*Flash*

Awaken by a blinding ray of sunshine, I hurriedly jump upright and rub my sleepy eyes as I tiredly yawn. "Good morning, my lady. Today's breakfast consists of your favorite meal. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and orange juice."

I notice my butler already serving my orange juice as he stands next to my already prepared breakfast. I grab my tray as my butler hands it to me and begin eating as an awkward silence clings to the air.

Only a few weeks ago have I arrived to my castle and learned I was their crowning heir. Adjusting to my new surroundings have been difficult. No one my age works here and nor am I allowed to leave the castle to make friends. It's been boring and awkward to only be around adults.

"My lady?" I slowly raise my head to stare into the eyes of my butler, he pulls something off the cart and hands it to me. As I open the letter, I notice the distinct marking on it.

I read the letter quietly and as I read the very last line, my eyes widen at the sight. I begin to panic and stare helplessly at my butler. "What does this mean?" I ask, my voice trembling from the nervousness of the situation. "Maleficent is the guardian of the Forest and all of its inhabitants. Her power is legendary and it seems after her visit to the castle, she claims that you contain her same abilities",

With every word that Siva spills from his mouth, my pulse quickens and my breathing becomes shallow. "She wishes to witness your use of her abilities." As my butler finishes the last sentence, I cover my eyes and drown in worry. "My lady?" I raise my head reluctantly and find my butler with a raised eyebrow.

"Can I deny the invitation?" I ask with the little ounce of hope that remains in my mind. My butler shakes his head and I let out a groan of despair. "But! I don't even know what she's talking about! All she did was talk to me for a few minutes and now all of a sudden she thinks I have her powers?!" I begin my childish whining and again cover my face with my hands.

"My lady, as our heir you can turn into any monster or fairytale creäture you wish. Your abilities will continue to grow in number, therefore every time your body prepares for a new transformations, any magical creäture can sense it." I let my head hang off my shoulders as I take in Siva's words.

"So, your telling me when I'm going to gain access to new ability, any mythical creäture will feel it happening?" I summarized the long lesson and Siva nods his head respectively. "Yes, but the only way they will sense it, is when they smell your scent or blood." I shake my head as I realize the conversation I had with the winged guardian.

I held a banquet and invited all the leaders that would serve under my rule, sort of 'get to know your new queen' ball. Maleficent had approached me and she started a conversation.

In the moment I hadn't noticed the glassware I was drinking from had a slight chip in it. By the time I did, I had already pricked my finger. Siva rushed to my side to cover up the wound, but Maleficent had already caught a whiff of my scent. After she did, she immediately left the event.

"My lady, I know you haven't gained control of your power yet, but it would seem shameful if the queen were to deny one of her leader's invitation." As I hear my butler's words, I begin to accept the fact I don't have any control over the situation.

After finally swallowing my fear, I raise the bed sheets off my body and stand before my butler. "Okay, I'll go, but only if I get a chance to practice." After hearing my condition, Siva nods his head and bows before walking to the door. "I'll prepare the arrangements to leave at once, in the meantime please get dressed, my lady." With that I'm left alone inside my giant room.

The silence unnerves me and for some reason I feel as if there's another presence in the room. It could only be my imagination mixed with my worry, but strangely enough I only feel a different presence inside of me, not around me.

I swat the scary thought away and hurry to get changed. After I've chosen what to wear, I speed walk to find the double doors that lead outside. Once I do, I notice all of my servants lined up on either side of the doors, all bending over to bow.

"We wish you a safe journey, your majesty. Please, come back to us alive and healthy."

I hear their request and wonder if they practice their goodbye. I smile and nod my head at all of them as I head outside. I find Siva and the rest of my guardians waiting outside of the helicopter.

I haven't been acquainted with any of them, except Siva, so the ride to the Forest is nothing but awkward silence. I clench my hands into fists to stubbornly try to hold back my worry. "Rest easy, my lady. As long as your trusty guardians are around, there's nothing to worry about!" I turn my head and find my wardrobe designer trying to cheer me up.

