(After many tough battles with my own imagination, creativity, and inner demons, we've finally made it to the last chapter. I hope you enjoy.)

I relaxed at the sight of my friends all gathered around the table. Sebastian put me down beside my chair, and I sat down and tried to give everyone a smile before looking down at the plate in front of me. I felt a lump form in my throat. Maia had prepared my favorite meal: pork chops, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and rolls.

It was weird having everyone around the table together for the first time, especially with the additions of Lisa and Evan, but it was nice. While the three demons didn't eat anything, we still all managed to speak with one another. Like a real family.

I forced the bittersweet feeling and the tears away. Now was not a time to cry. We were eating a final meal all together before our lives changed forever.

I glanced over to Sarah. "Go ahead and pay off your father's debt after we eat. Write a check and I'll sign it. Whatever you need me to do."

She nodded. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Chrys."

I smiled. "And you have no idea what it means to me that you said you'd go with me."

"You've been my whole world for years now. Did you really think I would say no?"

I looked back down at my plate. "I didn't know what anyone would say. I was just praying I'd get to keep at least one of you around..."

She reached out and took my hand in hers. We shared a smile before we released each other and went back to our dishes.

After about an hour of eating and chatting away, Lisa stood. "Alright, everyone. As fun as this has been, three of you need to be preparing yourselves." She turned her gaze to me. "Get any last minute things done now. Our first ritual will begin at midnight."

I nodded to her, then stood from the table. Jasmine and Sarah followed suit, and together we left the dining hall and made our way to my bedroom. When we got there, I sat on the bed and looked over at Sarah. "The check book should be in the safe in my closet."

She nodded and opened the closet, then rummaged around for a moment before she stood and turned to face me and Jasmine. "Got it."

I smiled at her. "Now, write one that will pay off his medical bills, and another for him to take to the bank and cash so he can have some money to live on. I'll make sure Sebastian or one of the others delivers them both."

She looked up at me again. "Chrys-"

"I've made up my mind," I told her. "He's going to need something to help him for a little while. I'll still have plenty left for Maia and Thomas to take care of the house and themselves."

She smiled gratefully, then I watched as she wrote one large check and one smaller check. I quickly signed them both, then put them in my pocket to give to one of the demons later.

"We're really doing this," Jasmine whispered.

I took her hand. "You can still back out if-"

"No!" she cried. "No. I want to. I just don't know what to expect."

I wanted to tell her something that would comfort her, but I too knew nothing about what we were going to experience.

Sarah then took Jasmine's free hand in hers. "Whatever happens, we'll be in it together."

I nodded. "Besides, Sebastian and Lisa won't let anything happen to us." They couldn't risk anything happening to me, and they also both knew that my friends meant the world to me. We would all three make it through this. I knew we would.

My mind suddenly went back to the dream I'd had, where I was being rude to Jasmine and confused as to what was going on around me. "But," I reluctantly added, "I want to apologize in advance if something... changes me."

They both looked at me, suddenly very concerned and scared. I silently chastised myself. I shouldn't have said anything.

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked softly.

I sighed. "I think I saw something, but it might have just been a nightmare. I woke up really confused and was rude to you. If it does happen, I don't want you to hate me for it."

"I'm sure it was just a nightmare," Jasmine reassured me. "You were probably just confused because of what happened."

"Right," Sarah agreed. "And if it does happen, then we won't take it personally, so long as you promised the same for us."

I gave them a small smile. "I promise."

*

A couple of hours later, the three of us finally made our way back downstairs. Everyone was waiting for us, but I couldn't help my eyes going straight to Sebastian.

He gave me a soft smile as I approached. I pulled the checks from my pocket and held them out to him. "I need one of you to make sure these get delivered to Sarah's father."

He took them from me with a nod.

"Say your goodbyes, girls. It's time we get this started," Lisa told us.

We all nodded, and I let Sarah and Jasmine hug Maia and Thomas, then walked over to them myself. They both hugged me tightly.

"Please come visit soon," Maia practically begged, clearly holding back her tears.

I looked between her and Thomas. "As soon and as often as I can. I promise you that."

They both smiled, then hugged each of us one last time before leaving to head to bed, wanting to stay out of our way.

"One last thing," Evan said. "Is there anything any of you would like to take with you? You'll have to pack light, but we'll be able to smuggle a few things in for each of you."

Sebastian and I locked eyes. "I have your swords and pictures of your friends and parents ready to go."

I smiled. "That's all I need."

"It's nearly midnight, Chrystal," Lisa spoke up. "Are you ready? You're first."

I looked from her to Jasmine and Sarah, both watching me anxiously. I gave them my brightest smile. "I'll see you soon," I told them, then turned to face the demons.

Lisa turned and made her way toward the sitting room. Sebastian stepped closer and took my hand and led the way, while Evan stayed in the hall with my friends. When we entered the room, I was slightly surprised to see a man I'd never met before standing there.

"He's the most skilled at these rituals. He'll make sure nothing happens to you," Sebastian whispered to me. "As will I," he added.

When the door closed behind us, the unfamiliar demon bowed to me. "A pleasure, Your Highness."

I didn't know how to react. A quick moment went by, and Sebastian led me to the couch and had me lay down. Last minute fears suddenly began to flood my mind. Was I going to be in pain? Was there any chance this could go horribly wrong? What exactly was about to happen to me?

Sensing my fears, Sebastian then leaned over and kissed me. I kissed back, almost as if my life depended on it. I didn't want him to pull away. When he did, all of my fears would return. My anxiety would spike and I'd back out.

Eventually, his lips slowly left mine, but he kept his face close. "Nothing will happen to you. I recommend sleeping. It will make it much easier on you."

I nodded, closing my eyes and trying to relax my body and my mind. Sebastian kissed me once more, then pulled away. "I'll see you when you awaken, My Love."

I slowly began to drift off to sleep. When I wake up, I'll be a demon, I thought. When I wake up, I'll be a queen.

*

The air around me was cold when I roused myself from bed. The mattress I was on was unfamiliar to me, but so seemed to be everything else. I groggily looked around the room with its stone walls and tried to find anything that was familiar.

I glanced down at myself. I was dressed in what appeared to be a black nightgown, my fingernails were black as night, and there was a mark on my left wrist, a star with a circle around it. It was the only familiar thing I could find, but I was still confused. What did the mark mean? Where had I gotten it?

Suddenly, a door opened slowly, and light flooded into the room. A girl with shoulder length brown hair about my age entered the room. Her eyes brightened in excitement when they landed on me, and she started running toward me. She was closely followed by another girl with blonde hair who seemed slightly older.

I looked at the girls beside my bed, asking me questions and speaking quickly. When I didn't answer, they both began to look at me like something wasn't right.

"Are you alright, Chrystal?" the blonde girl asked.

Finally, I found my voice. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

(And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed my story. Be one the lookout for book 3, titled Yes, My Queen, coming soon!)