Prologue- Snowfall In Coppell

Prologue

"Snowfall In Coppell"

Snow pelted from her mink boots as she paced her small feet in the fresh blanket of snow. She watched as the sun nestled into the horizon. The small daylight slowly burned away and the warmth fell from her face. Tucking her hair into her hood, she lifted the layers of her pelt leather coat as the snow drifted from her laced boots. The crisp bitter breeze tickled the bridge of her nose as her eyes fell on the sight of Coppell. Her eyes peeled the layers of the small human village as the streets grew dim with life and the chimneys hummed with thick smoke. The streetlights glistened against the snow as she sank from plain sight. She's never seen a real living human being outside of the castle walls before. After all, humans were considered inferior and savages incapable of civilization without the confinements of Wisteria's restraints. As her father stated, humans are only capable of destruction. They do not know how to create or build and therefore are despised by the Wisterian race for their mere existence.

Grace drew her breath as she pulled the hood to her coat over her ears. There's a rumor that humans have round flat ears while Wisterian's have sharp pointy ears that are smaller and significantly noticeable to a human. Wisterian's also possessed magical abilities that humans are not capable of. She couldn't risk any humans discovering her true identity not only as a Wisterian outsider but also as the daughter of the King who drafts thousands of humans to fight his self-inflicted wars and serve amongst the lowest ranks in the castle. It was no secret that the humans despised King Leonidas and his royal assets for the discrimination portrayed against the humans. Grace knew it was only a matter of time before her father realized her absence and sent the hounds after her.

She pried her pockets open to unveil her diary as the snow grew under her boots. Sliding down the hill, she opens the cover to her pages. Her gloves were damp from the heavy snowfall as she dug into her sunken pockets for her ink and pen. Grace smiled behind her face covers at the thought that her father was wrong about humans. Her parents described humans as bloodcurdling savages whose only purpose was what their hands could destroy. But savages wouldn't bother building towns and villages if all they knew was to eradicate.

Quietly, she sketches the street onto an empty page. Grace detailed the welcome sign entailing a population of over 2,000 humans and the small stores that were crammed against each other. The village had a buttery savor to it, and cozy cobblestones that lounged in neat lines while the sidewalks parted for what appeared to once be an earthen road. Cartridges rested in front of the stores as she witnessed humans appearing and leaving an elegant golden restaurant nestled between a clothing store and a clinic.

The windowpane illuminated the shelves stocked with golden delectable bread and savory treats as she read aloud "Colger's Bakery- Home of Coppell's finest goods." Grace's mouth watered at the sight as she watched families sit together with steaming mugs and broad smiles. Her stomach pulled as her hunger grew with anticipation. The warmth from the inside beckoned her but her concern felt heavy at the thought of exposing herself to humans. She never laid eyes on them and now she was about to eat among them in secrecy. Thoughts of her identity being unearthed flourished in her mind, and her lips quivered in fear.

A small bell at the top of the glass door chimed, making her jump abruptly. A tall man with pale skin and ragged black hair stepped into the blistering cold as his gaze settled on her small stature. He tugged a scarf at his neck and tipped the brim of his ebony hat as he shrugged the cold away, "you'll catch a cold, miss."

He must have mistaken her fear for freezing as she lowered her head and closed her book to her chest walking under his stretched arm as he held the door out for her. Smiling at the mysterious human, she bowed slightly as her eyes examined his round and flat ears. It appeared that some of the rumors were found to be true after all. She mumbled as the snow tipped off her shoes before the door as she slipped inside, "thank you, sir."

The aroma of baked goods flustered her as she adjusted to the light of the restaurant. She's never encountered a restaurant or eaten food prepared by anyone other than the royal chef. Sulking to the back of the restaurant, she slumped into a booth gathering the warmth in her hands. Her gloves were damp from the heavy snowfall. A brief feeling of comfort washed her senses as she gazed at the pink budding flowers that were welted on the bottom of the windowpane. It was a terrible time to carry Stinging Nettles, she thought to herself. Grace knew she would need to revive them before leaving or else the weeds would perish from the frost growing on the glass.

