I tossed and turned for hours in my bed. The cold wind whipped at my hair as if mocking me for my lack of sleep. I let out a frustrated moan and rolled out of my bed, giving in to the temptation and pulling on my boots, not even caring about how I looked as I climbed onto my window sill and jumped lightly onto the nearby tree, walking down it with expert balance. I had done this countless times whenever there was a problem at home, I just had to get away.

I counted the blocks, turns, and street lamps as I finally arrived at Kalinier's house. His was a lot better looking than mine. Marble columns, iron railings, painted doors, and a garden full of greenery. The only thing a rich family was missing was a nice, innocent rich son, which was never going to happen. I moaned, rethinking about my plan.

"You can do this, Raila. Sprint over to the large plant for cover, climb over the gate, walk on the rocks so I don't leave footprints, and climb into Kalinier's open window." He always left it open for me. The first time I had come running over was when Mother destroyed the house from anger when she had lost her only job. He had kept it open since. "Incase you need a shoulder to cry on" was how he put it. I snorted and dashed towards the plant, climbed ever so gracefully over the manor gates, walked slowly on the rocky path, and finally climbing up to his room. I slung myself through the window and stalked over to his sleeping form, suppressing a laugh at the way his head was buried in his pillows, nullifying his snores.

"Kalinier?" I whispered, nudging his shoulder. He harrumphed and groggily opened his eyes. I stood there stunned into awe for a minute, admiring the way his green eyes glowed in the dark, but then they narrowed in annoyance and he sat up.

"Family problems again, Rai?" He asked in a hushed tone. I sat down and leaned my head on his shoulder, feeling his arms wrap around me in an embrace as I cried silently into his chest.

"Yeah."

"Don't let 'em get to you, they'll still be your family in the end, there's nothing you can do about it. Trust me on that." He snickered and placed a gentle kiss on my head. I sat there silently, Kalinier doing the same, rubbing my back and singing quietly. I assumed he didn't know what to even say, nothing could make me feel better anyways.

After about five minutes of silence, I slid off the bed and smiled at Kalinier before stalking towards the open window, feeling the wind wrap around me comfortingly now. As I reached a hand out to grasp the frame, Kalinier's hand shot out and he pulled me to his chest. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him as his other hand snaked around my waist. I stared at the bright green eyes that looked at me as if I were the only thing in the world. I could feel his heart thundering in his chest as he opened his mouth, but I interrupted.

"Kal?"

He broke out of the trance and suddenly avoided my eyes, letting me go and awkwardly coughing. Both of our cheeks flushed red and the next thing I knew, my hands were cupping his face. What? I smiled shyly and kissed him on the cheek, turning around without a backwards glance before lightly jumping down and running back the way I had come.

. . . 

The next day, I lay in bed confused. Had Kalinier been about to kiss me? No, he wouldn't do that, my brain thought. Would he? I smiled and blushed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Raila," I told myself, "are you falling for Kalinier Kronixian?" Maybe. I grinned as my heart sped up just thinking about him.

"Raila, get down here now!" My mother suddenly shouted. I groaned and rolled out of the bed, well this couldn't be good. I closed the door behind me and walked down the scratched stairs sleepily.

"What time is it?"

"Time for you to get up." She snapped. It was then that I noticed the pile of papers on the dining table, already signed by both of my parents apparently. Oh god...

"Are those...?"

"The forms for your Beckoning? Yes, and you will be doing it."

"But I'm not twenty yet."

She rolled her eyes, "You will be twenty on the day it takes place."

"But--Mother--I don't want to do it."

Mother's leash snapped, "do you think I had a choice, Raila?! If you have a power it could change our entire lives!"

"No, it would change my life, because I would have a gods damn power!"

"You will sign those forms or you can kiss this house goodbye." Did she just threaten to kick me out?

"I'll think about it." I turned on my heel to walk back upstairs, but the steps suddenly became slippery and I slid down them with a shout of panic.

"Raila," my father said comfortingly, appearing out of nowhere. I stood and brushed myself embarrassingly, looking back at the frost coated stairs, hopefully Robin didn't come down anytime soon. I snarled and glared a him.

"What."

"Know your manners young lady," Mother growled. Father laid a hand on her arm. I never understood them, shouldn't Mother be trying to roast him instead. He was the one who had been about to kill her yesterday.

"We're not going to force you to do it--"

"Good."

"But, just think of all the possibilities. There's a high chance that you won't even have powers, and if you don't, then life can continue on normally."

"And if I do?" I crossed my arms and waited for a good reason.

"Just, do it for me. Do it for Robin, she already thinks of you as her hero. Besides, if you do get a power, then it probably won't attract the palace's attention since my family has ever only had common powers, nothing special enough for you to become one of their soldiers." Well there was that.

I sighed and stared at the ceiling. Was I really Robin's hero? "I'll think about it." I said again. Father nodded and unfroze the stairs, seeming satisfied. Maybe my tone had been different than when I was talking to Mother. I turned around and stomped up the stairs frustrated. I wondered if Kalinier was going to do it as well.