.˜"*°• L I T T L E M O N S T E R •°*"˜.

Missy frowned as she entered the bustling palace ballroom, the sounds of classical music and glass clinking together filling her ears. The ceilings were tall and intimidating, a golden chandelier in the centre screaming a sense of elegance that Missy was most definitely not used too. People sat around the circular, white-clothed tables, sharing conversation and drinking champagne from crystal glasses whilst others danced in pairs upon the open-spaced dance floor. She turned on her heel, ready to walk back out and go straight home, but to her disappointment she crashed straight into two of her brothers.

"No you don't," Cassius grumbled, turning her around and giving her a little push.

Hades smirked, appearing on the other side of her. "If we can't escape this then neither can you".

Missy pursed her lips. "Hello, Hades".

"Hello baby sister," Hades grinned wickedly, his short brown hair spiked upwards with just a couple of pieces floating in front of his face. "Long time no see".

Now that Missy thought about it, she hadn't seen neither Hades nor Circe in a little over six months. They were the only siblings that hadn't chosen to join the Scouting Regiment.

"Cassius told me about your little victory against Captain Levi," Hades continued, draping an arm around her shoulder. "Haven't you grown".

Missy's eyes shifted to Cassius, who just shrugged in response.

"I must say, you even look more like a woman now," Hades continued. "And less like a scrawny little boy".

Missy shrugged his arm from her shoulder before taking a step away from the pair. "I see you're still exactly the same".

"Of course I am," Hades grinned again, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why change when I'm already the definition of perfect?".

She bit back a scoff as she turned on her heel and marched away, entering the thick of the palace ballroom. That week had flown by in what felt like a single breath. She had spent the week training with her new squad, and she had to admit that it felt much like being back in the cadet core with Levi barking instructions at her. She ignored the dull ache of her muscles as she strode further into the great hall.

She took a casual glance back, to see Hades and Cassius still stood in their spot, now deep in conversation. It was strange for Missy to watch her siblings interact, if anything the eight of them did everything in their power to stay out of each others way. Hades had always been different though. Out of all eight Rhydduch children, Hades had been the only one to successfully defy an order from their father. It didn't work all the time, but it was still a growing reminder to Alec that his power over his son was slipping through his fingers the more as time went on. Of course, Alec being Alec, he wouldn't stand for such a thing, so he made sure Hades paid for his defiance in the worst ways possible. The white scars that littered the boys body were the reminders of how close he was to finally snapping that tether and being free from Alec's wrath. Missy believed that one day Hades would do it. He may be a stuck up, cocky little bastard, but it was his don't-give-a-fuck attitude and his rock hard stubbornness that would finally cut the cord.

Missy's mouth twitched up slightly at the thought. Hades may be a headache, but his fierce protectiveness had saved her ass countless times growing up in their household. Beneath Hades' bad boy exterior, he had a big heart. He had shown time and time again that it didn't matter to him how distant the siblings were from each other, he would always stand between them and his father. Especially his sisters.

Hades just might be the most human out of them all.

Missy caught sight of her reflection in the polished marble walls of the ballroom, lifting a hand to tuck a lock of curled hair behind her ear. Historia had curled her entire head of hair, plaiting a couple of small braids to blend into the curls. Her lips were painted the same shade of red as her dress, her smoky eye shadow and black winged eyeliner making the silver in her blue eyes pop. She was pleased with her appearance. She hadn't ever dressed like this before, but she found herself loving the confidence being in a dress gave her. It was true what Hades had said, she was no longer a scrawny little thing, she was a beautiful woman, curved in all the right places. Her red, satin dress clutched at her body like a second skin, earning more than just a few glances from men and women around the room.

She took a glass of champagne from one of the server's trays as they passed, sipping the bubbly liquid tentatively. She ignored the burn in her throat as she swallowed, allowing the drink to wash away the nerves that had been building over the past week in anticipation of this event. She scanned the ballroom, noting that there had to be at least two hundred other people here, and the majority seemed to be high class citizens of Sina. A wave of insecurity washed over her, feeling extremely out of place in this room of rich aristocrats. She sipped from the crystal glass again, wishing more than anything that Mikasa hadn't been whisked away to speak with the Commander of the Military Police.

"I'd recognize that hair color anywhere".

Her head whipped around to find the source of the voice, almost dropping her champagne glass as she came face-to face with the new King. Her eyes widened a fraction as she gave a soft curtsy.

"Your Majesty," She replied, straightening herself up again. "It's an honor to meet you".

Thomas gave a soft smile, waving a hand dismissively at her formal tone. "Call me Thomas, such formality is unnecessary".

Missy nodded politely, her eyes grazing the beautiful auburn shade of the mans hair. She hadn't expected the new King to be so youthful. He looked barely five years older than herself, and Missy certainly didn't think she would be able to run an entire Kingdom at this age.

"I'm sorry about your father," The words left her lips before she could stop it, but Thomas just gave her another soft smile and held an arm out to her.

