The artwork above is not mine.

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The house was so quiet, now that it was only he and the servants who occupied it. Once, there had been seven brothers in total filling these walls. His mother and father had lived here too. Only his mother and one younger brother were left alive now. Eris Vanserra breezed through the bright corridor and turned into another room. He crossed his arms, observing the area.

This used to be his father's office. Now, it was his. He'd already made so many changes to the room in the months that had passed since his father's death. There was a new desk and carpets, ones not stained by blood. There were a few new decorations and a number of gifts from his...friends.

Eris opened the drapes that covered the windows, letting warm sunlight fill the room. It had never been bright when his father was here. He remembered coming in and being greeted only by firelight and candles.

It was quiet. It was so quiet. Eris sat down and began to shuffle through several papers, hoping to distract himself from the silence. He sighed, resting his forehead in a palm.

There had never been happy sounds in this house. Not from what he could remember, anyway. The only sounds there had ever been were shouts, screams, and sobs. His father was always torturing someone, whether it was a displeasing servant or Eris' own mother. More often than not, it had been the latter.

Eris blinked as a pen snapped in half in his hand. He didn't recall picking it up. He released a slow breath. He's gone now, and Mother is in the Day Court with Helion, he reminded himself. His mother was to be married to the High Lord of the Day Court. Eris' younger half brother, Lucien, was already proclaimed his heir, as he was Helion's only child.

And I am left here. By myself. Eris looked around the office. He swiped newly trimmed red hair out of his face. "I've been alone before. It's nothing abnormal," he told himself. There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in."

A servant cracked the door open, poking his head inside the office. "There have been new reports of Loyalist uprisings, my Lord," he murmured.

Cauldron boil me, can't anyone in this house speak in a normal tone? Eris groaned to himself. "Where and how many?"

"The reports are coming in from everywhere. All across the Autumn Court. So far, they've only been reported in groups of eight or smaller."

Eris folded his hands together. "So there must be at least a hundred of them. At most, a little over two hundred."

"That is...quite a range of numbers, my Lord."

"Better to overestimate your adversaries than to underestimate them," Eris replied. He stood and gazed out one of the windows. "Bring me the reports. I want to see them for myself." The servant bowed and slipped out of the room. The door closed with a soft click.

Eris crossed the room, opened the door, and slammed it shut. He rubbed a hand across his forehead. "Stars, I'd even listen to Cassian blabber about something right now. Anything to get rid of this quiet."

The servant returned shortly, bearing a small stack of folded letters. Eris took them and sat down again. The servant lingered near the door while he looked over the reports. "My Lord, is there a reason the Loyalists are appearing so rapidly?"

"I killed my father six months ago. They've decided that was long enough to stew in their hatred of me." Eris flipped to another page. "They attack their own people, thinking it will send a message to me."

"Has it?"

"It has." Eris looked up, a cold gleam in his amber gold eyes.

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"We're nearly there," Evren said, patting Asper's neck. The colorful treetops of the Autumn Court were just up ahead. Evren let go of the reins with one hand and examined the bracelet around her wrist.

It was one gift she thanked Cadoc for. After she had made her first successful Faerie kill, he'd presented her with the bracelet. It was enchanted so that when she wore it, she could pass through almost any Fae ward or shield without detection or injury. It had proven to be a very useful tool.

Evren straightened as she reached the border. She pulled Asper to a halt. There, buried beneath dirt and foliage, lay her parents. As long as she lived, she would not forget this spot. It was where she would die too one day, as she should have all those years ago.

Evren drew Mortem and held it up. Sunlight glinted off the steel. "Before three nights have passed, I will have avenged you," she said. "Or I will have died trying."

She dug her heels into Asper's flanks and galloped away from the grave. When they entered the Autumn Court, the air became significantly cooler. It was still warm, but not as warm as the Spring Court and Mortal Lands.

Evren pulled out her map and began to follow the closest course to the Forest House. She would reach it by the end of the day if she held Asper at this pace.

She stopped for another short break along the banks of a lake. Evren let Asper drink while she looked around. The Autumn Court was beautiful. The trees were thin around the banks of the lake, but farther on grew a thick forest. The crowns of the trees were all shades of crimson, gold, and amber. The colors here were more vibrant than in the Mortal Lands.

Evren breathed in deeply. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of many rich spices. She thought she could detect hints of cinnamon and nutmeg more than anything else in this area. How could a place so beautiful be home to such monsters? She wondered.

At last, she remounted Asper and rode on. The forest grew thick around her. Evren kept one hand on Vita's hilt. She listened intently, in case there were scouts nearby. In the distance rose a large structure.

