~Samuel's Point of View~

Song: "Demons" by Imagine Dragons

******

She beamed at me and her smile made me fell warm inside. My heart skipped a beat. She was stunning.

"You're welcome, Sam."

I wanted to kiss her, but she had a boyfriend. I had to respect that- even if I hated him. Instead, I picked her hand up and placed a kiss to the back it, then stood.

I picked up my leather jacket and pulled it on over my t-shirt and said, "Feel better quickly, ok? Your incessant nagging is sorely missed."

She was holding onto the hand I had kissed and she merely gave me a dazzling smile as she replied, "I can still nag you from this bed. I do have a phone and charger."

I grinned. "Then the world will probably end with just those two things. Rest well, Callie."

I then disappeared into shadows and travelled through the darkness and arrived back in my dorm room.

I tossed my jacket onto my desk chair and faceplanted into my pillow.

"You, my friend, are hopeless. Hopeless, I tell you." Haven's taunting voice called out from across the room.

"Shut up." I replied, voice muffled by the pillow.

He laughed. "You really are in love with her aren't you?"

I sat up and glowered at him. "No. I mean yes. I'm not in love. Not yet, at least...I don't think. I do care for her. I hate seeing her with Brandon." I paused. "Maybe I am."

"Yeah. You are, buddy." Haven laughed, then bit his lip. "Did you tell her about Arielle?"

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I told her I don't trust him because he took her from me."

"Who did you tell her to trust, then? I know you already realize the situation she's in and how bad it is. They might come for her."

"I know. I told her she can trust you and some of the Fellowship. And me."

"Oh, I am flattered." Haven said with a grin. "She trusts me now? Oh, you're funny."

"Don't flatter yourself too much. I said you were a second choice if I wasn't around." I said and stood and walked over to my closet and opened the door, rummaging through it.

"So you know the Council wants to meet with us tonight, then?" Haven asked and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Mhm." I say as I pull out a new dress shirt. I pulled off my t-shirt and put on a white one. "I know they want updates, but under no circumstances are either of us going to bring up Callie. She doesn't exist."

He raised an eyebrow as he buttoned his own dress shirt. "So you really think she's the one, huh?"

"I know she's the one. And if my father figures that out..." I clenched my jaw and just slipped my arms through the black dress shirt and buttoned it up to my neck.

"Hey. Just relax, ok? We'll figure something out." Haven said as he began to knot his tie in the mirror. "No use going to the council with jitters. You're supposed to be their prince, not some jittery sap with no idea what to do with himself."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Haven. I am nervous, though. They'll want news about the Ring and where that is, too."

"Maybe Callie can help you find it." Haven says as he sits on a chair and pulls on his dress shoes. "If she really is the one, she'll have a connection to it."

I ditched the tie and pulled on my overcoat. "Maybe. But I don't want to put her in that kind of danger. And I don't want to force her to do that, either. Are you ready to go yet?"

"Yup." He held a hand out to me and I took it, saying,

"Imara will be there."

He had time to gasp before we dissolved into shadows and reappeared outside of his father's mansion.

"S-She will be there? She's here?" Haven whispered, eyes wide and earnest.

I smirked. "Yes, Haven. She's back from Mordor. Keep your cool, ok?"

"I can't make any promises." He says and his shoulders seemed to relax as he opened the door confidently and stepped inside. I followed behind him and we headed into the mansion.

The butler took our coats and bowed low to me. I ignored the ghoul except to ask,

"Tell me. Where can I find my sister before the meeting?"

He pointed up the stairs with a strange green finger. "Upstairs, sire. The door at the end of the hall on the left."

"Thank you." I said and the butler bowed and I turned to Haven and ushered my friend up the stairs.

He went up ahead of me, his excitement poorly concealed. "Should I try and surprise her?"

"I can open the door first and you can wait at the end of the hall, lover boy." I teased and he flipped me off.

I grinned and went down to the door and knocked. The door opened a few moments later to reveal a shorter girl with red hair cropped up to her shoulders. She wore a long black dress with small diamonds sewn into it, an onyx and silver tiara on her head. Her eyes were a piercing gray like my own, and she broke out into a smile when she saw me.

"Baldor!" She exclaimed and jumped up and hugged me around the neck. I hugged her back just as tight.

"It's so good to see you, Mar." I whispered in relief and she smiled and pulled away and rested her hands on my cheeks.

"Look at you, baby brother."

I scowled. "You're two minutes older than me."

She laughed. "That still makes you my little brother." She said and poked my nose. "You've got some manly stubble." She said and scratched at my chin and I batted her hand away.

