I was a bit flustered for this "dance of the dead," especially after my dress was delivered. The neckline was heart shaped and sleeveless, the color a lovely off white, the silk dress flared out around my waist. There was not only one slit in the dress but two, both dangerously high. The dress was detailed with silver jewels scattered at the bottom that matched the silver threads woven into my braided hair. The ladies who did my hair made sure to leave two strands of hair framing my small face, I looked beautiful but I felt a bit empty.

   The dress didn't have a train thank god, it was always so hard moving around in dresses bigger then me. "I wish I could go with you,"Gregory sighed as he paced behind me.

   "Leave us please," I said to the young girls that fixed the fabric on my dress. "Ill be fine," I told Gregory once I made sure the doors were shut properly. "I think you've got this all wrong, these people for the most part are good. Their only sin might be that they are too nice and soft."

   "You threaten their power, this is just the calm before the storm." Gregory has been through a lot from getting his body stolen by a demon/elf, to losing me and what we once meant to each other. He is my closest friend and someone I will always fight for, as he would for me. "You know I seen a troll? Lord Ash didnt tell us trolls still lived."

   "Pixies still live as well. When we asked him he was assuming we were asking if he had any Fae or humans. Though there cant be many trolls left what would they have eaten?" I asked myself.

   "When will you and Berella start creating?"

   "When we make a world that's safe to bring new life into," I said getting up to face Gregory. He wore black armor and brown trousers that were a tad too long. "I dont want to add more lives we cant protect after all we dont know what else or who else lives," I reminded him. "I have been having visions," I swollowed tightly. "A blanket of water is where our doom lies," I said. "Every time I reach the ocean I am pulled back by something and then I'm drowning."

   "Mermaids?"

   "Maybe, could be sirens or nymphs, I dont know all I see is what I can be given. Fate can be altered but theirs so many ways it could change. Death is only right around the corner I can feel it." These powers and instincts I have can be too much at once, although I am a creator I didnt say I knew what I was doing....

   "Who?" Gregory asked tightly, "Who dies?"

   "Me." He's the first person I have told and the only person I will tell because I knew he would keep my secret.

   "And you were going to tell me this when?" He ran a hand through his dark brown curly locks the dragged them down his face in frustration.

   "I wasn't going to tell you at all," I confessed. Everything becomes too real when someone else knows. "I'm not ready to die," my body started shaking again. Gregory even though this anger was clear, pulled me into his embrace.

   "You won't, not with me by your side," this brought a slow chuckle to us both.

I am a target to anyone who is stupid enough to crave my power. Even though most think I'm immortal, an iron dagger stabbed into my heart is my only weakness. When I die or Berella dies, the next creator would be our killers but then again I could be wrong.

  Gregory killed Raven and Berella came back as the next creator instead of him. Raven hid in our walls watching me, plotting my final breathe. In Valkri if anything has been proven its that life changes all the time, people betray you and you dont really know anything. Even when you think you do.

   "I wonder who the lucky bastard will be."

   "Don't talk like that," Gregory scolded me. "Even though I haven't found any evidence theres something Ash isn't telling us. I can feel it."

   "Everyone has secrets Gregory, doesnt mean they'll mean anything to you or be of any use. Don't let your disliking of Ash cloud your judgment," I said moving away from him and to the mirror, my neck was bare. I felt like I should add my mothers gold pendant she gave me for my sixteenth birthday. I missed my mom, even though we were never the closest I loved her for everything she's done for me. We just never really understood each other.

   "And dont let your old life catch up with you."

   "What's that supposed to mean?"

   "The people here still call you Lorelei."

   "How could I be someone I've never met?" I asked rolling my icy blue eyes in the mirror as I strapped some gold thick bracelets on my upper arm as well. I used to hate my horns, deemed them misplaced and ugly but it represented my age, my spirit. "Its going to be hard for the people who know my past selves but they'll need to accept my new life. All of this is just weird I guess."

   "Its crazy how much the two of you look alike, I've seen the paintings. You know you could have other lovers out there. I mean in this life you loved me before Rone."

   "Its a bit awkward isn't it?" I sighed, "Doesn't matter those were feelings I could never get back."

   "Do you wonder what Vero used to be like? He doesn't sound like a crowd favorite around here." Vero was Rones very first body. Vero and Lorelies love was well know it seemed and it wasn't forgotten. Sometimes I worried the people of Dragons Mountain saw nothing but ghosts. Shadows who weren't us anymore.

