Summary: Both come from different families; while Silva belongs to a family of magicians and powerful mages, Simon is from a human family and he can’t do anything that pertains to magic.

Silva winds up marrying her fiancé but things aren’t really all that great. She had no idea of the war that was brewing or even who started it. But as she digs deeper into Marshal’s past, she’ll find out the true him. Caught in the middle of a new war, she has to trust the one person she’s hated.

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Love at first sight is never true

She was the daughter of the moon; he was not a son of any rich family. She had magical powers; he did not. What they say about love at first sight, untrue.

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She sat at the oak desk, staring down at the piece of paper handed back to her. She glared down at the large red mark and she scowled. She heard the teacher talking to the best student in the class and she felt her blood boiling. He was perfect in the class, the best of the best.

“Silva, you really need to work on your schoolwork.” the teacher said, towering above me. I glared up at him and I saw him shiver. I knew why; my silver eyes always sent chills up anyone’s spine. He regained his composer and straightened back up.

“Find a way to improve your grades, or,” he said, glaring at me, “you’ll be dropped!”

“Whatever,” I said, not listening to a word he was saying. I continued my death glare down at the paper and I felt the urge to rip it into tiny pieces.

Across the room, the same boy who got all good grades stared over at me. His dark green eyes flashed and he turned around quickly.

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I walked outside slowly, letting everyone else filter past me. But as I walked down the stairs, I felt a hand latch onto my shoulder. I glanced over and found myself staring at the snot nosed boy in my class. I sighed and shrugged his hand from my shoulder.

“Please… wait.” he whispered, and I turned around, my ear twitching like usual. I followed his gaze and noticed he was staring at my little pointed ears. I wiggled them and he pulled his eyes away from them.

“What do you want?” I finally asked, glancing down to where my mother sat in the car, waiting for me. He mumbled something and my sharp hearing picked it up.

“I can help you with your school work if you want.”

“You really think you can help me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Then he nodded and looked me in the eyes.

“I may not be like you, but I know all kinds of stuff about school and the work we’re doing.” he said in a confidence voice and smiled wide at her.

“All right, can you come with me and help me tonight?” I asked, turning away and starting down towards mother. He said a yes and followed after me. I reached our little gray car and opened the passenger side door.

“Mama, this is…” I glanced back at him and I suppose my question reflected in my eyes for he quickly answered for me.

“My name’s Simon Reed. I’m her tutor.” he said proudly and I rolled my eyes at this.

“Hello Simon, I’m Mrs. Morgan. If you didn’t know I’m Silva’s mom.” mother smiled at him and told him to get in the back seat. He scrambled in and I slid in after him.

“Is Marshal not coming home or is he coming back tomorrow?” I asked, twiddling my thumbs. Mother glanced over at me and shook her head.

“He won’t be home for another week now. Matters have grown..” her eyes flickered to Simon sitting in the back seat. “more severe and more challenging daily. Don’t rush things Silva, he’ll be home soon.” I nodded and settled down slightly.

Ever since my fiancée left nearly six months ago to pressing matters, I’ve been feverously awaiting his return. I glanced at Simon through the side view mirror and watched his expression as we passed expensive houses. Ours was the last one on the block and possibility the most beautiful of them all.

“Wow,” I heard him whisper when we pulled in our driveway. Both mother and I grinned and I instantly saw Star and Trivial come running outside to greet us. Star and Trivial our two of our five dogs; Star was a black lab while Trivial is a little Germen Shepard. They bounded over to the car and I could sense Simon tensing up.

“Don’t worry about them,” I said, laughing as Trivial came skidding to a stop. He mumbled an OK and I opened the door and stepped out. He followed after me and I felt his fingers curl around my long shirt. I felt the urge to shake them off but I ignored it.

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Wisdom is the knowledge gained through our life

I kicked off my shoes when I stepped inside and turned around and faced him. “Take your shoes off.” I commanded, pointing to his dirty soles. He nodded and took them off slowly and finally straightened back up.

“Your parents don’t care if you’re here right?” I asked, knowing quite well he didn’t ask either one of them before he left with us.

“No one’s at home so it doesn’t matter.” I could his anger in his voice.

“No family?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. He glared at me and scowled.

“Except for my big brother and he’s been gone for weeks now.” I nodded and led him up the stairway to my room. I knew as we walked along the wide hallways that he felt a little upset and nervous. I pricked my ears back slightly and I heard him ask,

“D’you always do that when you’re talking to someone?”

“Yeah, so I can hear them better sometimes.” I flicked my left ear forward and made a little turn and stopped in front of a door.

