A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long to write...This has been the hardest chapter I've wrote to date, the writer's block was unbearable. It's really bad and boring and I'm sorry. My writing just isn't what it used to be since I've been away...I promise the story will get better as we go, at least I hope. This was mainly just a filler chapter anyway until the plot can really start. Just bear with me, please :(
-Katelyn

*

MAGGIE PULLED UP TO the entrance of the station and looked around for any unsuspecting fey walking about. She looked up at me in the rear rearview mirror, and I could've swore her reflected irises momentarily flashed the same bright blue as the frost fey of Vinter.

"Alright, get out."

Grabbing my stuff and the trash from all my eaten food I slipped out of the patrol car with my hood over my head. Maggie rolled down her window to bid me goodbye, and I gave her my thanks one last time.

"Thank you for everything, Magnhild, truly."

Magnhild paused, giving a small bow of her head. "I did it for the crown, Your Majesty. And for Magnus. He was a friend to his people, and that I'll never forget."

I nodded in return, my heart feeling heavy for her but I knew there was nothing I could do for her right now. I had to make everything right first before I could be of help to my people like Magnus was.

I quickly turned and started for the ticket and waiting entrance of the bus stop, but halted when Maggie called my name.

"Eerika, wait!"

I faced her again and witnessed her somber yet uneasy expression. "When all of this is finally over...can I really return home?"

I gave her an assuring smile and confident gaze. "Yes. I promise you Magnhild, when I destroy the iron queen once and for all and become the one and true ruler, I will allow everyone who was wrongly banished back into the realm. I will make everything right."

Maggie seemed to like that answer, and with those final words I turned and left her sight to which she drove off into the night.

I felt a sense of guilt hit my stomach as my mind played over the words I said to her. It was the first promise I had made to a subject outside of the Vinter realm. I knew I had the authority to bring everyone back to the realm who had been wrongfully cast out, but I still didn't know what kind of realm there was going to be to come back to. After Sylvi's reign of terror, would there be enough life left of the realm to rebuild? And I had already made a promise as well that I would finally kill her and end it, but I couldn't be completely sure even in my hopes and imaginations that I would be able to do so. I didn't ever want to be a queen who made promises to her she couldn't keep. I used to have the confidence that I could kill Sylvi and save the realm when I thought all I needed was a sword. But now I was after a faery who I might never actually find, and all I had to go on was an urban legend that she could be the one to defeat the iron queen. It all felt hopeless and crazy to me. But whatever I had to do, or however far I had to go, I would try until my last breath.

I quickly bought a bus ticket and waited for it to arrive within a crowd of unsuspecting passengers. I kept my head down with my hood still shrouding my glamoured face, but I was still gaining a few curious and suspicious glances for good reason. What normal person wouldn't suspect anyone who looked as shady as I did with these clothes and backpack accompanied by my low-profiled demeanor?

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed a police officer walking slowly around the bus terminal, keeping eye of his surroundings and on guard for any issue that might arise. My heart began pounding in my ears and I could feel my glamour slightly flicker.

I have got to get far away from this city, now. I don't know how much longer my glamour can hold...My powers are already feeling weak. I can't get caught by a cop who really would arrest me this time.

As if fate was saving me the large bus pulled up a few seconds later and the crowd rushed forward, shoulders and elbows bumping and poking. I ducked down and hid myself within the sea of them until I got inside. I tried to find a seat at the end of the bus furthest away from everyone, hoping no one would think to sit next to a suspicious hooded girl.

As we began moving, I looked behind me out the window to watch the officer get futher and further away. I let out a deep witheld breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead, letting the heavy feeling of my body sink down into the seat.

I needed to collect my thoughts now. Even with the information Maggie gave me, I didn't know where I was going to start once I got to California. Surely I would know it was Sverdet if I saw her with her distinct features, but it was just the fact of knowing where to look. She could be living anywhere in the state, under any fake name, doing any occupation. Which city would be best to even start in? LA? San Francisco? San Diego? 39 million people lived in the state alone, within 482 cities. How could I possibly track down one single person all on my own?

While lost in my thoughts, a passenger sitting across from me on the other side of the bus had their phone loudly streaming a news report. A few annoyed murmurs echoed in the otherwise quiet space, while I quickly sat up and diverted my attention to the screen. It was a different broadcast channel than what I had watched earlier, telling me that I was now probably on every news outlet across the world.

