Zelie Shacklevolt had no idea how long she had been in the Library, simply looking through the large selection of books it had to offer. Zelie assumed it was rather late, but after seeing a pair of students out on the grounds, Zelie assured herself that it wasn’t past curfew yet. However, soon enough her eyelids began to droop and her mind began to wander. Before she knew it, Zelie had curled up in her favorite chair and was sleeping soundly, a book still open in her lap. 

Jace Thornwood crept out of his dormitory, careful not to wake anyone as he snuck up the many flights of stairs that led to the Library. Jace smiled when he saw the small girl curled up in a chair that was way too big for her. Jace walked over to where Zelie slept and knelt down next to her. He smiled as he noted the still-open book on her lap. Jace brushed her hair from her eyes, smiling. Zelie was so adorable when she slept. Jace would know; she fell asleep in the Library almost every other night. Jace smiled again, noting how Zel’s hair fell over her face, concealing half of it’s beauty. He noticed how young she looked; how peaceful. 

Jace slid his arms under her, lifting her up off of her chair and carrying her out of the Library, careful not to be too loud. Jace was surprised about how light she was, though that would make sense considering her small stature. Jace crept up to the Ravenclaw Common Room entrance. The eagle knocker stared at Jace, but didn’t speak. The door opened, to Jace’s relief. The knocker almost always let Jace into the common room if Zelie was with him. 

He quickly got up into the girl’s dorm (Zelie had taught him to get up without being caught, but she made him promise to never go up unless it was necessary.) Jace laid her down on her bed and gently covered her with the blue blankets. He leaned down, kissing her lightly. “I love you, Zel.” Jace turned around to leave, sneaking down the stairs and out of the common room. 

As he was walking back to his own dorm, Jace began to feel colder and colder. Shivering, he turned the last corner, but was stopped when a cold hand grasped his shoulder. When he turned around to see who it was, denials and excuses already forming on his lips, Jace stopped dead. 

The boy before him was tall, barely taller than Jace, and tan, as if he had spent his life on the beach. The boy looked quite young, however, perhaps Jace’s own age. His dark brown hair was swept to the side, as if he had just taken a walk on the beach, and the ocean breeze had mussed his hair up slightly. The boy was lean, with rather high cheekbones and bright golden eyes, identical to Zelie’s. The boy seemed quite arrogant, carrying himself with pride. The boy’s lips quirked to the side. “Hey. What are you doing out here?”

Jace arched a brow. “The same could be asked of you.” 

The boy chuckled. “Well, you’ve got spirit. The name’s Kaden Brown.” The boy held out his hand. Jace shook it, still hesitant to speak to the boy. Jace hadn’t seen Kaden in the castle at all until now, but perhaps he had just overlooked the boy. 

“I’m Jace,” he responded. 

Kaden nodded. He gestured to the Gryffindor Common Room entrance. “Are you a Gryffindor?” Jace nodded slowly. Kaden smiled. “Slytherin,” he smiled, gesturing to his own robes. “Well, I’ll see you around, Jace.” Kaden turned on his heel and breezed down the stairs, most likely heading to his own dorm. Jace frowned, but did not follow the strange boy. He instead just ducked into his common room, headed into the boy’s dorms, and flopped onto his bed, falling asleep immediately. 

When Jace sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast the next day, Zelie came up behind him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Jace,” she whispered before sitting down behind him, digging into breakfast. Jace smiled, looking back at the brilliant girl behind him, talking and giggling with her friends. Jace shook his head, awed. She was truly incredible. But those thoughts vanished when one of Jace’s own friends, Reece, elbowed him lightly in the ribs. 

“Hey man, did you hear me? Earth to Jace?” Jace shook his head, looking over at Reece. 

“Yeah, uh, what?” The surrounding Gryffindors laughed. 

Reece grinned. “Daydreaming about your girlfriend?” 

Jace grinned right back. “As usual.” The Gryffindor table laughed and giggled again. Jace just bowed dramatically. 

“Well, I don’t blame you. She’s quite the beaut.” Reece looked over at Zelie with an arrogant smile on his face, only to find her staring back at him, unsmiling.

“Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of you,” she responded, flashing a small smirk. The Gryffindor table erupted in laughter, and Reece’s face was as red as a cherry when he turned back around. Zelie just winked at Jace before returning to her meal. 

Jace quickly finished his meal and got up, walking over to Zelie. He quickly kissed her, smiling. “I’ll be on the grounds, Zel.” Zelie’s eyes were bright as she squeezed his hand. 

“When you’re ready, you can tell me.” Jace had just smiled and walked toward the grounds. How she knew that something was bothering him, Jace had no idea. He was starting to think his girlfriend was psychic. 

Jace strolled along the edge of the lake, pondering last night’s encounter, and what it might mean. He was positive that Kaden had not been at the Sorting Ceremony, but if that was the case, how was he in the castle? Jace only knew that Kaden was a Slytherin, and a first-year. It was obvious based on his attire. Jace could not put the pieces together. 

As he pondered, giggling interrupted his thoughts. A pair of students were walking toward him, standing very, very close. Upon closer inspection, Jace could clearly see Calira Shacklevolt and Alexander Thornwood laughing and kissing. Jace quickly averted his eyes and made to move past them, but Cali spotted him. 

