Castles crusted with diamonds along balconies and doors. Candles glowed through the windows rimmed by lavender trees and glowing green grass. The clouds framed the speared points of the roof.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the crisp air. Deep in the distance I could hear a waterfall thudding against the rocks at the bottom of the bay.

“Payton!”

I loved the way the trees with their thin trunks grew up the mountain side. They looked like flowers in a field, standing out like a spotlight against the grass.

“Payton!”

I could feel the glossy floor of the castle was beneath me, and I could almost hear the birds calling my name in the distance.

“Payton!”

“What, Mom?” I rubbed my eyes.

“It’s time to go!”

My head snapped to the left, gazing into the clock.

8:01.

I’m late!

As Lucian lay on the roof, lost in his thoughts, a scrawny bat with a ragged wing and a missing ear flitted into his view. With a soft rustle, Lucian’s bodyguard, Boris, perched beside him, his feathered form becoming a shadow against the pale moonlight.

"Running from your responsibilities is not solving them, young prince," Boris remarked, his voice a mix of concern and frustration.

Lucian sat up slowly, his disinterest evident as he turned his gaze away from his bodyguard. "You’re not my father, Boris. I don’t need you looking after me," he retorted, frustration bubbling beneath his facade.

"Your father did want you to be safe," Boris continued, his tone firm yet sympathetic. "He wanted you to avoid entanglements that might bring discord to our house—a Wolfbane, no less. And not to mention—" Boris hesitated slightly, the weight of the unspoken words lingering in the cool night air. "A male."

Lucian bristled at the comment, a surge of indignation pushing through him. But before he could voice his protest, Boris pressed on, his gaze unwavering. "But that’s not the point— the vampire conclave wants to see you."

The mention of the conclave caused Lucian's heart to sink. He could already feel the suffocating expectations that came with their summons. Lucian’s mind raced through the implications of their request. The conclave was not just a gathering; it was a council of the most powerful vampires, each with their own agendas. Being called upon could bring scrutiny, especially with his recent actions.

"Fine, I’ll go," Lucian muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. The thought of facing the conclave twisted his stomach in knots, yet he knew avoiding it would come with its own consequences. The fear of what they might demand loomed over him like a storm cloud, but he had to assert some control over his life.

"Are you sure, young prince?" Boris questioned, his tone softening. "You don’t have to face them alone. I can accompany you."

"I'll handle it," Lucian asserted, determination edging into his voice. "I need to face this on my own." He took a deep breath, staring out over the valley that surrounded Bloodhaven, gathering his thoughts and emotions.

As he gathered himself, he felt the glint of the ring Rylan had given him, nestled beneath his cloak. "Is there anything else I should prepare for?" Lucian asked, casting a glance back at Boris.

Boris's eyes held a weight of knowledge that Lucian could sense. "They may challenge your choices, but remember, young prince, you have the strength of your lineage behind you. Your father believed in you—so do I."

Lucian nodded, summoning a spark of resolve. He needed to embrace who he was, not just for himself but for Rylan and Celeste too. Rising to his feet, he stared resolutely ahead, determination settling in his chest. “Let’s get this over with,” he said, wiping the remnants of doubt from his mind.

As they prepared to take off, Boris landed on a nearby ledge, his eyes scanning the horizon. "And once we’re done, you should seek out Rylan," he advised quietly. "It’s time to reconcile with your heart and your duties."

Lucian allowed a fleeting smile at the thought of Rylan, warmth flooding through him before the weight of reality pressed down again. “I will.”

With that, the two took to the night sky, the castle fading into the dark below as they embarked toward the unknown—a journey filled with challenges from the vampire conclave, questions of identity, and the hope of rekindling a connection with Rylan that felt like a distant dream.

Back at the border, anger crackled in the air as a furious vampire strode toward Lucian, his eyes blazing with outrage. “What the hell, young prince?!” he barked, his voice sharp as a blade. “You draw your weapon against your own kind? I swore an oath to protect you from danger, not to see you defending dogs!”

Lucian’s heart sank further at the reprimand. He felt the weight of his decisions crashing down on him, the memory of Rylan’s fretting gaze still fresh in his mind. “It was necessary!” Lucian countered, defending his actions not just for himself but for Rylan and Celeste. “They were threatened.”

“Your mother will hear about this,” the vampire hissed, clenching his fists at his sides, as if holding back the urge to physically restrain him.

