forcing her to halt in the middle of the road. He laughed, urging the horse into a fast trot, kicking up a circle of dust around the young witch.

'Insolent fool. He can hardly control his measly single Talent, and yet he thinks he is a match for me? Ha!' Having had enough, Nina glanced around to find that there was no one else in either direction of the road. No other witnesses. She turned to look up at the boy and smiled a nasty smile of vengeance.

The boy went from bellowing laughter to shocked silence in a heartbeat. Before he could utter a threat, she acted. With absolute precision, Nina snapped the horse's reins at the base. A second later, a pebble rose up from the ground and struck the steed on its rump, frightening the creature into a full on gallop back in the direction of school and taking the panic stricken boy along for the ride of his life.

Humming tunelessly, Nina continued home without a backward glance.

The comfortable farmhouse cottage she currently occupied was of course provided by the Committee. Located in Benmontria, the largest city of Zandlana, Nina had no complains of the exclusivity of its location, considering many could only dream of living in the homeworld's most prestigious and wealthy city.

Once past the simple picket fence, she did not go in, deciding instead to head toward the stable flanking the cottage. Soft whinnying greeted her as she approached, and Midnight, her ink-coloured mare eagerly greeted its owner.

With a sigh, Nina ran her hands over the mare's shiny coat. "Midnight, I think it is no exaggeration when I say that you are the only one who loves me. A moist snout nudged her face gently. Nina gazed into the dark eyes of her only companion in the world before cryptically mumbling, "I guess now is as good a time as any."

What Nina intended to do was a secret no one else knew she could since Nina had long decided to hide any new Talents from the Committee.

Reaching into the side pocket of her dress, she withdrew a small gold pendant engraved on the front with floral motifs, with the initials N.F on the back. It was a parting gift from Aunt Fran, thoughtfully hidden beneath Nina's pillow and away from the prying eyes of the Committee.

Seconds ticked by as Nina studied the object in her hand before placing her free hand firmly against Midnight's body and closing her eyes. "Do not worry dear friend, for I shall make sure we will always be together." The mare trembled as a coolness spread through its chest before dissipating just as quickly as it came.

****

"Likewise, you vex me greatly for doubting my heartfelt words."

Eighteen year old Nina was equal parts astounded and exasperated by the pestilence before her, wanting very much to smack that lopsided smirk off his face. Not only had he not known who Nina Forst, the most powerful Talent in all of witch history, was, he had the galls to try to befriend her as well!

She was about to tell him to begone or learn what it would be like to fall off a cliff, since there happened to be many of those around Hiraeth city, but something stopped her from doing so. A feeling that had not been kindled in her in a very long time crawled out from a hidden nook in her mind.

Curiosity. She was curious about the vampire.

Even so, Nina stared at the hollow headed idiot before her with a smidge of disdain colouring her view. How could he not know who she was?!

And yet, she paused to think, was that not a good thing?

Back home, the bullying had stopped, replaced instead by crafty peers vying for her friendship, thinking they may benefit from it in the future. It was no different in Hiraeth. She looked around at the dozen or so eyes hungrily trailing her every move, waiting in anticipation to approach her just because of her fame. Then, she turned her gaze back to the fool. Perhaps this young oaf of a vampire prince was the only genuine person in this group of treacherous, scheming beings.

"Very well," she found herself uttering to her own surprise, "I shall let you follow me around if you wish. Should you get on my nerves, however, I shall fling you all the way back to Hjem. This is not a jest."

"Understood perfectly, Miss Nina," the prince said sweetly, a triumphant look on his face. While glaring at the prince, the witch had a feeling she was going to regret this.

*****

"Yoohoo! Miss Nina!"

Nina glared at her sticky new friend as he literally skipped over to stand beside her. The supernatural youth convention was nearing its end, after nearly a month. In all that time, the bird brain prince of the vampires, Lucius Bloodreign had followed her about like a shadow, asking her unnecessary questions of zero relevance, such as her favourite colour (white), favourite food (none), hobbies (none), best friend (Midnight. Why was he so shocked? Was her lack of friendships not obvious enough?), even her favourite books (she read only because of school).

The list was never-ending, besides which he was a constant buzz by her side, never shutting his mouth for long and always, always smiling. No, how could she even consider it a smile, it was a smirk, a smack-worthy smirk!