“Jace!” She strutted over to him, Alec in tow. Jace didn’t try to hide his disgust. 

“Get away from me.” Jace made to walk away, but his brother caught Jace’s arm. 

“Don’t ever talk to Cali like that. Just because you’re my brother doesn’t mean you get free rein to talk to her like she’s some monster.” Alec’s face was a mask of cold rage. 

Jace simply shrugged. “She is a monster.” Alec lunged at Jace, but he was not strong enough. Jace caught his brother, unsmiling. “She tried to brainwash her sister, who just so happens to be my girlfriend,” he added. His stormy blue eyes were full of wrath. “I suggest leaving her before she does the same to you.” Jace turned on his heel and walked back toward the castle, feeling lighter than before. He could hear Cali’s sniffles, but Jace couldn’t care less. She deserved far worse than a few harsh words. 

Jace walked into the castle and almost ran straight into Zelie. She smiled upon seeing him, weaving her arm through his. “So, did you finish your deep, very important, life-changing thinking?”

Jace chuckled, poking Zelie in the ribs. “Oh, stop it.” Zelie just chuckled, looking back ahead. They were walking up a few stairways, simply wandering aimlessly. Or, that’s what Jace thought, until Zelie ducked under a stony ledge and opened a small wooden door. “Where are we going?” 

Zelie just smiled back at him as she weaved through the corridor before opening another, larger wooden door, which revealed a large room with a few bookshelves, a small desk and chair, and a few cushion-like seats in the corner. Zelie lead Jace over to the cushions and plopped down, dragging Jace down with her. When Jace looked down at Zelie, her face was calm and serene. “I come here whenever I need to think, or be by myself. You’re the only other person who knows about it.” 

Jace smiled softly, taking her small hand in his. “Well, I’m honored.” Jace looked around the small room, seeing why Zelie came here to think. He turned back to the radiant girl before him. Her bright, otherworldly eyes were soft in the light. “Has anyone ever asked you about your eyes?” 

Zelie pursed her lips, sifting though her memories. After a moment, she spoke. “My brother.” 

Jace frowned. “You have a brother?” 

Zelie chuckled. “Yeah, but he’s way older than me. He’s twenty-six now, I think.” Zelie’s smiled began to transform into a melancholy one, full of sadness and despair. 

Jace reached for her hand, squeezing gently. “Zel.”

Zelie snapped out of her daze, shaking her head. “Sorry. I was just—never mind. So, what was it you—” Jace put his finger to her lips, quieting her. 

“Something’s eating at you, Zel.” Jace held her golden gaze, looking concerned. “You don’t have to talk to me, but if you want to get something off your chest, I’m listening.”

Zelie thought for a moment, before nodding slightly. “My brother is way older than me—by ten years. He was always tall and muscular, and very strong.” Jace nodded, still holding her small, slender hand. Zelie took in a breath and continued. 

“He was always angry. Always raging, always full of wrath. Usually, it was targeted at me.” Jace squeezed her hand once again. “I—I never did anything wrong, but he hated me. I don’t know why, and I never will, considering I never want to see his face again.” Zelie took in another shaky breath. “He would beat me. He would grab me and tie a rope around my waist, making sure my arms and legs were also tied up. Then, he would hang me up like a punching bag, and—” Zelie lowered her head. 

“Sometimes he would bring a knife with him. The scars were always where no one could see them.” Zelie wiped her eyes. Jace scooted closer, wrapping his arms around her. 

“Zel, you are the most amazing, gorgeous, brilliant, incredible person I’ve ever met, scars or no. And when I finish school, I will go whip his ass for you if you want.” Despite herself, Zelie chuckled. Jace smiled down at her. “And no matter what, that will never change.” Zelie’s smile light up the small room. “Is that why—when Calira—” Zelie nodded. 

“I was afraid she was turning into Ryan. I was afraid she would turn me into her toy, something she could use and cast aside whenever she pleased, like Ryan did.” 

Jace tightened his embrace. “Well, I’ll make sure no one will ever do that again.” 

Zelie looked up at him, arching her brow. “Are you saying I can’t take care of myself?” Jace grinned, scooping her up and setting her on top of one of the bookshelves. Zelie laughed, looking down at the floor, which was further away than she expected. 

Jace then jumped on top of the table, holding his wand. “Oh no, a damsel in distress! Hold on, madame, I have come to rescue you!” Jace leaped up onto the bookshelf and grabbed Zelie, setting her down on the cushion again. “Now you must marry me!” 

Zelie giggled, but grabbed her own wand. “Ha ha! You thought you rescued a damsel, but you actually freed the evil witch from her prison! Now you must die!” Zelie leaped up onto the table, pointing her wand at Jace’s throat. 

Jace chuckled, raising his arms. “Okay, you win.” 

Zelie smiled, putting her wand back. “Damn right I do.” Jace chucked as she jumped off of the table, holding a hand out to Jace. Jace simply puffed out his chest and jumped down dramatically. 

“I don’t need the help of any damsel! I’m a man.” Jace dusted himself off and crossed his arms. Zelie laughed, shaking her head and walking toward the exit. Jace just watched her for a moment, taking in the brilliant girl before him. And he smiled.