I try to keep Crista entertained to the best of my ability however; the lack of sleep on my own part is definitely not an aid in being cheerful.

I pierce my heavily buttered pancake over and over with my fork. My mind keeps going back to my encounter with the queen early this morning. I know I should listen to her. She has been my mother figure ever since... well.

Another stab at my pancake.

My grip on my fork tightens and the metal digs into my skin. My guilt grows heavier and heavier by the nights. Not just the guilt from that night, but every night to follow. I know I wake the queen up every time, though I haven't been able to figure out how.

I do everything I can to shield the people in this kingdom from the pain I carry. I should be airy. Cheerful. The town expects me to be some hero that walks with confidence and pride. If only they knew that same hero covers her dark circles and uses eye drops to tame the burning of her eyes.

I've been using my magic; Crista's magic. I don't know if it will ever feel truly like mine. During the late hours of the night, I will use it to cast a blanket of silence over them.

I know quite intimately what horrors lie in my nightmares, and I prefer to keep them to myself.

But, the queen... The spell doesn't work on her. I've heard her pause outside of the door of Axil's room just to make sure his breathing is still deep and steady. He's always asleep. But her... she has found a way to block out my defense and she checks on me every night.

Now it's not only myself, but Crista. She described it as death. All too well I know the feeling, and by the hollowness in her eyes I can tell there is not overdramatizing.

Blankly, she stares at her plate of food no doubt reliving the terror of this past night.

Death. An inexplicable being It's just as alive as life itself and it is hungry, starving for souls.

"What do you have planned for today?" I ask her before finally taking a bit of my soggy pancake. I pray I never take the taste of Lumbridge food for granted.

I wait to see her deep golden eyes, but she doesn't move her gaze from her plate. "I'm not sure," she says dropping her fork and scooting her chair out. "I should probably head back to my room."

I stand up and go to stop her but she already has her back faced towards me, walking towards the door.

***

He tells me I don't need to knock but I do anyways.

"Come in," he calls, his voice clear even through the door.

He opens it and stands on the other side welcoming me in. Wrapping me in a hug I try to relish in the warmth burying my face into his chest.

"What's the matter?" he whispers in my ear.

"How do you know something's wrong?" I counter.

"Zaria." He holds me out so he can see my face. I look into his clear blue eyes. "I've known you for how long. I think I can tell when something is amiss."

He lets go, but holds onto my shoulder, trying to coax something out of me.

He dresses in his usual blue suit. The color matches his light golden hair and pale skin so perfectly. It's a little scary how much he resembles the way stories always describe the prince in fairytales I would read as a little girl.

"I don't even know where to begin." I sate the truth adverting my eyes.

"Try."

I have never been good at words. Too much emotion coming through that I can't even describe what I'm feeling. This void of knowing what it is and yet not being able to define or explain making me lost. So, I do what I always do and just start at the beginning.

"Crista had a nightmare." I blurt breaking the silence.

He looks past me with a slight smirk. "You know I care for my cousin deeply, but I don't see the big issue in a nightmare."

"Axil, this is serious."

"I'm listening." He takes a step back with his hands in the air.

"I don't... think it was just a dream," I add.

He looks at me, his eyebrows lowered and intrigued. "Go on?"

"She explained it as a dark hallway. Her heartbeat was the only thing that she could hear. She said it got louder and louder... and faster, like she was searching for something. Axil, she said when she continued onward, she felt like she was dying."

I can see and feel his distress as it begins to appear on his face. Worry and questions. I speak before he can collect his own words.

"The truth is, I don't think she was looking for anything."

"What do you mean?" he questions, his voice betraying his calm demeanor.

I dare to say my thoughts knowing they are probably a bad idea. I just don't know how. Well, that's a lie. I know exactly what I need to say, I just don't want to speak it into existence.

I know Axil and everyone else in the palace will believe and follow what I say if they know there is a threat to their kingdom, especially Axil. In less than a year he will be taking his father's throne. The king will readily pass down his crown to his son, and Axil will reign as king.

He steps closer, grabbing my hand. "Zaria."

"It's John," I disclose before I can think against it.

His hands immediately go clammy at the name, a cold sweat overtaking his body. "What... What do you mean?" he stutters.

"I think John is making his way to all of us." He looks at me confused. His grip on my hands gets tighter. "I can still hear his voice, and now Crista experienced this."

"Wait, you've been hearing John?" he repeats after me, confused.

Well, this is one way to expose myself.

"Yes." I say, unable to meet his eyes. "I hear him throughout the day... and at night. I have nightmares of the ball over and over. I can't sleep anymore. I throw up—

"Wait, wait... Why haven't you told me any of this?"

"I don't need to burden you with my problems. I can deal with them."

"But you don't have to" His voice hardens. "I won't allow it."

