Bo

Lauren stared at me with a mix of horror and shock, "I would never hurt you."

I closed my eyes, shaking my head, "It... it wasn't you. I saw Zoie kill Anna," I explained. "I felt her die... and the look in your... I mean, Zoie's eyes... I've never seen such... hatred."

I looked over as I heard footsteps approaching us.

"That isn't true," the Fae, Castor, stated in an even tone. "There's a lot you've yet to understand. But I am glad you're both here. Now, you can help me."

"What exactly do you want," I asked, standing up to look Castor in the eyes.

"The same as you. To find out what our destiny is."

"How?"

He pulled a stone from his pocket, "By seeing what happened through Zoie's and Anna's eyes." Castor handed me the crimson stone and it began to glow.

I turned to Lauren, who was standing beside me, but her attention rested on the object in my hand.

"Once you touch the portal, you will be sent back in time. This is not a trick, I assure you," Castor explained softly.

I watched Lauren swallow with an uneasy look. I knew she was scared but my instincts told me we had to do this.

"We're in this together, right," I whispered to her and her eyes met mine.

She nodded, "Together." She lifted her hand, gently placing it on the stone, and a blinding light swallowed the room.

Zoie

I stood beside my bedroom window. From here, I could see my father's kingdom of Aethevia stretch to the horizon. I thought about how one day I might rule this island and shivered. To me, it was a scary thing.

As daughter of the king, I had rarely been far outside the palace walls, for my own safety. My father was the most powerful Fae in the land; a king and a judge. He was not a bad man, but the Fae feared him, for he was able to give and take other Fae's abilities as he pleased. To be made powerless, made mortal, was a punishment worse than death.

I turned around at the knock on my door and smiled, seeing my brother enter the room.

"Zoie, the party starts in an hour," Castor said, looking me over. "You're not seriously going to wear that, are you?"

I looked down at the simple, white gown. "Why not?"

He came up to me, "It's your twenty-eighth birthday celebration and father is in Sulstin. Do you realize how much debauchery will be taking place, tonight? I'm talking nymphs and faeries, casks upon casks of wine. Not the usual boring feast where you sit pretty as a line of old Fae kiss your hand and force you to dance. I did not go through all the trouble of setting this up so that you could waste the night in a corner, brooding."

"I do not brood," I said, indignantly. "And you've hired strippers, Castor? Really?"

He shook his head, "Not strippers; dancers of the clothing-optional variety." He grinned. "Anyway, I had Tenia make you a dress, knowing you'd pull something like this. I'll send her up. And as I said, you've an hour before the guests start arriving," he said, turning to leave. "Oh, and happy birthday."

Anna

I ran down the dark street, Rachel right behind me. "I can't believe you made me late," I huffed and lifted my dress to make leg movement easier.

"Well, it's not like you were complaining at the time. In fact, I clearly remember you saying, 'Don't stop'," she replied, coming up beside me and I rolled my eyes at her. "Besides, you're not the one who'll be in trouble if Chauss finds out we were late. The guy worships you."

I slowed down once I saw the palace at the end of the road. I'd never been inside. I was far from rich or notable, having grown up an orphan in a less than pretty village about twenty miles away.

Straightening out my dress and running my fingers through my hair, I turned to Rachel. "How do I look?"

"Like you have to ask," she said, out of breath. She held her arms out at her sides, "What about me?"

"You'll do," I joked and she whacked my arm before starting down the street.

"Let's go charm the clothes off some royalty, shall we?"

Zoie

I was dressed and ready in a new gown. It was black and elegant, but then neckline dipped a little lower than I was accustomed to.

I heard voices echoing through the halls and knew the guests were beginning to show up and the party was getting underway. As I went to open the door, Castor bounded in.

"Why, don't you look stunning, " he said. "I'm here to escort you, dear sister."

I rolled my eyes but took the arm he offered. He led me through the labyrinth of halls to the main staircase. We looked down at the foyer through which the guests were entering. When they spotted us, they all took a bow and cheered when we returned it. Descending the stairs, I heard a multitude of 'happy birthday' shouts.

I took a deep breath but kept a smile plastered on my face. I didn't really enjoy attention, which I suppose is odd for a princess.

