She holds her chin in her hand, gazing somberly at her reflection in her dressing table mirror. It's been some time now since those days back on the mainland. Alterio's been her father for about two years. Thoughts of her birth father have vanished from her mind since Felina's silenced herself, but odd memories of her elder brothers still manifest themselves now and again. But now she's worried for herself.

Tearing her grey-violet eyes from her pale features in the looking glass, she sets her diary on the table before her, and picks up her quill.

"Dear Diary, "Mia seems much better of late, and that terrible Lady Silvana has vanished without a trace. I'm told Grandfather has done away with her, but no one is really certain how such was accomplished. I don't much desire to know. As long as she never returns, I shall be at ease about the matter. Especially since ~she falters a moment~ Jane has said that she's sure Mia will be just fine.

"Alkane and Thirlia keep one another good company, and in turn they keep Mia in good company. Paulie crawls about rather quickly, and you have to watch him every second because he's fond of putting things in his mouth of late. He's even got a few teeth now, and will eat anything set before him, whether he ought to or not. He's such a charming little one.

"Tika takes good care of us all when Father and Jane are busy with their duties, though one or the other is always about to aid us in crisis. I'm most fond of Tika. She's very sweet and awfully pretty, and while she can be stern, she never seems cross. I feel I may be able to talk to her as one lady to another if the need ever arises.

"But what I've really felt the need to write about is myself. I have recently turned twelve years old, about two months ago now, and I'm concerned about what should be done. In a little over ten months, I will be thirteen years of age, and thus a full-fledged lady myself. Before then I must discover what it is I ought to be doing. I feel I should find some way of establishing myself as an adult, and becoming more involved in the world. I mustn't be such a burden on Father any longer. Perhaps he'll wish to have me married. I could, perhaps, write for money, or even teach some of the young ones on the isle to read and write and such-like now that the Academy has been closed down.

"Who I long to talk to most is Uncle Benjamin. I'm not certain why, but I always felt he understood me rather well, and he always looked me in the eye, instead of looking down to me, or treating me like an infant. Not that Jane, or Father, or Tika, or any of the others do, except Felina... It's just that they're all parents to me, and Ben was always more of just a friend.

"I wonder how a girl ought to behave when she becomes a woman on this isle. I've no example to look to. I suppose I'll find out, and I do hope I don't blunder.

"Always and Sincerely,
"Mairin Carazzi"

Departing the table, she looks up to see the little twin monkeys scrambling up the draperies away from Cato, who chatters at them in an irritated fashion. Laughing, Mairin leans down to allow Cato to clamor to her shoulder, and then turns to admonish Luna and Sol.
-Journal Entry 2 August, Mairin Carazzi

~Returning home from the dome, late, actually, very late, she takes up a seat at the table. Slightly singed from a bolt of energy aimed at someone else, and she just 'happened' to be in the way, she drags out her journal to write a bit.~

Well, tonight was eventful, to say the least. Mori was arrested. Eyas and Neo fought.. damn them. Ros wound up with a wound to her gut, trying to stop Neo and Eyas. And I caught a bolt of energy. Lovely.

Eyas and I have more in common than he thought, and he found out what, last night. Speaking with he and Rosalyn about the theif Azereth Blyy, and the missing weapon, which Eyas witnessed that little theft, and what reasons she would have to take the weapon. Ros suggested bragging rights. And Eyas disagreed.. saying who would want to brag about taking Nemesio's sword. How true. No, no theif would brag of a heist. Thats too much like asking to be caught. Nor would a guild, if indeed Azer is part of a guild, brag about it. Too much attention drawn to them, leading to tighter watch from the SSAG. Such information would cause one to recieve a dagger to the back while in the shadows. No, thats not why. Hmm.. there is a reason, though, it could just be extra money.

Well, Father, Thia and I had a discussion last night. Father isnt leaving the Isle, Thia isnt leaving the Isle, and Im not leaving the Isle. Neither is Ben, thats good news. For me, anyhow.

Once again the world turns against the family. So, its nothing new. It happens no matter where we travel. It should be a fact of life for us. Oh well, we will stand together, as a family is meant to do, and face whatever comes.

Thia, when I made it home earlier, was speaking to Father of Taelie's death, and how it was a plan. Such things I had known already, somewhere. Why else would those events have taken place as they did? Oh, well.... its done, over. In the past. Theres enough in the future to deal with.

So, Mori is threatening the land, property, and family. Fine, so be it. Looks like its time to start preparations for whatever is about to be thrown at us.

But, for now, sleep...

Lyrias Dreams Morgan

~Dusting the entry, she rises, carrying it upstairs to her room opened, and lets it rest on the desk, as she changes into one of her nightdresses, and curls up into bed beside Ben, falling asleep.~
-Journal Entry 2 August, Lyrias Dreams Morgan

Rosalyn lays sideways on her bad, sprawled out on her stomach, her journal open in front of her*

Dearest Journal, You think you know a person, then it all changes in one night. I've noticed lately, that Khal has become nicer is the right word I guess, and that he has been very touchy feely, hugging and kissing my hand, things like that. Well, we were speaking about it last night and he became nervous, he left and walked down to the beach. And what do I do? I follow him of course, being as ignorant as I am I could not leave things well enough alone. So I made him tell me what was wrong, and he just tells me that he cares for me, well of course, being as dumb as I am, I reply, of course you do, I care about you too, we are great friends. Then he blurts it out,"I love you". I'm sure I must have known in the back of my head, I'm sure that I just pushed it away, I should have known. I hurt him, I told him that him and I couldn't be, I am with Kev, he knows that, he said so anyway, but he left the beach without another word, I'm afraid that our frienship is going to be hard to face.

