"We'll proceed with the tests another day. Go back to class." the princess stands up and commands all of us out the test room.

Everyone immediately bows their heads and walks out, glancing towards each other in concern. My hands tremble and I hide them under my jacket when I turn around and leave with the rest of the students. I don't give the royal prince a glance as I disappear out. They'll start searching and they'll know it's me. I shouldn't have thought he'd give me a break for one night. I'm an idiot. What was I thinking? I don't want to die. I haven't lived long enough.

When I'm outside with the rest of the students everyone talks over each other and start speculating who the impostor could be. My sister grabs my shoulder and leans closer to whisper into my ear. "I'll come to your after class." she tells me and disappears through the group of students.

I take a deep breath, avoid any eye contact with everyone and walk back to class trying to act normal. I watch as the students in front of me split, some walking directly into the classroom while others take the stairs.

"Nadeline." someone softly says my name and I recognize it immediately. I gasp loudly when I hear his voice right behind me. I spin around, looking up at him and take a step back when I see how close he is. He moves even closer, grabs my wrists and pulls the both of us into an isolated dark room.

"W... what are you doing. Let me out. I can't look at you right now." I pull back, keeping my head turned away from him and his fingers tighten around my wrists.

"Let me explain." he insist.

"It was just one night. I needed space and you betrayed me. I thought..." I shake my head, feeling my lower lip tremble. "What was I thinking. You don't even have a heart."

He releases his grip on my wrists and his fingers slightly brush against mine before he pulls back.

"You're right. I don't." he says softly and exhales.

I turn the knob and push the door open, storming away. Nothing matters anymore. He doesn't matter. I'm done for. We're done for.

I sprint back towards the classroom, my lungs burning with each step as I force myself not to break down. Stopping at the classroom door I take a final deep breath and walk in as I normally do and sit down at my desk.

"First a boy died. Now there's an Impostor among us. What's going on?" Jacelynn asks in disbelief.

"You think we can find the Impostor ourselves? We can secure our place in the palace." a boy asks and jumps up excitedly.

"Michael sit down. No one is going to interfere. Let the royals handle it." the teacher warns and walks towards them. "Go on with your day like you normally do. I have feeling they'll sent everyone back to the dorms anyway."

A few minutes has now gone by and I've been taking deep breaths every time I start thinking about the situation I'm in. Maybe Kate has a plan. Just as that thought comes to me another teacher walks in, telling us to pack up and go the dormitory, warning us not to leave the dorms until told so. On the way to the dormitory I bump into Aster. His broad and toned body coming into contact with mine.

"Sorry. I wasn't looking." I mumble and continue walking. I needed to get away from everyone before I go into full blown panic mode.

"Nadeline? Wait. What's wrong?" he yells from behind me. Why's he asking? Is my mask breaking the closer I get to my room? I thought I was hiding it well enough. I really hope he doesn't suspect anything.

"Sorry for bumping into you." I look back apologizing before sprinting away. I don't need him to get suspicious of me too.

In my room I pop another pill into my mouth, my third one today. I couldn't care less about the side effects keeping my heartbeat in check was more important. All I knew I needed to keep myself calm and that's exactly what it did. It calms me so much that I need to lay down. I feel weaker with each passing minute, my eyes closing every few seconds. I couldn't keep myself awake anymore, luckily I remembered not the lock the door before taking the pill. In case I pass out and don't wake up to open the door for Kate. I close my eyes and fall asleep.

"Wake up Nadeline." Someone shakes me awake aggressively. I open my eyes and groan. My body hurts and I feel like I've been asleep for eternity.

"I thought you were dead." Kate sighs with a phone in one hand. I pull down the blanket and sit up, rubbing my forehead.

"I'm not dead." I whisper, sounding like I've lost my voice.

"I'm pretty sure you were for the past 5 minutes." She folds her arms. "You're pale too."

Maybe I shouldn't have taken another pill, I feel horrible. I close my eyes, leaning my head against the wall and stare at my sister as she looks at the phone.

"Shit. She's not answering. What are we going to do?" she asks, running her hand through her short hair and making it messy.

"Are you talking about mom?" I ask, my voice coming out weakly

"Who else?" she glares. "We need to think of something. We need to get you out of here as soon as possible. Not just the royals will come looking for you but students aswell. The only plan I have right now is that we have to pretend that something happened to you. They won't suspect you immediately, not since you're a Thornhale."

"It'll be suspicious if I leave now." I say, my eyes widening as I fully awake after hearing her plan. She groans, looking up at the ceiling while pacing back and forth in my room.

***

I look at my now messy room; the light was off, pillows, clothes and pens scattered everywhere looking like someone trashed it or that I put on a fight, at least that's what we're hoping for. We tried to make it look as believable as we could. Kate even rubbed her blood on to the surfaces to make it look like I was hurt.

