Raven ripped into the parking lot and flew into her spot near the side entrance to the building. Her heart raced with the knowledge that they had made it out safely, in one piece. Her life as she knew it was over, but she was now on a path to a new life. Where would it take her? There was only one way to find out.

It was a long climb to the fourth floor, or so it felt. Raven's apartment looked out over the parking lot to the public park across the street. Everything appeared normal. She kept waiting for the moment that shiny black cars would tear into the parking lot and arrest them both. It didn't come. Instead, she fished her suitcase out of the back of the closet and got to work packing up as much of her life as she could. Amethyst sat on her bed and watched, sometimes gazing down at the shackles still attached to her wrists and ankles. Angry red burns peeked out from beneath the edges.

"Are they uncomfortable?" asked Raven as she folded up her favourite jeans.

"Very. It won't last much longer, my people will find a way to remove them."

She set them carefully on her lap, mindful not to touch the chains if she could. Raven resumed her frantic packing. Space quickly ran out.

"Your home is cute," Amethyst noted.

"Thank you, it has served me well over the years. I'm actually a little sad to leave it behind."

"I will see to it that we find you a safe place to live after all this is over. You don't deserve to be left stranded after the sacrifice you have made for me."

Raven became a little misty as she said, "Thank you."

She stuffed the last that she could into her suitcase. "We should get going."

"Indeed, they must be onto us by now."

"Where should we go?" Raven held the door for her and followed her into the silent hallway.

"Back to the graveyard. We will need more materials to get our message out to my people."

"I know where we can go."

The pair got back into Raven's car and made their way to the occult shop Raven had visited in the weeks prior. Amethyst took on a grey pallor almost immediately. The iron must have been getting to her. Raven felt bad, but there was nothing for it. They had no better way to travel and a lot of ground to cover. Raven drove as fast as she was comfortable going to minimize her exposure.

Fortunately, obtaining the smudge stick was quite simple. They waited around as the shopkeeper assembled the dried herbs and bound them tight for their use. Tools in hand, they got back in her car and made for the highway out of the city.

The sun was brilliant overhead, only a couple of fluffy clouds obscuring the sky. Raven rolled the windows down and let the wind whip her hair. Fresh air seemed to perk up Amethyst. If not for the nagging anxiety of pursuit, the trip could almost be fun.

The further from the city they went, the better Amethyst seemed to become. It was relative, of course. The iron in her car was definitely affecting her heavily. Fresh air did wonders for her complexion, though. Some colour returned to her fair cheeks.

The graveyard crept up on them faster than Raven expected. She got out to open the gate again and pulled in next to the old brick building once more. Then, she got Amethyst's door for her and stood back to look around. Just as she remembered it, verdant and overgrown and incredibly peaceful. Raven smiled and offered her hand. Amethyst, after a pause, took it.

This time she knew just where to go and could bypass her meandering around the trails. Raven led her over to the ring of mushrooms she had walked and waited in and found it just as she had left it. Amethyst grinned at the sight. She released Raven's hand and knelt in the centre, running her fingertips featherlight over the caps. Raven's hand was achingly empty now.

"I am nearly home," breathed Amethyst, wonder painting her face.

"Where is home?" asked Raven as she folded her arms against the emptiness.

"The Winter Court. I have no idea how long I have been away for."

"Why do you have to return this way? Couldn't you just go home?"

Amethyst shook her head and sat on the grass. "It is not that simple. The entrances to the court were static for centuries, but when the abductions began, we had to protect ourselves. The entrances move now, and I have no idea where to without speaking with someone from my home."

"That's terrible." Raven's heart sank for those still captive.

"We are nearly there." Amethyst reached for the smudge stick in Raven's hand. "Ilya will come for me. He always does."

A pang of jealousy struck Raven, much to her dismay. She felt an odd sense of protectiveness over Amethyst, who was more than capable of taking care of herself. She had survived this long in captivity, after all. She didn't need Raven to keep her safe. So why did she feel so jealous all of a sudden?

Well, because she wanted to be Amethyst's saviour, not Ilya.