Setting her book on the table, she glanced at the small gathering of humans as they cheered with laughter. Children munched on jelly-filled delights and smeared their fingers against the glass display. The adults chattered amongst themselves with smiles and warmth in their eyes. If she didn't know the difference between Wisterian and humans then she may have never noticed.

Strands of her blonde locks slipped from her hood as she continued to rummage through her notes on humans. She glanced around at the clatter of plates and brief laughter as the noise slowly dwindled. Grace watched as the small crowd excused themselves, talking briefly to the register, and slipped into the fierce winds followed by the chime of the little bell at the top of the door. Her smile fled as her eyes caught the tall figure of a porcelain woman approaching her. The strange human wore black slacks with a white buttoned-up shirt and laced suspenders with the embodiment of Colger's Bakery etched into the chest pocket. Flipping through the pages of a frail yellow-stained notepad, the girl smiled at Grace as she removed a strand of her strawberry hair from her ear. The mere sight of the human left a feeling of uneasiness inside Grace.

A human has never willingly approached a Wisterian if they were aware of their superior's residence. If only this human knew who she was approaching. She would run away in horror, Grace thought.

"Hello ma'am, you must've slipped in through the door during the rush. Hope I didn't keep you waiting!" The waitress tapped her pen on the spine of her pad, "What can I get for you?"

Grace lifted her emerald eyes to the human, "do you have raspberry leaf?"

"Raspberry leaf tea? Anything else I can get you? We made a fresh batch of danish and rolls."

Grace nodded and beamed, "a roll is fine."

The human gave a polite nod before turning her heels with a click as she walked towards the counter. As she watched the human's figure disappear behind the counter, her eyes fell on the sight of a human boy who appeared to be her age. He sat alone in front of the windowpane as he watched the snowfall. Curiosity rose in her body as she frantically opened her journal to sketch his boney structure. He appeared dirty with smudges of grease on his rosy cheeks and fringed black curls that stuck out in unusual directions. But his golden-brown skin looked soft and gentle despite his rough features. He wore a scathed brown coat with wooden buttons and distressed stained jeans. The laces on his boots were torn with snow crusted on the edges. She smiled as she sketched the brim of his nose taking note of his hooded caramel eyes as the waitress appeared with a steaming cup of tea and a golden roll. The aroma stuck to her nose and captivated her senses. She nearly forgot the human was watching her.

"Oh wow! I didn't know we had an artist among us," the waitress placed the cup and plate before Grace, "can you draw me next? You must still be in grade school."

Startled, Grace straightens herself as her blood swells in her cheeks. Giving a polite smile, she nods at the human's outburst. "I want to be an artist when I grow up," she lied, "I'll draw you too if you'd like."

The waitress beamed as she joked, "Just be sure to get my good side, okay kid?"

Grace giggled at her reply with the thought of being able to choose her future as the human placed napkins in front of her. She'd never get to decide her fate. She's the royal heir to the throne and one day will be recognized as the Queen to Wisterian's and humans. The dread crept inside her heart at the thought.

Seizing the opportunity, Grace cleared her throat. "Do you know the boy? I hope he doesn't mind my sketch. I like to draw my surroundings-"

"Oh, orphan boy?" The waitress frowned, "his name is Vladimir. Best to stay away from the trenches, my dear. Nothing good can come from a home for broken children."

Grace's cheeks grew hot as she noticed the boy turn his attention to the two. Her gaze grew sad realizing he heard the waitress's words and she slumped in her booth wanting to disappear. Her eyes followed the boy's as he watched the waitress excuse herself to return to the register. She lowered her gaze as she shaded his hair following his round jaw. Grace began outlining the thick red scarf wrapped around his neck slightly covering his chin.

Reaching before her, she picked the roll-up with her hands and took a small bite. She beamed in delight at the sweet roll while her stomach felt warmth in happiness. Even back at the castle, there was not a single roll that tasted as delicious as the ones the humans made. The single bite left her mouth watering as she scarfed the bread into her mouth.

