Wow! Fifteen Reviews on my first chapter! Incredible! Once again, my lovely friends VanderSpektacular and InChrist-Billios helped with the editing! They're so marvelous I would be dead without them! Now for the replying!

QueenOFTheFaeries: Great, I'm so glad you like it! You're right, I was kinda mad myself after spending six months and thirteen chapters on it, but it's definitely better this time. Much richer, more detailed, and yet less extravagant at the same time!

orange3embers: Wow, I'm glad you liked the old version so much! Although I don't recall you reviewing :(. And if you liked that, I know you're gonna love this!

the bookkeeper: Yeah, it definitely doesn't start out with a bang, but I like how the momentum builds up more. This chapter is calm and informative, gradually building up to an out of control climax and settling back down again, waiting to rise once more. Without the sense of security I think you'd get lost. But, I might to spice things up during the final revision. I'll definitely keep your comment in mind! Oh and you'll find everyone's ages in this chapter. There's a bit more detail on her family here.

GeminiAngel236: Gemini! Great to hear from you again! Yes, the picture is definitely an interesting mystery, but keep it in mind because you'll soon see more of it.

Maryann234: Yep, it's definitely "revamped" (love that word, it's so cool). Glad you like how she's introduced, I wanted you to see her before she became so weak and docile, ya know? Thanks for the review!

Thai Libre: Yeah, sorry, I decided to take chapter fourteen off a little too early, but at least I'm up and updating again! I hope you love the new changes, I certainly do!

Crayola Color Sky: Thanks for all the compliments, you're great! I liked the animals, too, it was a spontaneous decision to give them all personalities, but I thought "Go for it!"

LJane: You're definitely right, I did lose it sometimes in the description. I plagued it with unnecessary details. But glad you're lik'n this one! I hate Charles, too, but the Beast isn't going to be introduced until about a fourth of the way through the story. So, sorry!

Jocanda: Ah, my dear friend! So good to hear from you again! You'll see most of the familiar faces and personality in this revision. They'll just be a little bit zanier!

Piratesswriter: Backroads? Is that you? It's definitely not as detailed as before, but I can always add more. It's taking away detail that's the hardest. Glad you liked the label part! I see you're catching on. Rose's parents play a very distinctive role in this!

Captain Fantastic: Captain! You're making me blush! I wouldn't suggest talking to the hawk, he doesn't sound very friendly! (EEK) Eighteen stories at once? Marvelous! I say go for it!

B. Harris: I'm so glad you liked how I described her childhood! It was very difficult, but your praise makes it well worth it! Yes, I'm glad I used the spotlight effect, too. I wanted the reader to know her, but not tire of her. Thanks for all the praise. Miss ya!

magz88: Glad you like the animals! I wouldn't mind talking to them myself! Thanks for the review!

Queen of the Fairytales: Oh, yes I remember you! Great to hear from you again! I'm thrilled that you liked my story so much! I think this version will be even better!

Octopus Knight: Wow, I'm so flattered that you love my story so much! Glad you built up the courage to comment, I'm always thrilled to hear from you! My style has changed, glad you noticed and I'm even gladder it held your attention the whole time! I hope you do enjoy this better, I know I will! Love ya!

I was taken immediately to the washroom where they proceeded to violate each and every part of my body. It was nauseating. Where was the dear Mother Earth that clung safe and snug beneath my fingernails and my ears? Why had they robbed my hair of its earthy fragrance and replaced it with an oily, artificial one? They told me they were cleaning me, but I knew what they were really doing was tearing me from the memory of the woods I held so dear. It was terrifying!

They then dressed me in a large, frilly frock with an obscene amount of layers and ribbons. I felt like a giant china doll, frivolously dressed up with no one to play with. It would almost appear that I was meeting a potential suitor and not my Father. A giant ribbon was strung through my hair and a few paddings of rouge were applied to my cheeks, though the sun had already given them a naturally rosy glow. My feet were eased into tightly laced slippers that only a dancer should be forced to wear.

I emerged from the room feeling like a crime to my nature. The servants kept brushing my hair and putting more make-up on my face. I saw Kat grace across the hallway. I suppose I had never noticed how beautiful she was, even at eight. She had beautiful long locks of gold and alluring green eyes. Her figure was graceful -it was evident even in a child- and her poise was steeped with elegance.

I smiled at her from across the room. She didn't notice me and continued on down the stairway. James appeared at the other end. He was gently dabbing his beautiful silk doublet while the servants buttoned up his velvet navy vest. He looked so mature for an eleven year old. His features were broad and angular and his physique was already displaying proof of arduous training and exercise. His hair, like Kat's, was blond and curly, although his was cropped close to his head. His dark green eyes gleamed with a mysterious force that even a full-grown man could feel threatened by.

