THE FIRST THING I knew I needed to do was get out of the city. With my face being plastered all over the news, there was no doubt that anyone in Phoenix would recognize me. For all I knew, there were even wanted posters covering every convenience store window.

My car was no longer parked in the driveway, probably confiscated during the crime scene investigation. I would have to either take a bus or taxi, or actually walk on foot.

All had their cons, like the amount of people who could recognize me on the bus, and a taxi was even closer quarters with a driver who would see my face.

I was sure the police notified any bus and taxi drivers to keep an eye on who they're transporting, so they can report or keep hostage of me if I try to run. If I took the metro, I might be arrested before we even stopped.

I knew I had the option to glamour myself to look like a completely different person, but I had only done it once and it was for a short time. I didn't know if I'd be able to hold it, and if I lost that glamour in front of a crowd, how could I explain that? I'd be chained to a table in a science lab before I could say frostbite.

I guessed walking would have to be the start until I could assess the situation I was truly in.

Slipping out of the house and into the night, I slowly looked around the area. We never had neighbors on Hollow Road, only surrounded by trees, so as long as there were no surveillance cameras on the house I could get away from here with ease.

The yellow police tape surrounding the house lightly fluttered in the wind and gave me a chill down my spine. It really felt as if I was the star in a murder crime movie, only in this version my character was wrongly accused.

I never could have even imagined in my wildest dreams that this would become a situation in my life. That I would kill the boy I crushed on for so long, learn I was a faery with frozen powers, that my real parents were dead and someone wanted me to be too, and that I was a princess who became queen. Ever since that night it felt like I was stuck in a dream and couldn't wake up from it.

When would this all be over? I just wanted to have my crown, and my people to be safe. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Calder. I wanted Sylvi gone for good so everyone could no longer live in fear. So much just felt out of my reach. If I could find Sverdet, if she was truly still alive, would she help us?

A cold sensation suddenly hit my chest and I saw Calder's pendant start to glow again. It was like a signal to me not to keep standing exposed in the open and get moving.

Go Eerika. Go.

Ducking under the police tape I started on a sprint towards the woods, leaving my residential area for the very last time and making my way towards the city.

I could feel my stomach growling deep in my pit the closer I got towards the liveliness of the city. I hadn't eaten since before the ball, and I knew I would need to stock up on rations. Who knew how far I would have to travel.

When the lights of a convenience store illuminated my vision, I felt a small relief wash over me. Crouching behind a nearby building wall as a few people went in and out of the store, I tried to think of a plan.

I could glamour myself for at least an hour, I knew that. But how long was a Vinter hour compared to one in the human world? Shorter, longer? I still didn't understand the concept of our different times. Months, surely, but hours and minutes were so complex in comparison.

Taking in a deep breath, I decided to try. If I could only hold it for just ten minutes even, that would be enough time to grab whatever food I could fit in my bag and pay before I ran.

I tried to imagine a look for myself that would be the complete opposite of my own appearance. Jet black hair that was a short bob, long bangs to cover brown slanted eyes, fuller lips and a longer-bridged nose, with olive skin. If only I could change my height and my voice too, but that wasn't something glamour could do. This would have to be enough.

Pulling my hood over my head I snuck out from the wall and hurriedly sprinted over to the convenience store door. I froze for a moment seeing a wanted poster with my face taped to the glass as if I was in a western movie. I pulled my jacket hood lower on my face as I Slipped inside, cringing slightly as the bell dinged above my head. I watched the cashier look up out of the corner of my eye, but it wasn't more than a second glance before the young teen's attention went back to his phone screen.

Swallowing hard I kept my head low as I walked around, grabbing any packaged food that was within my closest reach. Bags of chips, snack cakes, candy bars, all things I had nearly forgotten the taste of since being in Vinter for six months. My stomach growled even louder as I approached my favorite pack of chocolate iced honeybuns, and I stuffed four in my arms without a second thought.

Juggling all my items I rushed to the counter, setting them down and walking over to the deep fridge to grab waters and sodas. The bell dinged once more and I jumped, feeling my heart start to race now that there was someone else in the store.

Slowly turning my head just enough to peek behind me, I felt my stomach lurch at the sight of the unexpected customer. A female cop sauntered around the store looking relaxed at all the snack shelves. I swallowed hard and turned back to the fridge, no longer focusing on what I was getting and just grabbed anything I could reach.

Quickly making my way back to the counter I fidgeted as the boy slowly rang up each item like a zombie. I didn't turn around to watch the cop, trying to keep myself as invisible to her as possible. But when she came up to the counter to pay for her own candy bar and soda I could feel her eyes all over me. My breathing became shallow that made my head feel dizzy, and I barely heard the cashier tell me the total of all my things before the cop brought me back to Earth.

"Sweetie, he said your total was $25.92. Do you have enough to pay for it?"

Bringing my shaking hands into my backpack I pulled out the only money that was left in my home, twenty dollars. I was short and with how fuzzy my brain was from fear of being found out I didn't know what to do.

"Don't worry about it Adam I got it. Just tell your mom to come out and have lunch with me again soon ok? She can treat me then," the cop told the boy as she gave him the money.

"Sure thing Detective Holten," he dryly responded.

"You can take your items now hun, it's payed for. You seem pretty young. Are you...headed somewhere?"

I kept yelling at myself to get out of here but I couldn't seem to move. When the cop addressed me again I began grabbing everything as fast as I could and shoving it in my bag, not even caring if I squished the cakes and honeybuns.

"Uh...no English. Sorry. Thank you," I replied quietly in my best accent, sprinting out the door while the cop called after me.

Behind me the bell dinged and I heard her again, making my heart speed up further.

"Hey! Hold on a second."

I started to run, already feeling my legs shaking. This only made her want to chase after me more, her voice telling me to stop.

This can't be happening already. I can't go to prison. I have to find Sverdet, I have to reunite with Calder, I have to save my kingdom. I already feel my glamour slipping. Run. Just run.

I didn't know how long it took for the cop to lose track of me, but finally I reached a nearby alley and ran into it to catch my breath. My lungs felt like collapsing and my heart was beating so fast I was sure it would burst.

I had been back in this world only a few hours and already I was on the run from police just as I feared. How was I gonna keep this up until I found Sverdet? Was this what I would be doing until then, constantly running and hiding? Would I eventually be caught with no way of escape and Calder unable to help me...

"You run pretty fast for someone so small, I'll give you that."

I suddenly jumped and gasped at the voice behind me, whipping around. My heart went up into my throat, my stomach sick, as the cop stared back at me with bright blue eyes narrowing at me in the alley shadows.

Where she stood was the only way out, I was cornered. Was this already it? Did she somehow know it was me behind this glamour and was about to try dragging me away?

Clenching my fists I felt them tingle, readying my powers. I didn't want to use my magic on any human here knowing what I had done to Blane, but if she wouldn't let me go then I feared that would be my only choice. I couldn't be captured. I couldn't let my kingdom or my life with Calder all end like this.

The cop stepped closer, brushing the fallen strands from her dull blonde bun out of her face.

"I hope someone told you that disguise of yours won't work on anyone with eyes like ours. That's the only thing that can't be taken away when we're banished here."

Ours? What did she mean? Banished?

Banished...Oh...I've heard that word too many times before.

This cop I was standing face to face with, sharp cheekbones uplifted in a smirk mixed with disgust...was one of the hundreds of fey that had been banished from the Vinter realm by The Clan of the Rim.

"What are you doing here...Princess Eerika?"