°~31st December, 1789~°

°~11:44p.m.~°

(Y/N POV)

I had heard nothing from the King. He did not stop me from my leave and neither did any of his guards. We were escorted off of the grounds without any resistance. It was a shorter conversation than I could have ever asked for, but at least we were safe. Perhaps I had overreacted but I felt intimidated by him. He still held the arrogance to insult the Colonists all because we too were British. He was far too comfortable around my presence, and the stories from Alexander did not help whatsoever. No, I did not believe that he 'bit people's toes off', but his unusual personality unsettled me.

I had also not heard from Alexander for some time. After the war, I had almost never left he and his family's side; they were my family. Angelica and Frances were sisters to me just as Emily was, alike Philip, Junior and James who I treated as my very own brothers. To be around an entirely new family was strange for me. In fact, if I were ever to return to my real family (which I was certain would never happen), I would not regard them as highly as I did the Hamiltons.

This entire day I spent reading the book. I had reached its fateful end; the main protagonist had grown to become a successful warrior because of the inkeeper's kindness. She avenged her sister, and therefore avenged her family. I noticed something... peculiar about the story, however. It reached a rather abrupt ending and I noticed that several pages were left blank towards the end-

"Are you alright?" Emily asked. She instantly began shivering as she set foot outside, wrapping her arms tightly together. "You've been out here for a while... A whole party is going on in the-"
"I'm alright." I reassured her, closing the book over. "I was just reading."
"Is that Charles' book?" she questioned. "Quin... cuenta t- tu historia...?"
I burrowed my eyebrows. "You can't see it, either?"
"...See what?"

I read the title over and over. In clear and bold letters, it stated, 'Who tells your story'. Who Tells Your Story... Both Emily and Valentino could only see it in Spanish. Was I hallucinating...? Or had I miraculously learnt the language without my own knowledge of it?

"Well, come inside when you're ready." Emily stated, rubbing her hands for warmth. "In a few minutes, it's going to be the start of a new decade. You wouldn't want to miss out on the firework show, would you?"
"I can watch it from out here, it's fine."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Sure. Then you will be seeing me momentarily, for I will not leave you out here all alone. If we're entering this new year, we're entering it together, whether you like it or not." She sympathetically kissed me on the cheek, returning to the comfort of the indoors.

This book had intrigued me so that I felt no desire to join the party inside. The second that the protagonist's lover passed, an aristocrat who cared none for his affluence, I was enticed. My eyes suddenly trailed away from the book and to the bird resting upon the fence. It was difficult to distinguish but I allowed my eyes to adjust. From what I could interpret, its shape was similar to the bird back in New York... Bert, I named him. It was impossible that such a small bird would be able to travel across the ocean, and besides, there were bound to be many of his species. I simply smiled it off, flipping to the back to reread the sudden ending.

...

Except it had changed.

The empty pages were now filled with words.

Maybe I had missed something. Or maybe I was imagining that they were blank to save me from reading on. I shook my head, merely satisfied that there would hopefully be a better ending of it.

Had it been so? She was unaware of the date, too caught in her battlements to know. She would consult Gertrude, but the fine girl was on a wave of ecstasy as she danced the frightful nights away. What a peculiar sight to behind, like a melancholy rose blossoming for its first time. Jane was in awe and dared not interrupt such a monument of satisfaction that was plated before her.

"Dear Father," Jane asked from intrigue. "What is to-day?"
"To-day?" The Inkeeper questioned her words. "Should to-day not be every day?"
"What is the date of to-day?"
"Why to-day is the eve of a new year, My Dear Child."

What a coincidence. Today was that exact same day. I grinned at the book, continuing on.

"Is that so?" Jane stumbled back to reflect upon the evening light. Was this not it? The day she had awaited for from the tragic death of her true Father and Mother. Her sight crossed The Inkeeper over again, reciting every detail in her mind. She did not wish for Gertrude's heartbreak. Her darling sister who would surely perish at the hand of a letter that spoke the news. Jane could only retreat from those thoughts, just as she retreated directly from The Inkeeper, whose face was lined with both content and misery.

She sprinted through the streets of London, almost tripping over the ends of her own dress.

Hm? Since when was this story set in London? Had I missed a page?

For her final chance of salvation, she knew that this was it. Emily had been her persuasion, and now she would be their saviour.

Emily?

Her Grandmother's tales had spoken truth; a warrior destined to shape history, to save her family from destruction.

That warrior's name was Y/N L/N.

W- What was going on-

She blazed through the multicoloured lights in the sky and the countdown to the day that marked to-morrow. That was, if to-morrow ever came. A carriage, a familiar face, a boy.

Time is running out, Y/N.

Hurry.

My heart skipped a beat. Was this book really talking about me?

No, time was running out.

Whatever was happening, I had to act quick.

From the book fell a picture:

The illustration of David.

David L/N.

"It's the only thing that can bring you true happiness. Use it wisely, Y/N."

It was David.

I had to save David.

"Long ago," Grandma would start.

I threw the book aside, startling the bird into flight. I shoved the illustration into my pocket and rose to my feet.

"Our family was wretched and murderous. We would seek only to destroy, turning society vile and corrupt."

A familiar face, that was it! But a boy?

"It was like a plague, spreading among civilisation."

...What boy...?

"One day, however, our family lost its power, and it only resulted in its downfall. The society that they had created turned their backs on us, leaving us hopeless."

I shot through the house, barging past all of the guests ready to start their countdown for the New Year. "Sophie?!" I heard a distant Emily call.

"But that wasn't the end, oh no! Sons and Daughters of Mother Nature herself, sworn to protect the human race, created a ring."

I fled out of the door- my mind was racing. Not even the sounds and colours of fireworks could distract me, nor the chill in the air.

"This ring was bound to reconcile our family, that when we're living on our knees, we can rise up."

Cheering rang amongst the streets. I did not know where I was running to, I just prayed that fate would carry me along to him.

Please God let it be him.

"No one knows where this ring is, as it only reveals itself to the most worthy of people."

Civilians crowded at their doors, counting down from fifteen.

"Maybe someday, you, Y/N, will be given this ring. And so, I preach to you."

I turned a corner: there stood a man with his wife and infant child, fascinated by the beautiful sight above him.

"It's the only thing that can bring you true happiness."

Suddenly, the boy ran out into the open street in an effort to catch the lights within his grasp. As this same moment, a carriage came bounding down, the noise startling the horses.

"Use it wisely, Y/N."

Frightened for the child's life, I raced ahead before the carriage could hit, hauling him aside to safety.

"STOP-!!"