The violin was laid in front of me by two faceless dark robed figures. Somewhere in the room Edvard was sitting. His voice floated around me- “I want to hear you play again.” Drowsily I tried to sit up but promptly fell back against the floor. The blackness came and I felt hands touching me, pulling at my clothes, when I opened my eyes again the black figures were wrapping me up in a dark cloth almost like a toga. Edvard was in the background holding a crown made out of stars. They sat me on a cold throne where I slumped against the side barely conscious. My vision made Edvard sway and dance as he approached the throne and placed the stars on my head.

“You look beautiful.” He murmured.

I noticed the black leather gloves on his hands. Was Morgan’s curse still affecting him I wondered. I reached out to touch his face and Edvard quickly ducked out the way.

“Clever girl.” He murmured.

I laughed, “You can’t touch me.”

Pain exploded at the side of my head and I fell unconscious again. I drifted in the darkness for what seemed an eternity. I didn’t want to wake up. Life without Dante was not life, it was a miserable state of existence devoid of love and happiness. I imagined Dante lying in that wooden cabin pale and lifeless. Edvard had taken my only love away and now I was utterly alone in the world.

I’m sorry dragon, I failed you.

The thought echoed through my mind and the blackness cleared into brilliant white. Snowflakes drifted in front of my eyes and in the distance I saw the dragon. She was stood in the snow staring at me. Her health had been restored, the years of neglect and torture she had suffered by the vampires had been completely erased from her skin. She looked beautiful. Tears of happiness were running down my face. I tried to call out to her but I was abruptly pulled out my dream by the sound of screaming- Morgan’s screaming.

“I’ll never let you touch her!” Morgan yelled.

“Lift the curse off of me fox!” Edvard replied.

“Or what? I’m not afraid of death or torture, there is nothing you can threaten me with!”

“Oh you are brave.” Edvard hissed.

Edvard’s back was turned against me. I was still slumped in the throne. Looking down at my hands I saw fine silver chains around my hands and ankles that tied me to the chair. I moved about quietly testing the chains, they had given me a little length.

Use the violin.

Sluggishly I stood up from the throne and picked up the violin. Edvard was yelling at Morgan and had not noticed me approach him from behind. I smashed the violin over his head and he crumpled to the floor. Rushing over to Morgan, I untied her.

“Oh god Ebony do you have any idea how much I have missed you!” Morgan cried wrapping her arms around me.

“I love you too.” I said wearily.

Morgan looped her hand around my waist, “We’ve got to get out of here!” She said.

I tried to walk forward but the chains began to bite into my flesh burning me. I screamed out loud and fell to the ground. Morgan tried to help me up but I shook my head,

“The chains are enchanted, I cannot go with you.”

“Then I’ll go to the vampire court for help.”

“It’s no use.” I cried bitterly, “Edvard killed Dante.”

“What?” Morgan whispered.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, “Morgan, I’m already dead. Go and save yourself and live for both of us. My life is over.”

“Ebony, don’t talk like that!” Morgan replied in a horrified tone.

“It’s true. The other half of my soul has been shattered and I cannot live with half soul and half a heart.”

“But, I’ve just found you. I can’t leave, you’re my best friend.”

“I love Morgan. I will always love you. Please go and live for me.”

“And leave you to that piece of shit?” Morgan said looking at Edvard.

“He can’t touch me. A single touch will burn his flesh thanks to your curse.”

“But what if he figures out how to break it?”

I’ll be dead by then.

I smiled tearfully and pushed Morgan in the direction of the door, “Go, before he wakes.”

Morgan shook her head, “I’ll leave but I’m coming back for you! Someone owes me a favour and he can bust you out, okay. So don’t you die on me Ebony! Do you hear me!”

“I hear you.” I said softly.

Morgan kissed my forehead and left the room. I lay down on the cold floor and closed my eyes, something was dragging me back into the darkness, back into the snowflake dream. I allowed myself to be transported back into the ice field with the dragon standing opposite. She was closer this time and I found myself able to walk towards her.

“Dragon.” I called out.

“Hello Ebony.” The dragon replied.

The snow stopped falling.

“I screwed up, dragon. Edvard has me and Dante’s dead. I freed Morgan but ultimately failed you. I know you said it was hard but I never dreamed it would be this hard.” I cried.

The dragon watched my misery for a few seconds, “Follow me.” she said softly.

“Dragon I want to die. I want to be with Dante.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. This place here is the border land of life and death.”

“Let me come with you.” I cried.

“I will but first I want you to meet someone.” The dragon said.

A black forest appeared on the horizon. The edge of the forest was perfectly defined, not a tree of branch over grew it. This was the beginning of the land of the dead. We walked to its edge and waited.

“Be patient, this person is a little shy.” The dragon said.

Rustling caught my attention and a little face peered out from behind a tree. Big gray eyes startled me and I jumped back nervously.

“Come on out.” The dragon whispered.

The little boy inched out from the tree and stepped into the snow. He was pale with jet black hair and a shy face. My heart wrenched, “Oh god, did Dante kill him?” I asked.

The dragon shook her head, “Do you remember when I sent you to Scotland to get something?” she asked.

“Yes, and it all turned out to be fake just like the tower.”

“It wasn’t fake. Everything I have asked you to do always had a purpose. Scotland had many purposes but you failed on one and that was partially Edvard’s fault.” The dragon sighed.

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, let’s just say that last night you finally completed your purpose.”

“Last night I got kidnapped by Edvard! Don’t tell me that he’s my purpose.”

“Ebony, think about what happened before you got kidnapped by Edvard.” The dragon said softly.

Dante and I made love, but what has that got to do with anything…

I looked down at the little boy and froze. His eyes were my eyes. That skin, that jaw was Dante’s.  A trembling hand covered my mouth, “How?” I whispered.

“You crossed into the mortal world and became mortal and were bound by the laws of nature.” The dragon replied.

“So, I’m pregnant?”

“Do you still want to die?”

“No!” I said taking ten steps back away from the forest.

“Your son will stay with me until it is time for him to be born. Until then you have to fight Ebony. Do not give up and do not give up hope. Nothing is as it seems.” The dragon said.

Everything faded and once again I was awake. Edvard was standing over me, yelling and screaming.

“Where is she! Where is the fox?”

“Far far far away.” I groaned rolling over.

Edvard stomped his foot and yelled, “Take her to her room!”