   "I suspect he wouldn't be Snyones favorite here. After all he is the King and from what Ash told me the Royal line has always been biased towards dragons."

   "Rone isn't, is he?" I didn't answer because I didn't really know. He doesn't seem happy discovering these people but he was willing to strike a truce, all we wanted was a better life.

   "He is much different then his family, I think he'll rule with compassion for all."

   "The crown changes you," Gregory said softly. "I know you want to marry him and maybe it makes sense right now, but he is the King. He'll never be able to be solely yours."

   "And I am a creator. I'll never be just his either, we have our own responsibilities but well work through them. We love each other, I don't know how to explain it but we just fit and I know we didn't fight this hard to be together just to be torn apart."

   "Maybe as a boy and a girl but its not that simple anymore."

   I sighed, "Love is that simple. I have to go now I'll be back late dont wait up," I said walking away.

I knew he meant well but he was wrong about Rone and I. After everything we've been through this had to work and if it didnt then I guess he could say I told you so.

                                   .........................................................................................................................................

   The gardens in the back of Ash's manor were beautiful. Candles were scattered all over ledges and fountains. Flowers of white and red scattered on all pillars, tonight was a perfect night and I couldn't help but melt into the music. People were already dancing to the sound of the wind, chimes and harp. I could feel the music soaking up my body and realizing any stress.

I noticed some elves that chose to stay here after the curse roaming about. Ash wasn't lying about the amount of dragons I'd see in the sky tonight there was maybe at least fifty but they were hard to see as they flew through the misty clouds. Then there was the wall in the back of the gardens with the names of all their lost surrounded by candles, flowers and what seemed to be scales.

   I spotted Blade in a corner talking to a beautiful red eyed dragon girl. He looked more grown and less beastly in his formal attire, a deep plum tunic and leather trousers. He cleaned off the grime and sweat from his face making himself look more charming then rugged. Watching him all smitten with a girl was almost comical.

   "I would be honored if you would dance with me." I turned to Ash and drank him in. He wore the same colors as me, his tunic an off white with a white unbuttoned blouse underneath, black trousers and boots.

   I took his outstretched hand, he then swirled me into his arms and into the crowd. "This song is about two powerful warriors that fell in love," the language the woman sang was foreign but captivating. In a way I could almost feel what she was saying, "Declaring their love to be stronger then what is good or bad, right or wrong. Two people, two different wars."

   "What happened?"

   "The song lets you figure it out yourself, what do you think happens? You get to chose the ending you could make it a glorious one or a one of despair." I realized the style of dancing here was much more free and personal. I didn't mind Ash touching me but every time he did I longed for it to be Rone, it should be Rone. If he were to see me, my body pressed against Ash's, his leg between mine, he'd lose his mind. "You look beautiful tonight."

   "Thank you," I blushed. "Are you excited to return back to court?" I asked trying to talk of something else.

   "Not really, there is a reason I never visited much years before the curse. One, the royals hated us and two it was always infested with Fae." He had every reason to hate the fae. Decades ago they betrayed the dragons, deemed them too dangerous. I, well Lorelei saved them by giving them human forms so they could hide, I would never have let that happen. And I knew in my heart Rone wouldn't either, these are our people.

   "They've changed."

   "Fear never changes," he said dipping me low but holding my gaze with such fire my own body started to burn. "Fae have always been at the top of the food  chain and our presence has always been a danger in their eyes." The way he talked with such told me there had to be more to the story. "They killed many of my brothers and sisters, my friends, they will never be truly forgiven by my people. That doesn't mean we dont want peace, that we wont open our homes to them."

   "Can you control your people?" Though the hatred might be deep I had higher hopes.

   "I dont control anyone," his eyes hardened as he spun me backwards and whispered, "My people have a mind of their own, do they listen to rules? Most are wise to but I'm sure you know their are always people who will disagree, though my people are compassionate where its due."

   "Of course," I said turning around so I could face him. "I didn't mean it like that its just if my people were to open the borders and yours, I'd want to know that both sides are safe."

   "Only time will tell. I dont see a problem as long as we are both cooperative on both sides. Trust and truth needs to be established, right?" He gave me a questionable look, one that seemed to dare me. I didn't say anything, instead I let myself get swept away in the music. Far away from him and far away from myself.

