Epilogue

EPILOGUE

UNKNOWN

Christmas Eve 2019

I stood on the center of a frozen ice block off the coast of some distant shore. The waves lapped quietly at the rocky beach. The air was cool and crisp, nothing like the freezing temperatures I’d grown used to. I’d never seen an ocean so expansive or water that moved with the tides the way this did. There was an odd smell in the air, a mix of sand, salt, and damp air. The breeze blew my newly grown long hair blow back from my face. I looked down at the pink and purple strands and twirled them between my fingers.

“Focus,” Thaddeus’s deep voice rumbled from too close.

I tilted my head back, looking up and up at him. In this small body, he towered over me. “Yes, my lord.”

He tucked his finger under my chin, forcing my eyes up to meet his. “This body suits you well. It’s an . . . improvement.”

“Thank you, my lord.” I gave him a slight bow.

“And what is your name?” I opened my mouth to answer, and he held his finger up stopping me from speaking. “What is her name? The one you’re supposed to be.”

“Collins.”

“Very good.” He waved me toward the center of the Island. “And who do you seek?”

I thought for a moment. “A vampire named Lexington Prescott.”

His lip curled in a half-smirk and I thought I might live to the end of this night. If I failed, my death would be imminent, and my only hope would be that it was swift. A prolonged death would not be ideal.

“And what are you to get from him?”

“Howard Prescott’s journal,” I answered with a direct monotone voice. It was always best to deal with Thaddeus in the most subservient way possible.

“Take this.” He handed me a necklace made from a simple leather cord with a blue stone hanging at the end of it. “Tie it around your neck. Collins is very well known on this Island. Anyone you come into contact with will forget who you are the moment you meet, even if they know you, and they’ll forget the interaction afterwards.”

I quickly did what he said and tied it around my neck. It didn’t go with this white sparkly dress, but I wouldn’t disagree with his choices. No one would remember me, or should I say her . I looked up at him but said nothing. Silence and obedience had always served me well in the court of Thaddeus.

“Good, now fetch me what I require.” He stepped off the floating piece of ice and onto the water where he just stood there. He flicked his hand, and my piece of ice floated the short distance to the shoreline. When I stepped off the ice, I did as Thaddeus said. I followed the bright, sparkly hanging decorations. I was used to pure white, snow-covered ground, but nothing this delicate or beautiful. Bright lights, music, and laughter filled the air. Excitement traveled on the wind. Never in all my days had I seen anything like this.

I followed the flow of beings who were all dressed up and moving in the same direction. The Island was lovely with small shops and homes. Green pointy plants hung in vines from one side of the street to the other, all covered in lights. If I hadn’t been on a mission, I would’ve lingered on the Island just to look at the lights and ribbons. Instead, I hurried along with the crowd.

When the castle came into view, I sucked in a deep breath. I’d never seen anything like it. It was warm and welcoming, nothing like I’d ever experienced. The building was large and imposing. The exterior was a dark beige with a terracotta tile running over the roof and down the corners of every side of the building. Those reddish tiles surrounded each window and created a beautiful arch atop each one. A covered walkway ran from one side of the front of the castle to the other. Archways held up the roof, making it wide open for anyone to walk under.Strands of lights and garland wrapped around each of the pillars and over the entire castle, lighting it up like little stars in the night sky. There was a line of people outside the door, and I slowly wound my way through them until I got inside.

Trees the shapes of cones were placed in pretty arrangements around the room. They were covered in white, red, and green lights. Snow fell from the ceiling and gathered on the branches but never piled on the floor. Under the trees were perfectly wrapped boxes with bright bows of all shapes and sizes. The wrapping glittered under the soft twinkling lights that hung from the ceiling like icicles.

All around the room those pointy vines were draped from corner to corner. It dazzled with glittering bows, twinkling lights, and little ornaments covered in sparkling beads that were tucked in among the pine branches. Gifts the size of ring boxes danced in the air as if on strings. Trays of warm drinks floated through the room with white puffy-looking things on the side. Cookies and cakes of all shapes, sizes, and flavors were set on a dessert table that ran the length of the room.

I was so taken with the decor that I was distracted beyond what I should have been. Something slammed into me, and I whirled around to find a girl with bright-red hair sprawled on the floor at my feet. My heart hammered in my chest. Thaddeus told me not to make a spectacle of myself.

