When Ezra awoke she looked around to see she had been placed in a room. Her small frame looked as if she was drowning in the large bed. Trying to recall what happened she remembered being ripped away from her mother. With no clue where her mother was tears began to well up in her eyes.

She'd always had her mother to comfort her. But as she sat in the room alone she felt terrified. The room was extravagant something she wasn't used to at all. Wiping her tears she took a deep breath.

If she wanted to get out of here and find her mother she needed to be brave. She slowly stepped down from the large bed. Her pale barefoot feet touched the cold ground. A slight draft of cold air made her shiver when she looked to her right to see a window open.

She ran to window her small feet padding against the floor. She looked out to see the wide span of trees. She could see the wall that divided both nations. Looking down she saw a large fountain, escaping through the window was no longer an option.

With a sigh she moved back inside her shoulders drooping in sadness. "Tell me what's with the long face" a deep voice said. Ezra froze not expecting someone to come in. She turned facing a tall man. He was dressed in a navy blue suit, his eyes were golden in color. His brown hair swept back away from his face.

His face held a grin as he sat in one of the armchairs. She gulped clutching her dirty dress in her hands. "Who...who are y-you" she stuttered suddenly feeling anxious.

"Who do you think I am my dear child" he said softly. His voice was deep and he stared hard at the young girl. She definitely was his child, it wasn't hard to see just how much she resembled him. Although when Nora had said she gave birth to his child he was expecting a son.

But that would someday happen. He was happily married and his wife was expecting there first child together. "Are y-you m-my f-father" the girl asked seeming frightened. She had her mother's eyes and her long dark hair.

"Yes my dear child. I am your father, you must be starving" with a snap of his fingers a maid came in with a tray of food. She set everything in front of the girl and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her.

Ezra stood staring at the food. Her stomach rumbling from the mere smell. When they arrived at the wall that divided both nations the guards had confiscated everything they had.

"You can eat. Once you are finished a maid will help you get ready. Come downstairs when you are finished". He got up to leave the room leaving a stunned Ezra. She made her way to the tray of food and she devoured it in a matter of minutes.

She finished it off with a tall glass of creamy milk. Feeling full she sat down in the chair in front of the bed rubbing her tummy. She felt instant guilt, she felt she had been wasting time instead of finding her mother.

Just then there was a knock on the door and a maid entered. "My name is Cleo I will be helping you get ready" she said setting the items in her had down. True to her word she helped her get ready by giving her a bath and some clean clothes.

After an hour of being washed vigorously she was finally ready. She now wore a baby blue dress. Her dark hair was piled neatly on top of her head. The blue dress made her vibrant green eyes pop more than ever before.

"Your father wants you downstairs" the maid informed her. Following the maid out of the room and down stairs the mansion was truly magnificent. Up until now Ezra had never lived in a real house. Her last home had been old and rusty but despite it all it was still her home.

Her footsteps could be heard as she followed the maid. They soon entered a large office where her father sat at a desk. With one last bow the maid left leaving Ezra to face the man who claimed to be her father alone.

"Have a seat. You can sit anywhere you'd like" he said pointing at any of chairs around the table. Still feeling a bit hesitant Ezra took any seat, her father sat at the head of the table.

A warm bowl of soup was placed in front of her alongside with some bread."I wasn't sure if you were still hungry so I had them prepare some soup just in case" he said with a small grin. Not wanting the soup to go to waste she picked up a spoon and started eating.

The soup was creamy and delicious. She broke up pieces of her bread dipping it into her soup. It sure was the best soup she had ever tasted well second best. Her mother made the best chicken soup.

The thought of her mother suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts. "When can I see my mother"? She asked her voice sounding hopeful. Hours had passed since she had seen her mother and she was eager to make sure she was alright.

"You will see her tomorrow. Do not worry my child I will make sure you see her" he said trying to ease her worry. Truth was she wouldn't remember today at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the dungeons...

Nora sat on the dirty cold ground of the cell. The bars were rusted and old and the faint smell of death wafted in the air. There was little light coming through and she could barely make anything out in the dark.

Her stomach began to growl ferociously as she was not sure how many hours had past. She longed for a hot meal and to see her daughter. There was this ongoing fear in her heart and the only thing she could do was pray.

She hoped her daughter was okay. A part of her felt guilty for not trying harder. She had once again been separated from her daughter. She wiped her dirty covered hands against her face. Her tears hadn't stopped since she was thrown away like some rabid animal.

Sudden footsteps could be heard. Instantly being alert she pulled herself up from the ground. She reeked of a foul smell as she hadn't had a shower in days.

Suddenly he appeared. Her once upon time lover. He changed so much over the years, a part of her heart ached over what they could have been. "What will it take for you to leave" he sneered through the bars.

"Give me my daughter and we will leave immediately" she answered, her voice sounding strong. His eyes golden eyes glanced over her body. He felt his heart lurch at the sight of her, he knew that no matter how much she had angered him a part of him loved her.

"I will not allow you to take the future heir of this nation captive" he snapped. This infuriated Nora as she clenched her hands into fists.

"And what if she isn't what you were hoping for. You don't even know if she possesses the power of a Pyrokinesis" Nora answered back with a smug look.

"Her power is dormant for now. Once she turns sixteen only then will we truly know of her ability" he said watching as her face turned into pure rage.

"Steven I will not allow you to take her from me! I have raised her on my own while you did nothing! I reached out to you so many times and not once did I hear from you! You only care about your stupid bloodline! I will not allow my daughter to be judged by your people"! Nora bared her teeth her hands trembling.

"Are you finished with your tantrum? Honestly you think I care what you think? No, now that she is here she will be under my care. I will give her the life she deserves, you cannot provide her with a fulfilling life. I do appreciate you looking after her but I will take it from here" he said with finality.

"She won't stay with you! I've been with her since she was a young girl! She will want to see me, you cannot banish me from seeing my child"! Her body trembled with anger and she wanted nothing more than to tear him to shreds.

"You seem to forget my capabilities. Unfortunately she will not remember who you are. My wife will fill your role oh and you have no choice but to leave this place. Or else I might have to kill you". With a wave of his hand he backed away from the cell with a grin.

"YOU CANT DO THIS! I WILL COME BACK AND WHEN I DO IM TAKING MY DAUGHTER WITH ME! DO YOU HEAR ME"?!

Nora's cries went unheard as she was left alone once again. That night she cried harder than she ever had. Tomorrow she would be forced to leave her daughter behind.

But the worse part of it all was she would never remember her....