Life was boring, simply dull. The constant twirls of gates opening and closing. The nonsensical chatter of the so-called guests with their lines of pearl necklaces and diamond rings. The almost unchanging shine of glass and sapphires under the chandelier as they danced.

At lest that was what it seemed. And it had been what I had believed at first until I discovered the hidden meaning behind each smile and gleaming compliment.

Everyone was just a hound ready for their next fix of gossip. They were dogs, always vying for attention whether it be for my father or me. Seeing how cold my father seemed to be in both business and women, they all clung to me instead. Hoping to charm me into their little snares. To pull me under the sheets and trap me with an offspring.

At first, I found it a nuisance. A disgraceful display for nobility but then I learned that these leeches, these hyenas, these non stop chatter bug were useful. I suppose we all had our parts to play in life. For example wine tends to loosen the tongue when their heads are filled with greed and envy. Whether it be from alcohol or lust. Either one works, the truths start to spill out.

Take last night for example. The dear wife of an aristocrat just accidentally spilled the little detail that the Marquis of the house of Dyrian were now under bankruptcy due to one of his many illegal actions. He had to have know he could only go so long hiding under the radar before we caught up to his little acts, right? Though what use would I have for that specific information? I'm not quite sure yet but I'm sure I can find use for it later.

As for the gossip, well some are useful, but mostly just half-truths filled with more fantasies than actual secrets. They aren't very useful, not unless you're the one spreading them. Take Viscount Gilmore of the Kiln House, sentenced to execution for a crime he didn't even commit. The man forgot his place, and I simply had to remind of it. The man should think twice before threatening a princess of the Winter Court.

"Flynn." A voice as cool as a Winter's blizzard commanded.

Raising my head from my book I looked up towards the scowling King. His neatly style back straight white-blue hair. His narrow hardened cool iceberg irises. Never once has this man shown any emotions besides a scowl and grunt not even towards his own children.

"Flynn, I need you to go visit your mother, I hear she took in a new prisoner." My father not so much as said but commanded with that booming voice of his. It like he needed everyone to know what he was saying at all times. How annoying.
Yet, despite his boastful attitude and giants voice he never really elaborated much in front of others. Then again it wasn't as if he called me in later to discuss finer details of any command he gave me either. Perhaps he didn't trust his own children as well. You can never be too careful, especially around others. Not even the servants. They tend to spread the most gossip, whether it be imaginative or outright lies. But I already knew what he wanted.

If my mother, the Summer Queen, yes the Summer Queen, took any prisoners it wouldn't have normally been any of our concerns. Except this time I heard the prisoner was special in some way. It's said she could commune with the stars. An oracle, or so the rumor mill has gossiped. As I said, balls do have their purpose. Most of the gossip I heard comes from these so-called dances after all. It seems my father has heard the news too. I nodded looking up at my Father's ice-cold blue eyes and unwavering bulky rigid stance just like his heart.

I could read the disappointment practically flowing from his pores. He's already mentioned it a couple of hundred times. Why I, the heir to a kingdom, could never fight like a true man. How I could be so limp that I could barely lift a sword. He's made it abundantly clear how he's always wanted a stronger, more powerful son than the scrawny stick of a boy I was. Compared to the wall that was my father anyone would look like a stick. But I suppose with my lack of skills I was even more of a fragile twig than anyone else. Despite my physical appearance of shocking blue hair and ice cool blue eyes, I never could bring myself to be the brooding tree trunk of a man he was. My body just wants made for combat. I've tried. I just couldn't no matter how much cuts and bruises I endured. The hours of training seemed like nothing when you look upon how weak I appear.

Placing a hand to my right chest I bowed respectfully, after all, he was still the King," Of course Father." I said, barely holding back the bite from my tone.

"Just because I was weak didn't mean I couldn't fight using other means." I thought nearly wanting to scream this at my so-called Father

Even if he was King, he was still trash to me. He's never shown the least bit of interest in anything me or my sister has done. Sometimes I wish he would just show us some form of love. Give us some sign he cares for us. Why else would he keep us around? Why would he keep me around?

I used to wonder how I could even be remotely related to this beast of a man. The again it wasn't as if I was as innocent as everyone believed me to be. Like I said I can fight just with other means than physical brute strength.