"Breaking News at this hour, the ongoing case of the double murders of the Arnesen family and Blane Malcaroy still has no new leads at this time. The information on the whereabouts of Eerika Arnesen is still without information as well and the Phoenix police department is still asking for anyone to call or stop by if you have any information on the case or of the location of the Arnesen's daughter Eerika. If you are new to this story, on the night of February 18th both 17 year old Blane Malcaroy and married couple Harold and Linda Arnesen were murdered, with their daughter Eerika Arnesen nowhere to be found at the scene. She was quickly labeled the prime suspect in the murders by police after suspecting no fowl play was involved when there was no clear sign of a struggle within the crime scene. We're now going to cut to a clip of the brief press hearing with the sheriff and lead investigator of this case that took place yesterday afternoon."

I watched with bated breath to hear directly from the police what they were saying about all of this mess. I didn't even know if Hanir or Linnea had been autopsied, what else they might have found. I feared of our magical lineage being discovered more than of me being an outlaw. I had a whole realm and race to protect. If anyone from the human world found out about the fey, it really could have disastrous consequences even beyond Sylvi's reign of terror...

The sheriff slowly walked up to the podium and cleared his throat. His face was tired and sullen, a look in his eyes as if he had seen horrible things that he could never forget. It made me picture what Hanir and Linnea's bodies could have looked like in that kitchen, my stomach churning and my heart breaking in two. I easily sympathized with him. In a way, it was my fault that he and his men were having to deal with such a tragedy.

"The way...that these innocent people were murdered...Is the most horrible thing I have witnessed in all my career as a police officer. We are working with all available units to solve this case, and bring justice to the family of Blane Malcaroy."

His voice then began to quiver a little as he continued.

"As I'm sure all of this community knows, Blane was my grandson...whom I loved more than anything in this world. And I will not stop until the culprit, whoever they may be, is found and charged to the highest degree. Eerika Arnesen is our only suspect at this time because we have so little information to go by."

I had to cover my mouth to keep from gasping and alerting attention to me. Oh my god...Blane's grandfather was a cop.

It was the first I had seen how a family member of his was dealing with my horrible mistake, and my heart broke for him. I still blamed myself for his death even now, and I hated that I would never be able to give his family the justice they wanted or the closure they needed. I didn't even know how they labeled his cause of death, if his body unfroze after I left, or anything. There was no way I could ever explain or talk my way out of being charged for the unintentional murder, because I couldn't reveal the world of the fey. Both my hands and my feet were tied.

"Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in court, so we ask that if Eerika Arnesen is watching this, that she will calmly turn herself in and give us her side of this story so we can put this horrific incident to rest. I'll now turn the microphone to a close friend and witness of Eerika Arnesen to give her own brief statement. Thank you."

I felt my body freeze, my chest tightening as I suddenly watched Jessi walk up to the podium with her head hung low. When she looked up to the reporters flashing their cameras in her face, I could see her eyes were teary and fearful, making my heart shatter even more.

Oh Jessi...All the things I ended up putting you through too...

"M-My name is Jessica Gonzalez. I was the best friend of Eerika Arnesen and classmate Blane Malcaroy. I wanted to come here today to ask that the justice system as well as the community please keep an open mind and heart to this case. Don't condemn or spread false rumor until the truth of what happened that night can be revealed."

I wiped a tear away that had now fallen down my cheek. I'd known Jessi since we were in kindergarten, and ever since then she had always spoke with a strong voice and exuded such confidence. But here she only looked small and broken. And all the mess that I had caused did that to her.

"And I just want to speak to Eerika, if she's listening out there today..."

I leaned closer to the direction of the man's phone, listening in as intently as I could. Jessi turned her gaze directly to the camera, her eyes swelled up with more tears. She gripped the microphone tightly and brought it closer to her so she could be heard as clearly as possible.

"Eerika...Wherever you are, please just come home. And if someone did take you I'm begging, please let her go. Don't hurt her. Whatever happened, I know you didn't do it Eerika. I'll always be on your side. You're my best friend, and I love you. So even if you're scared, just turn yourself in and we'll figure this out together. Please."

I watched as she then left the podium now crying, covering her face with the sleeve of her new UCLA sweatshirt. I wanted to smile and cheer for her if there hadn't been such current dark circumstances. She got into the college of her dreams that she had always wanted.

The broadcast ended shortly after and I sat back in my seat, unsure of how to collect my thoughts now. If I wasn't sure before I was now that I could never return to Phoenix again. I was lucky enough to get out now without being caught, but I still wasn't out of the woods yet. The whole surrounding states probably knew about this crime now, so even if I was safe from Phoenix I still had to carry out my mission as stealthy as possible. But I needed help.

The bus was on its way to Los Angeles, and I knew now what my first plan would be when I got there.

I had to go see Jessi.