The first thing I saw when my eyes fluttered open was my dad's worried face hovering above me. The second he noticed me regaining consciousness, he grabbed my hand and stuck his head toward my face. I sunk deeper into my pillows in surprise. I regained my sleepy look and asked softly, "Are you an angel sent from heaven here to take me home?"

I would have said, 'Mom? Is that you?' but even I wasn't that cruel.

A look of horror overcame my dad's features. A hand pushed him out of my line of vision, and Theo's head replaced my dad's.

"Don't scare him like that. Poor dude was weeping like a baby since he arrived," he said. His face suddenly grew serious. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Tell you what?"

"That Daniel B. Adair is your bloody father," he hissed.

I blinked. "What?"

He turned his face away and ran a hand down his face. "I really didn't see this plot twist coming..." he murmured.

My dad came back into view and pulled me into a hug. "You had me so worried, Lumi," he whispered.

I winced as his arms tightened around the bruises on my arms. I didn't get to see my dad very often, so instead of speaking, I slipped my arms around him in return.

Something dripped onto my shoulder and it took me a minute to realize it was a tear. I knew it wasn't mine, so it must have been my dad's.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dry again. He looked as though he were about to say something, but he didn't. He sat on the hospital bed, reaching for my hand and enveloping my small one in his much larger one. "Please don't scare me like that again," he said quietly.

I could imagine the memories resurfacing in his mind: An urgent call from the hospital, blinding fear, desperation as his entire being focused on one thing and one thing alone.

Her.

I imagined this situation was similar. Except I'm not going to die.

Daddy, I'm not going to die.

I placed my free hand on his and said, "I'm fine, Daddy. Okay? You don't have to worry about me. I don't plan on giving up that easily."

His eyes trailed away from mine and landed on the door. "Get some rest, Striker."

I smiled at the familiar nickname and nodded. He released my hand and pulled the thin hospital blanket up to my chin as I sunk further into the bed—just like he had done when I was little. He gently kissed my forehead. Then he dragged Theo out of the room, giving me a soft smile before pulling the door closed.

Four months.

That's how long it's been since I last saw my father.

It had been my birthday then, a birthday so like the others. As though it were tradition, I watched Pink Panther until the sun went up, his wordless actions speaking so much louder than words.

I used to smile and laugh at his silly jokes, sometimes pretending I myself was the pink feline.

But when morning came and my dad still wasn't home, those unrealistic actions the panther made would feel like a pathetic excuse for entertainment.

But every year I would watch it like a comfort blanket I was too old to cuddle with.

When I woke up, it was still light outside, although the color flooding into the room was changing carefully, the beginning of the sun's final farewell until tomorrow.

"Daddy?" I called into the room. My neck felt too stiff to move.

"Mr. Adair had to leave," a female voice said from my right. A nurse came into view, an apologetic look on her face. "But he left someone here that he would like you to meet."

"He was called away for work?"

Her face turned pale as her look of pity deepened.

I smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry about it," I told her.

Her head bowed slightly. "I will retrieve him now," she said, then left through the door.

When it opened again, it wasn't the nurse. A tall boy my age stepped into the room and walked over to where I lay.

My eyes widened slowly as I took in his appearance. The sunset light streaming through the windows turned his pale blond hair and dull brown eyes golden. His face was as still as stone, which made me try to imagine what his smile must look like.

It would have been incredible.

His hands were set stiffly behind his back and his posture seemed to add height to his form. He stopped once he reached my bedside.

"So...pretty..." I murmured. "How are you so bright?"

His face cracked the slightest smile, but it seemed as though it were only due to his incredible manners. He swept up my hand and pressed the most gentle kiss to the center. "It is lovely to meet you, Miss," he said with a thick accent.

I yanked my hand away. "Aren't we the like the same age?" I questioned as I wiped my hand on my hospital gown.

"I believe I am a few months older."

"Then why are you calling me 'Miss'?"

