Blood. So much blood.I can't see it but I can smell it. The smell of blood is so intense, it causes nausea to roll through my system. I don't know where I am but I can tell that this place is a small, enclosed space with no source of illumination. As I reach out in front of me, my fingers brush the cold brick wall. I repeat the same action behind me and the same thing happens. Panic slowly starts to set in and my breathing speeds up. Where the hell am I? Suddenly, a blinding white light fills the whole place and I raise an arm to cover my face as a result of the intensity of the light. I slowly step out from the enclosed space and find myself in Zeron's throne room. A loud wail leaves my lips at the heartbreaking sight before me. Zeron's head is on the throne with a sword impaling the top of his head. His decapitated body lies on the floor in the pool of his own dark blood. I fall to my knees, cries of anguish leaving my lips.

ALANNA         A smile curves my lips as I make my way towards Zeron's chamber. Yesterday had felt like something out of a daydream but it had really happened. Zeron had allowed me to lull him to sleep. I really hope he doesn't lash out at me today because usually, we move two steps forward and five steps backwards. I should be sick of it all by now but, I know that I have to be more patient. Avoiding him for six days was not really my doing. The queen had insisted that I stayed away from her son because I was bad energy. I raise my fist to knock on the door but is startled by the familiar voice coming from behind me. I quickly turn to face him. "He's not here" Talon says and I frown."Where is he then?" I ask and he shrugs."The garden" he responds and I nod, shooting him a grateful smile. "I never got to thank you for being so brave and freeing me. Thank you" he says and I beam.

ZERON       "I'm alive?" I croak, unable to wrap my head around the reason why I'm still alive. I was really going to die; I'd felt it. But how am I still alive right now? "Yes, you're alive" Alanna responds as she pours me a cup of water. I stare at her, not failing to notice the stiffness of her body and the tension resting heavily on her. "I could've sworn that I was dead" I say and she sighs, her teary eyed gaze finally meeting mine."Will you just stop it? You're not dead and that's it" she snaps and I stiffen.Something is wrong, I can feel it. "Here, have some water" Alanna says as she hands me the glass of water with shaky hands.That's the confirmation I need. Something is not right and it has to do with both Alanna and my near death experience. So, I gulp down the water and try to sit up, but my body is too weak for that. This only adds to my growing frustration. I should've died, I just can't

ALANNA     Flinching at the sound of the door of Zeron's chamber being jerked open, I shakily rise to my feet, anxious about telling my husband the truth about Ervis. But, I'm shocked when the person who steps into the chamber turns out not to be Zeron. "Your highness, thought I'll find you here" Ervis says with a mocking smile on his face. Surely he doesn't know that I'd eavesdropped on his conversation with Lochan, right? "What do you want?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady as I pray and scream internally for Zeron to show up. The last thing I want is to be spelled by this disloyal bastard. He sighs and begins to move around me in circles."You might be the queen of the winter kingdom but you're not my queen. There are many of us out there who despise you . Trust me, there a lot of people who want you dead. Yet, I was willing to spare your life. But, you made everything worse by eavesdropping on my conversation

ALANNA        "Mother?""Nah, try again" Tiana drawls with a smirk on her face. "Rohanne" Zeron spits, his eyes darkening with fury.Rohanne barely gives us a chance to process what's really happening before she casts an offensive spell that sends a fiery monster towards me. My eyes widen and I'm too shocked to move. But before the fiery monster is able to get to me, Zeron's shadows swallow it up and it vanishes from sight. Rohanne unfreezes the coven elders and a dozen fire witches storm in, flames licking their arms, ready to be used to do damage."What? Surprised?" Rohanne says, with amusement written all over her face. Zeron clenches his fist, frustrated. Hera and the rest of the coven move forward to stand as a barricade between Rohanne's men and Zeron. Chaos then breaks out in the coven room as both witches engage in combats using their magic."Z, we need to get out of here" I say and he