At the end of the hallway there were two doors to two rooms that were across from each other. Erza knocked on the door of the right and it was answered by a very pretty young lady with brown eyes and shoulder length blonde hair that she kept in a sideways pony tail. She looked like she was the same age as Juvia and she seemed to carry herself with a sort of restlessness.

"What is it Erza?" The blonde asked the red head.

"Lucy I'd like you to meet Romeo's governess Miss Juvia Lockser." Erza introduce. "Miss Lockser this is my stepsister Lucy Heartfilia."

"It's very nice to meet you." Juvia said politely.

"You're here to teach Romeo?" Lucy asked Juvia.

"Yes."

"Well then here's some bits of advice. Get out. Get out while you still can. Believe me you don't want to get involved with this family because it's super weird."

"Lucy don't start." Erza warned.

"They're all into witchcraft and monsters and stuff."

"Lucy enough."

"I'm just letting her know what she's getting herself into." She then grabbed her purse and walked out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Erza asked.

"Out with Dan."

"You know I don't like that man Lucy. He's a thug."

"That's your opinion Erza."

"It's a fact. The man robbed a drug store last month."

"That was never proven."

"Could you at least not go out with him at night?"

"I'm a grown woman Erza. I can take care of myself." She said checking her appearance in a compact mirror. "Besides just because you choose to live a solitary life doesn't mean I have to."

"I do not live a solitary life."

"Sure you don't. Everyone knows you're a total recluse. Surprised that no one's accused you of being a witch or anything like that." She stuck her mirror back into her purse. "Anyway I'll be back before morning. Bye."

Erza blew in frustration as she watched her younger and rather high spirited stepsister leave the house.

"You'll have to forgive Lucy she's a little bitter with all of us here."

"Why? If I may ask that is?" Juvia said.

"She never really accepted her father's marriage to my mother and she's always had a hard time fitting in with my family but what really upset her was when we were forced into debt and she couldn't use her college fund. Now she spends her days hanging out with hoodlums and doing whatever she can to get away from me. She thinks the whole thing is my fault. Mine, my mother's, and everyone else on my side of the family."

"Well she can't blame you for this forever."

"Oh you'd be surprised by how long that girl can hold a grudge even when there's no one to blame."

"What exactly did she mean by witchcraft and monsters?"

"It's nothing really. It's just that rumors and myths say that my family has encountered and/or been associated with the dark forces of the occult. Superstitious nonsense really."

"I kind of believe in that. I mean I don't participate in anything relating to that mind you but I do believe there are some forces out there we can't really explain. Logically that is."

"In truth it's just a myth and another reason for Lucy to think that we're all crazy."

Erza then knocked on the door on the left but unlike with the first door no one came to answer.

"Romeo?" Erza called before knocking again. "Romeo come out and here meet your new governess."

Still no answer.

"Romeo what have I told you about ignoring people? It's very rude."

"Is he sleeping?" Juvia asked. "If he is I don't want to disturb him."

"Believe me he never sleeps at this hour."

Erza opened the door and the two young women stepped inside the bedroom. Juvia couldn't help but take notice of the many dinosaur toys lying about.

"As you can see he has a strong fascination with pre-history." Erza said.

"What little boy isn't at least once in his life?" Juvia giggled.

Erza made her way over to the bed and pulled back the blankets only to find that no was in it.

"Oh great. He's run off again." Erza huffed. "If I've told that boy once, I've told him a thousand times-"

"Ahhh!"

The two of them were startled by the sound of something shouting and jumping out of the closet behind them. After they finished screaming they turned to see that what scared them was a slim young boy who was about ten or elven years old with straight, dark purple hair.

"Surprise." He said before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"Romeo how many times have I told you not to scare me like that? Especially at night?" Erza said catching her breath. "You're just like your father, when we were kids nothing pleased him more than to frighten me out of my wits."

"But it's fun to scare people." Romeo said.

"Not to me." She quickly fixed her composure. "Romeo this is Juvia you're new governess."

"Hello Romeo." Juvia said with a smile. "I'm glad that I finally get to meet you."

"Wendy had a governess." Romeo said.

"Who's Wendy?"

"She's my friend but nobody thinks she's real so they all think I'm crazy."

