I came out here to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now. I probably will be if I don't Mission Impossible my way out of this.

They hadn't noticed me yet but only because they were too busy sticking their tongues down each other's throats and hand up each other's shirts. I was careful to keep my gaze averted before I turned away from them back to the doors and started walking away.

My head was down and my steps were slow, the click of my heels muffled by the music. Or so I hoped. I was almost reached the door before they noticed me.

But they did notice me. Maybe I could lunge for it. I'd probably fall to the ground in a sad heap instead of rolling away from it like Ethan Hunt could.

"Who are you?" Her voice rang out clearly, cutting through the haze of panic in my head. I stilled and the 'flight' effect came into play.

I could run for it or turn around and apologize once more but after all the stuff Eric told me, I doubt I'll go free this time. It isn't the human realm where they'd just brush it off. It was world with Regents and Princes and powers and Elements. It was a world where people valued pride, even if it caused a downfall. It wasn't even a question as to whether she remembered me or not because-

"Hey! You're that girl who bumped into me on the dance floor." I squeezed my eyes shut in mortification. "I recognise that... dress." The contempt in her voice when she said it made me want to kick her perfect lips. I like this dress.

"Umm... Yes." I turned around slowly. "Sorry about that." There was a sheepish look on my face. "I didn't see you here, it's very dark and I just wanted some fresh air."

She had turned completely away from her boyfriend and was staring at me with her arms crossed across her chest. "Oh, really?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow. "So you didn't just come after me just, say, to get revenge? Or to hit on Christopher?"

I stepped back and shook my head as well my hands. "N-no! I was waiting for my friend to return from the washroom! Y-she was standing behind me on the dance floor!"

"Oh, really?" She repeated, taking a step forward and cocking her head. She was very obviously enjoying this and I was very obviously not and that also very obviously made her happy.

I'm usually not one to judge others preferences or whatever but you'd think the Prince Regent would have a better type.

"You know, you made me spill my drink?" It wasn't a question. It sounded like one. But it wasn't. Trust me on that, I've been in enough confrontations.

"They're free, right?" I replied weakly.

"So?" She moved forward. "These heels aren't. They're brand new. And they're my favorite."

I held my ground but my eyes flickered to Christopher and back. I was hoping he would stop her from this but he wasn't making a move and I was so scared. My feet refused to move. I was so close to the door, I wanted to leg it. "Sorry. I mean it. I wasn't looking and..." My voice trailed off as my eyes fell on the glowing drops spinning around her hand once more.

A sadistic smile set itself up on her face and all I could do was watch the show with a morbid fascination. The drops grew bigger, coagulating into a huge unstable looking ball of liquid around her hand and she raised it. My eyes widened, and I managed to turn myself and raise my hands in a weak defense right before the ball of water hit.

It felt like slamming into a pool when you're not jumping properly but on a more concentrated area and the pool is coming towards you. I didn't have time to scream as the breath rushed out of me and I felt something crack. My feet momentarily left the floor before slamming against something, I'm guessing the glass doors. A breathless cry burst out of me and I heard glass shattered. Gravity took hold again, I slammed against the ground on my side.

The jerk made my head smack against the ground and I didn't have enough of my wits about me at the moment to even breathe possibly. It felt like my lungs were caving in. I couldn't breathe.. I was in bad shape with one fall. It was a bad fall but after a lifetime of falls you think I'd have some experience.

Nope.

My ears were ringing, and I couldn't hear anything at the moment but it probably wasn't a stretch to assume I was the center of attention.

I felt tiny pricks and burns on my skin as my head came to rest on the floor, probably the glass.. I drew a weak breath, it sounded like a dying gasp. Everything seemed slowed for some reason.

My blurry vision came into focus on the grinning Elizabeth and Christopher's eyes wide in shock. That is the only emotion I've seen from him till now. He is Prince Regent not Jack bloody Frost. Showing an emotion won't make him any less human.

Wait.

We aren't human.

Ever since a certain point in evolution anyway.

The urgency in my belly started spreading once more and the examiner's voice rang in my ears. His voice was weirdly tinny.

"And then you concentrate... concentrate on your hands and..."

Tinny. Need to get that checked.

I felt my face stretch into a small smile as my hand raised of its own volition. I had tried a little of this at home. It always brought an involuntary smile to my face but Mich put a stop to that. He said I could 'burn the damn house down' and then I'd said that was another dollar and he'd just thrown his hands up and said that burning the house down would be cheaper than the bloody swear jar and I'd called him out and... Well. Long story short, I'd earned five dollars.

I wanted to go home but my body had a job to do. A job I shouldn't do but I have to. I'm not going down easy. I was aiming in her general direction and if she could make a shield, she could deflect it but I'm giving it my all, and my all counts.

There was a sudden burst of heat. A bright light flared up in front of my eyes and I vaguely made out Elizabeth's eyes widening.

I still couldn't hear anything before a wave of extreme exhaustion passed through me. My hand dropped, my eyes drooped and I was out for good. I didn't know anything after that. I didn't feel anything after that. I had no idea how long I'd been asleep till I something penetrated the darkness. A sound. A familiar sound. Mich?