Only the King and my sister knew of my real intentions behind every smile and every act of kindness. The sneaky tricks from behind the scenes were never really my father's style but it was mine. Unfortunately, this too was a disappointing behavior for my so-called father. If it wasn't a show of physical power, it was nothing. Even if it did keep him from getting his head chopped off.

The Next day......

"Father's sending you away again?" Snow Lyla Winter Wolf said scowling at the servants preparing my luggage.

Normally servants would do all the packing but honestly, I couldn't trust any of these ants. After all, who knows what poisons they could have doused on my clothes. I should know, I've killed a man with this very technique. Multiple times in fact. So instead I had packed them myself. Only allowing them to place them inside the carriage.

"It shouldn't be a surprise to you by now. You know father doesn't think much of me." I said, smiling softly down at the white-haired goddess before me.

Sure her hair looked white but when you peer at it closer for long enough it had a slight blue tint to it. As it should, all Winter Court citizens had the same features. And her eyes, it was just like our father's. Cold and calculating. But, whereas our father's eyes was nothing but that, Snow's held a small sliver of kindness.

"Why do you let him do this to you?" She scowled up at me looking for the world like she could change this somehow. But, we both knew Father's word was law and that was that.

I shrugged, sighing a little. With her flawlessly manicured nails and perfectly poised posture, she reminded me of something else.

I'll never be, regal. I've never had that formidable presence, and no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't.

"Lyla, you know I have to," I said, hoping the use of her middle name would get her to listen to me. Our mother gave her that name where our father took the first. Snow always did prefer her middle over her first. She loved our mother, as did I.

My father had always preferred my sister over me. Perhaps it was because she was willing to use that so-called strength I lacked. Despite her slim figure she could pack quite a punch with both her magic and physical strength. I can't say I'm not a little jealous. I am, but I'm glad he at least can feel some kind of compassion for Snow. She was my precious little sister after all. It would would shatter me to see our father treat her just as poorly as he treated me

"He's the King," I said, trying to reason with her for what must be the hundredth time now.

Snow just rolled her eyes. Looking back at the carriage she sighed.

"He's still our Father, shouldn't he at least have some leniency." She bit out with the word "Father" more venomous than the rest.

Giving me a small hug and her wishes for my safe travel was the only thing she could really do. Because no matter how much favor my Father granted her she too was never able to convince my father to do anything he didn't want to do. I watched from my seat in the carriage as we pulled away my dear little sister waving back her emotions masked behind her face.

I wanted to laugh. To scream to the heavens. To yell at the King's damn face that yes we were in fact his children. That he should show us some form of compassion! It doesn't even have to be in public. I just wanted him to acknowledge that I was his fucking son! But hell as if that meant anything to him if I wasn't strong enough. Sure everyone knew I was his some but they all knew who my father favored more as well.

They may try and charm me but they only did so because they couldn't touch my sister or the King. I sighed as I watched my little sister go back through the giant iced double gates because they were gates, not doors. I don't see how anyone can see the big chunks of carved ice as doors. The intricately carved swirls and curves to display two wolves on their hinds pawing at one another.

Trudging my way down the long grand stairs, I tried casting away the anger, annoyance, and the disappointment I felt towards my father. So focusing on something else I cataloged my plan for the journey in my mind. I'll have a week's journey to the Summer Court. That should be enough time to read through the following books I've brought along. Plus, I'll be able to purchase new Summer Court journals when I arrive.

A Week Later.....

"My dearest child." My mother exclaimed her bright golden hair shining in the Summer Courts beaming sun. It was always so hot in the Summer Court, and Summer always tended to be a bit longer here than in other Courts.

Her bright blue eyes filled with the warmth my fathers lacked. Sometimes I wondered how in the world they got together. But then I remembered just how many people she'd killed with that smile. For all her warmth and kindness, there was just as much dark ill intent behind every action she made. Perhaps that was where I had learned my sneaky ways from. I hugged her back, wary of her true motives. Because as welcoming and openly affectionate as she was, she must have known what I was here for. It's not that she didn't always greet me. But, with my mother you never knew what you could expect. Most people believe she was kind and sweet, but that was all just a facade. So much like mine.