He looks away, out his window dropping my hands.

I want to say something, anything, but I know it probably won't help in the slightest. He runs his hand through his hair and sighs.

"What can I do?" I ask, bracing for whatever response I will get.

He whispers.

"What?" I ask.

"How did I not notice?" he breathes. "You moved your room right next to mine. How... how did I not notice?"

Under my own breath, I explain. "I use my magic." I watch as his eyes widen. "You have enough stress on your shoulders as it is. You need your sleep. So does everyone else," I argue. He doesn't say anything. "John still has his magic. Whatever it might be, however he may be using it."

"But you put the barrier up. He can't escape. He won't." His voice is hard. All delicacy gone.

I remember sealing the barrier. That night John was taken back down to the prison. Crista's mother, Mika had taught me all I needed to do. I was happy to lock him up forever. The magical shield was to make it so he could never escape again, not even his dark magic.

"Not if he has someone to help him escape."

Understanding flashes across his face. Crista.

He grabs my hand again. Strong and firm.

Looking down at our hands I force myself to smile. Only then do I notice the gold trim around his sleeve cuff; his formal attire.

"Going, somewhere?"

He finally looks at me.

"Yes."

"What's happened?"

His eyes become set, focused. "We got a tip that Malaka is going to drop a threat. I'm meeting with my father along with a handful of lead guards." He pauses. "You are welcome to join us, advisor." He playfully bumps my arm, winking.

"Seems important," I say. "Wait for me?" I ask.

He nods.

I go to walk out but his fingers stay locked with mine.

"I will not let John and Eden destroy this kingdom or anyone else. Trust me on that." Pulling me in, he kisses my forehead. "Go. I'll meet you."

I step out of his room into my own and throw on a simple dress. After fixing myself in the mirror, we are off down the grand hallways to the Council Room. The room that started it all.

This time instead of standing behind Axil, I sit next to him on his right. Pulling out my chair for me, I have a seat. He sits down leaning his head close to mine.

"I was thinking. Maybe this is something that should be of discussion today. If Malaka is truly planning to reveal a threat, it is very possible that the threat is right inside our kingdom.

I take his words into consideration and of course it has crossed my mind to tell the king countless times whenever I hear John's whispering but of course I could always just be making it up in my head. And a discussion with the king about anything referring to John is not necessarily on my to do list anytime soon.

"My father will do everything in his power to stop him. Whatever he may be doing," Axil coaxes.

"I know that." I keep my voice low. "But what if I'm wrong? What if John is just a distraction? After all, he's locked up physically and enchantedly."

"I thought about that too but you better than anyone knows just how persuasive John can be." He furrows his brow. "Is he capable of getting out without lifting a finger?"

I lower my head and pick at the side of my nail, not even wanting to think about how powerful John is. It's answer enough for Axil.

"We'll speak of it after the meeting with my father. How's that?"

My head nods and I can't really tell if I'm nodding in agreement or trying to hold back nervous jitters.

Just as Axil straighten up back in his chair the door bursts open and familiar faces start to enter the room.

I am grateful for the presence of people around me. It makes it feels as though not all of the weight is on my shoulders. I used to like being alone, but now all I do is think until my head is filled with too many voices and it's suffocating. Axil takes my hand under the table squeezing it and I let out a sigh.

The king walks in no more than two minutes later. All stand and are seated again in a matter of seconds. I've been to plenty of council meetings before, all of which had long common talk before the actual meeting would commence. However, this time everyone stays silent, waiting.

"Everyone, have a seat," the king starts to speak. "There is much to discuss."

Whereas Lucy looks just like her mother. Axil is the spitting image of his father. The king has always impressed me with his way of looking like a commoner, but having the essence of authority. I can tell he's tired. There are dark circles around his eyes and a permeant crease rests between his eyebrows.

A young man stands up. He dresses in uniform just like the rest of the soldiers, though the roundness of his eyes tells me he hasn't been in his position all too long. "I've got more word today, Sire, if you will allow me to voice it."

The king opens his hand towards him; a welcome for him to speak.

"Along with the rest of the threat, I've received a note."

"A note?" the King questions.

"Yes," he says squirming. "This morning I received a note attached to the window of my quarters."

"What is the note?" the King askes sternly.

The man pulls out a slip from his back pocket and for the second time today purple smoke starts to fill the room.

"Well... It's more of a drawing than a note, but it's definitely something."

He turns the note towards us and in splattered ink is—

"Four black crows," I whisper.

***

"Don't you think crows are the funniest birds?" John asks half hanging out the window.

"I don't know." I squint at the bird flying towards the sun. "I guess I never really thought about it."

"Like at all? Come on, Zaria. When will you lighten up?" he giggles.

