"Hey, Trouble," Ade kissed the top of Valencia’s neck. Ade was casual clothes today. He felt relaxed to be out of his golden armour— less stiff. "What’s this about?"

He looked around the room. Cyrus was on the leather sofa with his legs lifted up high as he stared at them. Anastasia was sat on the arm rest of the sofa while talking to her husband, Eiran, who was leaning against the wall beside her. Amadi was leaning against the wall observing everyone.

A couple of months ago, they had all met their creator, their author, Zaynab. She had came in through a portal and then passed out. The portal was fascinating least to say. It had put everyone in a trance; no-one even remembered to keep their guard up when it opened in case for danger. It was a perfect mix of purples, pinks, and blues with the outline of it a glowing white. It was beautiful.

When she woke up, she explained to them that she had created them with words. They were just ideas until she had written them on paper and brought them to life.

The characters were not very happy with her. After all, she did give them butloads of trauma and killed a little girl off. Zaynab had called it: character development.

She had to abruptly leave when the glowing portal had opened up again. Zaynab promised them that if she finds time she will find a way to come back.

Three months later, they had all received a letter.

They weren’t exactly sure how she had managed to send them a letter from a different universe but she did it.

Now they’re here. In Eiran’s common room. Each royal bedroom had a room which they called a ‘common room’. It was a room outside of their bedrooms that was like a living room. You could enter this room anytime you wanted without their permission.

Valencia shrugged. "She didn’t mention in the letter."

Anastasia turns around at the sound of Ade’s voice. "Hey, Shining!" the princess smiled widely.

"Hey, princess," Ade smiled back and then gave her husband a polite nod. Eiran gave a firm nod back.

"It better not be anything bad though," Valencia sat on one of the leather arm sofa.

"I’m sure it’s not," Ade sat on the arm rest and kissed the top of her head once again.

"I don’t think I can handle another person dying," Anastasia frowned slightly and sat on the sofa where Cyrus was laying on.

A small wave of silence fell over them. Anastasia’s sister, Tinka, had died a couple of months ago. King Matako of Pryla had killed her as a result of losing the war.

Everyone had some sort of connection to her—even if they had never met her.

Ade had never met her before but he felt the need to help as much as he can to protect her. Ade’s family died, including his little sister, Aelin, who died at the same age Tinka did— at the ripe age of twelve.

Val and Cy were her half-siblings, which was newly discovered, but they never even got the chance to meet her.

Eiran of course knew her, they were both royalty and had connections. He was also married to Tinka’s older sister.

Amadi? Well Amadi had seen far too many children die in his time since the day he was born.

Eiran sat on the arm rest that Ana was just sitting on and kissed the top of her head. "We’ll just have to hope, Bubbles."

Anastasia nodded.

The portal opens up.

Everyone immediately turns to it.

Ade stiffens.

Cyrus sat up.

Amadi walked over to the group and sat on the other armchair.

Zaynab stepped out of the portal.

The portal closed.

She wore a black long sleeved top with a long black skirt. She was covered in golden jewellery. A golden bracelet is placed just underneath her elbow, on that same arm she has two bangles at her wrists. The other wrist has a rose gold Pandora bangle with two charms on. Her hands are both covered in gold rings and her hips has a gold belt worn loosely. Under her green, ribbed jersey hijab, she wears round gold glasses.

Her back was straight and her head is held high.

She stunned everyone. At her last visit, she had not looked like this— so elegant. If anything she was a panicking mess.

"Hey guys!" she smiled widely.

"Hi!" Cyrus waved with a matching grin.

"I’m sure you are all wondering why you are here today-"

"You better not kill another person off," Valencia said.

"I cannot afford to lose another person," Anastasia added.

"And I’m not going back to Kaso," Amadi jumped in.

"Yeah," Ade nodded. "You can’t get Amadi to go back to Kaso. And I’m not going back to Pryla."

"Would you all relax? Oh my gosh," Zaynab laughed, finding amusement in the fact that they all think she had more trauma planned for them. No— she has something a lot more fun planned. "I’m not killing anyone off and I’m not deporting anyone. Bloody hell. I just wanted you," she turnt to Ade. "To meet someone."

Ade blinks. "Me?" Who could Zaynab possibly want him to meet?

Zaynab noded with the large grin still on her face. "Yes! Hold on— let me get her now."

Ade frowned, "What do you-"

Zaynab’s eyes started to glow.

The whole room gaspsed at the sight. This was new.

The white glowing eyes are usually associated with the royals when they are in their god state. Zaynab wasn’t a royal, she wasn’t even in their world. What could she possibly be doing?

Another portal opened. This one is just as beautiful. It was a mixture of reds, oranges and yellows. It caught the whole room into a trance.

Suddenly, someone fell out of it. A girl. Her dirty blonde hair is in a messy plat. She had a crossbow in her hand and the quiver on her back. She was immediately on guard. She bounced up from and took an arrow out of the quiver before placing it in the crossbow and aimed at the first person she sees— Zaynab.

"Don’t bother," Eiran said. "You physically cannot hurt her."

The girl turned around and pointed it at him.

"Uh-" Ade’s eyes widened slightly. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

She pointed at him.

Ade started to wish he was wearing his armour.

"Clementine," Zaynab called out.

The girl froze.

Ana’s and Eiran’s eyes widened slightly. "That’s Clementine?" Eiran raises his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Clementine narrowed her eyes at him. "What about it? And how do you all know my name?"

"Clem," Anastasia spoke slowly. "It’s Princess Anastasia of Katharos and Prince Eiran of Numix."

Clementine lowered her weapon. She bowed down immediately. "Forgive me, Your Highness."

"It’s quite alright," Ana chuckled softly. "You were frightened is all."

"Just don’t threaten me or my wife again."

Clem straightens up and nods. "It won’t happen again." She looked around the dimly lit room. "But seriously, what is going on?"

Zaynab starts to explain.

As she does, Ade realised who Clem is. She’s the leader’s daughter of Firebound(a rebellion against the genocide of Neuros in Pryla). She’s the reason why we had two hundred extra men in the war.

She is fighting the genocide that he escaped from.

After Zaynab finished explaining to Clementine, she turned to her and Ade. "So. I was really deeping it, y’know? And that’s when I realised, you two have never met! And in the series, will never meet! And I wanted to cry thinking of that because you two both suffered from the same genocide but in different ways. Ade had lost his entire family to it and Clementine had lost her mother."

Clementine turned to Ade with empathetic eyes. "You lost your entire family?"

Ade inhales deeply then exhales before nodding. "Yep. Both parents and my little sister."

"I can’t imagine.."

"Yeah." Zaynab nodded. "You both are obviously against it too. Ade fled when he was fifteen and Clem was brought up in the rebellion."

"How did you flee?" Clem asked.

He sighed. "A lot of blackmailing, guilt tripping and training. And after a lot of jail time and break outs."

She snorted at that. Ade grinned.

"How long had there been a rebellion?"

She shrugged. "Years now. My mother started it before I was born and I’m twenty." She paused. "We would have let you in if we knew you."

Ade’s heart sunk slightly. He always dreamt of finding someone to fight the system as a child. Turns out, there was a whole rebellion he could of joined and they would have welcomed him with open arms.

He pushed those thoughts away. Sure he fled, but it was for the best. He’s here now. He’s friends with royalty, he’s in love and he has Amadi, he best friend, who understands him.

He’s free.

The two talked and there is a mutual understanding and respect between them.

They both had to do what was done.

Okay so I glazed myself a lot, so what? Self love fr. Anyway, these characters are from the series I am currently writing