I smile at him and his smirk widens after seeing mine. "That's the spirit!" His cheerful demeanor rids a bit of my worry and allows me to breathe easy during the ride. Once we arrive, I'm taken to Maleficent's throne.

"Your Majesty, my apologies for requesting your presence with such short notice." The refined guardian of the Forest speaks and her elegance intimates me. She rises from her throne and my guardians bow in response.

With every step she takes, her beauty only shines more. Once she comes face to face with me, I have to raise my head to look at her in the eyes.

"I, however, cannot apologize for my sudden leave from your banquet. Your Majesty, you're the youngest heir we've had in history, just knowing that a child possesses all this power..well, forgive my rudeness, but it shames me." Her deadly glare causes my body to tremble in her presence.

I want to yell at her, but honestly I can't. She's right about me. I'm a child, I shouldn't have all this power.

"I will obey every order you give me with blind loyalty, but unless you can prove that you control your powers, and not vise versa, you will never have my respect." With that, all my confidence shatters without a second thought.

I feel like crying and abusing my power over her, but my fear of her is far greater. I still tremble and lower my head in shame as she stares me down. "If that is what you ask of me, then as your queen it's my duty to exceed your expectations."

Even as I say these words, I still feel as if I'm saying them unconsciously. Maleficent continues to glare at my existence and she only sniffs at my response. "Never take on more than what you can handle, Your Majesty." Instead of fearing her anymore, her words only anger me. I clench my fists and my true colors begin to rise from their in-depth chains.

"If that is what you think of me, then I challenge you to a race! My wings verses yours, if I win you'll have no other choice but shake my hand and give me your respect!" Determination and ambition finally taking control of me, I challenge the guardian to prove my worth.

Maleficent only chuckles at my response as she sees my rage. "I hope your arrogance doesn't consume you, but enough with this small talk, I accept the challenge, Your Majesty." Her words, again drain all my confidence and I immediately regret my decision.

Maleficent walks back to her throne and dismisses our discussion. "My lady, are you sure of this?" My butler asks me and I can recognize the worry in his face. I nod my head solemnly and walk past my guardians. "As you wish." He only says those few words and instantly brings tears to my eyes.

Of course, I stubbornly hold them back as I try to get away from everyone. "How can he be so calm..? Doesn't he care what happens to me..?!" After I've found a nice spot outside to cry my eyes out, I begin to let my feelings spill from my mouth.

Stop crying. It's pathetic.

My head jerks upwards from my hands as I was using them to shield my face to cry comfortably. "Huh..?" Thinking I heard someone speak to me, I begin to panic as I realize no one is around.

Wiping my tears away and ignoring whatever I heard, I compose myself for the race I created. As I walk back to Maleficent's throne, I can't help but feel that strange feeling again that I felt back at my castle.

I find my way back and come to a sudden halt when I see my guardians speaking with Maleficent. Taking cover behind a tree, I listen intently to their words. "If the queen loses, you know what this means Siva." I see my butler bow before the winged guardian and watch his movements carefully.

"Please, don't separate yourself from The Kingdoms, Maleficent. Our queen is still a child, she doesn't understand the consequences of her actions." Hurt by the continuos distrust my butler has in me, I begin to shed more tears. "Yes, I believed so. I suppose even if she loses I'll still abide to The Kingdoms. Besides, children are quite selfish about their games anyway."

With those last words I storm away from them. My feet aren't in my control anymore and I end up running without thinking of where I am. I suddenly trip on a twig and slam into my face. I still manage to cry anyway.

What have I told you before? Fight against your tears!

Again, I jerk my head around to try to find that voice I keep hearing. "Wh..who are you?!" Out of fear and frustration, I end up yelling at the air around me.

Aren't you tired of having your guardians lack trust and encouragement in you?

Feeling like this voice is insanity, I cover my eyes and yell as hard as I can so I can no longer hear the voice.