Grace lifted the cup slowly to her plush lips as she elegantly wrote the name Vladimir above the drawing. Grace sipped the scalding hot tea only to invite a bitter aftertaste. She squinted her eyes in disgust as her tongue stuck out slightly in a scoff. No one would imagine such bitter tea from a place well known for its delicious savory treats. And to her discomfort, she heard a chuckle from across the room only to realize the boy was watching her. Grace's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she hid her face behind her book.

The doorbell chimed as the glass departed from the doorway. She breathed a sigh of relief. The slight distraction eased her heart until she realized that royal guards stood in unison at the entrance. Grace closed her book and held it tightly to her chest. Her heart raged against her rib cage as she watched in terror. Their armor clanked as they drew their swords from their holsters. One stepped into the shop as the other waited at the door as he slowly spoke, "Attention citizens of Coppell, we're here on King Leonidas's order. We do not wish harm upon you. Please comply so we may go about our mission."

Grace dropped to her knees hiding underneath her booth as her anguish flourished. She was bound to be found by the guards and her heart sunk at the thought of her father's disappointment. Clasping her journal to her chest, she quickly hid her work into the lip of her coat pocket. Trembling in fear, she listened closely as she glanced to see the young boy was no longer at his table and the guards stood before the frightened waitress.

"We've received a tip that a royal asset has sought shelter and we've come to return them to their rightful home." The soldier glanced at the empty tables as he patiently waited for the human to conjure the courage to speak, "have you noticed anyone that stands out? Doesn't belong among your kind?"

Grace felt puzzled at the fabricated lies her father's aids must have created. It was much better than being called a treacherous traitor or scoundrel. Of course, the King couldn't let the public know that his heir to the throne not only escaped but also managed to make contact with the humans despite his long-appointed hatred. She glanced over her shoulder to see the young boy hiding under the booth beside her. He held his finger up to his scathed lips and laid his head down tucking his legs into the corner furthest from the walkway. Slowly nodding, she held her knees as she pretended to drift away. On one hand, she could use a spell of invisibility. But on the other hand, her identity would be revealed to the young boy. Grace felt trapped as she imagined scenarios of the events soon to unfold.

"No," the waitress trembled, "I haven't come across anyone strange or out of place. You might have better luck at the market. I can't imagine anyone out in this snow storm."

Clicking his tongue, the soldier glanced at his partner, "if you discover an unusual person, inform the capital immediately. The King does not take kindly to liars." The man bowed slowly to the woman before removing himself from the restaurant

As the door slowly closed behind the man with a chime, the waitress sighed relief with a shudder. "Okay you two, the coast is clear. Just stay away from the windows. Don't want those pricks coming back."

Grace lifted her head from the aisle as the boy slowly stood. He reached his hand outwardly towards her as she graciously accepted. His hand was warm and his skin felt rugged but she didn't mind the calluses on his fingers. The waitress collected his silver coins from his table as her attention turned towards Grace who still held onto the boy's hand tightly.

"Your payment, miss?" The waitress grinned at the display, "That'll be twenty bronze or five silvers please."

Reality snapped into place. She's never had to pay for anything. It was always expected but she wasn't back at the castle. She ran off to a human village that not only disliked her status but also had its own currency. Grace didn't have twenty bronze or even five silvers. She didn't even know what their coins looked like. Frantically letting go of the boy's hand, she dug into her pockets searching for an item with value only to turn empty-handed.

Quietly she hesitated, "I left it at home."

It wasn't a lie but it also wasn't the whole truth either. A strange feeling engulfed her body. She didn't consider that a cup of tea and a sweet roll would have a price for something she expected every morning back home. Her wealth would inflate the economy and it never came to her mind that she'd be standing inside a human café.

The waitress turned cold as she approached the glass door, "Kid, if you can't pay then I have no choice but to turn you in to the authorities."

"Wait," Grace stuttered, "my values are at home. Can't I return with my debt?"