Mich snores.

Not like very loud, obnoxious snores.

But small, soft ones.

My eyes opened slowly and closed in half the time. It is bright. White ceilings, white light, white sunlight. Damn. I blinked a couple of times cautiously and then groaned.

My head hurt. My chest hurt. My sides hurt. My eyes hurt. My entire body is a wreck.

My head moved slowly to find Mich slumped in a chair beside my bed and a magazine on Interior Design open on his chest. His jaw was resting on his chest which rose rhythmically. His hair was mussed up. Probably with the amount of times he ran his hand through his hair. Nervous habit. A weird sort of peace had come over me as I saw him. It was good to see him. He was my rock. He was my family.

I fell back into a deep sleep listening to his snoring. I don't think it was much later when I was woke up to the sound of voices. My eyes snapped open and vaguely familiar faces came into view.

It was the Water Regent and his entourage.

Fear passed through me and my hands went to my side. They screamed in pain after they'd pushed me to an upright position. I hissed before speaking. "My apologies, Regent. I'm bedridden or I wou-"

He gave a dismissive wave of his hands and my words dried up. A piercing blue gaze staring at me dead on. "The apologies should be ours, Miss Fiera." He gave a stiff nod. Uptight royal prick. "But in this case, the instigators of this... fight are undecided."

I frowned. "It was not me. I bumped into her and I apologized profusely." Remembrance passed through me and my frown turned into a moment of fear. "I just wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time and..."

Slight pity went through the Regent's eyes but it disappeared. "I'm afraid you can't be held unaccountable for this, Mi-"

"Please call me Fiera."

"Fiera. You did attack and injure her, not to mention, you both were seen talking before-ah. Ahem." He cleared his throat instead of continuing.

I gave an eye roll before filling in the blanks. "Before she attacked me? I was apologizing there as well. She thought I'd intruded on her because I wanted to confront her and that I was after her boyf- I mean, Prince Regent."

His brows lowered. "And why were you there, Mis-, my apologies again, Fiera?"

"I-umm-" I raised a hand to run through my hair but winced as it protested in pain. It fell back. "I went there after I bumped into her. She scared me a little. My friend suggested some fresh air, so I went out."

"Didn't you see them?"

"Not at first. It was really dark and they were standing in the corner" I paused to correct myself before I slipped up "talking. They didn't see me either till I tried to slip away and give them their privacy. Then she recognized me, a few threats from her side, more apologies from me, a ball of water from her side, a defeat from me. You know the drill... sir." I added as an afterthought.

He leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest. "You know you say all that, but who is there to back your second statement up? After you went onto the balcony?"

I sighed and this time braved the pain to rub the back of my neck. I hadn't had time to think about this, but the answer was obvious. "Ah, it's my word against a Royal's, and we all know how that will play out... so, if you're worried about me pressing charges, no need. I don't hold grudges."

I saw relief pass through the eyes of some of his entourage. Relief was fine, what disgusted me was the smugness that followed after. It took a monumental effort to stifle a sneer. The Regent nodded. "Noted. But I wasn't asking that. The fact that you think no one will take your word over a Royal's is honestly very insulting. Everyone is equal in our system."

"I apologize if I've insulted you, Sir. But I don't..." I paused to remember the saying. "... beat around the bush."

His face cleared, and something akin to surprise and respect passed through it. He smiled at me, a small, soft smile and I was compelled to smile back. He didn't seem that bad. Perhaps it was just a front but I liked the first impression he'd made.

"Well, Fiera." It was an ending note. "It was a pleasure to meet you. You are quite interesting."

"The pleasure was mine, Sir." I smiled back.

He turned and walked out. I let out a small sigh as he exited the room and his entourage slowly followed before falling back. I was staring up at the ceiling for five second before there was the distinct sound of a throat clearing.

I sat up reflexively and hissed once more, throwing in a grimace as the suddenness of my moves caused me pain once more. And there standing at the doorway was Christopher, as if he'd been there all along. He was staring at me blankly, standing casually with hands in the pocket of his oh-so-well fitting jeans. He wore a simple blue button down open to show a white undershirt and an impeccable body. His hair was combed down and wet, he'd had a shower.

I, on the other hand, wore a priceless hospital gown made of finest starched material they could find and going aú naturalé in the makeup department while sporting a chic messy bed-head look. We made a very fashionable couple. The Abercrombie model and hospitalized psycho.

"You're an idiot." He spoke first.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "You know, you may be hot and I may be an idiot but you're the coward in this room. It is clear who wears the pants in your relationship."

His brow twitched and lowered in a frown. A record attempt at his second visible emotion. "Watch your mouth."

"I did." I snapped back, annoyance was filling me. I wanted to see Mich and my friends. "I didn't tell them that you didn't lift a finger to help me or that the two of you were making out and very obviously drunk off your asses back on that balcony."

His frown deepened and he pressed his lips together in irritation. "I didn't believe you'd noticed."

