Chapter 1

BOSTON: 2011

Evelyn Meyer sat at the kitchen table crocheting. Emerson and Justin loudly entered the apartment giggling.

"Okay," Emerson whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow in school."

Evelyn got up and walked over to them.

"Emerson Booth!" Evelyn exclaimed. "Have you been drinking?"

"No," Emerson lied.

Emerson walked over to Evelyn.

"Why would I drink, Grandma?" Emerson asked in slurred speech. "I'm only 16."

"I can smell the alcohol on your breath," Evelyn said. "Go to your room."

Emerson stumbled off to his room while Evelyn looked at Justin.

"I cannot believe you took my grandson out drinking!" Evelyn shouted.

"Chill, Lady," Justin said drunkenly. "It's not a big deal. In Luxemborg, it's legal to drink at 16."

"It's pronounced Luxembourg, and in this country, it's illegal to consume alcohol under the age of 21," Evelyn said. "You know, my grandson was well behaved and always followed the rules until he met you! You are no longer allowed to come near him."

"Hey, you grouchy old bat!" Justin shouted. "Emerson's my best friend! You can't forbid me to see him! I'll do whatever I want!"

"Get out!" Evelyn shouted.

Justin walked out of the apartment and stumbled across the hall to his apartment. As he entered his apartment and closed the door, the hall elevator doors opened and August entered the hall. He then stumbled down the hallway to Evelyn's door and knocked. Evelyn then opened the door.

"August?" Evelyn asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I want to see my son," August replied.

"No," Evelyn said.

"You can't forbid me to see him, Evelyn!" August shouted.

"I am his legal guardian and I can!" Evelyn shouted. "I don't want him to see his deadbeat father who abandoned him!"

"Listen, Evelyn," August said. "I'm very sick and I need to see my son. I need to talk to him."

"No," Evelyn said. "I'm raising him right and I don't want you to be a bad influence on him."

"Excuse me?" August asked. "Raising him right? I saw him and his friend drinking at a bar! It doesn't seem like you are raising him right!"

"Don't you dare judge me!" Evelyn shouted. "You abandoned him as a baby! You don't get to judge me!"

Evelyn slammed the door in August's face.

"Evelyn!" August shouted. "Open the damn door!"

Later that night, August snuck onto the fire escape. He made sure Emerson was asleep and quietly opened the window and entered the room. He then walked over and looked at his sleeping son.

"I'm so sorry, Emerson," August whispered. "I love you, my son."

August kissed his son on the forehead and quietly climbed out the window.

EMERSON'S CASTLE: The Present

Emerson was sound asleep in a bed in one of the bedrooms of his castle. Justin quietly walked into the room and stood by the bedside.

"Emerson?" Justin asked.

Emerson continued to sleep.

"Emerson?" Justin asked again.

Emerson woke up and looked at his best friend.

"What?" Emerson asked groggily.

"Are you awake?" Justin asked.

"I am now," Emerson said in a grouchy tone.

"Sorry," Justin said. "I just couldn't sleep."

"Think happy thoughts or count sheep, or something," Emerson said.

"No," Justin said. "I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about this huge castle and the need to explore it."

"Okay," Emerson said. "Go explore it. I'm going back to sleep."

"I'm too scared to do it alone," Justin said.

"You're 20," Emerson said.

"Please don't make me explore it alone," Justin said.

"Fine," Emerson said getting up. "I'll explore the castle with you."