"So glad you could make it." Kabos smiled at Dawn happily as the blonde beauty approached him, her head ducked sheepishly. She didn't know what was going on with her; but whenever she thought about Kabos, her mind went fuzzy, her heart started beating harder, and her stomach turned inside-out. She had never felt this way about any of the random suitors her father would bring to the castle for her and Adriana to get friendly with. Plus, all those suitors looked at Adriana differently than Dawn...almost as if they were actually interested in Ad, and Dawn was just another pretty face.

Kabos was the first person outside of her family to take Dawn seriously for who she was.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Dawn promised as she fell into step beside Kabos. His very presence was so warm and comforting, Dawn wouldn't trade it for the world.

"So where are we going?" she asked curiously. When Kabos had invited her to go on a date with him the day before, he had only told her the time and place to meet, but would not tell her what they were doing no matter how much begging she did.

Kabos laughed at her question.

"So curious. You'll see when we get there. I promise you'll love it."

Dawn rolled her eyes good-naturedly and shivered at the strong wind that was blowing her coat open and swirling her dress.

"Can you believe this wind?" Kabos called over the howling, "So unlike spring!"

"I know!" Dawn shouted back, "If we're lucky, maybe it'll stop by the time we get to wherever we're going!"

"I sure hope so!"

They struggled along against the wind for a few more minutes before Dawn felt Kabos's arm wrap around her comfortingly. She felt her cheeks growing warm with a creeping blush, and moved closer to Kabos's warm body gratefully.

After what seemed like ages, they arrived at their destination: the meadow right outside of the Forbidden Forest. A picnic basket and a blanket were waiting for them there, covered by a box to keep them from blowing away in the wind. Kabos tried setting up the picnic as Dawn tried to make herself warm, but found that everything would blow away as he unpacked it.

"I'm sorry it turned out so cra---whoa."

The wind and cloud suddenly disappeared, to be replaced by a shining sun and a sudden increase in temperature. Kabos looked at Dawn in amazement.

"Did you do that?"

Dawn looked so confused that Kabos started laughing.

"I...I think so. I don't know how. I didn't even know I could do that. My parents are bringing in an official "magic teacher" to help me with my powers tomorrow...I guess I should've realized this handy little trick a couple hours ago."

"Would've been nice." Kabos agreed while setting out the food he had prepared for the picnic. "I figured since you probably dine in a fancy room with lots of people and servants all the time, it might be nice to eat in the great outdoors for once."

"It's beautiful. Thank you." Dawn smiled happily, taking an apple and sitting down next to Kabos. They stayed that way for a while, silently eating their lunch, until Dawn broke the silence.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Kabos nodded, biting into a cheese sandwich.

"Is the only reason you noticed me because I'm one of the princesses?"

"Is that really what you think?" Kabos laughed and moved closer to Dawn, until there was barely any space between them. "Dawn, I noticed you because you're beautiful. Because you're the most beauitful girl I've ever laid eyes on. I haven't talked to a girl outside of my family in my entire life because I was too scared, or they were too annoying, or they just didn't catch my eye. But you..." he trailed off, his hand catching Dawn's, "you were the only one I've ever wanted to talk to. Not because you're a princess. Because you're you."

Dawn didn't know what to say to that. Instead of talking, she offered a small smile and rested her head on Kabos's shoulder, staring up at the now-cloudless sky.

"Thank you." she finally whispered, her voice catching.

"For what?" Kabos asked, his hand squeezing her's slightly.

"For noticing me."

***

"Jasmine, who was that at the door?" Rissa asked the nurse as she rushed by to attend to something else in the castle.

Jasmine stopped in her tracks. Most people were pretty scared of Rissa, and it was normal, but Jasmine was completely and utterly terrified.

"Pardon?"

"I said, who was at the door?" Rissa repeated.

"A Fairling girl. She went off with Miss Adriana to her room."

