Isabel had always been an odd child, she preferred to be alone and when she occasionally would join in with children her age (due to her Mother's constant pushing) it felt silly to her. Isabel never liked playing with dolls either which set her even farther apart from the other girls though Isabel never seemed to notice.

"Darling, what are you doing?" her Mother asked, sitting down next to the little girl on the couch.

 Isabel's chubby little fingers flicked through the pages of an old grimoire, her already striking green eyes hungrily drinking in the spells. At only the age of nine, she already had the power of the average eighteen year old in the coven.

"I'm reading, Mother," Isabel replied, not looking up from the book.

"I hear you were invited to Alexei's birthday party tomorrow, what are you going to wear?" her Mother asked, trying to relate with her daughter. The two were either always fighting or simply ignoring each other.

"I'm not going," Isabel finally replied when her Mother took the grimoire out of her small hands, placing it on the table.

"Yes, you are. I will not have the other Mother's thinking that I have some freak daughter," Isabel's Mother snapped at her, quickly losing her patience.

"I don't have time for such frivolous things, perhaps you can take my place," Isabel snapped back, grabbing her book and leaving the room.

"You are an ungrateful little bit-," her mother's yells cut off by Isabel slamming the door to the library.

_____

When Isabel reached sixteen every young gentleman wished to have her affection, any where from the age of the thirteen to thirty men attempted to capture her attention. Young women were jealous of her as well, doing anything to diminish her reputation.

"Isabel, so glad you could make it," Alexei falsely kissed Isabel's cheek, Isabel's Mother adoringly looking at Alexei. Isabel's Mother had always said "Alexei was the daughter I never had" and coincidentally Alexei was engaged to Jason.

"It's my pleasure, happy eighteenth birthday," Isabel said to the brunette before leaving Alexei and her Mother to gossip. Isabel was relieved when she spotted Jason standing with their friend, George.

"Thank the heavens, I was worried I might have to talk to Mother and Alexei," Isabel sighed in relief when she reached the two, snatching George's alcohol from his hands.

"Please help yourself," George stated sarcastically as he watched the blonde gulp the alcohol in one swift motion.

"Darling, I always do," Isabel taunted, lightly batting George's shoulder. 

George was a young man, four years older than Isabel just like Jason. Jason and George were the most admired young men in the town, they were both rich, attractive and well educated. Therefore every young girls hopes for a husband.

"Look at her," Jason said, looking over at his fiance with a tinge of disgust in his voice.  Alexei grinned at Jason, lifting her hand and waving at him which Jason mockingly returned.

"The expression your legs are only as loose as your lips perfectly captures her," George scoffed as well, plucking another flute of champagne off a trey that a waiter was holding.

"I don't love her and I don't want to marry her," Jason sighed with a disappointed tone. 

Alexei was pleased with the arrangement because her family was the second most wealthy to the Sterling's, she was marrying up while her sisters had all married down.

"Jason, love has nothing to do with marriage. At least not for us," Isabel agreed with a sigh, placing a hand on her brothers arm who meekly smiled.

_____

All of Isabel's life tight restraints had been placed around her wrists and ankles, no matter how much she struggled she couldn't break free. On Isabel's nineteenth birthday she decided that she would stop fighting, she would do what was expected.

She would get engaged, married, and have several children. Isabel would gossip but always remain composed, always look impeccable and have smart, respectable children.

Just since her eighteenth birthday Isabel had received over four engagement proposals, needless to say she had turned down all of them. Most girls by eighteen were either engaged or going steady with someone.

Isabel had gone steady with two different boys for about six months each, both were nice and admired her but neither challenged her. They were easily manipulated, narrow minded and expected her to be an opinion less girl who pumped out their dreadful children as fast as she could.

Isabel as always when she woke up, got dressed for the day and then went to have breakfast with her Mother and brother.

Isabel was surprised on this morning to see her Mother, Jason, George and his parents. Isabel smiled a polite smile as she took a seat down at the table.

"I had no idea we were expecting company. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, how do you do?" Isabel politely greeted them, taking her place at the table.

"Isabel, sit. We need to talk," Mr. Maddox said in his usual commanding tone, though everyone knew that he was a kind man much like George.

"Is everything alright?" Isabel cautiously asked, looking at Jason in concern who had his eyes downcast.

"Isabel, you are nineteen years old and yet to have a beau or engagement. We have all decided that you and George are the be engaged," Isabel's Mother said, her tone practically bursting with glee.

"How lovely," Isabel breathed out, though she felt as if she were suffocating.

"Here is your ring, we will discuss the ceremony over breakfast," Mrs. Maddox said in an excited tone, sliding a little black box towards Isabel.

"Put it on," Mr. Maddox urged, his eyes shining happily. He had always liked Isabel and was pleased that he would have her as a daughter in-law.

Slowly Isabel took the diamond ring from the box and slid it onto her ring finger, a fake smile placed on her face. Isabel made eye contact with George who looked how she felt, sick and scared.

Isabel offered a sad smile to George who simply looked back at his plate, then they both sat through a miserably long breakfast that tasted like sand-paper.

It looked as if Isabel had traded in her restraints for a diamond ring.

_____

Hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know in the comments if you liked the flashback if so I will do some more! If you like the flashbacks what would you like so see! Needless to say the italics are flashbacks! Vote, comment, follow and all that jazz!

As always thank you for reading! :)