"The second you start to take this job seriously." I bite back. "Not all of us have time to birdwatch. Someone has to actually work. Formulate plans and calculate strategy."

"Oh, and you're some sort of expert?"

"I'm the best shot you have at a job so I would be grateful," I say slamming my binder of notes closed.

"Do you know once a crow gets to know you, they'll leave you little gifts. That I would be grateful for," John counters, unbothered. He sits on my desk fiddling with a marble he fished out of his pocket.

"If you like that crow so much, why don't you go marry it?"

He scrunches his face up. "Too permanent."

I roll my eyes.

"Hey!" His eyes light up, as he punches me in the shoulder. "What about a tattoo? Oh, wouldn't I look so cool with crow wings tatted on my back."

I sigh and look back to my work. "Nah, too permanent."

***

"What is this supposed to mean?" Axil asks snapping me out of my memories.

"That's what I was trying to figure out," the man says. "I wanted to think it was some joke, but it has their stamp."

The moth. Malaka's crest. A white moth with eyes like a cat's on the wings. It's not an easy mark to replicate, not to mention no one would dare play a joke like that in this kingdom.

"It could be nothing," he tries to justify. "I just thought it should be taken as serious as any other threat."

The king folds his hands on the table, interlocking his fingers. "I appreciate this." He nods to the man. "It seems Malaka is in the business for playing games."

"What was the original threat, father?" Axil asks, raising his voice.

"I hate to say that it was very similar to the note Elijah just showed. Another note has been received. It again is a drawing." He lowers his head a little. "I do not know what it means. But anything from Malaka will be taken as a threat."

He reaches in his suit pocket and unfolds a piece of parchment. Placing it on the table, all eyes are drawn to it.

"The extinction symbol," I whisper without even thinking.

Axil turns to me. "You've seen it before?"

Now all of the wondering eyes are on me waiting for some kind of explanation as to what this might mean.

"I've seen it before in Mika's book when I was studying omens," I murmur.

When I returned back to the palace and learned how to use my magic, Crista's mother had gifted me their book of spells, history, ingredients, meditation, the list goes on. I remember studying the symbols, the extinction symbol being one of them. Two triangles pointed towards each other inside a circle. The shape of an hourglass.

"What does it mean, Zaria?" he asks.

I take a deep breath staring at the description. "It could be anything," I say stalling for time.

"Your best guess, please," the king states.

"Off the basis of knowing that we are nearing war, I would have to say it is indeed a warning."

Taking the picture into my own hands, I point. "This circle represents our kingdom; the hourglass, our time." I can almost hear everyone's heartbeat skip

The room goes silent. The hair on my neck stand, sending a shiver up my spine

"Father," Axil starts. "What does this mean for our kingdom?" He shakes his head letting out a sigh. Standing from his chair he walks back and forth throughout the room. "As future king, I need to do what's best for my people. These threats are not just a danger to the throne but a danger to everyone."

The king stands with him calmly, crossing his arms.

"I do not want to sweep this under the rug, son nor do I want to impinge on how you would lead as king but as for my reign, this is too little of a threat for us to plan an active attack."

"That's not all," Axil says. He looks over to me and mouths, "I'm sorry."

"There's more. Zaria has informed me this morning that John has been tampering with both her and Crista's mind."

The King's stare now returns to me and my face goes suddenly hot. "I thought none of his dark magic could escape the forcefield." He looks over at me, questioningly. "Isn't that correct?"

"That is correct, sir," I say meekly.

He clears his throat. "This meeting isn't all for naught. Stay on guard everyone. If anything else is found report to me first. I will then make a call for what shall happen next." He waves his hand. "Dismissed."

I move to get up, but Axil gently pushes me back down. I guess we're staying.

We wait as the Council Room clears out until it is just the King, Axil, and I left. Suddenly the room seems too big and yet all too small at the same time.

"What all has John done to you two?" the king asks and his voice is surprisingly sympathetic.

I keep quiet, collecting my thoughts into a proper report to tell him. "I have nightmares of that night with everything that happened. With Adam and my mom, with all of you...

Axil lowers his head. He still can't forgive himself for my mother's sacrifice.

"Sometimes I hear whispers. Mostly just one sentence."

"And, what's that?"

"I found you."

As the words leave my mouth, I can hear the whisper but—

Mt stomach twists. No, it's not the same. The whisper glitches as if it has been masked the whole time. Breaking up, it is higher pitched. A voice as smooth as silk.

"Oh no."

"What is it?" Axil asks, immediately at my side.

Unscrambling my thoughts, I stutter. "The dreams... they're not... Crista's nightmare..."

"Zaria, what is it?"

It all lays in front of me. No dark magic can make it past the force field I set up 92 days ago. Not even the blackest of magic can pierce its way through the light.

"It's not John messing with our heads. It's Eden."