Rosalyn Lovine
-Journal Entry 7 August, Rosalyn Lovine

:: Licia paces slightly in her room, morning chores done. A lot was on her mind, including the pent up energy brought on by such an emotional eve. It was almost too much to bear without expression. She takes out her new juournal and begins to write.

"Well I never had a journal before So I'm not so sure How to do this. I guess I just write down stuff that occurs to me and things that need expressing. Hopes, dreams, fears... that sort of thing.

I never had need to write anything before. I didnt have much hope where I came from, I dared not dream, it was a waste of effort and it just made me sad .. and as for fears, well, it did no good to speak them. They would never go away and they never got better.

Being of mixed race (elf/human) and daughter of a 'comfort slave' (as the master liked to call my mother) I never had a thing. I was property. I was nothing... furniture at best, potential whore for the taking upon payment of the 'right price' .. Useful when desired then ignored when not. I had nothing to look forward to, but that changed when my mother decided she wanted better for me than what lay ahead.

Th escape was harrowing, but thru it all I kept hoping that safety would be around the next corner and freedom would embrace me at the docks of the first port. When I arrived here and saw the docks, .. and the women there .. I thought .. well, at least they are free. I knew if nothing else, I could perhaps find 'work' there. But then I met some people who have changed my life. Miss Rosalyn gave me a place to stay. She sheltered me, and helped me to fit in. She even introduced me, like a real person, to her friends. I had never had that. Miss Gwendallin helped me learn to do things around the house and stables and even offered to let me work at the theater they were going to build. They both been real good to me. I cant thank them enough. I dont know how.

And I met the Morgans. Miss Xanthia, Miss Lyrias, Christopher and Lord Jamek. They are real nice people. One of the first things and most amazing things I ever saw was when they resurrected Lord Morgan at the volcano. It was the most spectacular thing I'd ever seen. And he... well.. he's wonderful. I can see why they did it... he's the most fascinating ... well, all right. I confess here and now.

I am falling in love with Jamek Morgan. At first I was merely intrigued with him. He is so very handsome and he seemed so affable, .. impressive and yet approachable at the same time. He has manners and grace, he's so kind and strong and he's really intelligent and .. I could go on for hours and fill pages and pages. I didnt know if I would see a lot of him but then Miss Xanthia hired me to help with the healing of her father's arm which was burned by the resurrection process. I moved into the house and since then I have seen him daily. I help care for Christopher and help treat Jamek's arm. I guess it became obvious that I was attracted to him. It seems like every one was noting it, cook and the maid and the boy who helps with the stables. They all teased me a bit but it werent nothing I couldnt handle. Then a few days ago, he... he asked me to dinner. My heart jumped, I couldnt believe it. I accepted of course, even though I wondered if he just doted on me like one of his children. I hoped not but hey, I thought that was probably it. I didnt dare think thta he returned the feelings I had. It was too much to believe all at once.

And then.. he told me in a round about way that he did think of me as a woman, not a child and that he cared for me more than simple regard as one would look after an employee. I almost fainted.

The eve before last, We went on a picnic on the beach but I think he had some sort of reaction to the wine with all the herbal treatments he is taking. It concerned me greatly. I thought he would become ill and it was my fault. I should have warned him. I was remiss in my duties. Oh I felt horrible. But then He was so understanding about it though and he apologized to me .. To ME! .. for not being more attentive to my entertainment. I could not imagine it. I was amazed by this.

Last eve, we saw one another again. Miss Lyrias shooed me out of the house and told me to go out so I did. When I arrived at the Dome, Jamek was there with Miss Thia. I dont know what they'd been speaking about but they invited me to sit with them. I did. I dont exactly know when she left us alone or why she did but she did. We sat and talked of possibilities and hopes. He asked me what I wanted from life. I didnt dare say "I want you," so I said that I wanted the things he had already accomplished: family, love, success. We talked and talked. It seemed the time flew by.

He told me he considered me with great affection and that he had thought of me that way for some time. I finally got nerve to take a chance and tell him that I could love him, and was more than likely falling in love with him. ...

He told me he felt the same.
My heart soared like it had wings.
He told me that he thinks of me.. Me ..not as a mistress or paramour for keeping company... but with the distinct impending possibility of marriage. As a wife, all proper. The realization still makes my eyes tear up with emotion and I could not speak If I wanted to in this instant. When we walked home he held my hand.

I love him.

I know I do.

... I think that says it all. I should get back to work now."

She sets the journal aside and walks out of her room, leaving the door and the book open. ::

-Journal Entry 7 August, Licia

Dear Journal;

1st of all, I have a house guest. The second in one week. The first was Raven Canales, Chas' little girl. Oh she is a darling child. So well mannered and such a joy. It tears at my heart to see the pain that child has suffered through.

And now, my house guest is a dear friend. Phayde Alindar. He is an elven mage I met while I was away, working on the mainland. I must admit that while I worked there, we grew fond of one another and his manners and delightful company always eased my mind. I wrote to him a few days hence, to tell him of my situation, saying I was awash in grief over Eden's death. To my amazement he arrived this eve to, as he says, check on me and see to my comfort as friends would do in my time of mourning.

His thoughtfulness still astounds me. I rushed over and hugged him thoroughly, such was my amazement in seeing him again. We spoke a little, I introduced him to my Father & to Rosalyn too. He was obviously tired and when I asked if he would stay, he surprised me again. He said that he would sleep outside, but I would not hear of it. I have this empty house, why shouldnt I use it? so he walked me home and got settled in. He was quite exhausted as he said that upon receipt of my letter he flew her straight away. We agreed we would get reacquainted and exchange pleasantries later tomorrow after he is well rested. I hope he stays awhile.

I have more to write but I am tired.. I shall follow Phayde's example and find sollace with pillow and comforter. Till later

Xanthia

-Journal Entry 8 August, Xanthia