She took it, letting him guide her across the marble floor.

"My father was a kind man," Thomas said with a breathy sigh, before gesturing to the bustling hall with his free hand. "He loved this Kingdom, and the people in it. He would have done anything to keep the people of Paradis safe from harm. I wish to continue in his steps and become a King as great as he was".

Missy nodded, a frown settled on her face. "I'm sure you'll do your father proud".

A comfortable bout of silence passed between them as they floated through the hall. Missy turned her head, studying the way his golden eyes sparkled with feeling.

"You said you recognized me by my hair," She whispered, curling a lock of brown hair around her finger. "But it's just brown. What makes it so recognizable?".

The King let out a soft chuckle, halting his steps before turning to her and reaching out to take a lock of her hair in his hand. "It's difficult to explain. You Rhydduch's have such common features, yet so unique at the same time. Your hair has this cherry red undertone that is very visible under the light of the ballroom," He let go of her hair, shifting his gaze to her eyes. "And your eyes all have this beautiful swirl of silver laced within the navy blue. It's a truly devastating beauty".

Missy felt her cheeks heat up as she cleared her throat awkwardly. She wasn't used to compliments, especially not from the King of Paradis.

She was pulled away from her thoughts as someone cleared their throat loudly from behind her.

"Artemis".

Missy's blood ran cold at the sound of that deep, guttural voice. She turned around slowly to see her father stood in a white dress shirt and black pants, his tie loosened around his neck.

"Sir," Missy said quietly, frozen to her spot on the ground with the King's arm still looped through hers delicately.

"I hope you were planning to come and greet your old man at some point tonight," Alec spoke, his voice filled with dark amusement as he tilted his head to the side slightly.

"Of course she was," Thomas replied with a smile, letting go of her arm and motioning for her to join her father. "I'm afraid I was holding her hostage, but please, enjoy the rest of your evening".

Missy swallowed thickly, trying to keep her hands from trembling as she tightened her hold around the glass of champagne. Her father bowed his head to the King, before turning on his heel and marching off, his limp evident in every step. She followed behind him, her small frame absolutely swallowed by the shadow of his broad, muscular build.

He halted his footsteps just before the doors of the balcony, turning around to glare down at her. "It seems like forever since I've seen you".

Missy kept her head down, her eyes pinned to his dress shoes. Even after so much time apart, she quickly snapped back into old habits. She had been trained like a damn dog.

"I heard that you're first mission as a Scout was successful," He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Although I can't deny I was rather disappointed when you decided to join them instead of the Military Police".

Missy swallowed thickly. The last thing she wanted to talk to her father about was the mission. It may have been a success, but at what cost?

"I also heard that you've been put on the Special Operations Squad," He said, still glaring down at the top of her down-turned head. "I trust you're playing nice with Captain Levi?".

"Yes, Sir," Missy whispered.

"He clearly see's something in you that the rest of us do not," Her father muttered, tearing his eyes away from her to scan the ballroom. "I certainly wouldn't have said that you deserved to be part of that squad. Not over your brothers".

Missy remained silent as she processed his insult, her fingers tightening around the glass in her hand slightly. Being here alone with him was bad. She needed to find an excuse to leave, but she knew he wouldn't accept it. This would likely be the last chance he had in a while to make her feel small and useless, and he would by no means give up that opportunity.

"Except Apollo of course," The man spat hatefully, his features hardening. "Third place in the cadet core, what a disappointment. It was a waste of time me even bothering to train the pathetic little rat".

Missy's jaw tightened, yet she remained quiet. She didn't particularly enjoy being around Apollo, but she wouldn't agree that he was a bad soldier. He was fast, smart and determined. He just lacked confidence, but what could you expect when he was raised by a father as cruel as Alec.

"You were rather sneaky, leaving with him in the middle of the night like that".

There it was. That's what Missy had been afraid of from the moment she realized her father would be at this celebration.

"If I'd have been home I would have set the dogs after you," He said, his voice dangerously calm. "If you had managed to even make it past the front door".

The underlying threat in his tone made goosebumps erupt on the surface of Missy's skin. Her teeth ached where her jaw remained clenched, biting down to stop herself from letting her emotions show on her face. Her eyes widened as Alec reached forward and grasped her upper arm in an iron grip, pulling her forward harshly.

"Raise your head and look at me," He seethed, to which Missy immediately obeyed.

She couldn't help but flinch at the fire in his eyes. The pure, agonizing hatred that reflected back to her as she watched the silver swirls within blue pin her to her spot.

"You are a selfish, useless, horrible little girl," Alec spat, his teeth baring as he made sure each syllable of his hateful words were felt deep within Missy's bones. "You do not deserve to be recognized for your insignificant efforts. You do not deserve to be part of that little sewer rats squad. I gave everything to train you into the little machine you have become, yet you show no appreciation for any of it. I should have let the scum of Hordway have their way with you, girl".

"I do hope that I'm not disturbing this father-daughter reunion".