Amethyst began to pace around the circle as Raven observed beside a battered headstone that was too overgrown to read. Raven's scrubs were a little too small for Amethyst, whose muscular arms strained the fabric. The legs were too short and exposed her ankles. When she finished her laps and took a seat in the circle, the legs rode up to mid-calf. Raven joined her, crossing her arms over her legs.

"Are you excited to go home?" Raven asked. It was a stupid question, of course she was, but she could think of nothing else to say.

"Very. It has been such a long time since I have seen a friendly face. Well, besides your own."

Raven smiled despite herself. "I'm glad you get to return. What will you do?"

"I need to inform the queen of what has been happening, and we must form a plan. I cannot allow my kin to be imprisoned like that, tortured daily. I must save them."

Raven smiled and glanced over at her. "I'd like to help."

Surprise crossed Amethyst's face. "Are you sure? You've done so much already."

"I have nothing to lose." She shrugged as the stark reality struck her once more. "And I want to. No one should be treated the way you and your people are."

A misty smile lit her face. "I'll say again, you are a very rare type of person, Raven."

And again, Raven blushed.

Time passed slowly, but Raven didn't mind much. It was nice to enjoy the peace and quiet and beautiful birdsong with Amethyst. She offered a hand, and Amethyst took it, nimble fingers lacing through her own. Raven's heart raced. She never wanted the moment to end.

The soft clatter of armour announced Ilya's arrival. Well, Raven assumed it was him. She couldn't see him right away despite scanning the forest to her right in depth. He appeared at once between two birch trees. Shock schooled his painfully handsome features. Amethyst followed Raven's gaze, and her grip tightened.

"Amethyst?"

"Ilya."

Raven let her go and watched as Amethyst dashed to the treeline. Her dark hair flew behind her. Ilya's arms opened to receive her and he staggered back a step as she crashed into him. Raven had to imagine it must have hurt, considering he was in a full suit of armour, but she seemed unfazed. The two separated just enough for Ilya to take her chin and guide her in for a kiss.

Raven's heart hit the dirt. No. It couldn't be. But they had just kissed only a few hours ago, and Amethyst had seemed so into it. How could she do this? Raven's stomach churned as she processed. There was no doubt that Amethyst had initiated their kiss earlier, she had cupped Raven's cheek and guided her in. So why was she kissing him now?

The pair separated, but remained staring deep into the other's eyes. Ilya's stern face was strangely soft and amazed. His eyes darted to Raven where she sat in the ring.

"She really did it," he said just loud enough for her to hear.

"She did. I wouldn't be here without her help."

Ilya stepped aside and beckoned Raven closer. "Come, we must speak."

Reluctantly, Raven did as instructed and approached the pair warily. Amethyst moved aside for her. When she stood before Ilya, who towered above her, he surprised her by taking a deep bow.

"I am sorry I doubted you. You have done the impossible."

Raven blushed and shuffled her feet. "It was nothing, I was only doing what I had to."

Ilya straightened to his full height. "You did not have to do this, but that you did is astounding. You put your life at risk for one of my people."

The blush deepened. "I couldn't leave her like that. Any of them."

"We have much to discuss," said Amethyst, drawing their attention. "We should go."

Ilya nodded and gestured for them to follow. "We move the entrance regularly, but kept this one in place after the meeting we had. It would have taken me much longer to reach you otherwise."

"You risked everything for us?" Amethyst sounded stunned.

"For you."

Amethyst blushed, and Raven's stomach did more uncomfortable flips. She trudged along behind them through the dense woods. Her uppity mood had all but vanished and she was feeling rather sour now. Her wonder about seeing the Winter Court was nearly gone.

Raven lost track of time as they moved through the timeless forest. The lighting never changed, the trees were equally spaced and ancient, the brush around her thighs was thick and lush. Verdant aromas lingered in the air, far fresher than Raven was used to. It was a nice change.

The first light she noticed made her jump. Like a firefly that never went out, a mote of light hung in the air some ten feet away. The second appeared not long after in a lovely periwinkle. They drifted through the open spaces between the trees, casting their soft light about.