Without waiting for a response, Lucian pushed past his bodyguard, ignoring the looming threat in those words. He took flight, soaring through the forest, the cool night air brushing against his skin, the trees blurring past him. He didn’t stop until he reached Bloodhaven, a castle that loomed ominously over the valley. Its gothic architecture stood stark against the moonlight, a ring of mountains guarding the city from prying eyes.

With one final effort, Lucian flew into his window, landing softly in his well-decorated room—a sanctuary that felt void of warmth in that moment. Anger pulsed through his veins, and he pounded his fist against the stone wall, the echo of his frustration reverberating through the silence. He was furious not just at the situation but also at himself for allowing it to escalate.

His gaze fell upon the ring that Rylan had given him, gleaming on his desk. Picking it up, Lucian felt a pang of longing for the brief moments they had shared, and the bond that had formed amid the chaos. With a sigh, he quickly slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling the familiar comfort it provided.

Then his hand brushed against something else in his cloak pocket—the crushed remnants of a moon pastry, a reminder of the carefree times they had enjoyed together under the willow tree. He had thought carrying it would bring him closer to Rylan, but now it felt more like a bitter reminder of what he had lost.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Lucian’s bodyguard stood on the other side, his presence a reminder of his obligations and the danger that still lingered. Lucian, feeling the walls of his room close in on him, couldn't bear the thought of being confined any longer.

With an impulsive flick of his wrist, he flew out of the window again, soaring high above the castle. The cool night air enveloped him, calming his turbulent thoughts as he landed softly on the roof. Lying there, he stared up at the star-specked sky, letting the weight of his emotions wash over him. The fear and confusion surrounding Rylan and Celeste churned in his chest, and guilt gnawed at him.

“Why did it have to come to this?” he whispered into the night, hoping the stars would carry his questions into the cosmos as he lay atop the castle, the world below fading away, torn between the duty to his bloodline and the bonds he had formed with those he cherished.

In the stillness, amidst the distant whispers of the wind, Lucian made a silent promise to himself—to seek out Rylan and Celeste again, to understand the choices that lay before him, and to forge a path that honored both his heritage and his growing feelings for the young wolf. Even if it meant bridging a divide that seemed insurmountable, he would not let fear dictate his destiny.

One upon a time there was a big old castle, right next to a bit waterfall. Inside the castle lived a royal family. Even though there were no other people living nearby to rule over, they were officially the rulers of this beautiful kingdom. The king and king had a son and daughter and since there were no other children living in the are, they were each others best friends. They loved doing together, like diving from the waterfall and swim in the river or ride the horses through the green hills. They played outside most of the time. Then one day…

The clouds were closing in and the winds blew violently. The kingdom of Illyria had fallen to the Dwarves. People all around the kingdom screamed and ran for cover. (write what happens next in the comments)

“You look-“ I stare at the incredible suit my brother has made in only two months. “Do you think it’s too much?” He smooths down a nonexistent wrinkle in the light lavender silk. “Absolutely not. Don’t even. You look fabulous and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. That includes yourself.” I flick him in the forehead and laugh. A knock on the door cuts me off and Clade stiffens. “Go get it.” I nudge him. He cautiously walks to the door. “Hello. Does Clade Wren live here?” “Yes, that’s me.” Their conversation muffles as tears well in my eyes. This is good for him. This is an opportunity that will give him a good life. Yet, knowing that this is what I want for him, the rotten void in my mind whispers words filled with jealousy and hate. I shake the thought away and the world refocuses. Clade stands in front of me holding the box containing the queen's new gown. “Veren, you're doing it again.” He whispers. The guard at the door stares at me, his hand resting on his crossbow. “I’m sorry.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “Are you gonna sneak to the bridge?” Clade nudges. “Ya I’ll follow behind you. I’ll meet you at the bridge afterwards.” He hugs me and skips to the royal transport. I stand there and watch him go. Fear welling in my gut. My feet refuse to move and my body weighs. A terrible stabbing pain shoots through my head as Clade rides away. ~He's going to rat on you.~

Darkness fills my eyes and my sclera fades to black.

~They're gonna find you~ the darkness whispers

“No,” I whisper, trying to get the void out of my head, “Clade wouldn't.”

~He's not like you. Clade is one of them, you can't hide him from the echo forever.~

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” I squeeze my eyes as hard as I can and I feel the void reseed. I brush myself off and stand. Clade’s satchel on the table falls and a small glass bottle rolls towards me. It's filled with the dust of the Echo. In the back of my mind the Void laughs. I jump back. Echo dust kills people of the Void. “He- He’s scared of me.” Hot tears drip down my cheeks and I scramble out the door. I run to the Darkness. The void smiles at my tears. “I need help.” A hand of darkness reaches out and drags me down, into the forbidden kingdom of the Void.