   I loved to dance, if you let a Fae dance all day and night they would. With the grass on my toes, the moon on my skin and music in my heart I danced all night long.

.......................................,........

   "I'm a bit winded," I admitted after a long period of dancing under a sky full of dragons. It's crazy to think only a year ago we were stuck behind courts walls, blind to any other sign of life. "Will you accompany me on a walk? These candles are giving me headaches."

   "Are you okay?" He asked putting a hand on my back as we walked off to a path.

   "Always," I couldn't admit my weakness, my visions and fears not till I knew I could trust him. I think I can but I wasn't going to take the risk, not yet. Every choice and decision I make people will be affected. "Can I have a moment to myself? Ill find you soon I promise," I smiled weakly hoping he wouldn't try to stay.

   "Of course," Ash said. "If you need anything I'll be dancing," he bowed then walked off back into the dancing crowd. He offered his hand to a beautiful woman and whisked her away into the night.

   "A telling for a coin?" I turned around to an older woman standing beside a small pitched tent, she wore a tattered black lace dress and a crooked smile. "You will want to know what Ive got to tell you," she crooned.

  "You're a witch," I hissed but I sensed no real power. Maybe some ground magic but that was all.

   "Not the kind you would be scared of," she cackled her rotting teeth overlapping each other. "My magics gone but my eyes are not," she said a bit sadly. "Come inside maker," she toyed with me. "This is your path I've seen it already," she said walking off into her tent.

   What did I have to lose? I followed the witch moving the fabric of the tent, there was nothing inside but a long wooden table and two chairs then three shelves behind her covered by blankets. I sat a crossed from the woman as she took off her gold cloak. Her hair was a forest of tight white locks, her skin wrinkled and pink. The old woman took my hands in hers, "What are you doing?" I hissed protectively yanking my hand away.

   "Reading your energy, you are quiet an interesting spirit," she gave me a full smile, rotting teeth and all.

   "What do you see?" I asked impatiently, giving her back my hand.

   "You are brave, that's already known but what we needed to know was your loyalty, its there bright and strong," she smiled, her razor sharp teeth gleaming in the candlelight. "You are unsure of yourself though, who you are and what will happen in the future. You shouldn't dodle over such things, you've had and will have many lovers although theres one that shines brighter then all the rest."

   "Rone," I smiled, many lovers? Maybe she was speaking of Lorelei, although one day Rone will pass away maybe she meant... I could never imagine loving another.

   A flicker of annoyance passed through her haunting green eyes, "That is not for me to tell. What I can tell you is loving the king will cost you your life, the choices you make with a clouded heart will ruin Valkri."

   The room ran cold, my body stilled, emotions rumbled throughout my entire body, first fear, then denial and lastly rage. "How could you say such a thing?" I spat standing up, if I could cut her tongue out I would but I was trying to turn a lead. The light I have been holding back for too long swirled dimly around my hands, illuminating my hair.

   "I dont mean to distress you, King Rones fate cannot intertwine with your own. You fought the curse together but you were both never meant to live through it. Your love as undeniable and powerful as it is, as it has been after lifetimes has always been cut short and always will be. Break the cycle Nadia."

   "What do you even mean?" I didnt want to hear this.

   "Ask Lord Ash, he knows what happened between Lorelei and Vero."

   "He's been keeping secrets?" I balled my hands into fists cutting the light that took over the room, controlling my rage for another.

   "No dear, you have not been asking the right questions," stupid witch, stupid riddles they meant nothing not if I could help it. As if reading my mind she said, "You cant fight this, after all you have bigger tests awaiting you," she riddled once more.

   "You are to tell no one what you've just said to me do you understand? If word comes out I will find you myself and cut out your tongue."

   "Why would I tell anyone? I dont care if you live  or die you spoiled ignorant brat!" I was a bit taken back from her anger I didn't know what to really say, so she went on. "If you have a death wish so be it, the King is not immortal. You are, how was that ever going to work anyways? You two have been doomed from the start don't blame me child."

   "You're wrong," I said refusing to let my tears spill.

   "For your sake, I hope I am," she said. "Now get out I've told you all I could, I wont stand for anymore of your tantrums." She gave me a disgusted look and turned her back to me.

   "How can you just say that but know nothing more?" I growled.

   "I thought you didn't  believe me," the witch said sarcastically. Without responding I spun on one heal and stormed out of the ridiculous tent.