A well-dressed seventeen-year-old male with dark hair and bright blue beryl eyes impatiently waits outside of his father’s study. The large oak hallway with exquisite furnishings screams old money, but most especially extreme wealth. Despite being properly trained, Albert ignores the temptation to uses his abilities to listen on the conversation inside. He would have too, if not for the members inside his father’s study being telepathic Esper’s as well.

The sound of footsteps can be heard from inside as Albert takes a step away from the door and nonchalantly leans against the wall. Albert schools his face in the expression as cool as a cucumber. The door opens and a kind middle aged woman says, “Come in, Albert.”

Albert firmly walks in as the door is softly closed by the middle-aged woman. His sleek dark blue Oxford shoes make small indents on the expensive carpet. Inside are various figures including that of his father, a brown-haired man with furrows on his brows and silver streaks in his hair. These features combined together, instead of making his father seem old made, Monty Cross appear quite dashing and debonair.

Monty Cross had earlier poured himself a glass of scotch and since gulped the shot down in a single chug. Monty toys with the empty shot glass in his hand. Albert expectantly looks at his father as Monty Cross faintly glances up and smiles. “You will enter Black Woods Academy this upcoming semester.”

Albert smiles and gushes out, “Thank you, father. I won’t let you down!” Albert thankfully gazes at his teachers, before moving towards the door to pack.

“Wait, not so fast,” a neutral voice suddenly said. Albert’s hand freezes on the door handle as he slowly turns around in confusion. Albert stares with confusion until his eyes come to rest on the small figure of a tiny woman who was only 4 ft. and 5 inches and was a member of the Esper council. And despite being a middle-aged woman, her height made her seem like a child, which made Soren angry whenever she was patted on the head like a child.

“You will have a shadow and a watcher. You will meet your shadow and watcher prior to enrolling and they will be your primary source of protection. You are not to leave the academy without telling them and without their leave,” Soren crisply said.

Albert eyes darken with indignation. He was more than perfectly capable of protecting himself considering the strength of his abilities. Albert's eyes flicker towards his father for backup, but his father eyes do not reach his. Albert's fists clench in anger as he stiffly says, “Fine,” before wrenching the door open and stomping up to his room.

The door slams loudly behind him as the members inside the study smile at each other faintly at the expected teenager's reaction. Monty Cross eyes remain on the carpet for a moment. “Can you assure me he will be protected?” Monty Cross asked, raising his eyes to plead with the member of the Esper Council and his sons teaching staff.

Soren flips her braided strawberry blond piggy tails over her shoulder. “I can assure you, he will have more than one watcher and shadow, but we only informed him of two for his own sake. They are the very best of the best, Monty. You can’t keep him caged forever, sooner or later, he will leave. And believe me, when I say this, it is better that it is on our terms than on his,” Soren softly said, while adjusting her long skirt.

Monty Cross hands clench around the shot glass, threatening to crush it in his hands. “I know that, but he is my son and I also know just who wants him dead. How can I sleep with ease at night knowing that?! I’m his father, it’s my duty to protect him!” Monty Cross said with exasperation in his voice.

“Yes, I know. And that is why we are doing everything in our power to protect him,” Soren sincerely said.

Monty Cross mutely nods in agreement as a man of similar age reaches over and takes the shot glass from Monty’s hand before it was crushed. “Come on, let’s go out for drinks at Dionysus pub. You can safely drown your sorrows there,” the man kindly suggested.

Monty Cross numbly nods, before walking up and accompanying the man out. Several members also leave, leaving only the senior members related to the Esper Council within the room. “Can we be certain all the shadows and watchers are ours and not spies?” A gaunt man asked.

“No, but it is the best we can do. We can only hope and pray this will be enough to keep him safe,” Soren matter-of-factly replied. The members nod in understanding before trailing out and leaving the study. Soren remains behind before reaching into her skirt and pulling out an old-fashioned burner phone.

A few second later a familiar woman’s voice answers. “Yes, Miss Soren?”

Soren softly asks, “Did she agree?”

“Yes, but there is a matter of a position that needs to be arranged,” the woman icily answered.

Soren almost winces at the sharpness of the voice that could grate cheese. “Done and thank you, Giselle-,” Soren said as the phone call sharply cuts off. Soren sighs in understanding as her hands tighten in remembrance of what she had done to that innocent child in her mother’s womb. Soren remains sitting in the study far into the night pondering her own sins and whether they could be excused in the end.

*

Albert Cross angrily finishes packing his new school uniforms as clothes fly mid-air, folding themselves and packing themselves. A giggle announces his younger sister’s presence a sweet eight-year-old girl with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, Mimi. Mimi waltz’s in and begins to dance in the middle of the folding magic show. Albert unable to stay angry smiles and says, “Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?”

Mimi in her long sleeve pink dress pajama shakes her head. “Nope, I snuck out of bed,” Mimi cheerfully said as she stuck her tongue at him.

“You rascal,” Albert growled playfully and grabbed her. He easily tickles her until Mimi begs for mercy.

Breathless and tired, Mimi rests on the bed watching the rest of the clothes finish packing themselves with a flourish as the suitcases close themselves with a snap. “Are you going away for long?” Mimi quietly asked.

“Just for a bit,” Albert said.

“Promise?”

“I Promise.”

Mimi digests the words before saying, “You’ll miss me, won’t you?”

Albert snorts and says, “Yup, I am going to miss you, you little brat.”

Mimi pouts at being called a brat, it takes some creative persuading to have her forgive him. An hour later, Albert tucks his sister back into bed, before wandering down to his parent’s room. Seeing a light still on, Albert politely knocks the door before hearing his mother’s voice calm voice say, “Come in, the doors open sweetheart.”

Albert opens the door to find his mother reading a popular romance novel, about a Changeling named Jacob, a Sanguniem Vorpal named Edward, and a girl named Bella. Albert snorts wryly and says, “I can’t believe you read those books, mom.”

Margaret Cross also known as Maggie to her friends, raises an eyebrow at her son’s response. “I don’t berate you, over your weird habits, do I? Especially those involving socks,” Margaret impishly said.

Albert’s face colors with embarrassment. “MOM! It was a joke!” Albert growled in exasperation.

“Same here,” Margaret Cross truthfully replied.

Albert sighs and walks over to the bed and climbs on. Margaret Cross continues to quietly read until she can’t handle her son’s repeated loud sighs. Keeping in a sigh of her own, Margaret Cross puts down her book and glances over at her son. “What is it, Albert?” Margaret asked.

Albert sighs and says, “Mom, it’s dad. I mean, he doesn’t trust me for heaven’s sake, I’m seventeen years old. I can take perfectly good care of myself and I don’t need a bunch of babysitters to do so for me.”

Margaret patiently listens to Albert finish his rant before saying, “Albert, your father’s just worried. Besides, it’s only for a little bit, then I am certain your father will come around to your idea. In the meanwhile, just be glad that you’re finally going to your dream school.”

Albert perks up and says, “You’re right, Mom.” He places a kiss on his mom’s cheek before scurrying off to his room. Margaret shakes her head ruefully, before returning to her book to find Edward creepily watching over Bella while she sleeps.