(sclera - the white part of your eye) Im gonna start writing part 3 tomorrow :D I'll probably post it on Monday.

Shaded cold grass pricks my skin. The castle, from a distance, looks beautiful and majestic. People like me aren’t allowed in the palace but my brother is. He got an invite months before.

You’ve been invited to the annual echo ball! In honor of the young emperess’s 15th birthday please bring a small gift

“Wait. Veren, where’s yours?” Clade asks, concern growing over his face.

I offer a small smile “Those of the void are not invited into the palace.” Clades mouth drops. “They can’t invite one twin brother and not the other!” He throws the invite in the ground, “I’m not going without you!” I sigh, “Yes you are.” He open his mouth to argue but I cut him off, “I will come with you but I can’t cross the bridge.” “We can just sneak you in!” I point to my eyes. Pitch black, the mark of Void. “W- well we could uh-“ Clade droops. He knows there is no way for me to enter the palace without being killed. “This is an amazing opportunity for you!” I smile, resting a hand on his shoulder. “There will be people coming from all over the kingdom, and possibly some from other lands. I bet you at least one of them is looking for a personal seamster.” He looks up at me, sadness filling his eyes. He still nods though. Clade knows I’m right. I won’t let him give up his best chance at achieving his dream for me. “So Mr seamster, what are you gonna wear?!” He smirks. “Veren. Get me my sketchpad.” •-~-~•

Part two coming REALLY soon I just don’t have time to finish it rn

_ <two days before the annual ball>_

_ “Atlas, do you ever wonder what would happen if you got picked as offering?” _ _ I remebered the dream I had had last night. I had been seeing through the eyes of last year’s offering, a petite dark-haired lady named Enzia. When her name had been called, I recalled being overwhelmed with a sense of panic. I wondered if that was what it felt like to be picked; I had always imagined that they had felt proud. _ _ “Nah,” Atlas said, trying to bend a dessert spoon, “The spirits love the Royal Family, and so do the people. I would never get picked, and neither would you.” _

_ I took comfort in this, and assisted Atlas in bending the spoon. _

_ _<present moment>

I looked around in panic as people gasped and parted around me. Suddenly, I knew my question from earlier had been answered. _There is nothing prideful about this. This is wrong. _

_ _I thought about running away, I thought about screaming and protesting. But then I remembered something my father had once said: “Hold yourself with dignity. Not everything is about you.” This is for the peace of the country, I told myself. I took a deep breath and strode to the middle of the ballroom floor. The twelfth and tallest hooded spirit bent down and lifted me up into the air. “Behold, this year’s offering!” There was a flash of lightning, a moment of searing pain, and then everything went dark.

See, I know you’re wondering what happened after that. If I’m dead, then how am I telling this story? Well, I know those sensible people will say “But she’s not _really _dead, she was actually saved at the last moment or something.” Not true. I actually died, believe it or not. I was just very lucky to be chosen by someone who had the power to bring me back.

I woke up in a tiny cottage, and though it was stormy outside, I could slightly see the outline of the castle and the pink trees around it in the distance. I was lying on a lumpy mattress, and my muscles felt so stiff I couldn’t move. I had never been here, and yet it somehow felt.. _familiar. _ For a minute, I couldn’t remember who I was. For a second, I thought I was Enzia. _I’ve never even known an Enzia, _I remember. Only then did I remember that I was Lune, daughter of Aleksander, niece to the King and cousin to the Crown Prince. Then I remebered why I was here. _I’m dead, I realize, I’m in heaven. _ _ “Hey.” _ _ _If I could move, I would’ve jumped up in surprise. There, in the doorway, stood a very short version of the castle spirits. “You’re finally awake,” It said, and it took off it’s hood. She was a pretty lady, with bleach blond hair and grey eyes. She didn’t look old, and yet her face was etched with worry, and it seemed like she was older than she should’ve been, if that makes sense. “I bet you’re going to ask how long you were out,” she said, walking towards the bed, “It’s been six months since the annual ball.” “I’m Luda. I know you’re confused, but you’ll be ok.” She left the room. Half a year. Half a year I’ve been dead. Maybe I am still dead, I thought, maybe she is an angel. I lay there for hours, until I began to feel my face again. I hesitantly whispered a small sentence: “My name is Lune..” A few minutes later, Luda came into the room again and sat down on the edge of my bed. She was no longer wearing the cloak, and instead sported cargo pants with lots of pockets and tools on them, and a light blue sweater. “So,” She said after examining me for an uncomfortably long time, “do you have any questions?” “S..So many.” My voice sounded like I had just eaten all the sand out of the Sahara desert. “Am I.. Am I dead?” “Well.. In a way, yes.” She said slowly, refusing to make eye contact now that I was staring at her intently. “The spirits did take your life, no doubt about it. They just saw your heart and decided it was… Special, to put it simply. And so they graced you with a great blessing.” “Wh..what ble-“ I coughed dryly, and Luda gave me a glass of water. After draining the glass, I continued. “What blessing? If I died, how am I talking to you now? Is this heaven?” “Lune, you’re not alive, but you’re not dead either. You’ve been chosen to join the Soproti.” When I didn’t react, Luda sighed and shook her head. “You’re a castle spirit now.”

