The night was cold during that second of November; sitting on the front porch with her tiny shoes waving in the air on the door step, a girl no more then five years old. Her name was Sapphire, Sapphire Murgiere. It had been a month since they had moved into the old rusty home of California, enjoying each other and laughing. Everything changed though, especially on this one specific night.

You see, the neighborhood, wasn't the best of places and for this unfortunate small girl and her family, so life soon became a dead end with nowhere to turn. It started with yelling, then banging and soon shots, powerful, horrible gun shots… After that it was nothing but darkness. Then before she knew it, she was outside, drinking hot cocoa from her Grandma who coincidentally came to visit for the week, finding her shaken underneath the bed on a misty afternoon the next day, spurring about "monsters".

She wasn't sure how it all happened but the truth was inevitable, her family was gone and they weren't coming back. Sure she could lie to herself, but the moon saw it all, the screams, the agony, the horror. Yet for some peculiar reason she couldn't bring herself to cry. Instead, she sat there, humming a gentle tune, playing with her favorite jaguar doll. The cops said she was just in shock and would end up normal again; it was funny because her Grandma had said the very same thing, although, she could indefinitely see the doubt in her eyes about the issue.

She was all that was left now, her and Grandma Joni.  

"Sapphire…" A frail gentle voice spoke from beside her, a slightly jumpy Sapphire turning to her with huge eyes. It was odd how they shined in the dark instead of the sunlight.

"You'll be living with me now, in Spain, in El Pueblo." Her lip quivered as slight tears escaped her, she wiped them away and smiled but Sapphire continued staring at her with no emotion.

"I-Is that alright?" She wasn't sure what else to say so she was about to repeat herself until the girl replied.

"Sure Granny!" She smiled sweetly and continued playing with her Jaguar, the Grandmother unsure what to say to the response except for a confused smile.
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And like that, they were off. After just a few days living in a hotel, they went to Spain. Young Sapphire still not showing any signs of sadness or depression.

Grandma Joni wasn't sure what to think of all this, a part of her accepted the Doctor's remarks, that she was in shock and just needed time. But a part of her was saying something was off about this child. If she had stayed with her for longer then just these past few days she would know and understand the girl more. But alas, she was only five. So she wouldn't have gotten too far.

Catching the frail old woman's twitching gaze, Sapphire replied. "Granny, why are you looking at me like that? You don't think I…" She went silent, her eyes shaking a bit as slight pools floated under her gaze.

Feeling awful to think wrong of her Grand daughter, let alone make her think she wanted ill will against her. She placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed it with a sweet smile "Of course not."

Sapphire slowly smiled in return and hugged her arm tightly, the Grandmother surprised by the sudden motion and driving with a bit of a surprised edge, the child Sapphire, not seeming to let go and suddenly clinging all the harder Joni couldn't help but begin panicking.

"H-Honey please let go I can't drive with one arm…"

"…on't… le…e." She said incoherently and Joni herself was almost afraid to ask her to repeat herself.

"W-What?"

"I said, don't leave me… please." She said sadly now, looking at her with tears flooding.

'Jeez, what was she expecting her to say? "I want your blood?"' She felt all the more ashamed now and sighed.

Taking in the plea with hurt and worry, the Grandmother choked a bit in response but nodded to her, a nervous laugh showing.

"I-I won't, I promise."

She stared at her intently for the truth, but once seeing her Grandmother give her what she wanted to hear, she released. "Thank you…" With that, she turned to watch the road ahead of her solemnly and studied it, clutching the stuffed wild cat closer to her chest.

Grandma Joni, unsure of what to say… She just continued driving. Not a single word was spoken until they got to the village.
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When they had arrived, Joni didn't know what to think. Would she like it here? Would she hate it here? By the look in her eyes there was still no defining difference of new emotion. If there was anyway to make this awkward silence break, it was now. After all, they couldn't just stay silent forever.

She gave another smile to little Sapphire as she turned to her in return with curiosity.

"Are we here already?"

"Yep" she responded with a soft giggle.

Excited by the new place oddly enough despite its boring and overly dusty appearance, Sapphire jumped out and began chasing the chickens and proudly meeting everyone in site. A part of Joni was laughing but another was concerned. She didn't want to seem like the rude abandoning parent of a child so she slid out of the car and began following the eccentric little brat.