"How are you? Oh dear, I wish you'd visit me more often and not just because of your Father's dumb 'requests'. Honestly, what did he send you here for now?" My mother asked, and to anyone watching, this might have seemed like some innocent pure question. Simply a mother mourning over not being able to see her son as much. All the while she was painting my Father in a bad light. Of course I didn't so mind that last part.

She might have everyone else fooled but I knew what she meant. She wanted to find out why I was here to prevent me from doing what I was tasked with. The only thing I don't understand is why she was asking me this so publicly in the eyes of the servants at that. Or maybe that was why. To make her look like the caring kind-hearted mother she tries to persuade everyone that she is. She wanted to control the situation. So, if I had told her I wanted to see the prisoner she would try and prevent me from seeing said prisoner for my "own good". My mother knew how to twist things in her favor. She would make up some excuse to make it seem like she was protecting me from the prisoner. Who despite being behind bar would still be able to hurt me. Or so she would claim. It's happened before, back when I was too naive of her "good intentions".

The look in her eyes already told me the rumors of said prisoner were true. Perhaps she suspects my visit already and had stashed said prisoner somewhere I wouldn't know. So, just why is this prisoner so important? All the more reason to be careful. I smiled softly towards my mother. In her high heels I was an inch or two under her.

"Well, I'm actually kind of here to just see you. Father. Father's not feeling well as of late, so he sent me." I said, still smiling my best fake smile on my face. Not a lie he wasn't feeling well, he never feels "well" in the sense that he's happy. And he did send me here.

This excuse should be fine seeing as how many of my real visits were like this. I either was visiting my mother because of my father's wishes or to escape my father. Sometimes my father's expectations are just too high for me to carry out and I sometimes sought the rescue of my mother's sly embraces. At least the latter was what I wanted her to think that's what I meant by my words.

I had wondered whether I should make up some lie about being here on a different task or not. I decided not to. Instead, I'll just tell her half of the truth, at least not the complete truth. It was more believable able anyways.Then at night I'll fake out another task I was 'sent here to do' while I went to see the prisoner. To do that I'll need to gather more information. I sighed inwardly at the pawing hands I'll have to endure, because we Fae, especially the nobles, weren't so selective about our sexual desires.

Same sex or not we didn't care so long as we got what we wanted. And with my low life energy, I've had my fill of both types. Despite my lack of muscles I was still appealing to both women and men alike. I was the prince of the Winter Court after all. And nothing was more open to sexual exploits than the Summer Court, second only to the Fall Court.

"Well, your room is already prepared as always. I'll wish to have dinner with you as well." My mother said already picking up my habits. She wanted to keep more tabs on me and what better way than to dine with me.

"I nodded noting how the sun had yet to set. So after setting my things down, I headed out to the summer courts' capital city.

I was looking for new books to read when a hair as bright as Summer itself caught my gaze. It was covered in masking magic but let's just say my magic or affinity helped me distinguish between lies and truths. I turned to catch the small figure but she was gone a moment later.

Her eyes, the small glimpse I was able to see was enough to lure me in. I blinked, and for a moment I thought of pushing past the wall of guards around me. But, that would be illogical, not for someone I barely knew. Yet still there was something about her. I shook the thought away.

I... probably won't see her again, right?

Yet, I couldn't help but wish that wasn't true. I looked back again frowning as if I'd missed something very important. The whole day I'd just been going through the motions never truly getting that ray of sunshine out of my eyes. Until suddenly I felt as if an invisible force was dragging me towards her.

I was coming out of one of the five bookstores I'd already visited that day. None of which contained any books I didn't already have. There amidst the blood apples and tangerines a small petite girl merely 5 foot tall, was buying something from a stand nearby. What it sold I couldn't tell with all these people blocking me. But I think I knew that the person beneath that brown tattered peasant hood was her. As if in a trance, I headed towards the booth hoping to catch the beauty, only to find her missing from the stand. I frowned. Where could she have gone?

"Why do you keep staring at me?" A voice said, sharp but friendly, innocent, and familiar.

I blinked. Turning towards the voice. And there she was. The bright glow of her burning golden hair and eyes like that of the sun. Nothing like I'd ever seen before staring right back at me.