"Is that not suitable?" he questioned. "How about 'princess'?"

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"Not that I am aware of."

I scoped him out skeptically. "So...why did my dad want me to meet you exactly?"

His face remained still and patient as he replied, "I am your new bodyguard. My name is Elio, but you may call me whatever you wish. I've transferred to your school for convenience. I hope that is alright with you."

My hands gripped the plastic-like sheets beneath me. "If that's the reason, then you can turn around and go back to the 'land down under' or whatever. I don't need a bodyguard."

"I believe that is Australia, Miss Princess. I am from Italy." He didn't make any motion to leave.

"How are you a bodyguard anyway?" I asked. "I didn't know they were hiring teens now."

He straightened to a height even taller than before—which didn't really seem possible, but he managed. "My father has been training me from the day I was born. It was only natural for me to put hard work to good use."

I raised an eyebrow and said, "It doesn't bother you that your first job is with an unruly teenager your own age?"

"Not at all, miss princess."

"First of all, stop calling me 'miss princess'—"

"Yes, Miss."

I rolled my eyes but didn't bother to correct him. "Second of all, aren't you going to ask how I knew this was your first job?"

He didn't hesitate. "It is impolite to ask your master questions."

"I'm not your master," I gritted out. Sighing, I continued, "Well, imma tell you anyway."

He didn't roll his eyes or become exasperated, he simply bowed his head slightly and stared at me with great patience. He kinda looked like those Buckingham palace guards.

Making this dude laugh would be the victory of the century.

I gave him another once over before stating, "It's your stiff movements. You look like you haven't gone to the bathroom in days."

I studied his lips, but they didn't even twitch.

"I apologize if my behavior made you uncomfortable. I am simply serious about everything I do."

"Now it sounds like you're mocking me."

"That is not my intention."

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stared out the large window overtaking the entire right wall. I tapped my bare feet against the cold tile floor. I stopped mid-tap and slowly rose to my feet. My bodyguard was there in a second, ready to be my crutch. I pushed him away. It didn't affect his strong structure, but he backed away on his own.

"Just stay out of my way, don't question anything I do, and report to my dad that I'm doing the opposite of what I'm doing," I stated. "If you do that, we won't have any problems." I was ready to stalk out of the room determinately, but instead, I found the floor coming up to meet me. Strong arms hooked onto my waist and held me in the air. I steadied myself on the floor and pushed the hands off. "And don't touch me," I snapped. Then his secure arms were gone, and I stormed out of the room.

Of course, he followed me.

But I couldn't exactly tell him to get lost when he was just doing his job.

When we reached my dorm, I whipped around to face him. "So...like—is your dorm nearby or what?"

He stopped a few feet away, his arms still set behind his back. "I will be sleeping on the floor beside your bed," he replied. "The world is just as dangerous at night as it is during the day."

"Not happening," I replied and slammed the door in his face.

When no knock sounded, I stepped away from the door and headed over to my desk, sinking into my chair. My backpack lay right where I left it, flat in the center of the room. I pushed off the floor and retrieved it as I passed. Now stranded in the middle of the room and with no more energy to push myself back to land, I set up my homework on my lap and leaned back in my chair.

Wren came in almost an hour later and started on her own homework. It was her normal all-day, everyday routine. Soon a series of pen clicks filled the silence. My finger taps soon fell into rhythm with clicks. The sound was strangely relaxing and helped me concentrate until nearly ten. By then I was exhausted and barely managed to brush my teeth before collapsing into bed.

My mind swirled into the land of dreams. Hazy figures standing over me, eyes burning red as they stared into my soul.

Harsh.

Cruel.

Judging.

My eyes shot open. I was met with darkness. It took me a minute to understand my surroundings and the soft comforter underneath me.

I had been so tired that I hadn't even gotten under the covers.

I sighed shakily and closed my eyes, my arms relaxing. I opened them again. My eyes adjusted to the black of night, and I stared at the ceiling restlessly.