“I’ve to go grab something in my room but you can wait right here.” I pointed to where he stood and pushed open and closed my door quickly so he couldn’t see in my room. The first thing I needed to do was change before I did anything else. I walked over to my closet in the dark room and pulled the doors open. I mentally pulled my clothes out I wanted and stripped while the clothes flew to my bed. A couple minutes later I slipped back out of my room and told Simon to follow me back downstairs.

“You look… pretty.” he mumbled. I nodded to his compliment and glanced down at my dress. I knew it was weird to be wearing a dress after getting out of school but it was habit for me. The dress was a long simple whitish gray one with short sleeves and a high collar. A long, tiny gold locket fell to my breasts and lay nestled in the lace that encircled my chest. I wore small, simple white gloves on my tiny hands.

“Wow, you look perfect in that dress.” he said, slightly breathless. I smiled a small smile and led him into the kitchen.

“Would you like something to eat?” I asked him, glancing over my shoulder. He nodded and I pointed to the fridge. He slowly walked over there and looked in there for a moment before pulling out some carrots and dip we had.

“Ok, ready to get to work?” he asked, taking a bite of a carrot. I nodded and sat down and he did as well, putting his bag down beside him. Then he pulled out two books and glanced up at me.

“You’re having problems with Math right?” he asked, glancing up to make sure. I nodded and he spread out his papers.

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“So, do you get it a bit better?” he asked after doing two hours of explaining to me. I nodded, glancing down at my paper and writing down an answer to one of the problems. He shut his book and stretched his arms above his head.

“So is it true?” he asked suddenly, startling me out of my thoughts.

“Is what true?” I asked, trying to play innocent and not let my voice betray me. He raised his eyebrow at me and shook his head.

“There’s only nine other kids in the whole school who have magical powers or has some weird power.” he said, throwing his hands up in the air. I continued working on my problems, listening to him.

“You have pointed ears as well!” he said and just then mother came into the kitchen.

“Simon, it’s time for you to be along now. We have plans tonight and I’m sure you’d like to get home soon.” she said softly but I could tell she wanted him to leave soon. He nodded and gathered up his stuff. As mother turned, I could see in her dark blue eyes that she didn’t want me saying anything more on the subject he brought up. I nibbled at the last of the carrots and heard the two of them go outside and then mother started up the car. I glanced up and saw a little bit of dip that had fallen on the table. I got up and grabbed a cloth to wipe it off. I noticed a note laying beside it, just staring up at me. I picked it up and slowly began unfolding it.

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I unfolded the piece of paper and read what he had written on it. In his scribbling, I made out the words “she’s a magician. I can tell.”. My blood boiled slightly as I crumbled up the note and I tossed it into the trash bin.

After twenty minutes mother returned home and rushed into the kitchen. I knew the second she walked through the door I was going to get a bit of a talking to. The kitchen door flew open and she stood there, her mouth hanging open slightly. Then she narrowed her eyes at me and I glared back at her.

“What did you tell him?” she hissed at me.

“Nothing mother,” I sneered, tossing the rag into the sink.

“You told him something!” her voice went high and I covered my sensitive ears.

“Stop! I didn’t tell him anything at all!” I matched my voice with hers.

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Meanwhile, Simon slowly unlocked his front door, unaware of the problems he created for Silva. His only thoughts were on the things he would have to do for tonight. He flung his bag off his shoulder and shut the door behind him. In the back room he could hear his brother’s TV blaring and he instantly felt bad for lying to Silva.

“Hey, little bro!” he heard his brother call out. He groaned quietly and slowly made his way back to the room. He heard the TV get louder with each approaching step and he mentally cringed when he heard his older brother yelling. He knocked on the door and then pushed it open. His older brother towered above a young woman who was crying on the floor.

“Let her go Mitch.” he said in a dangerously low voice to his brother. His brother turned around and faced his little brother with a death glare. Simon walked past Mitch and untied the frightened woman on the floor and helped her up. Then she flew out past him and slammed the front door behind her fading steps.

“Why’d you do that?” Mitch said in a low voice, advancing onto his brother. Simon glared back and retreated back into a corner. Simon gave a swallow and adverted his gaze to the floor.

“You little bastard,” Mitch said, slurring together his words. Simon knew why his brother was acting like this; Mitch had been drinking earlier during the day. And now his brother was going to be really violent. Simon glanced up just as Mitch threw out his fist and it connected with Simon’s nose. Blood poured out as he fell onto the floor. Even plugging his nose closed with two fingers, blood still filtered through and fell to the ground.

“Bastard,” Mitch slurred and hit Simon again. That was the last thing Simon remembered after Mitch’s fist slammed into his head.

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Mother sent me to bed that night with no dinner. I didn’t really care though; some of our family was coming over and I didn’t want to be seen around them. I did sulk at my desk though; I don’t see the harm in telling Simon who and what I am.