The servants slipped my hands into a pair of silk gloves and I moved down the stairs and into the dining room. A seat was already pulled out for me and when I positioned myself in front of it the butler kindly pushed it in.

I looked around me. The deep scarlet curtains were pulled back, illuminating an assortment of fruit in a silver bowl resting comfortably on a rose embroidered tablecloth. It felt dreamy, as if today was the start of a mystical, magical era of endless bliss.

But was endless bliss going to be an endless dress-up tea party?

James arrived and sat at the foot of the table. He and Kat folded their hands politely and sent each other brief looks before staring elsewhere. It was uncomfortable, the three of us together: almost intimidating. I was clearly out of place. They were refined and elegant and I was…well, clearly nothing of the sort.

It was Kat who broke the long silence. "Rose, you mustn't say anything to Father. You'll only get in the way. It's obvious you've never stepped foot in decent society."

"And don't make animal noises," replied James.

"And if he asks you questions either respond as if you are a dumb mute or merely too ignorant to understand what he is saying." Kat stated again.

"And if he tells a joke you must laugh, but not too much." I turned to face James again.

"And you must agree with every point he makes." Now it was Kat's turn.

"And most importantly-"

"You must never mention Mother!" they both said sternly at the same time.

There came from behind a loud boom as the two large doors of the front entrance swung open dramatically. I could hear voices from the distance.

"Sir, it's splendid to see you back from the war!" I heard the rustling of silk as our Butler, Alain, removed some sort of coat and hung it in the rack.

"Where are they?" came a soft, gentle voice. "Where are my children?"

"They're in the dining room sir," Alain replied.

James and Kat rushed out of their chair and out of the room shouting, "Father! Father, you're back! You've returned!"

There was great merriment ringing throughout the halls. Laughter chimed like great bells on a hill, sweetly sounding through mountains of loneliness. I pushed myself out of the chair and peeped around the corner of the great chamber. There, in the center of it all, stood a man tall and as handsome as I had imagined he would be, with bright green eyes and curly blond hair like his children. They were all so similar it was alarming to know that I belonged to the same family.

I moved around the wall quietly and watched them for a moment. They were hugging and yelling and kissing and crying all at the same time: it was wonderful. What love! What vivacity! How could there exist a more wonderful family?

I stepped quietly out into the open, hardly knowing what to say. Here was a man I had seen only in glimpses and had never spoken to. Did he even remember me? Perhaps I should be subtler in my approach. Besides, I had no intention of ruining this joyous moment. But then again, shouldn't I be apart of it?

I stepped forward again and then back, not quite certain what I should do. Perhaps waiting was the best option. I placed my feet back together and stood awkwardly for a few moments. They didn't notice me at first, such was their gaiety, but after a while they calmed down and looked up.

I made an attempt to speak. It failed. Instead, I stood shaking like an imbecile. Father chuckled to himself before straightening his gaze out in my direction.

Our eyes met.

It is very difficult to describe what happened next. I cannot accurately explain the change that took place in that moment. I saw, for a brief, shining moment, the fire of love and exuberance in his face. The minute they rested on me that fire was extinguished with a great glacial wave. A dark shadow flickered over his brow. His smile disappeared. The warm green eyes turned to ice.

"Who are you?"

I tried to speak again, but my body was petrified. I couldn't move; such was the power of his gaze. I felt as if I had suddenly been turned into a marble statue.

"Well?"

I managed to swallow and say, "Hello, Father."

The room fell very silent. Everything was suspended in time. I felt like I had said something terribly, terribly wrong.

"You'll forgive me, but I do not recall having a third child, though I did not think I was so old as to forget such an important matter."

I stood there stammering, wanting desperately to run away, but I was too petrified to make any such movement.

His brow narrowed. "I believe you still have not answered my question. Who are you and what are you doing in my house?"

My cheeks became a genuine red. "I-I'm R-R-Rose, F-F…sir," I did not want to make the same mistake and call him "Father" again.

"Is there a reason that you are in my house or isn't there? I haven't got all day."

There was a long silence.

Kat tugged on his coat-sleeve. "Father, please, may we eat now? I'm starving and I haven't had a thing to eat all day?"

He turned and smiled down at her. "Of course! But don't you want to open your presents first!"

"Presents!" James and Kat both rang out.

"Of course, follow me!" he boomed and swept off out the front door towards the carriage. They ran after him giddily like cats with a trailing string.

I did not move. I could not move.

But I had to leave.

Whatever had just transpired was not only horrific, but evidently destined to send my quaint years plummeting into a nightmare of misery and grief. The look in his eyes wasn't surprise or concern. It wasn't jesting; it wasn't confused.

The look on his face was a look of insatiable hatred.

I shrank to the floor. I almost wanted to cry, but I was still too scared. What I needed to do was leave, right now.

My feet weren't listening. My mind screamed at them to leap up and run, but they refused idly. My hands were too busy trembling and holding my quaking arms to pull the rest of my body across the floor.

