The more we walked, the darker the forest became. The trees covered the little light in the sky, and the air was getting colder with every step.

"Ok, I'll admit this place is creepy," I said, walking closer to Henry. "It looks just like the set of one of those old horror movies."

"What is a horror movie? It sounds exciting." Henry was intrigued.

"Oh, I forgot you don't fear anything. They are just these things that humans make to scare each other. They usually involve death and blood, and why are you smiling?"

"I would love to see that. What did you call it?"

"A horror movie," I laughed. "It would probably be a funny movie for you."

"Indeed. It does sound very pleasant," he nodded.

I heard a rustling of leaves behind us, and my heart pounded. Henry must have heard it, too, as he was frozen with his ear to the wind.

"There's something behind us, isn't there?" I said, getting even closer to him.

"Affirmative," he said quietly.

"Oh, shit,"

"Agreed." he nodded.

"What do I do now?" I whispered.

"You stay behind me."

"Good plan," I nodded, stepping behind him and grabbing onto his black jacket.

"What goes there? Show yourself now." Henry yelled with authority.

Nothing.

"I order you to show yourself at once," he yelled again loudly.

Nothing.

"Now what?" I said in his ear.

"Now I kill it," he growled as he stared into the darkness.

"So, I just wait here?"

"It will not take long," he said, cracking his neck loudly as he turned it side to side.

"Please don't leave me," I coward behind him nervously.

"I'll give you one more chance. I command you to come out of the shadows NOW!" he bellowed loudly.

"Ok, ok, Geez. You don't have to yell, mate."

"VINNIE!" I yelled as I saw him stumble out of the shadows.

"Princess?" He said, completely confused at seeing me standing there. "What the hell are you doing here?" he couldn't finish that sentence as I was suddenly hugging him, which I quickly regretted as he squeezed my butt tightly. I pulled myself away from him and hit him in the chest.

"I knew you would give in to my charms. The ladies always give in to Vinnie," he said, smiling proudly.

"Why on earth would they do that?" Henry said behind me. "Are they blind or hogtied?"

"What are you doing here," I said, jumping up and down, excited to see a familiar face. "Are the portals working again? Where are Jake and Callan? Is Carter with you?"

"With me? I thought they were with you. Boss told me to stay here and, wait, is that why I couldn't find the portal? I have been looking around this forest all night, trying to find the damn things. Well, that makes sense." he said, rubbing his chin.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the reunion, but who are you exactly?" Henry said as he stood beside me.

"Holy cow, you're him, aren't you? You're that Prince Harry?" He pointed in Henry's face.

"Henry, and you are?" Henry said, holding out his hand politely.

"Vincent Marcus, it's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Harry," he shook Henry's hand.

"Again, Henry. So, you two know each other?"

"Oh, we know each other, don't we, lovely," Vinnie grinned at me, raising his eyebrows seductively.

"Stop it. This is Vinnie, he works for Carter, and he will support my strange story about everything."

"About our love story," Vinnie smiled.

"Really?" I snapped at him.

"You work with Carter?" Henry looked confused.

"I sure do. Where is he then?" Vinnie said, looking at me.

"He's trapped in my world, and I'm trapped in his. We are going to see someone about opening the portals again so I can get to him. He's in danger, Leon is after him, and Genevieve is..."

"She's alive," Vinnie said suddenly.

"What? How do you know?"

"I saw her at the house that night. You all left. That's why I was trying to get to you, to tell Carter that she is alive."

"See, I told you. She is alive." I said to Henry.

"It seems you are right. Well, I guess we should open these portals and get Carter the help he needs. Vincent, would you like to join us?" Henry said, smiling.

"As long as I get to walk behind my lady here," he winked.

"Yeah, so I vote no Vinnie on this trip," I said, raising my hand.

"We are going to need all the help we can get, young Ebony. Plus, we can use him as a distraction if things go wrong, yes?" Henry smiled and nodded.

"Welcome to the team, Vinnie. You walk in front, though." I patted Vinnie on the back.

"Oh, I see how it is, checking out the goods beforehand. Wink, wink," Vinnie said as he took a few steps in front of me.

"I miss Carter. He would have hit him by now." I made a sad face.

"Give me time," Henry said, glaring at Vinnie as he wiggled his backside in front of us.

The forest became colder and darker, and the air felt denser as we walked toward the river. The sound of running water came as a pleasant sound as we approached it.

"Ok, where now?" I said, looking around. "I'm not seeing any scary houses or dark caves. What am I looking for?"

"I told you, they are just stories. I have no idea." Henry said, looking around.

"Well, what do the stories say?"

"That he lives in the air, as he does on the land. He will be wherever you stand." Henry quoted.

"What the hell does that mean?" I yelled.

"I don't know. I'm a prince. I don't have to think," he shrugged.

"Fantastic," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "Vinnie, what do you have?"

"Well, my beauty, If I were to live out here, I would probably live somewhere up high, like a big tree. So that I could see whoever was approaching me, hence the lives in the air but also the ground theory." Vinnie pointed to the tall trees surrounding the river.