"Joni? Who is that?" Said a curious booming voice from behind her, Joni herself twirling to face the chief of the village, Bitorez Mendez, no one could ever mistake him. He was the tallest man in the entire village of El Pueblo ironically and she was strangely glad to see him. It took her a few minutes to realize he asked a question though.

"Ah, yes, she's my granddaughter, Sapphire Murgiere. She just lost her parents, so I'm going to nurture her in my care. If that's alright with you of course sir…" She giggled a bit with a gentle blush and Mendez smirked sincerely.

"Of course it is, the little senorita is always welcome… However, she is of but American blood is she not?"

"Oh dear, I know we are against such things but, is that truly such a difference chief? She's still my little baby girl."

The chief closed his eyes and gently began stroking his beard in thought, until little Sapphire began running right up to him at that very moment.

"You're so tall~" She sang happily before giggling, Joni in return coughing and giving a slight glare for her to give manners. However the glare was unseen and Sapphire just continued smiling and giggling.

Mendez slightly surprised but also annoyed gave a dark chuckle and shook his head now. "So you're Sapphire, hmm?"

"Uh huh!" She responded bravely with a grin.

"I see… Tell me something Sapphire, do you like work?"

Sapphire blinked now with a solemn frown, shaking her head; which in turn made Mendez chuckle all the more. "Then I suggest you treat your elders with manners." He smiled big and gently rubbed the small child's head, Sapphire in return just smiling slowly right back.

"Hey, can I show you a picture I just drew?"

'What?' Grandma Joni was shocked, how in the world did she make a drawing so fast? Wasn't she saying hello to all of the children and adults of the village?

Of course, before she could truly protest the contradiction she felt her hand become grabbed and was soon being walked over to a giant picture on the floor… In, chickens blood?!

Her eyes widened at the sight but Sapphire just smiled cutely and danced in the giant and disturbing picture, not caring how much blood was getting on her shoes.

Mendez, curious as to what was happening, followed the two close behind but also stopped in his tracks and stared at the 'painting' on the grounded dirt before him.

Grandma Joni, just began sputtering incoherently, trying to explain to Mendez as to why she had done this, but in all honesty, even she didn't know why either.

"P-Please sir, I can explain…!"

Mendez held a hand up to her to become silent and just calmly walked over to Sapphire, bending down to her size. He was in shock yes, but he could tell a sign of madness when he saw one. Lord Salazar himself had done something similar when his very parents had died a week prior.

"Is this picture your mom and dad?" He smiled weakly.

Sapphire gasped cutely and held her hand up to her mouth, before giggling and grinning. "How did you know~"

"Lucky guess…" He chuckled a bit dryly, before standing up and gazing at Grandma Joni. "You got quite the handful my dear."

Joni stared in shock now, her mouth silenced to hear the chief's words. Was she keeping the child still, seriously? After all of this just appeared!?

She was about ready to scream until a very gentle but also charming chuckle was heard from behind her. Scared and disturbed, Joni flipped to the now small boy standing in front of her.

He was quite small, no more then perhaps 3'11, although his eyes and hair were quite dark and mature for his visuals, he truly did look like a kid… But she knew better, this was Ramon Salazar.

"What a wonderful picture!" Ramon said with a smile, walking over to the picture and gazing at it intently, a nervous Mendez watching with worry.

"Ramon, you know bet-"

"Hush!" he hissed before slowly smiling and looking back to the young girl Sapphire.

"Did you make this?"

Sapphire slowly nodded with a very innocent and curious expression, her mouth a bit agape as she pondered the small boy in front of her.

Salazar smiled all the brighter and clapped "We have quite the artist with us Mendez."

Mendez sighed and gave a weak smile, standing upright and giving young Sapphire a nod before backing away, he could tell the young new Master wished to congratulate her.

Salazar was happy by the deed and quietly walked to Sapphire, showing his hand but instead of shaking it, Sapphire hugged him.

Irritated, disturbed and disgusted by the embrace, he growled and pushed her off.

"Don't touch me American." He hissed before fixing himself and gaining his smile back at her hurt face.

"Now, I just wanted to say… Welcome to El Pueblo, I am the eighth castellan, Ramon Salazar."