So I waited.

A maid came down the stairs a found me a few minutes later. "What on Earth are you doing lying on the floor?"

I stared at her, speechlessly. Her gaze softened. "Here, let me help you up."

She lifted me up and I tried to stand again, but my feet were still too wobbly. I collapsed again and started to cry. The maid frowned again. "Miss, it's not going to help anyone if you just go around falling and crying all over the place."

I couldn't stop.

She sighed and left me, returning a few moments later with Alain who promptly picked me up and carried me upstairs.

"Where do you want her?" he said disinterestedly.

"Gracious, I don't know what to do with the child! Put her in one of the spare bedrooms, just so long as she's out of the Master's way."

Alain found a room a few corridors down from Kat's and laid me on the great silk covered bed. "Now, stay here, understand? Go to bed or read quietly, but don't disturb the Master. He's tired as it is. Got enough to recover from without that awful war on his mind."

Then he left.

I didn't stop crying. I tried. The tears just came. Soon there was a large wet spot on the nice silk bedspread. Then I cried because I had probably ruined the bedspread.

I must have fallen asleep because I suddenly awoke with a jolt to the sound of thunder. It was near and menacing, almost deliberately so. The sky was strangely dark, even though moments ago it had seemed blue and clear. How long have I been asleep for? I wondered.

There was a gust of rain that blew in from the windows and I realized, to my surprise, just how cold and wet it was in the small room. I sat up and moved towards the door, but then stopped. Father was no doubt about in the house. Did I dare risk any unwanted meetings with him?

I took in a deep breath. He was probably nowhere to be seen right now and if I moved quickly I would be able to retreat back to my shelter in the woods. My friends were, no doubt, worrying about me.

I turned the knob and stepped gingerly out into the hallway, making my feet as soft as velvet brushing against satin. Somewhere a shutter flapped violently against the wall, sending a shiver down my spine. I didn't know this house very well, even if I had lived in it all this time, and the prospect of it being haunted was very believable to me. There was an eldritch sensation to this place.

I strolled down the corridor briskly. It was long and almost irregularly so. My eyes flickered like a dying flame as they moved from one painting to the next. Even though we had a huge and magnificent gallery there were still beautiful works of art strewn amongst the walls. Most of them were landscapes, but a few showed people standing up or looking serious in an armchair.

I turned the corridor and halted. Shadows grazed up and down the wall, emitted from an open door down on the right. A voice sounded through the halls giddily, although I could not make out what it said at first. After a while I recognized it to be Kat's and she appeared to be talking to someone.

"Marie, would you like more tea?"

Another voice followed, shrill and unnaturally pitched: "Why, yes, Miss Kat I would love some tea."

"Here you are Marie."

"Thank you, Miss Kat, you're the kindest, prettiest girl I know."

"Why, thank you Marie. I think so, too."

What an odd friend, I thought. Clearly, she must like Kat very much to shower her with praise like that.

I heard a shriek from her room, and hid from view as fast as I could. The door burst open completely and Kat ran down the hallway crying. "Daddy, I burned my hands with the tea kettle!"

I moved out from view and, after her footfalls were too distant to be heard, proceeded to slip around the corner. I was curious to see whom her friend was, the one who had praised her so highly. Why had she not left with Kat?

I slipped into Kat's bedroom and peeped around the door. No one was there, surprisingly, but as I turned to leave I noticed a small porcelain doll that sat comfortably on a chair pulled up close to an elaborate china tea set. I moved to her curiously. She looked remarkably like Kat. Long tresses of gold framed her small, white face and her eyes were a pale peridot green. Her gown was made of genuine silk and possessed intricate pink rose embroidered over a crème background. She was breathtaking.

I picked her up and cradled her in my arms. She felt so real, as if at any minute her glassy look would melt into a genuine smile. I rocked her back and forth, gently.

A small gasp from afar drew my attention. I looked up, alarmed, to see Kat standing in the doorway. She gave me a look of the utmost horror.

"What are you doing to my Marina?" she demanded.

"I-I'm sorry," I replied nervously. "I only wanted to look at her. I'll put her back."

"Don't touch her!" Kat shrieked. "Don't ever touch her! Give her to me!" I handed the doll quickly to Kat, but Kat's burned hands reacted before I could.

At once I heard a terrific shatter.

Kat screamed. I heard footsteps and Father immediately barged in. "What's wrong, Katrina? Did you burn yourself again?"

Kat broke out into hysterical sobs. "She ruined my new doll! The present you gave to me!"

He turned to me savagely.

"I-I'm sorry, please. I didn't m-mean to, I was j-just-…"

He looked back to Kat and held very still before turning once more to my direction. "You'll pay for that," he said chillingly through gritted teeth. His fists clenched threateningly. "Every last cent."