"Leave my manly stubble alone. I have a surprise for you."

"Do you now?" She asked and raised a red eyebrow, gray eyes flashing. "Is it going to be another dress?"

I rolled my eyes. "That was one time. And you know why I asked you to wear it." I said softly.

She nodded and took my hand, giving it a squeeze. "It's ok, Baldor. I'm sorry. What did you get me?"

"Not so much a what...more of a who..." I stepped to the side to reveal Haven a few doors down.

His blue eyes were teary and he was smiling. "Hello, Love."

Imara gasped, and she ran past me and jumped into Haven's arms and he spun her around. She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

I smiled and leaned against the wall and watched them, an ache forming in my chest as I thought of Callie.

Haven set her on her feet, but kept his arms around her and forehead pressed to hers. They were smiling and wiping away each others' tears and talking.

After a few more minutes, they composed themselves enough to look over at me.

"You need your crown, Prince Baldor." Imara said with a smirk. "Dad insists we're treated like royalty. Even here on earth. I think it's bullshit, but he does like to be humored."

"Of course. I'd hate to displease dad. You guys head down first. I'll be there in a moment."

They nodded and Haven offered his arm her and she looped hers through his and he led her down the stairs.

I turned and went into the room I had lived in for years. I opened the door to find it still looked exactly as I had left it. I walked over to my wardrobe and opened it, carefully opening the box to find the crown inside. It was solid gold with onyx jewels set into it. I picked it up and placed it on my head. I looked at myself in the mirror and grimaced.

I headed downstairs, tugging on my collar, and made my way to the meeting room.

I heard voices coming from inside.

"Princess. This meeting is for officials only. Perhaps your whore could-"

"Courtier. Might I remind you that this is his home and also that I might have whomever I wish sit here beside me." Imara interrupted coldly. The room held an icy chill inside.

I stepped into the room, then and glared at the people around the table before taking my seat at the head of the table, Imara to my right.

"I do sincerely hope that I didn't just overhear my best friend being called a whore." I said, voice dangerously low. "Tell me, Haven. Who was it that insulted you?"

Haven shifted to hold Imara's hand in both of his, then looked at one courtier at the end of the table with a seething glare. "That one, lord."

I narrowed my stare on the man, eyes turning red as I said, "I am the Dark Lord's son. Perhaps you'd like a reminder of what I can do to my enemies?"

"N-No, m-my Lord Baldor. I-I am sorry for-"

"Your apologies to Lord Haven." I snapped and pointed to Haven.

The courtier began to stammer out a string of apologies and bowed to him.

"Are we quite finished?" I snarled. "I do hope so. I wasn't planning on eating anyone, but that can change."

The faces of the courtiers were ashen white.

They should be terrified.

Two dragons sat in their midst.

And my sister was by far more formidable than I.

Imara took Haven's hand and said, "What news do you bring back from Mordor? Any luck with the ring or the heir?"

"No, my lady. We have scoured the land and sent Ring Wraiths out to search." One courtier to my left said. The chair at the other end of the table was empty.

"Is Saruman joining us today?" I asked.

"No, sire. He could not. He sends his utmost apologies." A humanoid necromancer said from the spot to the left of the empty chair.

"There is a second empty chair. Is there a reason for that?" I growled and motioned to a spot between two other necromancers.

"Ah. A new recruit, my lord. We wished to bring her into the circle upon the Dark Lord's request." The courtier who and insulted Haven said uneasily, the empty spot being next to him.

"Request, hm?" I asked and leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. "You asked a flaming eye in another world for permission to add to my court? I am starting to think you have a death wish, courtier."

"No, my lord. Please. I beg you." The courtier said, getting on his knees with hands clasped.

"Who is the new addition you were to introduce me to?" I snarled, standing.

"Her name is the Lady Seran. She is with you, is that not correct, my lord?"

I gave a cold smile, my eyes glowing red as I said, "I am with no one. And if you allow Seran to any of these meetings, tell her anything, or even bring her up, I will kill you. And it won't be a quick or painless death. I'll make sure of it." I snarled.

"Y-Yes, my lord." He stammered. I turned away from him and returned to my chair and sat down.

"Imara?"

"Yes, brother?"

"Mind taking care of him for me?"

She grinned, a light flashing in her eyes that was anything but good. "With pleasure."

She looked at the man and he disappeared in a whisp of smoke.

"He'll enjoy some time with dad." She merely said and took Haven's hand again.

He held it up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

He knew how she felt. I knew how she felt.

We hated this. We hated the roles we had to play. We hated the crowns on our heads and the courtiers around us.

We hated having to look evil.

But most of all, we hated our father.