- Elena -

"Maybe you can find her portrait. Even if it is a picture of her it will help." Keiran suggests. "Your parents must have kept a picture of her at least."

So, I said: "Cover me will you? For dessert. I will be back." Keiran nodded. "I will save you some, don't worry." With a conspirator's wink he left me to do what I needed to do.

***

I pondered over what my cousin said as I walked up the glass stairs to my parents' bedroom. The walk to our private chambers is open for all to see. A single wide staircase made of transparent glass to the top. Only royals can walk upon it. Those who break the rules will face the consequences and none dared to try their luck.

I glanced around trying to be discreet as I stepped onto the glass stairway. There was only a couple holding hands as they walked passed the hallway, but still the open and empty stairs made me feel naked and exposed. Once they were gone, I made my way up quickly.

Opening the doors of my parents' bedchambers, I quietly snuck in and closed the door. If they have a portrait of my older sister then it must be kept inside here. I rummaged the drawers and peeked into every vase. Careful to place the items back in their original positions. "Not here. Not here either." I whispered to myself.

I stared at the large luxurious bed piled with cream cushions and pillows. The only place I have yet to search. The balcony is open with the curtains drawn aside showing a glimpse of the roses in the courtyard below.

Peeking out, I checked that the courtyard was empty before I stood up and walked over to my parents' bed. Sliding my hand under the thick mattress, I felt along the edge until my fingers brushed against something hard and solid. Is this it? Pulling it out, it was small but the baby girl in my mother's arms was breathtaking.

I knew she was my sister because where I have blue eyes, hers are the exact replica of my mother's. Where my hair is blonde, hers are the shades of chestnut brown. Although her hair are just little tufts on her head, her eyes are large and uptilted revealing its richness. Her tiny fingers clutched my mother's hair tightly as if she knew she was going to be given away.

At the back of the portrait was my mother's cursive handwriting painstakingly engraved. "Gabriella Amaris Vida. My firstborn."

I blinked my moist eyes and carefully tucked the small portrait into the hidden pocket of my dress and slinked off.

The lingering smell of custard and cream tickled my nose as I made my way back to the table. Everyone's plates were empty or licked clean by the time I sat down on my seat. I can already picture it in my mind. Soft egg custard, sweet strawberry jam pastries and crushed pistachio sauce. That's what my nose tells me. But as I stared at my plate, only a small portion of it was left there.

Glaring at the person beside me, I whispered. "The hell happened to saving me dessert?"

Keiran glanced at me sheepishly and shrugged. "Well... It was too delicious and you were taking quite a while. So I helped myself." Brushing aside the urge to murder him, I forked some of it and the creamy custard melts in my mouth. In three bites the dessert is gone. Damn it.

"So you got it?" Keiran whispers as he taps his fork.

I blinked twice as I looked around, searching for my parents. They are still here laughing and bantering with the Autumn Queen. The Winter King, Summer King and Day King were all seated there.

"I'm going tomorrow." I said as I turned back to my cousin.

"Tomorrow? You mean you will look for your sister in the Human World?" Keiran asked me, surprise lighting his hazel eyes. I nodded and stopped him before he could speak. "She's coming of age very soon. It may be happening now even as we speak. I can only imagine how disorienting it will be for her."

"You're really full of surprises. I was going to say that's too soon. But I know you too well, I won't be able to stop you. So I won't interfere this time." He says grinning.

"Not gonna say you want to join me in my little adventure?" I ask him, raising my brow.

"Do you need me to go or stay here?" He asks me worriedly.

"Stay here. You need to cover for my absence." I said without hesitation. I already thought this through carefully. The Autumn Solstice will not end tomorrow but in one more week. So while everyone is busy and my parents have to entertain our royal guests, I will take the chance to slip into the Human World. Then find my sister in Soren's top university and tell her the true lineage of her blood. If things go well, she might have yet to come to age. But if her powers have already awakened, then I will prepare for the worst case scenario.

Like draws to like, and kind flocks to kind. Her powers will definitely draw the attention of other fae. As long as it is not the Decays, then there is still hope that she is safe.

Hopefully, I won't be too late.

***

- High Court -

When night falls and everyone is deeply asleep...

"I've reached out to the humans. The governments of the Human Realm countries have agreed to cooperate with us. They are now keeping a look out for illegal cult activities and suspicious people." Alandis, High King of the Fae Realm spoke to the other members present.

