Thomas was not as annoyed with his situation as he should have been.

The truth was that, despite knowing nothing about the world he was suddenly thrust into, one that freely shared thousand-year-old secrets, nothing truly baffled him. Every single piece of information he had been fed simply felt right and true. “This’s how it’s supposed to be. Don’t think about it too much,” he told himself every time Diane Hunster looked at him discreetly; she was trying to figure out just how much he knew. Nothing was the answer. Truly. And he needed it to stay that way.

As he stepped outside, Thomas let the smell of wood fill his nostrils and he enjoyed the feeling of warmth on his tired face. At that very moment, he had no worries, nothing he must do, and no one he must obey. It was him and the morning sunlight.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Lila said as she came to stand next to him. They were looking at the forest.

“I know I am not Diane… but don’t you think a penny is a little… too much?” he replied jokingly.

Lila laughed. “Too much, indeed!”

“I’d give two for yours.”

“Well, isn’t that a lot!” Lila exclaimed. Thomas found her pleasant to be around, and she knew it. She was sad she couldn’t feel the same. “How much for Diane’s?”

Thomas hit the ground with his shoe, leaving a little hole in the grass. “I don’t want to know Diane’s.”

“Why not?”

Thomas smiled. “It doesn’t seem too fun in there.”

Lila observed him. Everything, from his hair to his shoes screamed ordinary. If it were five years ago, she would have been happy to have one less thing to worry about; but now that the world had changed, she was not certain if it would bring any good.

“Are you angry?” Lila asked him more quietly.

Thomas turned around to make sure she was still talking to him. “Me? About what?”

“You know, things.”

Thomas smiled. In his eyes were the forest, the sky, and the chilly air. “I don’t even know what I should be angry about. Isn’t that slightly pathetic?”

Lila’s jaw shook too slightly for Thomas to notice. To him, she seemed the epitome of composure and righteousness, everything Diane seemingly lacked. The world taught Thomas to listen to cunning whisperers rather than future rulers. That was why he was standing in front of George’s house and not inside, saving his future queen from unwanted memories.

"So," he started shyly, "can I ask you something?"

She glanced at him. "Sure, what is it?"

"Oh, it's nothing serious. I was just wondering what your ability is. But you don't have to tell me or anything."

Lila's smile twitched. "I can open portals."

Thomas turned towards her with his eyebrows narrowed. "Wait, why are we looking for the map then? Can't you just open us a portal to..."

"I can't open portals to places I don't know. That's why," she cut him off, her smile never disappearing.

“Those kids,” Jeremy complained as he came to stand between the two. “Acting like they have a clue!”

Like on cue, Lila turned around and left. Thomas wanted to tell her to wait or go after her, but his feet were too deep in the mud to move.

“I see you are enjoying yourself,” Jeremy Blake commented as he breathed in the smoke of his own cigarette.

“I am,” Thomas replied, still looking at the grass pressed in by Lila’s boots.

The old man smirked. “Look at him getting all mighty! Next thing I know, he will be going for the king!” Jeremy slowly glanced at Thomas, smiling. “Or do you prefer the queen?” Jeremy laughed harmlessly, while Thomas blushed. Then he too started laughing and breathing in Jeremy’s cigarette.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Well, if anyone goes for the queen, it will be you,” Thomas joked.

Jeremy chuckled. “For her throat, maybe.”

The wind blew the smoke right in Thomas’s eyes, making his view of the forest blurred. He was slightly taken aback by Jeremy’s reply, though he could tell the old man was joking.

“What do they keep in Carcer, anyway,” Thomas asked, the sudden bravery making him nauseous. He was taught never to ask questions.

“Demons.”

There were pictures that occupied Thomas’s brain for a moment, pictures of people with red eyes and golden hair who manipulate gravitation and heal inhumanly quickly, people who eat other people or destroy planets and universes; people not palpable and who didn’t truly exist.

Jeremy smiled, his cigarette hanging from his mouth. “Shocking isn’t it? I agree. I can’t believe they’ve managed to convince people that they are a legend.” The old man threw the cigarette and pressed it against the ground until it morphed and created a new kind of monster. “George Brown is one of them, you know. So, don’t act too smart around him or you’ll die for sure. I am old, so I’ll die either way.”