Henry and I looked at each other stunned. "That was brilliant, Vinnie," I said, shaking my head.

"I know, I'm not just a pretty face, sweetheart," he winked.

"Over there, they must be the tallest in the woods? I'll check there." Henry said, pointing to the other side of the river.

"I'll check this side," Vinnie called, pointing to the left.

"Guys, what am I doing?" I yelled, looking around.

"STOP!" Bellowed a loud voice. "WHO DARES ENTER MY FOREST?"

We all froze and looked around the darkness for the owner of the voice.

"TELL ME YOUR NAMES." it bellowed again so loud I had to cover my ears.

"Hello, my name is Prince Henry, and I come with a mission of mercy. We need your assistance to help one of our friends in need." Henry called into the wind.

"THIS IS NOT MY CONCERN. LEAVE AT ONCE!" the voice bellowed again.

"Please, we need you to open the portals to the human world. One of our kind is stuck there and requires assistance. He is in danger, and so is our world."

"WHO THREATENS MY HOME?"

"A vampire named Leon Morgan is plotting to take power of their world and ours, and if we do not stop him. We are all doomed," I yelled loudly. "Please, I need to get to Carter. He needs me."

There was silence, deafening silence. Not even a leaf dropped as we stood there. My heart was pounding so fast in my chest; that I thought I might have a heart attack.

"Please, we just want to help save our worlds," I pleaded into the darkness.

Nothing but silence.

"What now?" I said, looking at Henry.

"I guess we ...."

"Umm, guys, what is that?" Vinnie said, pointing to two bright yellow eyes staring at us from the darkness.

"Who are you? I demand you tell." Henry yelled at the yellow eyes.

"What is the human's name?" A female voice said from the darkness.

My heart froze with fear. "Me? My name is Ebony, Ebony Summers." I cried out.

"Why do you use a vampire's name with such affection?" It asked slowly.

"Because I love him," I said as a tear fell down my cheek. "I love him, and he needs me. I need you to open the portal and let me help him. Please, I'm begging you. He needs me."

"How do you know this?" The voice hissed back.

"Because I can feel him, inside me, he is calling for me. Please, I need your help."

"Come closer to me," the voice said.

"What? Why?"

"Because I want to see the girl who has finally awoken my son's heart," it said as the yellow eyes in front of us turned aqua blue, just like Carter's.

"Oh my god, are you? Oh my goodness," I said, covering my mouth as a woman with long dark hair and pale skin strolled out of the shadows. She looked just like Carter with her aqua eyes and tall body. "You're their mother? How is this even possible?"

"You are beautiful, Ebony Summers, and so very brave to be here fighting for my son's life. You must love him very much," she said, smiling at me, just like Carter.

"You're alive?" I gasped out as she held my hand in hers.

"Very much so," she nodded.

"How is this possible? He said you passed years ago?"

"That is what his father told him, yes, but it was a lie we had to tell so that he could reach his destiny," she said. "You."

"Me?"

"Carter was always pure of heart, unlike Leon. He chose a dark path and ignored the light in him. I was sick and weak, I was dying, and we knew that Carter would not leave this world if I were still here, and Leon would succeed on his path of darkness. I left my home and my family and went to live with my pack in their world. After many years I became fit again, and I heard about my boys and their war. I came back to this world to wait for the one who would help me stop them, and that is you, Ebony Summers. I can hear your heart, and it beats for my son, just as he did many years ago."

"I honestly don't know what to say. So, they have no idea you are alive?"

"No, I was too weak to enter the human world for many years, and I knew waiting here was my only chance to help them. I hid in these woods and lived with the witches who dominated this land."

"Witches?" Henry and Vinnie said, confused.

"Yes, you might know them as rogue vampires," she said. "They have controlled these woods since the beginning of time, and yet no vampire knows they exist. They have kept me safe all these years and taught me their way. They knew of the war and wanted to help stop it. They told me you would come, the girl with the key to my son's heart. They knew you were coming to save him."

"He is hurt. I can feel it. How do I get to him?"

"Dark magic was used to close these portals, and it will not be an easy task to open them. You need to use the light inside you and open the portal with your heart."

"What? I don't even know what that means. How am I supposed to use something I don't even know I have?"

"I will help you, young one, but I must warn you, it will not be easy," she said, touching my shoulder. "This kind of magic is hazardous for a creature like you."

"What do I do to stop this?" I said, closing my eyes.

"Listen to him, listen to Carter inside you. Let him guide you to him," she whispered in my ear.

I took a deep breath and exhaled; I could hear his voice inside my head very softly. What is he saying?

"I can't hear him," I said, opening my eyes.

"Yes, you can, just listen," she said.

Once again, I closed my eyes and listened for his words. I could hear something very faint, but I couldn't make out the words. I held my breath and concentrated on his voice.

"Goodbye, my beautiful sunshine, I failed you. I am sorry. I love you ......"

"He's dying!" I yelled as I opened my eyes.