Castor guided me into the grand banquet room, the fanfare parting to give us a clear path. I endured several more bows and birthday wishes before we reached the raised platform where the band had set up their instruments. Castor jumped onto it then helped me up to stand beside him. There must have been over two hundred Fae in attendance, excluding the servers and performers, and more were still to come.

Castor raised a hand and the room fell silent. "Thank you all for coming," he said loudly for the audience. They bowed once more. "Tonight, we gather in celebration of the birth of Princess Zoie, my sister." The crowd cheered again, then quieted as he continued, "Unfortunately, King Rusten could not attend tonight's event, for he is handling business in the town of Sulsten. Therefore, on his behalf, I, Prince Castor, welcome you all to partake in our feast and entertainment. Let the festivities begin!"

The audience roared as the band started to play. "You really love doing that, don't you," I asked Castor as we left the platform.

"Yes," he beamed at me. "Yes, I do."

Anna

Chauss had been red-faced and bitching about how Rachel and I had missed a song when we finally got there. We'd flashed our best smiles, though, and he had calmed down, somewhat. We snuck to our positions on the raised platform as the second song ended. I was between Rachel and a nymph who had just joined the troupe. She was only two years younger than my twenty-seven, but a little to innocent looking for my taste.

"Checking out the new girl, huh," Rachel whispered to me. "Afraid you won't be Chauss's favorite, anymore?"

I turned to her and scoffed. "Hardly."

The music began again and we started to dance. I searched the room, amazed at how many Fae were there. I'd never performed in front of so many. Though, I did recognize quite a few faces.

I soon spotted the prince, Castor, over by the other platform. Beside him, however, was a woman I didn't recognize, but she was staring directly at me, a look of awe in her eyes I had never seen before. I stared back, taking in her gorgeous figure, long blonde hair, deep brown eyes. She was absolutely the most beautiful woman in the room, yet she looked at me as though I was. I actually started to feel nervous, which does not happen to me... ever.

Licking my lips, I held the eye contact and watched as her aura brightened considerably. A shiver ran through my whole body and I knew my usually brown eyes were now a blazing blue.

I was forced to look away when a rather drunk Fae put his hand on my thigh and I slapped it away. Putting on a pleasant smile despite the fact that I was highly annoyed, I waved a finger at him, "No touching."

When I looked back up to find the mysterious blonde again, she was talking to the prince. I felt a little disappointed to have lost her attention, but reminded myself that the night had only just begun.

Zoie

"What was that," Castor asked with a laugh.

I pulled myself out of my daze to look at him, "What?" I cleared my throat, surprised at how husky my voice sounded. "What are you talking about?"

He rolled his eyes, "Don't play innocent. The temperature went up about ten degrees in here, you didn't think I'd notice? You were undressing that dancer with your eyes." I blushed and ducked my head. He leaned a little closer, "She's a Succubus."

I looked up, "Really? How do you know that?"

"Did you not see her eyes," he asked, then smirked. "Well, I guess your eyes were a little south of that area, huh?"

I elbowed him, hard. "Shut up."

He laughed and shrugged it off, "Best sex you'll ever have."

I turned to him, "You haven't..." I nodded towards the platform.

"With her? No. I don't think I've ever met her before."

I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding, then looked back at the girl. She was dancing with the blonde next to her, now. It made me a little jealous, but I just couldn't look away.

The performers continued to dance for another half hour or so and I watched her as much as I could while being forced to mingle with other Fae. I somehow lost Castor in the crowd without realizing, being as distracted as I was. Every once in a while, I would catch her gaze again and we'd hold it until one of us was forced to look away. When the dancers left the platform for a break, I decided I needed to find this woman. I had to know who she was.

Anna

As we left the platform, I searched the crowd for the blonde, but Rachel pulled me aside.

"Nice touch with the eyes," she said, "you really got their attention."

I gave her a confused look, then realized my eyes still hadn't changed back. "Yeah, right..." I hadn't even noticed that most of the crowd had been focused on me. I only noticed her.

"You should probably turn them off for now, though," she said, "We have to socialize."