“But,” Thomas said with his eyes wide open, “don’t they eat people?”

Jeremy laughed so loudly that Thomas was afraid George might hear them. “Eat people! They certainly do! Their spirit at least.” Then he put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder and said: “Demons are a race turned into a legend, but a Demon family was living in the castle of Crystalia’s royal family. Why?”

Thomas looked to the side, Jeremy’s breath being too nauseating to stand. “W-What?”

Jeremy showed his black teeth. “George and Diane grew up together. Now, why did the King of Crystalia employ a Demon to guard his heiress when it was his very great-great-great royal grandfather who made sure that Demons were made a story to scare naughty children?”

“Uhm, he didn’t know?”

Jeremy spat in Thomas’s face as he started laughing. He then turned towards the forest and put his hands in his pockets. “Brandon Hunster didn’t know, you say? Nice try, boy.”

“Why then?” asked Thomas, slightly frightened of the answer.

“That will be your homework. Think about it.”

They fell into an excruciating silence. Thomas felt his mind wander around the forest and echo a question he couldn’t quite perceive. Then, he said: “Was he trying to keep an eye?”

“On whom?”

“The Demons?”

Jeremy smiled again, lighting up another cigarette. “Could be.”

Thomas’s hands were shaking. “Diane, then?”

Jeremy smiled. “To be honest, I have no clue. I was hoping you might but… You know, Thomas, there are things in this world, that people like you and me are never supposed to catch a glimpse of.” Then he looked into Thomas’s eyes and let his smirk disappear. “Or just me, I guess,” he mumbled. “But it’s something to think about. Don’t just eat what they feed you; smell it first, or something.”

“What are you two so passionate about,” a small voice of a large woman asked from behind. Lila had a smile on her face, as usual. “Mind if I join you?”

“Please, do!” Thomas said enthusiastically, masking his shaky hands. “Where were you, if I may ask?”

Lila stood next to Thomas to hide from Jeremy’s cigarette. “Taking care of some… Raven business. What were you talking about?” she asked as if she hadn’t overheard.

“Demons,” Thomas replied naively.

The smile stayed firm on Lila’s face. “A risky topic, isn’t it?”

“Depends on who you’re asking, Raven,” Jeremy replied. “I believe that people deserve to know the truth. Your… Headquarters don’t. It’s that simple.”

“And what exactly are my Headquarters keeping from the people, Jeremy?”

“Nothing, one would hope.”

Something clicked inside Thomas’s mind. It might have been a whisper. “Lila,” Thomas began, “Ravens are an organization independent from the king, right?” he asked a mixture of elevation and fear blocking his voice.

“Yes. We have our own administration and orders. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I find it strange that Diane became a Raven. And a captain at that,” Thomas said, too intimidated by his thoughts to look at Lila.

She was taken aback; Jeremy made sure to observe it. “Well, we don’t discriminate. She is more than capable, so… Maintaining peace is what we do, and we need as many determined people as possible.”

Jeremy and Lila proceeded to bicker again, while Thomas turned his head towards George's house.

Was it always so crooked?

“Oh, Thomas,” Lila suddenly asked, “has Diane told you yet?”

“Told me what?” Thomas replied, filled with silent worry.

“About the ball.”

“What ball?”

Lila’s cheek twitched as she tried to hide her smile. “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that. I gave her the letter yesterday, so I thought she told you. Never mind then.”

“I didn’t know running errands was in the job description,” Jeremy remarked with an equally sour smile. “Even less giving hints. I must be growing old."

It was then that Diane stormed out of the house, her pale face contrasting her dark hair and uniform. Ghostlike, she muttered her goodbyes to the two companions and, followed by the dazed Flamer, marched towards his house. Once again, she didn't say a word. And he didn't ask. Only when they went off-course and towards the heart of the city and that tastelessly large Hunster crest did he notice tears in her eyes. Truth be told, he already knew the answer. To him, it wasn't the king nor the queen: it was the princess.