Instead of watching them go against your back and trying to come up with a plan B, why don't you get off your ass and show them your more than just a child!

I eventually listen to the voice and consider what it's telling me. "I can't! I can't even control my powers!" I try to reason with the voice and prove my weaknesses.

If you only believe in the impossible, how do you expect to changes things around and make things possible?!

I jump off the ground and continue my running, hopelessly trying to see if I can run away from this issue too.

Don't you run away, YOU COWARD!

For some reason, being called by that word sparked something in me.

My heart began to pound aggressively in my chest as a response to being called a coward. With anger and pure hatred swelling up inside me, I clench my teeth and scream.

I suddenly began to slow my running and I eventually came to a halt. You couldn't imagine the embarrassment and rage I felt just by being called by that simple word.

I could feel my fear slipping away, I could feel my sadness slipping away, I could feel everyone slipping away. All that I actually cared about was my pride, my arrogance and my ambition.

That's right. Continue to feel this way and you'll never know defeat. Let these feelings steer you, but you have to learn how to control them because if you don't...they'll take control of you.

Out of know where, I could hear the worried cries of my guardians being called from a few meters away. As I drown out their concern, I race toward a direction Mother Nature is leading me through.

She takes me to a cliff hanging and I automatically understand why she brought me here. "So this is what has become of me..?" I can feel my guardians, and a few other guards, rush behind me and gasps once they see what I'm planning to do. "Now you're concerned for me.." I mutter as I feel Siva run up toward me.

His hand reaches for mine, but right before he makes contact, I fall off the ledge.

So many emotions drown my head. I don't know what to do with these thoughts, feelings and circumstances as I dive in the air.

Ever since I left my family, all I had left was Siva. When I met Jean, Elliot and Jinx I was overjoyed. For a moment I believed I had a family once again.

Too bad I was wrong.

They doubt me, they treat me like a child, they underestimate me. How comforting.

My body feels so light and thin as I feel air pound from behind. I've kept my hand reached out into the air and I've been staring unconsciously at the clear sky. My movements are as dead as my instincts.

Then memories of my normal life begin to flood my mind once again. The happy times I had and the loving moments I shared with them. All gone. Forever.

I might be a child, but that's doesn't give Maleficent the right to treat me as if I irresponsibly stole these abilities on purpose for the fun of it.

Then, it dawns on me that people like Maleficent will still come along and clash with my title. As I gain more and more power, more and more people will disapprove.

"B..but.." But I can't let them conquer me. Yes, I'm a child, I admit it, but I'm certainly not a failure.

"No..no..no..! I gained this power for a reason! This happened to me for a reason.. D..do you hear me.. "DO YOU HEAR ME?! I GAINED THIS POWER FOR A REASON!"

Anger, pride, arrogance, determination, competitiveness, ambition, my will, these components are driving me to a new person I never knew I was.

A queen.

"You won't take this away from me..! You won't take my power away..! You won't..! Do you hear me..",

I lose my temper and I let the beast within me take control.

"MALEFICENT!"

As my voice booms it echoes through the cliff. Then, madness possesses me and I feel power surge through my veins with unstoppable force.

Wings burst through my back as if they were daggers.

Horns sprout from my head with undeniable urgency and stand with elegance.

I whirl the wings around and spin in the air. I raise the wings and bring my body higher above the air, keeping myself from hitting the ground and facing death.

I feel the wind whistle in my ears as I pound on the air to bring myself back on the ledge. As I finally reach the ledge, I let the wings spin and expand at their maximum length.

For some reason they're bigger than Maleficent's.

"My lady?!" All my guardians yell as their eyes widen in horror. I can smell a copper scent in the air and I notice my entire body drenched in blood. I ignore the pain from madness and land on the ground to face my guardians.

"Don't ever leave my side. Don't ever second guess me again. Always give me your undeniable loyalty! THAT IS AN ORDER!"