I nodded and brought myself back under control. I had never had someone have this kind of affect on me.

"Don't look, now," Rachel whispered all of a sudden, "but the prince is coming straight towards us."

A few seconds later I heard a voice behind me, "Ladies."

I turned around to come face to face with Prince Castor. Rachel and I quickly curtsied.

"Your Highness," we spoke in unison.

He smiled, "Please, call me Castor. And may I ask your names?"

"I'm Anna," I answered, nervously, "and this is Rachel."

"It's an honor to meet you, your high- I mean, Castor," Rachel caught herself.

"The honor is mine. You two were fantastic."

"Thank you," we both replied.

"If your friend doesn't mind, Anna, I'd like to steal you for a moment. There's someone who would very much like to meet you." He looked to Rachel, "Is that alright?"

"Of course," she said quickly, "I'll see you two later. Have a good evening, Castor."

"And you as well, my lady," he said with a nod, then turned his attention to me. "You've made quite an impression, Anna," he looked past me and into the crowd, "Ah, there she is, now. Follow me."

I raised my eyebrows, wondering who the prince wanted me to meet so badly. I turned around to follow him, and stopped as he walked straight up to the blonde I had been watching all night. I swallowed and walked over. She gave me a soft smile.

"Anna, I'd like you to meet my sister, Princess Zoie," Castor said and I just about fainted.

"P-princess?" I stuttered then quickly caught myself and curtsied. "It is an honor, your Highness." Shit.

Zoie

I almost laughed at her reaction, but bit my lip. When she looked up again, I offered her a smile, "Just call me Zoie. It's very nice to meet you, Anna. You're a wonderful dancer."

"Thank you... Zoie," she said, hesitantly.

Castor lifted two wine glasses from a passing serving tray and handed one to Anna and one to me. "If you'll excuse me, ladies, I have some business to take care of." He bowed his head and left.

Obviously, knowing my status made the woman nervous, because she wouldn't make eye contact with me. I watched as she took a long drink of wine.

"The wine is, uh, it's delicious," she said.

I smiled, "Well, I've been told we have casks upon casks of it, so you can slow down, you know?"

She let out a small laugh, "I'm sorry, I'm just... I mean, I've never met anyone royal before."

"You're not missing much," I told her.

She laughed again, and I came to the conclusion that I absolutely loved her laugh.

"Do you want to get out of here?" I asked her, hoping she'd say yes. Maybe if we weren't around all these people I could get to know her.

When her eyebrows shot up and she choked on her wine, I knew I had used the wrong phrasing.

"Oh, no! I-I didn't mean it like... that. I just thought we could get a bottle of wine and go somewhere... to talk..." I shook my head at my stupidity. "I'm really sorry."

Once she'd gathered herself, she smiled, "It's okay. I would really love to but I'm working right now," she explained but then looked around. "Actually, you know what? I don't think my boss would care if I snuck out to hang out with the princess... but don't you have to stay for the celebration?"

I shrugged, "It's my birthday party... I can leave whenever I want."

Anna's eyes went wide, "Oh, wow, I didn't even say 'happy birthday', I'm sorry."

"Well, you'll just have to make it up to me. Come on."

Anna

I had followed Zoie through the palace to the wine cellar to pick out two very rare and expensive bottles of red wine, then we snuck out of the palace through the kitchen. I was in shock that the gorgeous princess of Aethevia wanted to skip out on a party in her honor to sit and talk to me.

We walked to the edge of the cliff the palace sat on.

"There's a bench, over here," she said as we walked in the moonlight. "I like to come out here at night. The stars and the sea are beautiful."

I looked up into the night sky and smiled. There wasn't a cloud in sight, giving us an unblemished view of the moon and stars. "It is amazing."

We talked about random stuff for an hour, finishing half a bottle of wine in the process. I told her about some crazy adventures Rachel and I had had, and she told me about what it was like growing up with a brother like Castor.

The conversation started to get deeper once we'd opened up the second bottle.

"Did you ever know your parents," Zoie asked after I told her I'd been an orphan.

I shook my head, "No. I was left on the doorstep of an elderly couple, but they had both died by the time I was thirteen."

