Three months had gone by, Mal was now in her final month of pregnancy. Her son, who she and Ben had yet to pick out a name for him. She was sitting on a rocking-chair in her room, looking outside at the streets below. The construction workers were finishing up on the last bit of rebuilding of the town square, Ben and Adam were down there as well, helping them lay down the cobblestone and wood. She was looking down, smiling as she watched her husband. Images of him and their son popped into her head. She imagined him holding their son in his strong arms, the two trying to bride him to say "mama, or dada", watching him take his first steps, and all the many more wonderful things to come.

And like always, whenever she thought of all the good to come, her mind would then think back at all the horrors that had passed. Evie was gone. She and Doug's family had left Auradon for an unclear amount of time. Any attempts of communication were futile. Mal knew this. Evie hated her, and rightfully so. Because it was her fault that Doug had been killed. Her fault that the villains had been able to escape from the isle, because she had allowed her mother to live, because she was stupid enough to believe her mother could change. Carlos and Jay were gone to. Dude died not long after the funerals for Doug and Lonnie, and Carlos was a wreck. Jay took him to the place where his father had originated, a land of wonder and magic. They had been gone a little over a month, but they kept in contact. They had eloped, they sent Mal and Ben a picture of them kissing under a full moon and bright stars.

Mal had her baby shower a few weeks ago. Belle had tried her best to arrange the best one she could, hoping to cheer up her daughter-in-law. Mal received many small trinkets and flowers from her people, all thankful that she had saved them, and blessing the birth of the new prince. The attendants to the small shower were Jane and her mother, Ariel and Melody (who had returned from her summer under the sea) and of course Belle. Each tried to make Mal forget that her pseudo-sister was not in attendance. There had been wonderful chocolate cupcakes with baby blue frosting, and a feast fit for Christmas. Belle's gift was a wonderful quilt, made from Ben's baby clothes that she had kept. Jane and Fairy Godmother had given Mal enchanted toys, to allow her child's imagination to grow and prosper as he did. Ariel's gift, like the wedding gift, was the most enchanted. Mal vividly remembered being very confused when she opened the package. Inside was a pure white clam shell. Ariel encouraged her to open it. Mal did as she was instructed and opened the clam. A calming blue light burst from the open shell, as did a magical chores of voices, singing softly and sweetly. From the light Mal could make out images of merpeople, dolphins and whales, fish of many colors, and a beautiful palace under the ocean. Ariel told Mal that it had been enchanted with the sounds of her family singing, and that whenever the baby was fussy or cry all she had to do was play it, and her son would drift off into a peaceful sleep. The shell now laid on Mal's lap. She placed her slender fingers on it, and popped it open. Again, the room was filled with the blue light, and magical images from the ocean. Mal's eyes began to grow heavy, and soon the pregnant queen was fast asleep. Her dreams taking her to a place where her regrets and sorrows were replaced by hope.

He walked up the stone steps in the dead of night, in one hand carrying a full sack. He waved his free hand, and the door to his castle flew open. The full moon shined eerily down on him. His black hair appeared to be a sinister shade of midnight-blue. His cape of feathers flowed into the night, if one was studying him, they would not be able to tell where the darkness began, and where the feathery cape began. His clothes, made from smoke and darkness flowed in the wind, glistening like water. When he was inside he walked through the cold corridors, bare except for the occasional skeleton hanging from the walls. He headed westward, towards what he called his study, though the only books to be found there dealt with witchcraft and alchemy. Another flick of his wrist and the door to his study opened. Inside, waiting for the Dark King, was another. The guest, vampire, had short deep brownish-red hair, slicked back. His eyes were a brilliant crimson, and his skin almost as white as the owner of the castle. He too, was clad in all black, though his clothes were not made of magic or the remains of animals, but rather what he had been "buried" in three-hundred years ago. Upon meeting the eyes of the Dark King, the vampire bowed. The Dark King smiled wickedly, and walked over to a large black sofa. He crossed his legs, and placed the full sack next to him.

"Do you have what you promised me, Michael," the Dark King asked. Michael returned his smile and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small glass vial, inside was a strange black metallic liquid.

"One vial of my venom, my Lord," the vampire said before bowing his head. The Dark King smiled again, and motioned for the vampire to approach him. Michael, trying his best not to seem timid, approached the king with his head held high.

"There is no need to fear me, Michael," the king said softly, "you are far more use to me alive than dead. I already have enough of your kind's remains supporting the structure."

Michael did not utter a word. The Dark King patted the seat next to him, and the vampire obeyed. The king's eyes grew wicked and soon his hand was gripping the back of Michael's hair, yanking his head back. The vampire hissed for only a moment before the king's lips feel on his. The kiss was not romantic, there was not love behind it, as it was a kiss of aggression and animalistic nature. When the kiss was broken, Michael looked up at his master with longing eyes, himself having fallen in love with the wickedest person he had ever known. There was no love for the vampire from the king. He did not love. Would not love. The vampire, however, was useful and attractive, forever twenty five, just like the king himself, neither would grow or age. The king smiled at the vampire.

"Head to my bed chamber," he instructed. Michael smiled, and placed a cold hand on the king's face.

"Does his majesty not have something in return for the venom," he asked sweetly. The Dark King's eyes moved to the small sack next to him, and then back at Michael. The king picked up the sack and tossed it to the vampire, who caught it carefully. The sack began to move, and a small cry came from inside.

"It's already half-dead," the Dark King stated, "I smothered it just enough to keep it from waking up the village." Michael opened the top of the sack, and saw the small babe inside, its lips already blue, its pulse weak. As they sat there, a sharp cry came from miles away. The mother of the babe had discovered it was gone. "Perhaps that will teach her to lock the windows at night," the Dark King said with a slight chuckle, "not that would have stopped me," he added.

The Dark King got up from the sofa and held the vial of vampire venom close to his chest. "Eat you dinner, Michael, and then join me upstairs."

Michael looked up from the nearly dead babe and up at his master.

"Sir, I'm curious," Michael began to say.

"Curiosity killed the vampire," the Dark King retorted, turning on his heels and looking at the vampire. He smiled kindly, almost child-like. "What is it that you are curious of?"

"Why is it, that you needed a vial of venom," Michael asked. The Dark King's smile grew wicked. "It's part of a present," he told the vampire.

"A present for who?"

The Dark King's smile grew, "for my nephew."