"What are those?" asked Raven in awe.

Amethyst glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Pixies. Lovely to look at but absolutely mischievous. Appreciate them, but never follow one."

"Noted ..." she murmured.

"Welcome to the Winter Court," Amethyst said.

All at once, the landscape shifted. What was green a second ago was coated in snow. The light from the pixies danced on ice crystals. Raven's breath clouded before her face. Though it was cold, it was not unpleasantly so.

"We're not far, it won't be long now."

The forest opened up a few minutes later to a vast plain of undisturbed snow. In the distance, on the top of a beautiful sloping hill, sat an extensive castle of pure white stone. Elegant spires capped towers, parapets stretched between them. Behind towering walls would be a sprawling city full of fey.

Raven had stopped walking. She didn't realize until Amethyst glanced back, catching her attention. She apologized and rushed to catch up.

The walk took a while, but the road was clear and easy to traverse. It still wasn't dark out, though it had been hours for sure since they had arrived at the graveyard. Raven was exhausted from all the walking but was determined to make it. The other two moved as though they had only just started the journey.

Heavy wooden doors yielded to let them into the city. At once they were in a bustling metropolis of the most strange folk Raven had ever imagined. Gnomes bustled past on their way to a stall selling vegetables. A regal elf perused the fabrics being sold at another. A towering, slender figure in a black suit with a grin far too wide to be allowed beamed down at Raven. She was taken aback by a wispy man who barely held any form; it was a wonder the wind didn't simply blow him away.

Ilya didn't slow as he led them up the sloping, winding street to the castle. Raven was panting by the time they reached the castle doors. These too parted without hesitation for them. Up close, Raven could see that the white slabs making up the structure were veined with gold. They sparkled in the brilliant sunshine.

The castle was eerily quiet and devoid of activity. The grand entrance hall was spotted with plants that spilled out of their golden pots. A vast staircase ascended from the centre of the room, and two archways framed it. Ilya led them up the stairs.

"I will get you both settled for the night, and tomorrow, we will meet to discuss your escape," he said as they climbed. "Your room is as you left it."

"Wonderful. How long have I been gone?"

Ilya glanced at her. "Four seasons."

Amethyst gasped, and Raven asked, "That's only a year, right? That's not so bad."

"Four seasons here is approximately ten of your years."

Raven gasped, too. "I'm so sorry."

Amethyst gave her a small smile. On the third floor, Amethyst branched off toward a closed door embossed with silver. She rested her palm on the handle reverently.

"This is mine," she said, turning the knob. "Come find me if you need anything. Ilya, can you do something about these cuffs?"

"Yes, I will return once I show her to her room."

Raven followed Ilya in silence, brooding still over her jealousy. She didn't want to be mad at him, he had been instrumental in freeing Amethyst, but she was anyway. It was irrational and so unlike her. Still, she couldn't help feeling a bit possessive of Amethyst, despite knowing next to nothing about her.

Ilya stopped a little ways down the hall before an identical door. It wasn't until then that Raven realised she had left her bag with all her belongings in the trunk of her car. She wanted to slap her forehead but thought better of it.

"This room is yours. If you need anything, just ask. Good night."

Ilya didn't wait around. He strode off down the hall, armour clinking as he went. Raven sighed and turned to the door, dismissing him from her memory. She hated feeling like this.

The room was even more extravagant than she could have expected. A plush, enormous bed took up one wall, overflowing with soft white blankets, furs, and pillows in shades of pale blue. Drapes were tied back on all four posts. There was a tall wardrobe and mirror in one corner, a desk in another, and a little sitting area next to a small bookshelf.

The bed was calling her name. She was still chilled from the walk and was eager to dive into those blankets and forget about the unfair world for a while. She stripped off her sweaty scrubs and cast them to the floor. There was a wash basin beside the wardrobe full of steaming water. Raven scrubbed her face and neck, drank two glasses of water, then crawled into bed with heavy limbs and a heavy heart.