Everyone stares at me in shock. They all try to comprehend what just happened, but I honestly ignore them as I fly to Maleficent's throne.

I find demons attacking her and realize my scent must have lured them out of hiding. I smile devilishly like I've never done before and race toward them.

I lower my head and stab a demon with my horns. I throw his body off Maleficent and stand before her with a glare that could kill. "If you decide to leave me, I will kill you. I don't care if you respect me or not, I just need results coming from you. Your concern for my power means nothing to me because your just an employee that I can easily replace."

I take another step toward Maleficent and shove her closer by grabbing hold of her collar. "Do I make myself clear?" I whisper, but my voice sounds as lethal as my eyes look, glowing a strange purple color too. Maleficent smiles and she nods her head slowly.

She stretches her hand and I grab hold of her palm, so she may shake it. "That's what I like to hear, Your Majesty." Her response explains her every motive and I piece together her puzzle.

She was testing me.

Even with the hordes of demons running toward me, and even with my blood soaked body, I still manage to grin with pure satisfaction.

"My lady?!" My guardians rush up to me and I glare at them. "From now on, only the four of you will call me Young Mistress! I will accept no other response coming from you all!"

If others will continue to disapprove of me because of my age, then I might as well accept it with honor.

~

"Young Mistress?"

After allowing boredom to devour me, I took refuge on a couch. My deep thinking almost prevents me from hearing a certain butler. I slowly remove my fist from supporting my head and hum a reply.

"Hm..?" I look over at Siva and see his hand over his chest. "You haven't eaten your dinner or had tea yet, are you feeling alright?" His worried expression amuses me and I lightly shake my head. "No, that isn't the case. I was merely resting my tired body."

Siva nods his head and reveals a tray he was holding behind his back with his other hand. "Would you care for Chamomile or Earl Grey, Young Mistress?" I point at the European tea and choose a cheese soufflé. As Siva prepares the Chamomile tea, I puncture the soufflé and pour cream into it.

"Oh? You like to pour cream into your soufflé?" Turning my gaze to the left, I find Evan walking down the stairs. Of course, I can sense Siva's disgust immediately, but I ignore it and casually talk with Evan. "It won't taste good if I don't." I answer with a bored expression on my face.

Siva finishes the tea I picked and hands the warm teacup toward me. I grabbed the cup and it's coaster. "Ah, you even prefer your tea sweet as well? I wish I could enjoy sweets as much as you, but unfortunately I dislike the taste."

Evan continues to watch my eating habits and begins a casual conversation. However, this only begins to annoy me.

"What do you want." After losing my patience, I snap at Evan, but my composure remains intact. Evan merely chuckles at my coldness. "I came to check on you." His response obviously reeks of lies and I scoff at his intentions.

"I have Siva for that, and as you can see, he's doing his job perfectly." I praise my loyal servant and notice him smile triumphantly towards Evan. His prideful glance causes me to shake my head with light joy.

Evan, of course doesn't seem thrilled about my response. "Your so cruel, my love. Why can't you ever humor me for just a moment." He begins to pout childishly and I can tell he's trying to win affection from me.

"Get used to it, I don't even baby my servants." Siva chuckles at my response and gazes at me as I sip my tea. "Quite, our Young Mistress is indeed cruel, but she's still thoughtful and caring. She just doesn't like to show it." After hearing Siva talk to me as if I was his daughter, I slightly blush and try to cover both my cheeks with one arm.

Evan notices my behavior and I can feel his glare toward Siva. Siva, however, rubs it in. "Oh shut it." I finish my tea and hand it back to Siva as I stand up from my seat. I begin to walk past Evan and hear a worried cry from Siva.

"Young Mistress, please don't leave. You haven't eaten dinner yet." Of course I stop mid-step on the stairs, but I quickly continue my walking. "I'm not hungry." I simply respond, but I can tell Siva isn't having any of it.