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "You're very strong for surviving through that, Anna. It's admirable."

I gave her a smile, "It wasn't so bad. So, what about your parents? I mean, I know your father is the king, but what about you mother?"

"My mother died when I was very young, I don't really remember her. She was an Oracle. My father told me that the visions were what killed her."

"Wow, I'm really sorry." I swallowed, not sure if I should ask the next question, but I did anyway. "Is that what you are? An Oracle?"

She turned her head to me with a smile and a quick role of her eyes, "Has no one ever told you that it's rude to ask that question?"

I returned the smile, "Has anyone ever told you it's rude to sneak out of your own party?"

Zoie laughed and raised her wine glass, "Touche," she said before taking a drink. Her smile faded, "I was born an Oracle, yes. But when the visions started, my father took my ability away. I was fifteen."

"But... I heard that's one of the most painful experiences a Fae can go through."

She nodded, "You've heard right. I... I passed out. It feels like every nerve in your body is being... ripped from you," she whispered.

I swallowed, not even wanting to imagine it. "That's... horrible... your own father..."

Zoie looked at me with tears in her eyes. "He did it so I would survive, he didn't want me to go through what my mother had to. I've accepted it."

"So does that mean... you're not Fae?"

She shook her head and wiped her eyes, "No. He took away my ability and gave me a new one. He made me a Mesmer."

I raised my eyebrows, "You're a Mesmer?"

"I am."

"Can you make me do something?"

She furrowed her eyebrows in a cute, confused expression. I wanted to lighten the mood, so I set down my wine glass on the grass and turned my body towards her.

"You want me to make you... do something?"

"Yea... as long as it isn't painful," I joked, then put on a serious face. "I trust you."

She tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Okay."

Zoie lifted her hands and pushed them outwards. Before I realized what was happening, I was grabbing my boobs. She busted out laughing and I couldn't help but laugh with her.

"Wow. I was not expecting that," I told her.

"Sorry, I had to. Couldn't pass up an opportunity."

I bit my lip, trying to control the intense urge to kiss her right now. "Can I have my hands back, now?"

She quirked an eyebrow, "I stopped controlling your hands a minute ago. That's all you." She started laughing again.

"Okay, that is some really good wine."

She nodded, grinning, "Indeed." She looked away and then back at me, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Sadly enough, this is the best birthday I have had in... I don't even know how long," she admitted in a soft voice.

I reached up and ran a hand over her cheek, seeing her aura flare. This was the perfect moment. I knew I was a little drunk, but I had wanted to do this all night, and I knew she wanted this to happen, too. I licked my lips before starting to lean in. I had never anticipated a kiss so much in my life. She closed her eyes and I-

Bo

I was pulled out of the memory so fast I couldn't even take in my surroundings. Everything was blurry, my mind disoriented. I covered my face with my hands.

"Bo," I heard someone say but their voice seemed distorted. "Bo," they repeated and I realized it was Kenzi.

I opened my eyes, seeing I wasn't in Limbo or my house. I was in Trick's apartment at the Dal, with Kenzi, Dyson and Trick all staring at me.

"What... what the hell?" was all I could say. Then I noticed someone was missing. I looked all around the room, then jumped off the couch, making them all back up a few steps. "Where's Lauren?"

Kenzi put up her hands. "Bo, calm down. You were in Limbo... I found you passed out and called Dyson. We brought you here, and Trick did the ritual thing to bring you back."

"Where is Lauren," I asked her again and she shook her head.

"You were the only one there. Lauren was gone."

I looked at the three of them then ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time. When I entered the bar, I stopped dead, recognizing a now familiar blonde.

I walked up to her, not believing my eyes. "Rachel?"

She looked me up and down. "Unfortunately, i am pretty sure you've got the wrong person... My name is Tamsin," she said, "And you are...?"

I blinked and shook my head, thinking I was still disoriented. "Uh, I'm... Bo..." At this point, I didn't know who the hell I was.

She shrugged. "You can call me Rachel, if you're partial to the name," she said before leaning in, "I've had girls call me many things in bed."

I looked into her green eyes, "You know, a week ago I totally would have gone for that."

She sighed, "If only i had a time machine."