"I- I beg your pardon?" I asked, blinking my lids rapidly, not sure if I heard her correctly.

Had she truly just addressed me? Her soft small hands on her narrow curvyish hips. Her lightly golden brown brows drawing together as if they were confused, trying to figure me out. She was staring at me. God, she was so pretty. I blushed looking down at my shoes.

"I-I umm. I-I- I wasn't." I said not sure why I was flustered. For lord's sake I didn't even know the girl.

The girl only rolled her eyes, seemingly annoyed with my answer. And just as she was about to open her mouth to boss me around again another cloaked figure came around dragging the girl by her hood. It was too fast for me to help her. To grab her back. I didn't want her to leave yet. Lords just give me a few more minutes.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to intrude." The other person said as if in a rush.

The deep yet aristocratic tone told me he was male. Hopefully not her boyfriend. I couldn't help but scowl at the beautiful bella getting away from me. I wanted to chase them down but I couldn't. If I did my mother would find out, and then who knows what she might do if she found out something had finally caught my eyes.

Before I knew it he and the girl were gone. However, I caught the ice-cold blue gaze of the boy for a split second. It was the same shade of ice blue as Snow's but as cold as my Father's. I'd know that chilly glare from anywhere. As I thought about the fact I could have sworn that maybe my father had come up with some disguise magic and my mother too. Maybe that was why I was drawn to the girl and why the boy had dragged her away, but, no. That can't be correct, right? My parents have never been that involved in my life before.

I mean, what I felt was. Well, what I felt I couldn't possibly feel that way for my mother. Then again they did have cloaking magic on. No, the boy's hair was blond, wasn't it? At least the small glimpse I caught from the boy's hair was blond, or perhaps it was the girls. They looked so familiar to one another. On the other hand, my father was the exact opposite of my mother in the looks department. So I highly doubt they would both cloak themselves so similar to one another like that unless it was to further deceive me. But cloaking magic was hard to cast, let alone masking something so brilliantly bright as that girl's hair. I highly doubt it felt like my mother's light hair. My mother's hair never had that same brilliance. Either way what reason would they even have to stalk me in the City? They both knew I only ever would go to bookstores. That and I could never imagine my parents getting along together in any capacity besides the bed on occasion. But one thing was for sure I needed to see that girl again.

That night after dinner, I'd left to find the prisoner. And Lords was she hidden deep, my mother definitely knew I was going to search for her. That or she was so special she was placed farther away before I even came. After all these cages were specifically designed to contain dark magic holding Fae.

I crept closer to the cage despite the rotting rows of corpses and decay reeking in the air. You heard me right the lovely sunny Summer Court Queen keeps prisoners, even more so than her sister, the Spring Maiden, ruler of both Fall and the Spring Courts. After over throwing the Duke of Fall she too over both Courts.

I peered closer beyond the cage, frowning at the stinging rose scent of the steel barred bars. Noting the small charcoal look they have but because of the enchantment they will never break. No matter the amount of rust they sport it will never crumble. For a moment I thought I was scenting poison in the air causing this illusion to hold. I should know I've created plenty of poisons to induce hallucinations of all kinds, though I make mine odorless. Tricks more Fae that way.

There inside the cage sat a girl. But she wasn't huddled because she was scared I noted. No she was simply holding herself to keep warm. How do I know? Because she didn't lack the loss of hope or shine to her eyes most prisoner that rocked back and forth from fear did. I was a bit impressed given the state she was in. Her clothes tattered around her soaked in blood and mud. Yet there the girl held herself as arrogant as a peacock. She was sitting rather close to the door. It was as if she was waiting for someone.

I frowned, from the looks of it my mother must have put her through hell but yet there she lay, calm and as sane as ever. I've seen countless men twice her size break down in mere seconds after even just an hour of my mother's torture. So why not her? I was tempted to look back as if the person she was waiting for was right behind me. But I knew the moment I did she could attack. She was a prisoner after all. Despite my mother's spell on the bars hinted by the heavy rose scent of her powers. Now that I thought about it, it always came when my mother used her powers. Which answers the first question, my mother hid this person, a girl by the looks of it, away before she even knew I was coming here. There was no way magic of this mass would have been done in such a short time. Or perhaps she knew I was going to come here for the prisoner and had the spell cast before hand?