I flicked back my ears and listened to the boring conversation downstairs. It was nothing that really interested me and I stopped listening in. I glanced down at the paper that sat before me and Simon’s note to me. I grabbed a pen out of my little pencil holder and scribbled down a reply to his note and folded the piece of paper up. Then I stuffed it into my book bag and shut off my light.

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The next morning I didn’t take my mother’s offer for a ride to school. I knew why she was asking; it was because of last night. But I declined it and walked outside and slung my bag over my throbbing shoulder. I reached up with my right hand and massaged the shoulder blade and thought back to what made it hurt so bad. Then I remembered yesterday in gym class. I grimaced and continued down the walkway.

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Twenty minutes later I slipped into class close to the last one to arrive. I walked by Simon and noted that his face was bruised. I dropped the note into his lap and hurried to my seat before the teacher could yell at me. I dropped my bag besides me and the teacher began his talk to us.

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Simon plunked his tray down next to mine at lunch and sat next to me. I glanced over and continued to eat my salad, taking small bites. Finally he whispered,

“Sorry I asked you that question last night.”

I nodded and continued eating but glancing up at him from time to time. “What happened to you?” I finally asked, swallowing my bite of salad. He glanced over at me and ate some of his jell-O, trying to keep his mouth full so he wouldn’t have to answer me.

“What happened, Simon?” I asked again, this time sounding impatient. He sighed and put down his fork and looked at me now.

“Remember how I told you how my brother hasn’t been home for awhile now?” he asked quickly.

“Yeah,”

“Well, I lied. He’s really home but I don’t like it when he’s home.” he said quickly, fiddling with his thumbs in his lap. I nodded and without thinking, reached over and patted his shoulder. He gave me a small smile and I grinned back at him.

“Want to come over to help with homework again tonight?” I asked, standing up with my tray.

“Yeah. Please and thanks.” he said, standing up as well and leaving.

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I met up with Simon after school on the school steps and my mother pulled up in the car again. We bounded down to it and he hopped in the backseat. Mother gave him a forced smile and pulled away from the curb. I glanced at him through the side view mirror and gave him a small smile that he returned. As we drove along I caught part of his fractured thoughts.

‘I wish I could tell Silva about what my brother does to me every night when he’s home. But she probably won’t believe me.’ I frowned inwardly and flicked back an ear to hear if he said anything aloud. But I knew he wouldn’t say anything in front of my mother.

‘I’m so sorry, Silva.’ he thought sadly and I echoed his pain.

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We sat quietly at the kitchen table, him helping me. I had got us a snack to eat but neither one of us had really taken a bite from it. He was awfully quiet and I was really wondering why because his thoughts were blocked now.

“Come on Simon, I need to understand this stuff soon or I’ll be let go.” I said, tapping my pencil lightly, glancing over at the white kitchen wall. My ears flicked back, then forward. I was a bit on the edge being here, alone with Simon.

“Sorry, I’m not really focused today.” he replied, shaking head. I nodded and reached over for a carrot.

“It’s ok really.” I muttered, stuffing it into my mouth. Another nod from him and I raised my eyebrow and stared at his turned down head. My left ear flicked forward and I sighed. He glanced up and for a moment, his dark eyes looked so beautiful.

‘What would she say if I told her I liked her?’ I heard him think and I looked up, startled. He gave a small jump from my own jump and glared at me. I frowned, glaring right back. Then he lowered his gaze and mumbled sorry. My mind took over at that moment and I didn’t know what I was doing.

I leaned across the table and tilted his chin up to where his lips were level with mine. Then I quickly brought my lips to his. At first he didn’t return it but as I was pulling back, he grabbed my chin and pulled me back into the kiss. We pulled away finally, either from lack of air or from the intoxicating taste of the two of us or even both. I licked my lips and tasted chocolate and a bit of coffee.

“You taste good,” I said without thinking. Simon laughed at this and touched his lips.

“As do you,” he whispered and I blushed crimson. He snickered and leaned over the table.

“I thought you didn’t like any guy?” he said in a slightly coy voice. I laughed and leaned forward to where my nose touched his. He reached up and his fingers gently touched my right cheek.

“You’re pretty daring,” I whispered, flicking my ears at him. He nodded and pulled back, still staring into my eyes.

“You look cute with big ears,” he said and I laughed at this and earned a dirty look from him. “It’s true!” he said quickly, waving his hands in the air. Another laugh from me and his cheeks flushed red. I reached over and ran a finger over his soft cheeks. I felt him shiver and I grinned. It felt kind of strange doing this with him but at the same time it didn’t.

He reached up and again touched my cheek. “You’re so lovely,” he whispered, leaning close. I blushed again at his compliment and raised a hand.

“Not too quick,” I whispered, glancing down at the table top. He nodded and when I looked up, he had an understanding look in his eyes.

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