I let out my hair that was pulled back into a messy braid and grabbed my coat as the sun left the sky. Charlie and Dominic were in a meeting and Thaddeus and Theodore and their wives were staying at the southern castle that they all grew up in. I had a quick dinner with Henley before taking off. Victoria had joined us briefly but only scoffed and left when Henley and I gossiped about our past adventures. I knew Victoria didn't like me but I suspected if she didn't like Henley she didn't like anyone.

Alone in my room I felt as heartbroken as the day I left. I would never get to be with him again. I would never get a family. What purpose does my life have anymore?

The wind picked up outside and I could hear the faint whispers in the wind that haunted me the first time. She knew I was back.

I couldn't do this anymore. I sat on the window sill and let my tears fall as I watched the storm roll in. After the wedding I can't stay here and I can't go back to hiding. It was time to visit the witch.

Throwing my black trench coat over my head I made my way to the balcony where it had started to rain outside. It was dark now and I jumped to the ground and started running for the cliff. When I got to the edge memories of doing this very same thing flooded my mind. Except last time I was in a dress with blood on my hands and pain in my heart with intentions to never return. Stepping off the cliff I closed my eyes until my feet hit the ground. Running through the woods I found the witches cabin with a small fire light burning through the window. Relieved she was still here I ran up to the door and knocked as hard as I could.

Helena opened the door. "Vienna?" she gasps and rushes me into her house and closes the door. "What are you doing back here?" she asks taking my coat and leading me to a chair by the fire.

"I'm here for the wedding. As fate would have it my best friend in America would be Charlies mate." I say with a sad laugh. "I'm getting worried Helena. My roots are darkening. I'm worried the pendant is getting weaker" I say holding my necklace tighter.

"I can help with that. You must remember your body and soul crave for him. The closer you are around him the worse it will get. The more time you spend away the faster the haze will set" She says cupping the pendant. "The pendant is only as strong as you want it to be."

"It only needs to hold off until the wedding" I say and Helena lets go of the pendant in shock.

"What are you doing Vienna?" She asks with worry in her eyes.

"I vowed to never come back. And now that I'm here it's just more clear to me Helena. I'll never stop running. I'll never be free" I say letting one tear fall down my cheeks. The storm outside picked up and the wind howled as chants were heard in the wind.

"There is always another way" Helena says with sadness in her eyes.

"This is the other way" I say meeting her sad gaze. "I am not the Queen anymore, and I never will be. I've run my course. Please Helena" I say holding her hand softly and she shakes her head sadly at me. "You know it's true" I say. Helena shakes her head and grabs a chest from the mantle.

"You will always be my Queen" she says handing me a small navy blue pouch with a small capsule inside. "Your hair will be fine for the wedding. I wish you peace afterward" She says turning away and facing the fire. Lifting my hood back over my head I stood up and stepped towards the door.

"Thank you for everything Helena, I'll see you at the wedding?" I ask.

"No one is better than me at blessing weddings" She remarks and a humorous smile graces my lips but she doesn't turn around to look at me. Slipping the pouch into my pocket I stepped outside into the roaring storm and took off running home to the castle.

It was pouring rain as I ran through the woods. Seeing Helena's cabin up ahead I burst inside crying as she rushed to me. She knew everything, she could hear the whispers in the wind. Knowing I'd arrive she hung a necklace around my neck with a pendant. Little words were exchanged for the next few hours as we listened to the thunder and the cries. It was late that night when someone banged on the door. Helena rushed me into her hidden crawl space behind the fire place. Hugging the pendant I held back my cries as the King burst into Helena's home.

"Where is she? Did she come here? Helena I can't feel her anymore" Dominic cried to the witch and she tried to comfort him.

"I heard the cries in the wind. She's gone my King. She did not pass through here or I would have felt it" Helena lies to him as I hug the pendant so tight I'm afraid I'll bleed. He couldn't understand, but I prayed he would one day not feel the pain.

"If you hear anything let me know immediately. We are heading west. Charlie lets go!" He yelled over the storm and I could here him disappear into the night. When they leave Helena opens the crawl space.

"You have to leave now" Helena whispers to me handing me my satin cape and filling my pockets with coins before leading me to the door. "Never take this off" she says clasping the pendant in which she'd placed the ruby from my wedding ring inside. After one last goodbye I ran from the cabin, my heart breaking with every step. The chants in the wind fading behind me, 'The Blood Queen' they called.

Authors Note:

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