"I look..." I observed myself in the mirror as Zendaya looked at me nervously for my reaction.

It's been a week since I met her. Since my life started getting better. I finally moved out to the place my parents got for me along with Zendaya, who insisted she'll take care of me from now.

The house was in the interior city, filled with humans but it had the warmth of home, like the one we had before. My parents have already personalized everything in my new home and I couldn't help but feel grateful for everything. Even when I found things this late, I am glad I found them.

Margo was discharged a day later. She was a bit weak but her father apologized to her profoundly and told us he'll take care of her. He even promised her that he'll stop drinking. I am glad that they made up even though what he did was wrong. But then again, it's not my place to decide what to do.

I left my job three days back, making sure that every procedure is properly taken care of. I don't know whether I'll miss my jobs but I do know I'll miss being busy.

After seeing my one-room house, Zendaya concluded that I am an amazing artist and that I should be enrolled in an art course to learn the art properly. I don't know how she did that but I got admission to a vocational art school with two months beginner's course.

When I asked her how, since I don't have any educational background, Zendaya simply responded that this is a course that doesn't need any, and I believed her.

Today is my first day in art school and to say I am excited will be an understatement. I am gushing with adrenaline and curiosity. It's a change I am finally starting to love. It feels like the dark cloud on top of my head is gone at last. Maybe from now on things will get better.

"Mazarine?" Zendaya called me.

I was still looking myself at in the mirror. Since we are in a new place and were about to start a new life, Zendaya wanted to make some changes in my appearance too.

She said she wanted to make sure no one realizes who I am. At first, she tried convincing me to chop my waist-length silver hair and dye it black. Then she wanted me to wear hazel contacts to cover my green eyes.

But I hated the thought of pretending to be someone. And the only thing that reminded me of my parents is those, my emerald eyes from my dad and silver hair from my mom.

If I change that then a part of me is scared that I will lose them forever. So, I straight out rejected her idea. With both of us being stubborn, I ended up agreeing to her to fake my appearance with magic.

At first, I was reluctant since if we use magic on me, people can sense it but she asked to have some faith in her magic and I believed her.

After what felt like an eternity, she said that she just put the basic spells to make my hair look black and my eyes hazel. But I could feel it in me, she performed something powerful, like a protection spell.

I couldn't put my finger on what exactly she did but she did something to make sure I am safe. I could feel it in me. Not only that, I remember my dad telling me about it as memories of our conversation clouded in my mind.

"Dad, what does mom mean by that?" I sat on his lap as we savored our breakfast.

It is our routine. Me, mom, and dad had our breakfast in our private chambers. Last night I turned four and now I am a big girl, I can go play in the garden alone. When I told mom about this a few minutes back, she told my dad that even though we have guards to protect, I needed a protection spell to be sure I am safe.

She didn't say no to me playing in the garden and I am gushing in excitement.

"Hmm," he started thinking as he cut my pancakes with his knife. Without waiting for him to finish, I started digging into it savoring the food. "Guess by the meaning princess," he wiped my nose with a napkin removing all the chocolate syrup.

"It is a spell for safety," I spoke with a mouth full.

Mom's eyes swelled with pride as she nodded her head.

"You are right, there are a lot of different types of spells," he started. "Some spells are for basic protection, some are bound by a high level of magic and some are crafted by sacrificing a part of your magic to protect someone. The last kind is the most powerful one that even after that person's death, their protection spell remains guarding the person they put the spell on."

I frowned at his words. Why would anyone sacrifice their magic for someone else?

What if they cannot make little water wolves again because they sacrificed their magic?

"People would do that for love princess," he pecked my head softly. "Without a second thought, I would sacrifice everything I have to protect you and your mother too and I know she'll do the same for us. That is love, it'll make you do anything for the person."

By then my four-year-old brain couldn't comprehend the seriousness behind it. But the war proved how serious he meant that. They sacrificed their lives to protect me.

The spell Zendaya put on me, it's strong and from what I heard, it must be a heavy protection spell. We were supposed to master and study protection spells in our senior year but I never got a chance to learn about it.

"Mazarine," Zendaya called me again.

"I look different but in a good way," I touched my cheeks, looking at the girl in the mirror.

My cheeks have gained a bit of flesh and I no longer look lifeless. I now have some flesh in my body and some color in my cheeks. And when I told her I like the new me, I haven't lied.

Even though it's magic, temporary and new, I look better. I look a bit happier. I could see my eyes trying to hold on to the light that's been long gone. There was hope in my eyes, a hope for a better future, a hope for a peaceful life.

"Okay now let's go, we are running late for your class," she patted my shoulders to hurry up.

I wore a simple sundress that came till my knees with doodles on it. It looked simple and sweet, just like how I wanted it to be. I wanted to make a good first impression and wanted to make a lot of friends there.

"You sure you don't want me to come?" Zendaya looked at me hopingly.

She wanted to accompany me to my first art class but I couldn't bring myself to let that happen. It brings back many memories and her doing the same my parents did will only hurt more.

I've been living on my own for so long and I no more need people to rely on. I can lean on myself and it's more than enough for me.

"Bye Zendaya," I shook my head and left the apartment with my art supplies.

They gave me a list of things to buy and we went shopping two days back to get everything. Looking at all those supplies, I again felt like a kid getting her birthday gift.

The class is ten minutes walk from here and since I wanted to familiarize myself with the place, I decided to walk to my classes.

While walking I decided to look into my art bag again, to look at those amazing supplies I got. Only then did I realize I forgot the main thing I needed, a drawing note.

Shit, what have I done?

I still have ten minutes left. If I rush to the shop now and walk faster, I can reach the art school two minutes early. Just when I turned, I crashed on a steel wall as my bag fell down with my art supplies scattering all over the place.

"I am sorry," a voice spoke softly as both of us tried to pick them back.

"No, I should've seen it," my voice came out all hurried.

Once we picked everything up, I zipped my bad up and finally looked at the stranger in front of me.

In front of me stood a stranger with eyes that reminded me of burning fire yet instead of rage it was filled with loneliness like it's drowning in a sea of sorrow.

His cheekbone is sharp and his olive skin perfectly matches his features, god he looks beautiful.

"Are you in a hurry?" he asked as worry filled his face.

Without even realizing it, I nodded my head.

"I have my first art class today and I forgot to get my notebook and my art class starts," I looked at my watch, "in seven minutes," I frowned calculating how I am going to get a note and go that fast.

"Come, I have a car and I'll drop you," he moved his eyes towards his white car.

I know I shouldn't but I don't want to be late on my very first day. With him driving I could go there three minutes early.

"Thank you," I mumbled as I sat on the passenger seat.

"Happy to help and by the way I am Elijah," the stranger smiled at me as he turned his car towards the stationary shop.

"I'm Maz I mean Elena," I bit my tongue at how careless I was. 

A/N: I know I shouldn't have stopped here. But then hehe.