I don't have time to process anything; I'm leaving the realm tonight and it's happening so fast. I want to see Sera and Aster again. I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone and I'm leaving without a trace.

Remembering my sister is waiting impatiently outside I open my window, throw the robe down and tie it from the inside. Looking down I see Kate waiting for me and couldn't be more grateful for the fact that my room wasn't too high up, I'll slide down quickly. I take a deep breath and look back at my room, it's going to empty again. All my belongings and memories will stay here because I'm not allowed to take anything with me.

I hear her groan loudly from all the way down and step out of the window, climbing down and being super careful not to pass by any student's windows. Bending my knees up I walk against the stone wall until my feet hits the ground with a thud. Kate grabs the rope from me and pulls it down with force so that it comes undone.

"Mom is keeping the guards busy, we'll have to be quick." she grabs my hand and we run away from the dormitory. Her hand was freezing against mine, reminding me of the unfortunate difference between us. A few of the thorn bushes get caught on my shirt and scrap me as we walk in between them. Stopping in front of the wall Kate pushes out a big rock from the stone wall. I look back one last time making sure no one saw us.

A drop of sweat runs down my forehead as everything that happened these few days' crashes down at me. I hyperventilate, each breath burning my lungs like sandpaper as I lose my balance and fall with my butt on the ground. Blood rushes to my heart and forces it to beat. Kate turns around, staring at me with confusion.

"You can't back down now."

I tilt my head back, looking up the sky begging the gods for other solution as I bring me knees closer to my chest. "I can't do this." I sob.

"Yes, you can. Pull yourself together. You're not just doing it for yourself but for us as a family. So calm yourself."

I breathe out slowly and close my eyes giving her a weak nod. She motions to the hole in the wall, and we climb through, arriving outside of the Academy grounds and into some quiet street. The streetlights flicker above us and Kate walks to some red car and I follow her, climbing into the back seat and laying down so that no one could see me. Just like we planned.

She twists the car key, starts the engine and we drive away from the only place that didn't make me lonely. Leaving behind the two only friends I ever made and my entire future education. "The realm door is near the palace. Right next to it to be exact and I'll need to park the car around the corner which means we'll have to walk around it." She tells me.

"The palace?" my eyes widen and she nods. I remember my mother's words from years ago, she told me it's massive, strong and made out of a specific black stone. I've always wanted to see it but because I was trapped in the estate it was a forgotten dream. I guess now this is my one and only chance. I just wish I could've sketch it. After a few minutes the car comes to a stop. Kate looks around before turning off the engine and looking towards me.

"Put this on and cover your face." she throws me a heavy cloak, putting one on herself. I throw it over my shoulders and tighten the strings, pulling the hood over my head. We climb out of the car and I turn around to search for the palace, I look over the car and see the enormous structure. The palace was just like my mother described. So tall that I had to lean my head back just to see the very top of it. Being able to stand this close was intimidating and breath taking at the same time. Like staring at something magical and forbidden.

"Nadeline we're already late. There's not enough time for you to admire the palace." she hisses impatiently.

I force myself to look away and follow her around the corner, most of the palace structure disappearing from my view. My mother was indeed keeping the guards busy, there's no one here but us. The only sound that could be heard was the wind and our footsteps, leaving an uneasy feeling in my stomach. My mind drifts to the royal prince but I clear my thoughts as much as I'm able to. I shouldn't be thinking of him. He's...an asshole, a betrayer and... still beautiful. I can't stop thinking about how his body towered over mine, his lips brushed and touched my skin. The only thing he cares about is my blood, I'm no one to him. But if there's one thing good about him it's that he was always gentle with me.

In front of us is dark mist in the shape of a door and I can feel magic radiating off it. This was the portal from our world to theirs. Something tugs on my cloak and I gasp turning around. But there was no one. Did I imagine that?

"You need to go."

"I'm scared." I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself. I'm really going, I'm leaving this realm all by myself. "I know nothing about the human realm. I don't want to go alone. Please don't do this to me."

"I can't help you Nadeline. I've told you, you shouldn't have come to the Academy."

"Please..." I beg.

"Go Nadeline. You have to go right now before someone sees us."

I shake my head, taking a step back. "No..."

She launches forward and grabs my arm. "You'll have to blend in, hide those tiny fangs of yours. Break them off if you have to. Just stay hidden."

"They can't grow back." I gasp, she can't be serious.

"You don't even need them." She rolls her eyes and tugs om my arm.

"I'm still a vampire. I have to feed every once in a while"

"Figure something out." she groans and then proceeds to drag me toward the realm door and pushes me into it with all of her strength.