Today is a particularly foggy and misty day. The sun in hiding behind the thick clouds and everything feels gloomy. The chill seeps right through me all the way to my bones. I’m standing near the edge of the cliff where the waterfall runs down, the crashing water creating all this cold dampness in the air. I feel very damp already, even though I was only out here for about 10 minutes. Where I can usually see the clear water far bellow, I only see a never ending whiteness. I wonder how it would feel to fall through it…

I catch myself inching closer to the edge.

_“Gosh! What do you think you’re doing, Esra?” _I mumble to myself. “People will think I’m trying something questionable.”

I’m only a foot away from the edge, looking out over the ravine. I turn around to face the majestic castle behind me.

I contemplate going back inside to my stuffy room and the big, grand walls confining me. I picture my father sitting me back down in front of my schoolwork. My heart fills with distaste at the the thought.

I turn back around to the beautiful mystery of cold fog and jagged rocks. I can see pink trees peeping through the white fog on the other side of the large expanse of mist. A dark shape I didn’t notice at first, perched on the pink branches, leaps down into the fog-filled ravine.

This, I didn’t expect to see. It takes me by surprise.

My body stiffens.

The shape looked unlike anything I’ve seen before. It was definitely not some kind of small animal. It looked weirdly humanoid.

Whatever it was, it will have undoubtedly crashed to pieces on the sharp rocks down below by now. I feel sorry for it.

Then, before I can think another thought, something rips out of the fog right in front of me and soars high into the air. I look up, but I can’t see anything. I stumble backwards, trying to find the thing that’s shot into the sky only half a second ago. I just can’t see it anymore.

I stand there frozen. _Was that all in my head? _My mind races. Am I crazy?

I hastily turn back to the castle, feeling very shaken.

Better go back, I think to myself. In case there really is something dangerous out here.

As I start to trudge mindlessly up the hill, my brain occupied by recent happenings, I hear a sound that I’ve dreaded hearing all my life: the distress horn.

It can only mean one thing: someone has broken into the castle by force, and they are definitely not there to have a friendly chat.

My previous worries evaporate as I think of my family in danger. I charge up the hill, but before I can make it even 5 strides, someone grabs my clothes from behind and starts lifting me up, up, into the sky.

I start screaming and kicking, and I try to hit my captor, not even wondering at the moment how we are flying. After a long while of kicking and screaming done by me, I start to notice my situation.

I can hear large wing beats on either side of me. I can hear someone huffing and puffing above me. I look down and I can see the world so far below me I almost throw up. I quickly look up so I don’t get sick.

“Put me down right now, you evil flying demon!” I yell.

“Don’t worry,” he sounds mildly annoyed. “I’m saving you. You would’ve died if you went into your fortress.”

“I don’t believe you! Let me down!”

“Tisk, tisk. Always so ungrateful.” My captor sighs, and we fly on, me continuing to resist and yell for a very long time, until I somehow unknowingly fall asleep.

What had once been the crown jewel of the empire now sat and ivy covered ruins. I roamed through the broken castle, one that had been burned just months earlier. I was looking for anything that could tell me of any royalty was left alive. It was helpless of course. My job as the only female bodyguard of the first born prince was to protect him at all cost. And I had this feeling. As a turned the corner, I gasped in shock and anger. The only statue standing was the eldest son’s. And at the base, chained and unconscious, lay the kingdom’s heir.

(Someone should continue this)