"Elizabeth, you haven't eaten all day. You've just had a cup of tea and half of a soufflé. This isn't a proper amount of food to suffice you all night." Shocked by the use of my first name, Evan sneers at Siva.

"What disrespect, you're merely a servant, you have no right to call your mistress by her name." He begins to insult my butler, but before they can go at it, I quickly walk down the stairs and stop them.

"Yes, you're right Evan, but Siva is my legal guardian too. If he has to put his foot down for the sake of my health and safety, then I must listen." Siva, this time, sneers at Evan and he immediately questions my methods. "Are you serious?" His rhetorical response annoys me and I scowl at him. "I have no other parent, he's all I have left. What do you expect? He's my guardian!"

Silence clings to the air and Evan stares in shock as he stares at Siva. However, Siva doesn't mock Evan again, he instead only gazes at me with his mouth open. His eyes are widen at their capacity and his actions cause a deeper blush to form on my face.

"Just hurry up and prepare dinner already. I love your cooking, so don't make me wait any longer!" Covering my face again with my arm, I can still notice Siva's warm smile and fatherly appearance. After he's regained his composure, he hurriedly prepares my dinner.

"Do you actually care that much for him?" As Siva left me alone with Evan, he began to bother me again with his questions. "Damn, why do care so much about that. Just let it go and leave me alone." After snapping at him again, I rush to leave but a strong hand clutches my wrist.

Losing my patience, I jerk my head around and prepare to punch Evan in his face, but his gaze unnerves me. "W..what are you doing?" I glare at him and a sad expression overcomes his face. "I can't. I can't leave you alone with him. I don't want you to just focus on him... I want you all to myself."

I want to scowl at his last words, but before I can Evan shoves me into a hug. I try to push him away, but his grip on me is too strong. "Don't go. Stay with me instead." For a second I think Evan is just trying to seduce me with his stupid demon habits, but his voice does sound genuinely truthful.

For some reason I can't control my body anymore. My arms move on their own and they return Evan's hug. My fingers seem to act on their own too as they desperately try to cling on Evan's suit. My heart ignores any command I give it and it continues to pound uncontrollably in my chest.

"Not this again." I murmur into Evan's warm chest and inhale his intoxicating aroma. I feel Evan chuckle and he buries his face into my shoulder. Feeling as if Evan could be using a demon trick to compel me to give in to him, I regain control and shove his body off me.

Out of shame, I lower my head and gaze at the floor as I point at him. "Don't ever do that again! If you use that spell again, I'll kill you right on the spot!" Baffled by my words, Evan only gawks at me. "What are you talking about?" His words are soft and I begin to question myself, but remembering my experience with him, I just storm away.

I walk into the kitchen, leaving a baffled demon behind, and look around for Siva. I eventually find him and he immediately brings my dinner. I eat and enjoy a light conversation with Siva. Once I had finished my meal, Siva allowed me to go for a walk.

The cold night air was so refreshing. Being around so many trees and plants increased my strength and enthusiasm. I felt like running wild and forgetting everything around me. I felt so alive.

I walked into a forest and rested my lazy body against a tree. It's power filled me with more energy. I felt so at peace with everything, there was possibly nothing that could interrupt my joy.

I, however, was wrong.

I heard rustling near by and saw something jump out of nowhere, it was nerve-wracking. It didn't feel human or seem like any animal I've seen on earth. It was a dog walking on its hind legs, but it had wings hanging off it's back and the noticeable scorpion tail wasn't helping my fear-sickened state.

It was a demon.

"How did you pass the Border Between Worlds?!" The demon merely smiles that sinister smile anyone would be scared of. I rise off the ground and place my body into a fighting stance to attack when the demon does.

He hasn't seen my face because of the tree blocking my appearance with its leaves. Taking advantage of this, I hurry to transform. The demon notices and hurries to pounce on me, but he's not quick enough and ends up getting impaled.

Using my power of frost, I create an arena for the demon and I to battle in peace without any distractions.