“Sorry, sorry, shit, sorry!” I bent down and pulled her up as quickly as I could. “I’m so sorry!”

She had long red hair and huge green eyes. A white dress puffed out around her body. When she stood up straight, she seemed almost distracted by looking around. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No, sorry. I’m fine I was just . . . your hair is amazing.”

Relief washed through me and I smiled. I thought her purple and pink hair was amazing too. I turned my head trying to find a vampire that fit the description of Lexington Prescott. “Thank you. I like your dress.”

She touched my arm, getting my attention. “Are you okay?”

I had to think of something to say to her, something someone on the Island might say. “Not really. I need to get off the Island. Do you know how to get to First Realm?”

“The train.” She pointed in the direction I should go in. “Down three blocks on Main Street, then turn right and you can’t miss it. But I don’t think there are any trains this late.”

The thought of running away at the moment and disappearing away from Thaddeus appealed to me more than I thought it would. But there was no hiding from him, not here, not anywhere. That thought alone made my stomach sink.

Her voice was low and sweet. “If you’re in trouble, I can help you?—"

The crowd gasped and spun toward the front doors. The music vanished, leaving the party eerily silent. I turned around just as the crowd began to part at the front door. Whispers floated through the room like a wave. I heard the name of the guest a fraction of a second before the crowd split for him up ahead. Whispers of Prince Riven filled the room, and I wanted to stay as far away from him as I could.

“Prince Riven?” He wasn’t supposed to be here. Thaddeus told me to avoid him at all costs. Panic filled my body. “Prince of Megelle Island?”

The girl shook her head. “The Vauntero family rules the Island. King Ailwin and Queen Zenobia.”

“Then who is he ?” Thaddeus gave me so little information.

Prince Riven sauntered into the ball like he owned it. He looked formidable, as though no one could or would challenge him. Thaddeus was right to warn me against him. He had midnight-black hair, a sharp jawline, and sharp cheekbones, but his eyes were an icy light-blue.

The girl licked her lips. “Prince Riven. Vampire Prince of Fourth Realm.”

I gasped. “ Fourth Realm. He’s from there? Like he’s their royalty?”

“Yup. He’s older than this Island, basically.” She looked me up and down. “Are you from Third Realm?”

“No . . .” I didn’t want to lie, but I was on a mission. “Yes. Kinda. Both.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion. “What’s your name?”

“Collins,” I answered as I was trained.

“I’m Reese.” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “My father told me there’s a secret portal into The Emerald in First Realm.”

I pretended to be interested, knowing I would never make it there or anywhere else. “Where?”

“I don’t know. The Vaunteros might help you, but there’s an even better chance Prince Riven will.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He’s old. He loves breaking rules just for the sake of it.” She shrugged and smirked. “Get him alone for a few minutes and ask. Tell him Tirian’s daughter, Reese, sent you.”

I nodded, wishing that I could meet someone like this someday or that I could have a friend like her. But even if I wanted her to remember me at this moment, the necklace around my neck ensured she wouldn’t. “Thank you, Reese. One day I’ll return the favor.”

Just then I spotted a vampire that fit Lexington’s description. I hurried after him, hoping to get a moment alone with him. He was tall with dark hair and light-blue eyes that flared with excitement while he spoke to a woman with black hair. He held his hands out pleading with her. “Please. I love her. She’s my soulmate. Help me out here. I can be good to her. I just need a chance.”

The woman pursed her bright-red lips and narrowed her eyes. After a long moment, she sighed. “I saw her head onto the terrace.”

He grinned. “Thank you, Ria!”

“Don’t make me regret it!” She held her finger in his face. “I will injure you if I need to.”

But Lexington had already used his speed to get to the terrace. I wound my way through the people following him. I stepped out onto the terrace and a hand wrapped around my throat, cutting off the air to my lungs. With a speed I didn’t understand, I was dragged into the dark shadows away from the music, away from the party, away from my mission. My back slammed into a wall, and Prince Riven was in my face.

His voice was low and filled with seething rage. “You’re not Collins.”

I shook my head. I was going to die, right here and now. Either Thaddeus or Riven would kill me. I closed my eyes, praying it would be quick.

He leaned in closer to hiss in my ear, “Tell Thaddeus I expected better.”

My mission has failed.