In the hours before dawn Scurvy left Laela's to make his morning rounds. That meant going into town and pretending to chase cats while collecting information from unwitting villagers who didn't know any better, but today he had a different agenda. He was headed to the Gamgee farm to check up on the blue girl that Laela's impromptu house guests were so worried about. They were all okay kids he thought, well, maybe except for that Denny.

He wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into that claude's juicy skin. He had the gall to insult him in front of everyone. If Laela hadn't stopped him he would have. He ran through the woods that surrounded the Gamgee farm. He saw something curious as he approached the barn. He didn't make his presence known as he heard voices coming from inside.

"Ethan, what are you doing here so early?" It was Amelia's voice he heard. He looked inside to see the elder Gamgee girl.

"I've come to warn you," Ethan said. Judge Oakley knows about your little house guest.

"Jenny, but how did he...?" Amelia started to say but was cut off abruptly.

"Some gentleman, and I use the term loosely calls himself Charles Watkins. If that us his real name. Apparently he knows her and the other strangers."

"Other strangers? Then what she said was true. There are others, like her."

"Yes, but they can blend. She can't, and you know what will happen if Judge Oakley sends out a passé and finds her here." Amelia suddenly wore a look of fright and could not speak. "He'll execute your entire family."

"Don't say that, Ethan," Amelia practically shouted.

"Then I suggest getting that girl as far away from here as possible. When she is caught, and she will be caught, there will be dire consequences for anyone who is found aiding her."

"I know that, but father will not listen, and neither will mother. They have his idea of right and wrong that opposes the world view. They think they can live outside the confines of society, but they cannot. They just don't see it. They do everything they can to set themselves apart instead of fitting in. Don't get me wrong, Ethan. I love them dearly, but their views I fear will get them killed someday."

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Amelia, or your family. I just came here to warn you. Don't let that abomination be your undoing."

"I'll do what I can," Amelia said as Ethan embraced her. She didn't want to use her power on him, but she had no choice. "But if it comes to the worst what will you do?" She then looked into his eyes, her own blue eyes turning into a soft yellow. "Tell me."

"You come first, my sweet Amelia. I would do anything for you. I would die for you."

"That's right," Amelia said. "Now, go back and tell Judge Oakley that he was mistaken. Jenny Wilson, the blue stranger, is not here and never was. There is no blue girl. It was all a fable to send him on some wild goose chase."

"Of course, none of it is real," Ethan said in a dream-like voice. "The only thing that is real is you."

"Now, go back and tell him," she said and leaned in to kiss him. He succumbed to her touch wrapping his arms around her. After a minute or so he let go and walked out of the barn. His movements were steady and with purpose as he made it back to his horse and road off without looking back.

Scurvy ran off before Amelia could spot him. He would have to make his way back to Laela's to inform the others.

Amelia looked on as Ethan road off. Part of her hated that fact that she had to manipulate him but it had to be done to save her family. She was caught up in her own thoughts when she heard a slight noise coming from inside the barn. She shot back to reality and saw movement in the hayloft.

"You might as well come out," she called up at whatever creature was spying on her.

Her manipulations were not exclusive to human but animals too. Suddenly she saw a cloaked figure coming down the latter. There were small fine sticks of hay clinging to the fabric of the cloak. She recognized it as her sister Sophie's. That little brat was always snooping in on her. She would teach her a lesson this time.

"Alright, little worm, what did you hear?" Amelia said as she approached.

The cloaked figure turned around and dropped the hood of the cloak. Amelia looked on in astonishment.

The red eyes of the blue-skinned girl who stood before her didn't seem at all intimidating. That was confused her the most. On the surface this girls looked evil, much like a demon. That's how the world would see her, but that was something sweet and tender about her. She was in fact four inches shorter than her and very skinny. She wanted to hate her, and she loathed the fact that she didn't.

"Everything," the girl said.

"Well, then, I'll just have to make you forget, little demon," Amelia said boring her eyes into the girl's.

"The name is Jenny," the girl said in more forceful voice.

"Fine then, Jenny," Amelia said sarcastically." She focused her eyes on Jenny and spoke slowly. Jenny didn't once look away. "You came into the barn to feed the horses, then left to get some fresh water. Nothing unusual happened. No one was here, just the horses and a few chickens."

"You're mistaken," the Jenny said without even flinching. "I saw what you did, and your power has no effect on me."

Before Jenny could react Amelia grabbed her and spun her around, but she soon landed on the ground on her back. Jenny just stood there staring down at her. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"Basic self-defense," she said. "In my time women aren't so helpless." Jenny held out a hand to help Amelia off the ground.

Amelia pushed her hand away with a disgusted look on her face. "I can get up on my own, demon."

"I said my name is Jenny," the blue girl said disgusted with Amelia's behavior. After Amelia was on her feet Jenny tried coming towards her but she backed up trying to put as much distance between herself and girl called Jenny. "Why do you hate me?"

"I don't, I'm just..."

"Scared," Jenny finished the sentence for her. "That's okay. I lot of people are scared of me. I don't look like other people."

"That is more than true, and that's why you should leave. You put my family in danger. Village authorities find you hear they will burn you."

"I'm not afraid..."

"And my family," Amelia said, abruptly interrupting Jenny. I sullen look came to her face knowing that Amelia was right. "If you have any decency in you, any humanity you would leave here right now, before there's trouble." Jenny just stood there silent. "Choice is yours." With that, Amelia exited the barn leaving

Jenny alone with her thoughts.

She knew what she had to do even if it meant her demise.

To be Continued...

Jenny is going to get into some real trouble. Find out just how much next time.