"Why can't I just sleep forever?" I asked.

"That would be death," Wren replied. "Or a very long coma."

I tumbled out of bed. Approaching the door, I fell against it. I turned the handle and pushed, putting pressure against my wrist when it didn't open. The door was supposed to automatically unlock with the contact of my fingerprint against the handle. So why wouldn't it budge?

I pushed the door again and it opened just a crack. It was like there was a massive boulder blocking the way. I forced my weight against the door and used my strength, feet against the floor, and weird grunting noises to push it another centimeter.

Suddenly the door swung open and I came tumbling out. I landed on my sore stomach. I groaned at the pain, clutching my stomach and squeezing my eyes shut.

"Apologies, your highness," a voice said above me. My eyes fluttered open, and a hand appeared through the faint lighting.

I grabbed at the hand and heaved all my weight onto it. Once I was on my feet, I whispered, "Don't call me 'your highness'." I brushed myself off and straightened. "Care to explain what you were doing blocking my door?"

"I was guarding it," he replied.

"What?"

"I was guar—"

"Yeah, yeah. I heard you," I interrupted. "Were you sleeping on the floor? Without a pillow or blanket or anything? This hall is freezing cold." I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered as though proving my point.

He gave a slight nod. I stared for a minute before running back into the dorm. I grabbed my thickest comforters from the closet and laid them on top of each other on the floor until it made a comfortable bed. I stepped back outside and grabbed his arm, pulling him into the room.

"Tomorrow I'm getting you a bed and the dorm across mine," I said. I dragged him over to the pallet. "Sit." He obeyed and I sat beside him. "You won't be moving from this spot until I wake up. If you try anything, I'll have your head."

I jumped back into my bed and snuggled under the covers. I lay there for a few minutes before remembering that I was too restless to sleep, which was why I was in the hall to begin with. I rolled my eyes.

As I made my way across the room toward the door, a large yawn attacked me. My eyes closed gently as I opened the door and entered the hall.

"Where are—"

"I can protect myself for five minutes," I said, cutting off Elio's words. "Sleep or I'm ditching you tomorrow." Then I closed the door behind me.

Another yawn overcame me as I walked down the hall, my eyelids blocking my surrounding area.

Why didn't I feel this tired when I was actually trying to sleep?

"Lumi?"

"Tempest," I corrected. I opened my eyes and stared at the figure in front of me. "What are you doing up, Theo?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, folding his arms.

"But I asked you first," I answered, mimicking his stance.

"Fair." He sighed. "I was just getting some fresh air. Now you."

"Same." I stopped, then shook my head and traveled around him.

Grabbing my wrist, he said, "Wait."

I turned my head and gave him a 'what could possibly be so important?' raised eyebrow.

He released it and let his arm fall back to his side. "With what happened today, I don't think you should be going out alone," he said.

"I think most of the students are asleep. Stuck-up, rich know-it-alls tend to sleep a lot. I believe you guys call it 'beauty sleep'. Which is ironic since it does absolutely nothing for your complexion."

"Your dad got you an around-the-clock bodyguard for a reason."

"He's just traumatized because of what happened with my mom." My eyes widened and my mouth clamped shut. I took a step back. You and your big mouth, Tempest. Now he's going to ask questions.

But he didn't. His eyes shifted as though reading my expression. Then he stepped back, putting even more space between us.

"I can defend myself," I stated when he didn't say anything. "Plus, all I'm doing is clearing my head. Then I'll be back, safe in bed like a good little princess." I gave him an exasperated look.

His eyes appeared to show his understanding. He took another step back and said, "Goodnight."

We turned away from each other and both walked our separate ways—me toward the door to the outside and him to his dorm, wherever that was.

I swiped my card, looking back as I waited for the door to open. The hall was dark and empty, the eerie silence ringing like an ominous soundtrack in my mind.