M O R G A N

Light streams through the curtains and onto my face. A cool breeze kissed my skin, and I breathed in and smelt the heavenly scent of lavender, rose, and fresh grass. I opened my eyes, confused - why could I smell lavender in February?

I found myself in a strange room in the middle of a grand four-poster bed. Outside, the sun was shining, and the trees were in full leaf. I could hear the gentle buzz of bees passing by my window.

"What the hell," I muttered to myself, swinging my legs out of bed.

I headed over to the window and looked out. Outside was a beautiful garden in early summer bloom. I pressed my hand to my head and stepped backwards. Where was this place? The last thing I remembered was Ebony and then blackness.

"Good morning, my beloved flame," Erik's voice chirped from behind me.

He entered the bedroom carrying a breakfast tray and gently placed it on the bed.

"You shouldn't be up. It's not good for the baby," he gently scolded me.

"The baby?" I asked.

Erik walked across the bedroom and placed his hand on my stomach.

"The doctor said that you need plenty of rest," he said and pressed a kiss against my cheek. "I need to head down to the farm. The sheep have escaped, and Byron is having a hell of a game trying to round them up."

I stare at him, utterly confused.

"Wait, what happened to Ebony, Poppy, and Rupert?" I asked.

Erik stares at me blankly, as if he had never heard those names before.

"Darling, you haven't started naming the sheep? It's not a good idea to get attached to the farm animals," he replied.

I feel sick.

Ebony said she would take care of everything - she said I would wake up and everything would be fine... but what exactly did she mean by that?

"Where am I?" I asked.

Erik framed my face with his hands and looked worried.

"I'll call the doctor - you must be having another one of your turns," he said.

"I don't need the doctor. I just need to know where I am?"

"Wickford Manor, our home. We've lived here for the past year since the wisps chose us as mates," he explained. "You were living with Charlie and India, but now you live here as my wife and keeper of my happiness."

"Oh god, Ebony... what did you do?" I muttered under my breath.

I turned away from Erik and headed out of the bedroom onto a grand oak-panelled hallway. I walked down the hall, passing portraits of fake ancestors that never existed. At the end of the hall was a large stained glass window that depicted a fox sitting in the snow, looking up at a raven sitting in a tree.

"Morgan, the doctor is coming. Please come back to bed. You're tired," Erik called to me.

My heart sank. The door between our worlds had been closed. Ebony had erased Poppy and Rupert from this world but had somehow introduced Erik into it.

I turned to Erik, who was running down the hall towards me.

"Erik? Do you know who you are?" I asked.

"I'm your husband," he replied.

"No - do you remember who you were before you came to this world?" I pressed.

"I was a farmer, and I'm still a farmer, like my father and forefathers before me," he said cheerfully.

I glanced back at the fox and pointed to it.

"Do you know who that is?" I asked.

"It's a fox," he shrugged.

"And what did the fox do to the dragons?" I pushed.

Erik threw up his hands in exasperation, "Nothing that I can recall - now, please come back to bed."

My hand drifted down to my stomach, and I felt the slight round bump. Shit - I'm really pregnant.

I let Erik walk me back to bed and allow him to fuss over me. He seems happy now he's forgotten everything. He chats enthusiastically about the lambs and then about his great plans to help Charlie refurbish the pub. I listen to him without really listening. In the back of my mind, I keep thinking - I miss Poppy.

Tears start to fall down my face, and he stops.

"Morgan, please stop. You're breaking my heart," He said.

I wipe my eyes with the back of my sleeve and fan my eyes.

"I'm sorry - I'm just feeling overwhelmed," I replied.

Erik fluffs my pillows and fetches me another cup of tea. Sitting alone in this beautiful bedroom, I wondered what else Ebony had changed about Thorsbury Upon Wick. I dressed myself before Erik returned and slipped my shoes on.

"I thought we agreed that you were staying in bed," Erik chided.

"I want to go and see Charlie," I replied.

Erik glanced down at the hot tea and shrugged.

"Fine, let me grab my car keys," he said.

I followed him down a large sweeping staircase into a grand foyer. It was hard to believe that Ebony had conjured this whole house out of nothing. Erik grabbed his keys, and I followed him outside. From here, I could see the enormity of the manor. It was twice the size of Thorsbury Hall. Ebony had built the house in the woods, right where the Devil's House used to stand.

Erik helped me into the car, and we drove down the gravel driveway that eventually joined the main road to the village. People waved at Erik as we drove past as if they had known him all his life.

"Have you really forgotten everything?" I asked.

Panic flashed across Erik's face.

"Your birthday is not until October - right? Our anniversary is in January, so I don't think I've missed anything," he said.

"No, I mean - do you know who I am? Who am I really?" I replied.

"My wife?" He said cautiously as if I was asking him some kind of trick question.

"No, that's not what I meant," I sighed.

We visited the pub, and I asked the exact same questions to India and Charlie. Neither of them seemed to know who Poppy was, and both of them swore that they had known Erik for all their lives. I had hoped that someone might have remembered who Poppy was - but it appeared that she had been wiped from the village's memory.

It was sad, but Poppy couldn't have lived here - not as a vampire, at least. Her best chance of happiness was making a new life for herself in Ebony's world. I hoped she would do well - I think life as a grand vampire lady would suit Poppy.

Sitting at the bar, India placed a lemonade in front of me.

"A letter came for you," she said, reaching into her back pocket and handing me a crumpled envelope, "You've been living with Erik for a year, but people keep sending you stuff here."

I took the envelope and saw my name written in neat handwriting.

I thanked India and opened the letter.

'Dearest Morgan,

Thank you for all you have done for me.

I wanted to send you this final letter in the hopes it gives you some closure. By now, you've figured out that I've tweaked the village's memory. I hope you are not mad at me for doing this, but I wanted to ensure that you could find happiness.

No one remembers the fox as the wicked creature that started the war. Instead, the fox is remembered only as a creature that once helped a troubled raven. This means that no one will hate you for who you are.

I thought it best to wipe out Erik's memories. He carried so much sadness as a broken king; I hope he can find peace and happiness as a farmer.

As for Poppy and Rupert, I thought it would be best for everyone to forget them. I realise that this must be particularly hard for you, but I couldn't allow Poppy to return to Thorsbury as a vampire - it was too great a risk.

Poppy misses you greatly but is doing amazing work here with Rupert. Both of them have found their niche as a mediator between the vampires and rebel dragons. Thanks to them, we are finally bringing peace to the mountains.

I've sealed the portal between our worlds so no one can pass in or out.

Thank you for everything, Morgan. Please go on and live a happy, full life. You are always in my heart.

Love,

Ebony.'

When I had finally read the letter, the paper magically turned to ash in my hands, destroying the only piece of evidence that revealed what had really happened.

My heart felt relieved.

I had been so worried that Erik might reignite the war between the vampires and dragons and drag my friends and family into his stupid war. Ebony had put a stop to that by erasing his memories.

So, that was it. The war had finally come to an end.

The Mad Prince Dante would spend the rest of his life ruling over his Kingdom with Ebony. While Erik the reluctant dragon King, would spend the rest of his days here in this village with me.

I looked around the pub and remembered all the good times I had here with Poppy, India, and Charlie. Thanks to Ebony, those good times would continue with Erik and our children. I glanced over to Erik, who was laughing with Charlie. It was nice to see him happy, finally.

He spotted me looking at him, and he flashed me a broad smile.

I smiled back, knowing that there would be no more fighting and all would be well.

THE END

Thank you so much for reading this story!

This is the first story I have written in a while and I'd like to thank everyone for their votes, comments, and messages!