I fire remains of icicles at the foul beast and launch myself for another attack. This demon, however, isn't like the demons I've faced before. He's faster, stronger, and unfortunately smarter.

The demon swings my body around and throws me to the ground. Then runs up to me and digs his claws into my stomach. Blood squirts forcefully out of my mouth and the demon smiles as he licks it off my face.

Remembering that I haven't taken the potion that hides my scent, I'm too late to stop the demon from going on a wild feeding frenzy. The beast howls with satisfaction and bears his fangs to ready to dig them into my flesh.

Stubbornness taking over me, I power my body with immense power and hurl a blast of fire out of my mouth. It scorches the demon's face and he howls with pain. My dragon form takes over and I continue to hurl more fire at the demon.

He then skillfully uses his scorpion-like tail and moves around my flames to puncture my leg. It breaks the bone as it enters my flesh and I fall to my knees. The demon laughs in triumph as he races toward me again.

I force more power to surge through my veins and I can feel my eyes change color to their frightening shade of purple. I growl and let my body turn savagely into a werewolf. I extend my claws and fight the demon with hand-to-hand combat.

Even with my broken leg, I force my magic to keep the bones together in place momentarily.

Elizabeth, I'm at your capacity! Your body won't handle all of my power, you'll break every bone in your body at this rate!

Ignoring the warning, I force even more power into my fingers as I drive a claw into the demon's face. Eventually I carve out his eyes and dig my claws into his chest.

I use every ounce of energy I have left to pin the demon down with magical chains I conjured up. I ignore his thrashing and drive my claws through his chest. I expect him to die from this injury, but it doesn't even faze him.

He grins and uses his power to throw me off him. I'm shoved back to the ground and, as promised, I feel every bone inside my body shatter into pieces.

The pain? It was agonizingly horrible.

"AAAAAAHHHH!" The demon enjoys my cries of pain and happily runs up to me with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, as if a dog playing catch. My pain and disability to move allows the demon to sink his rows of sharp teeth into my chest.

Elizabeth! Summon me! Summon me, you idiot!

Unable to summon my magic, I lay on the floor and watch the demon ready to pull my heart out of my chest. Thinking this is the end, I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

But don't even think for a second I'm giving myself up to death.

Vines pull the demon off me and slam him against a tree, the tree caught him and ensnared him with its branches. After summoning the plants, I aggressively force magic into my hands and force the power to hold my bones into place, so I may walk up to the demon.

Hatred controlling me and encouraging every deadly thought spilling into my head, I gladly step in front of the demon. "Sleep tight." I grin devilishly at him and I notice a hint of fear. I smile even wider at this and summon a weapon from my vault.

If this demon won't die of bodily injuries, then I might as well use something specifically made for these types of situations.

I raise the Demon Sword high above my head and ready myself to lash at his body. "You dare kill me like this? Having your pathetic trees hold me down to make the killing easier? Such cowardice." The demon finally speaks and his words anger me and worsen my hatred.

"Demons never play fair, what makes you think I will?" I answer him as I keep the sword above my head. He scoffs at me and shakes his head. "You are not a true leader! You're a disgrace to your race!" I smile after I heard that little remark.

"No, I'm just about to kill a sore loser. I have an army and you don't, deal with it!" After ignoring the manipulation the demon tries to use against me, I laugh at it and end his life. I dig the sword deep into his head and enjoy the spasms the demon has before dying.

"A true leader always asks for help when they need it." I scoff at the demon and nod my head at the trees as I remove the sword from the demon's body. The trees bow down and I rest my hand on their bark.

"Please, just heal me instead."

I fall to my knees as a tree catches me before falling on the ground. I can feel large amounts of energy being pumped into my body and realize, this tree is giving up its life to save me.

I wince, regretting my request, and try to stop the tree, but it stubbornly continues to heal me. Even with the little strength I have left, I'm unable to stop the tree and then it soon begins to rot. After finally letting me go, I hurriedly see if I can save the tree.

Unfortunately I'm already too late.