"The humans? So we are now resorting to colluding with such inferior species? Alandis have you lost your touch?" The King of the Winter Court, Gabriel, spoke icily. His gravel tone merciless and cold.

The High King raised his brows at the Winter king's distaste. "The latest news as of now is that the humans have been preparing their defences against "paranormal" creatures like us, going so far as to form squads of elites. I conclude that we can take advantage of it. Use them to guard the gateways. At the same time, obliterate the Decays who managed to slip past. It is a win-win."

"Don't forget, inferior as they may be, we need as much help as we can get. They are now turning to the idea of using humans as sacrificial offerings. So it has already been blown out of our hands." The High King directed his words to the others as well, wondering who else opposed his idea.

"I second this idea. Gabriel, you stubborn old fool. The humans today and the past are vastly different. They used to be defenseless, but their advancements may very well be our undoing if we regard them too lightly." The Autumn Queen admonished the Winter King, earning herself a freezing glare that might have turned any lesser fae into popsicles.

Queen Varise ignored the Winter King and addressed the High King. "My court and I agree to lend our resources in this war. It has been too long. We have enough of sitting in the shadows and waiting." Restlessness burned in her eyes.

"Indeed. The young queen speaks wisely. I second as well." The King of the Day court agreed as he nodded at the Autumn Queen. The dark tattoos imprinted on his corded neck shifted against his tanned skin.

"I can spare my men for the war. They are yours to command as you see fit." He spoke to the High King as he stretched himself on the chair made of vines.

This small private space was created by the fusion of all their magic and hidden away in a pocket of the In-Between. The space between the two realms, where magic is wild and harder to wield.

The In-Between is the space that contains everything and nothing, the end and the beginning. It is a place where the consciousness of fae are scattered when their spirits have left their bodies. No magic is required to open a rift to the In-Between because it has always been closely interlinked with the Fae Realm. However, it takes a large amount of magic to create a private space in the dimension.

With the combined powers of each ruler, they have created a small enclosed room with chairs made of vines sitting in a circle.

"Currently, the Night Court has been resisting the spread of the Decays because they are closest to their encampment. However, I foresee that the troops I sent to aid them will not make much of any progress. We need more ears and eyes everywhere. Even in the Human World." The High King said when no one else voiced their objection.

"Well, we can't let the Night Court take all the credits can we?" Summer King Brandon winked playfully. The Summer King is now into human fashion. He is rocking in ripped denim jeans and a white shirt that stretches against his taut muscles to reveal a glorious perfect summer torso.

"The dark fae live by the code of honor and sacrifice. Claiming the first blood is their prize and theirs to take." King Gabriel stated coldly. "Why go after their blood craze? Unless, of course, you have become stupid like the humans since you decided to dress like one."

"Oh, and you have a better fashion sense than me, I assume?" The Summer King scanned the winter furs that adorned the hunting jacket that is opened to reveal leaned muscular abs and skin-tight hunting leathers. A small part of him admits that the new jacket is gorgeous, and the skin-tight leathers look extremely rugged, but instead, he said: "Aren't you too hot inside all that fur?"

"I have my ways." The Winter King spoke quietly, his icy blue eyes piercing, knowing what are the right topics to trigger the vain Summer King.

"If we are talking about fashion sense here, I think Silos is the winner so cease your bickering." The High King said amusedly.

They all looked to the Day King, lounging languidly with both his feet propped up against the table formed from the mesh of thick vines. All he wore were baggy white silk pants that hung low on his hips. A single gold bangle clasped his deeply-tanned corded arms. Dark ancient tattoos snake across his muscular chest, moving and shifting. He raised an eyebrow as if to say "What? Got a problem with my PJs?"

"For Alba's sake, you lot are nothing but childish." Queen Diana sighed. "We are having a war council and all you can talk about is fashion?!" She glared at her husband, as the High King grinned sheepishly and gave her a shrug.

The Winter King clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "More and more followers are joining this twisted cause. My court is doing what we can to stem the rebels. However, I found some very disturbing news to say the least. We have found spies among us, who confessed that they had come from Summer."

There was no warmth in the Winter King's tone. Cold rage flickers in the depths of his freezing blue eyes. The temperature in the room plunged several degrees as both kings stared at each other squaring off. Everyone's mood sputtered. Whatever mischief that remained in the Summer King vanished in that instant.

"What are you trying to incite Winter King?"