I covered my tracks with a makeshift doll in my supposed bedroom, so no one would think otherwise. The hazy smell and the foggy room would make me look a lot like my pillow self currently under my covers.

"You're finally here." I heard the girl say her raspy voice in whispers. No doubt because she hasn't drunken much water. Yet I get the feeling that she wasn't whispering but that this was simply how she talked.

I frowned peering through the bars at the scrawny girl sitting elegantly by the corner of the floor. Or as elegantly as she can in those rags. She unwrapped herself as if she was tired. She stretched like a cat who'd just awoke from a long nap. As she inched forward towards me I noted the long raven violet hair and purple night sky-colored eyes.

Suddenly she tilted her head as if she sensed something," I see you've already met. Well, that is inevitable, you will meet again, for now, you must leave. You don't want to be here when they come." She said looking towards the door just as an explosion erupted, alarming every guard in the castle.

And a voice so familiar, so aristocratic, sounded through it all," Oh bloody hell Everetta! I told you to keep it quiet!" I recognize that voice, it was the boy from this morning.

Which means, Everetta was the girl from this morning. She must be. Another explosion.

Startled, I blinked confused as to what was happening. Then I recalled the girl's words. Was this her rescue party? Was this prisoner and that girl, Everetta, related in some way? I turned towards the door as if it was about to come unhinged at any moment. Yet, I also hoped she would be behind that door, why? I was confused for a moment unsure of why I was feeling this way towards a girl I barely knew. Yet, my body seemed to crave her. The girl in front of me sighed, catching my attention once again.

"Honestly, must they always be so energetic." She said looking back at me exasperation coating every word that spilled from her mouth if her eye roll didn't clue you in on her annoyance. It's as if she already knew this would happen. As if she was bored of this jail break attempt.

So they were her rescue party then. A voice as heavenly and lively as an angel of glee danced past my ears catching my attention as my head whipped back to the door, hungry for another fix, "Damn it now they know my name, Eli. And here I thought I was going to be all like mwahaha, and now remember your killer Everetta Von Gildenstin!" The voice said, the voice of that girl, Everetta.

Everetta that sounded just as angelic as she was. I wanted to run. To go to her. To see her again. Just as I made a move to do so, the prisoner caught my arm. She shook her head as if reading my thoughts. As if she knew of my intentions, of my unexplained longing.

"You will see her again." She said as though she hated the fact.

"But first you must remember. Remember who you are. Find a potion, or learn how to make it. Recover your memories, I know you can. Until then don't come back here, and don't go near her, please." The girl said before looking over at the door again as if it was about to explode open any moment from now.

And I wanted it to because I knew and I think she did too, that the girl and that boy were also going to come through if it did this time.

"Oh please, that's not even your real name." The boy's prime and proper tone came through the wood frames once more, closer this time.

A pause, grunts, something heavy dropping, then "Ya, but my actual name is way too long to say." The girl's voice said again. Everetta, her name was Everetta.

I pouted longing to go to her. To be with her. No, I needed to be with her and make things right. Fuck, I moved but the girl pulled my hands back still gripping it in hers tightly.

"You will see her again." The girl repeated this time more determinedly.

"I promise." She said again, and something about her sorrowful pitiful eyes but confident glare told me I should trust her, despite not even having spoken with her for not more than a minute.

"But go, return to your Father's castle... We'll come within-" The girl closed her eyes as if to remember or to see something. Though I wouldn't know how she could see with her eyes closed, just as another explosion sounded. I tried yanking my arms free.

"-Two weeks, give us two weeks, and you'll see her again in two weeks. Now please leave, you must go." The girl said behind the bars, as if she knew if I wouldn't leave until I saw the girl, Everetta, again. I looked back once more at the wooden steel barred doors yearningly. For beyond that very wooden barrier of a door was her. But, something told me I needed to listen. So instead of following my body's wishes I nodded instead. And before I knew it I was in my Mother's prepared guest suit for me just as a guard burst into my room.

"Your Highness, there has been a breach in the castle. Please, follow me to safety." The guard said as I agreed, preparing my excuse for my mother if the guard noticed my black attire as I stood in front of my bed despite there already being a lump under the covers.