I cover my mouth and muffle my screams of despair. Tears flood my eyes and descend from them like harsh waterfalls. I bend over and hug the fallen tree as I howl in misery. In the corner of my eye, I can see a figure running toward me, but too distracted by the tree's death, I merely ignore the possible threat.

"My love!" Just by hearing those few words, anger and hatred flood my mind again. My crying and yelling stop the instant I feel Evan's presence.

I keep my body motionless as I continue to lay over the dead tree. Evan stares with wide eyes as he stares at the fallen demon and the sword that lies beside me. "Are you hurt?!" He hurries to my side and lays next to me, wondering what's going on.

"Your kind did this?! I was just taking a walk and then that demon attacked me! I was gravely injured after I killed him, so this tree gave up its life to save mine..!" After saying those last words I begin to tremble from pure hatred again. I angrily grab the Demon Sword and dismiss it back to my vault.

"My love..I'm sorry, I could feel your injuries through your marking, but I couldn't come in time-" I yell with furry and cut Evan off mid-sentence. "Quiet! I don't want to hear your excuses!" I scream at Evan and try my hardest to hold back tears.

"Elizabeth.." I can sense Evan's hand reaching to touch my skin and out of disgust I recoil my body from him. "As my slave, I will only accept 'master' coming from you! AND AS YOUR MASTER I FORBID YOU FROM EVER TOUCHING ME AGAIN!" Evan flinched when he heard my cold response and his eyes widened with noticeable sorrow.

I slowly rise from the ground and help Mother Nature decompose the tree, giving the tree dignity from its death, I carve my royal marking on its bark as a sign of gratefulness.

"Let's go." I walk past the shocked demon and march back to the twins' mansion. Evan hurries behind and I reach the mansion within minutes.

"Everyone get down here now!" Wasting no more time, I impatiently call everyone to the living room. As expected everyone comes rushing down within seconds.

"Young Mistress, what's wrong?" My staff come rushing down and Jean hurries to stand between Evan and I. "Why is he already here?" Jean begins his complaining of the demon, but I shake my head at his question.

"Enough! We have a serious issue." I grab everyone's attention and they all remain silent. "A demon attacked me, but he wasn't your usual run of the mill idiot. He was extremely powerful than most, that much I can say, but what concerns me is that he was able to pass the Border Between Worlds."

Ava, Noah and Ashja stare at me with confusion. They look between themselves and see if anyone can comprehend what I mean. However, my staff and apprentice realize the grave danger.

"That's impossible! That magic is ancient! There's no way any of those modern demons could figure out how to pass through the gate!" Jinx yells from denial, but I shake my head and dismiss his confidence of the gate. "If your right Young Mistress, then I'm sure more are following right behind him." Elliot reads my mind and says the bad news for me.

"But..how?" Alexander finally asks the question we're all dreading, but my human recruits interrupt the grim realization. "Wait! What's this 'Border Between Worlds'?" Noah is the first to speak for the rest of his human pals and I bring my attention to them.

"The Border Between Worlds is an ancient barrier we refer to as a 'gate' because it acts similarly like one. It has stood since the beginning of civilizations, probably longer, anyway it separates worlds and, unless with permission, prevents anyone from crossing."

All my human friends just stare confusingly at me, until Ava speaks up. "Okay, so the name says it all, but what do you mean by permission?" I nod my head and answer their question a bit more accurately. "I'm connected to the gate by blood, but as the Protector I need to fulfill the requirements of a guard dog when I allow a crossing."

Ava and the others nod their heads to my explanation. After clearing the confusion, I continue with the grave happenings. "Young Mistress?" I turn my gaze and find Siva walking toward me.

"I believe we all know Connor J. Smith is behind these crossings."

Siva says what I've thought ever since I fought that demon. "Yes." I answer and everyone nods understandingly as they believe I'm right. "What does this mean?" I hear Alexander's worried question and I make sure he doesn't see my worry.

"This means war."