"Romeo no one thinks your crazy." Erza said.

"Then why doesn't anyone let me leave the house?" He asked his aunt before turning his attention back to Juvia. "They say she's my imaginary friend but she's actually a ghost."

"Romeo there are no such things as ghost."

"Yes there are Auntie."

"If they are then why haven't I seen any?"

"It's because you don't believe in them. Believing is seeing you know. That's what my dad always said."

"Yes but he never believed in ghosts."

"I do." Juvia said.

Romeo looked at her, surprised by what she said.

"You do? You believe that Wendy is real?"

"Mmm-hmm. I mean we who are still living don't know really know for sure what happens to everybody when they die so why be so quick to dismiss things we don't know about?"

"Finally someone who understands me."

"Glad that you two are off to a good start." Erza said. "Now Romeo it's way passed your bed time. Go brush your teeth and get into your pajamas. I'll be by later to tuck you in."

With that said they left his room and Erza led Juvia to the room where she would be staying in. Natsu had already brought her suitcases there and Erza helped her unpack.

"I appreciate you humoring my nephew, letting him know that you'll be his friend as well as his teacher but please don't go too far with the humoring." Erza said. "I don't want him to break away from reality."

"I wasn't humoring him Miss Scarlet. I really do believe him. I told you that I believe there are some forces out there we can't explain logically."

"I see. In that case I won't contradict your views and beliefs but I ask you not to voice them to Romeo. I see nothing wrong with him having an imaginary friend but my cousin and so many others do and I just don't want him to be ostracized or bullied."

"I understand. I'll keep my views on the subject to myself Miss Scarlet."

"Erza, please."

"Okay. What's the schedule here?"

"Breakfast is at eight on the weekdays. Romeo's teachings begin are from ten to three, lunch is at noon, dinner is at six, and Romeo has no lessons on the weekends. He does fairly well in mathematics, science, and history but struggles with English and grammar. I read that you were a major in literature and English writing?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now do you need anything else?"

"No I'm fine."

"Then I'll just let you get some rest and I'll see you in the morning. Have a good night Miss Lockser."

"Juvia and the same to you Erza."

Erza left the guest room and Juvia just sat on her bed letting it all sink in. Romeo seemed like a very nice boy and she liked Erza very much. But she could tell that Erza was struggling and trying her very best. It must be so hard the being the person to hold a family together. Juvia hoped that she would make things a little easier here for everyone.

As for Romeo, he had just finished brushing his teeth and gotten into bed when a figure appeared beside him. It was of a little girl dressed in clothes that were not from this century and she had a very concerned look on her face. This ghostly child was Romeo's so called imaginary friend Wendy.

"What's wrong Wendy?" He asked noticing her distress.

"He's coming." She told him.

"Who's coming?"

"My big brother. He's coming back."

"I didn't know you had a brother. When is he coming?"

"Tonight."

"Is he a ghost like you?"

"No. But he is dead in a way." She looked out toward the darkness of night that lay behind Romeo's window. "He'll be so very upset when he wakes up. Oh I do hope that he doesn't hurt anyone."

"Is he bad?"

"No."

"Then why would he hurt someone?"

"He can't help it."

"What does that mean?"

But before she could answer Erza walked into the room.

"Lights out kiddo." She said.

"Auntie I just talked to Wendy."

"Oh? What did she say this time?"

"I know you're not gonna believe me but you have to about this okay? Because it's very important."

"Why is that?"

"Because we might be in trouble."

"What are you talking about?"

"Wendy said that her brother is coming tonight and he might hurt somebody."

"Romeo I told you not to try and scare me anymore."

"I'm not trying to scare you it's the truth."

"Alright but you don't need to worry. You know our doors are locked every night." She kissed his forehead. "Get some sleep now. Goodnight Romeo."

She turned out the lights and stepped out of the room, leaving Romeo to sleep but he couldn't help but worry about what Wendy had told him. Erza had merely brushed off what the boy had said as some child's over active imagination but little did she realize that someone was coming back tonight. Someone who been locked away in the shadows for far too long. Someone who would be unintentionally awakened. Someone who had a connection to her, her family, and especially Juvia.