"I see." Rissa muttered, running off without another glance at Jasmine. When she reached Adriana's room she rapped on the door three times before entering anyways.

The Fairling girl was sitting on Adriana's bed while Adriana paced around her, talking quickly. Both girls snapped their heads around to look at the door as Rissa entered.

"Hello girls. Fairling---"

"It's Skylar."

"Fine, then. Skylar, I think you need to leave. Nothing personal, but you should stay away from Adriana."

Skylar looked confused, to say the least.

"What? Why? I'm just helping her."

'Helping' Rissa scoffed to herself.

"That may be the case, but I would rather you keep your distance from now on."

Skylar's face was now slightly hurt, and Adriana came to the Fairling's defense.

"Rissa, she's fine. There's nothing to worry about, she's actually been a huge help to me over the past few days."

"I don't care. She has to leave."

"But she just got here---"

"Skylar, please leave."

Adriana's face hardened, but Skylar spoke up before she could say anything.

"Maybe I should go. I can tell when I'm not wanted."

With a jolt of embarrassed realization, Rissa remembered that Skylar could hear her negative thoughts. And everything Rissa was thinking about Skylar at the moment was negative.

Skylar took off, out of the room, down the hall, and out the front door.

"What's your problem?" Adriana asked after the door had slammed shut. "You're not my mother, you can't just come in here and order my...people...to leave."

Rissa gave a silent breath of relief at the fact that Adriana had not called the Fairling her "friend". That would have been too far.

"I'm trying to keep you safe, Adriana."

"Keep me safe?!" Adriana's eyes widened in disbelief. "Skylar's a Fairling. There's hardly anyone safer than her."

"You don't know that."

"And you do?!" Adriana fired back. "I'm not a child, Rissa. I can make my own decisions and talk to whoever I want. And I'm especially not going to let my aunt decide those things for me. Shouldn't you have left by now anyways?" she added, reminding Rissa of Dawn's words earlier.

"Yes, but there were some complications."

"Complications? Yeah, right. I know what you're up to. You just want to make sure Dawn and I aren't getting too power-happy. Well guess what? Skylar comes here during the day, when I can't even use my full power. In case you've forgotten, I'm the Dark one." she jabbed a finger at the tattoo on her neck, the spirals and lines all interwoven into a black shape that no one recognized. "I can handle things on my own."

"No, you can't." Rissa snarled, her eyes slitting momentarily into a cat's before going back as she controlled herself. "You have no idea what's going on, and you can't. So don't try to act like you're older than you are. You're still a 16 year old girl, and I'm still an adult who has seen more than you and more than you ever want to. That's why I'm here, you little brat. I'm trying to help you stay safe, help you stay---"

"Get out." Adriana whispered, her voice deadly.

"What did you say to me?"

"I said, get OUT."

A resounding BOOM echoed throughout the castle as Rissa found herself thrown backwards with the force of a tidal wave, her head slamming into the wall on the opposite side of the hallway and causing her vision to go black. She heard the slam of Adriana's bedroom door and click of the lock as she tried to get up.

Well that went well.

***

Back in her room, Adriana was breathing heavily, the force of the magic she had just used, and during the daytime, taking an immense toll on her slim body. She sat down on her bed just as the tears began to roll, and slipped under the blanket, ignoring the insistent knocking on her door, and Rissa's angry voice: "Adriana, you come out here right now. I don't know what you did to this door but I can't even open it with my powers. You come out here right now and apologize to me. I did not deserve that. Adriana, you come out here right now!"

But she didn't. She stayed in her bed until Rissa eventually gave up and her heels clicked away. The tears kept coming and the room grew darker and darker until she couldn't see anything even if she wanted to.

Which, quite honestly, she didn't.

---

A/N: Ooooooh Rissa's getting fiesty. I tried to put in a little drama so you guys don't get bored before the big stuff comes. Do you like Rissa? Do you trust Skylar? Comment below!

Don't forget to vote and check back for the next update!

-Katherine