Now he stood beside her, a towering mass compared to her average stature, their shoulders almost brushing. Oddly enough, despite all her complaining, she had come to accept his position by her side without question, expecting it even. 'You do not know loneliness until you have experienced friendship'. The realisation struck her hard.

Lucius raised his hand. "For you," he said, offering a single white rose. Caught off guard, Nina took it but looked confused, forgetting to throw him a glare. "Why are you giving me a flower?"

"It is customary to offer the person you like a flower. At least, it is where I come from. I chose white because you like the colour."

"Oh." She stared at the rose in her hand. His use of the word 'like' was too vague.

"We will be leaving soon," he pointed out the obvious. She retorted impatiently, "I know."

The prince waited for her to say more, but was met with silence. Seemingly disappointed, he quietly asked, "Will you not miss me?"

"Why do you ask such unnecessary questions you know the answers to?" Nina flippantly said without actually answering his question. She looked up from scrutinising the rose, expecting to see his goofy smile but instead, found Lucius looking rather glum.

"I will miss you." For once, he was not smiling as he watched her.

It took Nina a long while to reply. "I enjoyed your company," she finally admitted.

Leaning ever so slightly closer, he lowered his voice, "I want to see you again." Nina felt her pulse quicken even as an unfamiliar feeling began to gnaw from within. He continued in all seriousness, "Can we meet, here on Earth?"

Against the better judgement of her inner screaming voice warning her not to do something stupid, Nina said a little too eagerly, "Where?"

Lucius was lost in thought for a moment before suggesting, "I could head to Onirique. It would take me some time to travel from Hjem but I think it could work."

Nina quickly nodded, "You need not travel so far. We could meet near the border of witch territory. It is mostly forest lands but there are dwellings, log cabins that hunters sometimes use."

Lucius peered at her, his expression hopeful. "In two full moons from now, will you meet me there?"

Never in her life had she done something like this. It was reckless, unnecessary... and exhilarating. It did not matter for now what Lucius meant exactly when he said he liked her. All she needed to do was keep him by her side so she could find out for herself. Nina breathed in deeply before forcefully exhaling. "I will," she agreed, earning the biggest smile she had ever seen from Lucius.

A few seconds later, Wisten approached them, preventing any further discussion. "Prince Lucius, the event coordinator wishes to speak to you," he informed.

The prince nodded at Wisten before whispering to her, "I will not be long."

With Lucius gone, Wisten gave her a cursory nod before intending to walk off but she quickly stopped him. "Wait. You and I seem to have an unspoken issue."

"Do we?" The vampire arched an eyebrow.

"You do not hide the fact that my presence is unwelcome. I wish to know why." She did, in fact, know why but this was the only way she could get him to talk to her.

As she expected, the vampire fell for it, replying very bluntly, "Then, allow me to speak plainly. I do not like you. You are obnoxiously rude and walk about with your nose so high up in the air, it is a wonder you do not constantly bump into everything in your path."

Westen's lips curled up in a sneer, "Your Talents may impress others, but I am not one of them. In truth, I truly cannot see what Lucius sees in you. There, I have said it. Now say your fill and let us be done with it for I am sure these feelings of dislike are mutual."

To his utter surprise, Nina gave him a smile lacking in insincerity, "On the contrary, I think very highly of you, Wisten Andino. You are a good friend to him, and that alone makes me like you a lot. You have been there for him even when you need not have bothered, and I do not see you gaining anything by being so loyal."

She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "Even confronting me like this does nothing for you, potentially even costing you some animosity with Lucius, and yet here you are, doing what you think is best for your friend. It is admirable, and I say it with no hidden meanings."

As he stared at her in open shock, she looked away, "I also like that you are a man without pretense. It is hard to find an honest soul in this bunch of simpering fools with their fake adulation and scheming minds."

It was a long while before he replied, "I see."

Wisten was looking at her in a new light and she could see understanding slowly grow in his dark eyes. As a high ranking member of the aristocracy, he was likely to have been in the same predicament as she was, Nina figured. All that incessant flattery, the fake smiles and obsequious behaviour that was downright nauseating, he must have gone through it too. Nina hoped Wisten's empathy over their shared experiences would be a building block for them to start a respectful friendship together in the potential future.

To end the conversation, she said, "We will rarely cross paths from now, so I wish you well in your future endevours."

The vampire's eyes lacked the fiery disdain from a mere moment ago as he admitted, "Perhaps I have misjudged you."

Nina shrugged, "Perhaps."