Evren secured Asper in a clearing a short distance from the house. She would make her camp here and use the trees and cliffside around the house to observe it. Once she'd arranged her things, Evren carried on by foot.

She reached a tree and scaled it with ease. She pulled a spyglass from her pocket and held it to her eye. From the treetop, she could see all the way to the house. Evren grabbed a small notepad and hastily sketched the outline of the house. Whenever she spotted a sentry or entrance, she marked the position on the drawing. Gradually, day shifted into night. Evren returned to her camp, already forming and reforming her plans.

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She monitored the house for two days. By mid afternoon of the second day, her sketch was complete. She had learned the sentries rotations, where they were positioned, and how to avoid them. She'd already located several entrances and escape routes should she need them.

Evren peered at a balcony through her spyglass. It was one of the only ones built into the entire house. On it stood a male. She couldn't see him clearly thanks to the spreading darkness of night, but she knew who he was. Beron. It had to be. Only the High Lord himself would have a room with one of the rare balconies attached.

Evren dropped from the tree and made sure Mortem and Vita were secured at her hips. She pulled her hair back into a braid and set off towards the house. She wore nothing more than her usual leathers. No cloak, no mask, and no hood. She never wore such things.

Evren twisted the bracelet on her wrist somewhat nervously. The perimeter wards were coming up. The bracelet was humming with energy. That was how she knew. Evren closed her eyes and stepped through the wards. The bracelet did its job well. She passed without harm and, hopefully, without alerting anyone to her presence.

Evren began to run now. There would be a group of sentries exiting the house in just a few minutes. She had to be in the treetops and at the stone side of the house before they came out, or they would see her. Evren ran as silent and swift as a deer. The front doors of the Forest House swung open.

Evren leaped onto the lower branch of a tree and pulled herself up into its leafy sanctuary. The sentries took up their positions around the door. She cautiously began to weave her way through the treetops. The leaves rustled each time she hopped onto another branch. The sentries didn't appear worried, although she was certain they heard her.

She reached the roughly hewn stone wall of the house. Evren grabbed a pair of wall climbers out of her vest and slid them onto her fingers. She dug the spikes into the rock and began to pull herself up the wall. Her heart raced with anticipation. Finally. She would finally avenge her parents. She would finally be free.

Evren reached the underbelly of the balcony. She wrapped her arms around the support beam, also cut from stone, and swung her legs up. Evren pulled herself up the beam and reached the edge of the balcony. She threw her arms over the railing and dragged herself over it.

Evren waited a few minutes for her heartbeat to slow, then approached the door. She crouched beside it, peering into the room. There was a fire on the hearth and a few candles still burned. She could see a form on the bed. It didn't stir.

Evren picked the lock of the door and drifted inside. She stared at the figure on the bed. He was lying on his stomach, but his head was turned towards her. His eyes were closed and his breaths were deep with sleep. He seemed younger than she remembered. Stars, he was beautiful. Why were all High Fae so beautiful? She didn't remember Beron Vanserra as beautiful, but this had to be him.

She crept towards the bed, unsheathing Mortem. The male didn't move. Evren reached the bedside. "How did a Human get past my wards and sentries?" The male asked quietly. He didn't open his eyes.

Evren situated herself on his back, pinning his legs down with her knees. He lifted his head and she pressed Mortem against his throat. "I have waited for this day for a very long time," she growled. "You'll pay for what you did to my family."

The male glanced at her sideways through amber eyes. "Who are you?"

"Evren Bastile. You murdered my parents, Dritan and Anwyn Bastile."

"The names don't sound familiar." She hissed and moved Mortem closer to his neck. "Easy. I could burn you alive from the inside out before you so much as nick me with that blade," he said.

"You killed my parents sixteen years ago. I have spent every day of my life since then preparing myself for this moment. I've come to kill you, Beron Vanserra, and avenge my parents."

"I am not Beron Vanserra," he said. His voice had taken on a hard edge. "I'm his son, Eris Vanserra, High Lord of the Autumn Court. My father is dead."

Evren's eyes widened. He's dead? But then how...I can't avenge my parents if he's already dead. I've come here for nothing. I survived for nothing.

No, not nothing. Her blade was still at Eris' throat. If she couldn't spill his father's blood, then she would spill his. "Then you will pay for his crimes," she snarled.

"Wait." She hesitated. "If revenge is what you want, I think I know how to give it to you."

Evren thought for a moment, then pulled her blade away from his throat. "How?"

"Let me up and I'll tell you." He smiled and she didn't like the look in his eye. He knew he'd gained the upper hand. He knew she would give in. Evren clenched her jaw and slid off the male, sheathing Mortem.

"Now tell me how I can avenge my parents," she demanded.