Background: After the battle between Salem and her former lover Ozma, Salem missed her children dearly. What mother wouldn't? Their remains were gone however, destroyed in the battle. This left Salem with one choice, deprive some family of their own child. Taking to the largest cemetery of her quickly dwindling kingdom, Salem took one thing, an infant who died at birth. Placing the boy in the Pool of Grimm revived him, turning him into the same monstrosity Salem was.

Scene: Emerald and Mercury are heading to Evernight with Cinder for the first time. While there Emerald and Mercury are sent off to explore the castle to keep them away from Cinder while she speaks to Salem. While they explore, Enerald quickly gets lost, the dark materials of the castle making it hard to remember where you turned or stopped. Until a firefly appears, and she follows it. Just as it arrives to a dark hall, a pair of pale white hands grab it, blocking the light. Slowly they open, revealing the twisted smile of The Reader. "Hello."

Plot: The story follows the reader as Emerald captivates him, leading him to finally leave Salems castle to follow her. Unable to understand his human emotions he almost haunts her with his stalking ways as he tries to understand why she's so...attractive.