"Well, I did. The smell of alcohol was pretty damn clear, unlike your psycho girlfriend's reasons for attacking me. So if you're here to intimidate me, it isn't going to work. I've seen dead leaves with more backbone than you. Now, can you leave so I can see my guardian and friends, or do I have to call the nurse?"

The side of his lips twitched in a downward direction but he didn't say a word before turning around and walking away.

I may have just angered the wrong person.

I fell back on my pillows with a tired sigh. I've literally just woken up. These people did not even give me time to brush my damn teeth before interrogating me.

My ribs twinged softly and I grimaced as I shifted into a more comfortable position. Those two unplanned, ill-timed sit-ups are hurting a lot. My hands were bandaged up till my elbows where I could only guess glass had penetrated because nothing felt broken. One hand rose to my face and I realised there were two bandages on my left cheek and one on my forehead.

The proximity of it made me shudder. It was barely an inch above my brow. Any lower and I'd be unburdened of one eye.

The door was pushed open and calm footsteps signalled the nurse. She fiddled with the readings by my bedside, all the while smiling at me.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

I smiled up at her. "Does 'like shit' count?"

She chuckled and rolled her eyes as she pretended to be ashamed at my language but I heard a sigh from the door.

"One for the swear jar, kid."

I grinned, the voice making me feel better instantly. "I am not in the shape to do yet another sit-up so you better come here."

There was another tired laugh, and the nurse was kind enough to raise my bed so I was propped up a little. I shifted a little to get my backbone doing its job before turning my attention towards them. Mich look horrible. His hair was mussed up and there were bags under his eyes. His clothes were crumpled. Guilt filled me as I tried not to imagine the trouble I'd made him go through.

He moved to stand by the foot of my bed as the nurse gave me a checkup. Once she was done, she nodded to Mich and told him to be careful before leaving.

Mich, nonetheless, didn't heed her advice and moved to hug me. I winced as his hands brushed over a few bruises but hugged him back, as hard as I could. God, it felt great seeing him. Some of my guilt melted away.

"You are never going to another dance as long as I'm alive." He whispered in my ear.

I chuckled and patted his back, pulling away. "You're not my dad, old man."

Mich rolled his eyes as he stood up straight, crossing his arms across his chest. "I still pay your bills. The WiFi and the phone."

"Bite me." I replied with a smirk, making him chuckle once more before giving me a grave look.

"What'd you do, kid? Eric and Florence don't know anything. All I know is- I'm settling in to a cold beer and some great movies when I get a call from a frantic sounding Florence about an accident." He cocked his head, his brow drawing together. "And you know what? I dropped my beer."

I rolled my eyes as my lips twitched. What a drama queen. "Such a tragedy."

He smirked and was about to continue speaking when the door was thrown open to see a wild looking Eric standing the doorway and Flo watching on worriedly from behind him. I blinked smiled at them.

"Hey, guys."

I was expecting a warm greeting because, let's be honest, I'm in the hospital. But what came next would have knocked me off a chair if I was allowed to sit.

"What the fu- hell did you do?!" Eric growled, minding his language at the last second.

I would have leaned back but I was already leaning back and hospital mattresses are same even in other dimensions- hard and ungiving. "Excuse me?" I said slowly, confused.

"What did you do, Fiera?!" He repeated, his hands flying to his hair. Flo lingered at the door nervously watching him. "I come to the balcony after getting you both punch only to see you lying on the floor, bleeding to death as a ball of fire makes its way towards a half-royal!"

I grimaced as Mich turned his head towards me. He wanted answers and Flo's face, she was curious too. I sighed softly. "I didn't do anything. I was there, enjoying the fresh air waiting for you guys and it was really dark, so I didn't notice them standing in the corner. I tried to leave quietly but Elizabeth... noticed me and she was still angry-"

"Hold up." Mich interrupted. "What'd you do to her earlier?"

"She bumped into her while we were dancing." Eric provided curtly and gestured to me to continue.

"Well, she claimed something about a drink destroying her dress and her shoes-"

"But she didn't have a cup..." Flo quietly spoke up.

I nodded in agreement and pressed on. "-and she thought I was after Christopher so she threw this huge ball of water at me." I winced in remembrance and my hands crossed in front of chest subconsciously. "It hit me on my side, I heard something crack" apart from my dignity "and I slammed into the glass door. Last thing I remember is feeling angry at her so I just... did what seemed right at the moment without any idea of what I was actually doing. Then, I passed out."

Mich had closed his eyes and his arms were still across his chest. My side seemed to have cleared up enough of Eric's doubt and Flo slowly walked up to the other side of the bed.

"The story going around is that you insulted her. She retaliated." Flo spoke to me. "It doesn't help that you're still new here. No one knows you well enough to stand up for you in defense."

I gave a tired shrug. "I figured. Let them say what they want to say. This way they won't recognize me when I start school."

"Nobody stepped forward to help you." Eric was speaking again. Flo and I turned to look at him. "Nobody. Flo got a first aid box from somewhere and I bandaged you up while screaming for someone to call an ambulance. We drove you to the hospital."

I pressed my lips together. "I'm here. I'm alright. And I'll keep my head down as much as I can. That's all that matter."