"Let me tell you a secret, kid." The waitress began to pull the handle as the bell chimed, "that's not how the real world works. If it was up to me, I'd let you leave without paying. But I have a family to feed, and I need this job. You're taking away from my family because you-" she sneered sarcastically, "forgot."

Her eyes lowered to her boots as she pondered on the human's words. Slowly backing away, Grace held her hands up searching her pockets one last time before her fingers touched her golden pendant. "I'm sorry," she lowered her head, "I have a family heirloom that may have some value."

Lifting the golden pendent of the kingdom's bird, her eyes met with the once kind stranger. Her pendant carried a Willow bird with the wings engraved in emeralds. Grace's mother gifted her the pin on her twelfth birthday. She knew the rare piece would be worth more than the village thanks to its embellished design of her family's crest. The pendant would be a fortune for any collector. Grace lifted her feet to walk to the woman with shaking hands as she felt her power grow hastily inside. The once wilting windowpane flowers began to climb the glass in an eerily glow as she tried to hide her gift knowing no human could discover her identity.

But as she began to walk toward the waitress, the young boy grabbed her arm pulling her back. Dazed in shock, Grace stumbled backward. She nearly forgot the boy was standing beside her as he stepped in front of her.

"Scamming an outsider, again?" The boy smirked, "since when did a cup of tea and a sweet roll cost five silvers?"

Closing the door, the human exchanged the boy's gaze. Her expression turned sour as the boy walked to the front counter and placed two silver coins from his ragged pocket. He turned his attention back to Grace with his hand held out for her as the waitress frowned. Without a second thought, she rashly strolled to the young human and grabbed his coarse hand. She could feel her cheeks cool as the Stinging Nettles simmered. The boy gave a slight tug as he led Grace out of the restaurant. His hands gripped hers as they braced the strong winds while the snow hailed from above.

He peered over his shoulder swiftly, "Are you cold?" Before she could speak, the boy removed his red scarf to wrap it around her neck covering half of her face.

"Where are we going?" Grace whispered while pressing her body against his back.

The two power-walked down the street before turning to a road full of crowded brick homes, "my home. My cottage is just ahead. You can call your parents when we get there."

"Thank you," Grace uttered, "for helping me. I'll pay you back-"

"No need," he smiled, "You're not from around these parts, right? Regina is always scamming newcomers. I was supposed to be home a while ago but I figured she'd try to pull you."

Grace smiled at the thought of a human looking out for her, "you could say that. My parents are going to kill me when they find out I'm not home. Did I stick out that bad?"

A hint of worry crossed the boy's face as he stared at her intently, "your parents don't know you're out in this weather?"

Her cheeks reddened widely as she wondered if she could blame the cold winds for her discomfort, "it's not a big deal." She drew her breath at the lie before continuing, "I just have to be back before curfew."

The road ahead turned into soil as Grace breathed the stench of oak wood. As she began to climb through the trenches of built-up snow from the bearing treetops, the human held out his hand to assist her. "Is this your first time visiting Coppell?"

Grace's eyes fell to the boy's hand as she gently squeezed her fingers between his. She allowed the human to guide her through the wooden path as the pathway grew slimmer. Her father said there were no similarities between humans and wisterians but at that moment- she couldn't find a single difference in his palms. "Yeah, I just wanted to see what it was like." She smiled softly as her eyes caught the boy studying her, "I didn't mean to cause trouble."

There was a pause of silence. And the moment felt sweet as her cheeks cooled. Grace could only imagine her mother's face if she saw her daughter not only holding hands with a mere commoner but a human. She didn't know where the boy was taking her or what his name was, but she felt weirdly safe in the company of a human. She felt natural and at ease. A tinge of happiness rose in her chest at the thoughts that swarmed her mind as she imagined a world where humans and wisterians could hold hands- and maybe each other- without an uproar. Grace closed the space between her and the boy as she pressed her body close to embrace his warmth. His aroma pierced her nose as she breathed in what appeared to be a faint smell of dirt and mahogany wood. She couldn't help but wonder what other humans smelt of and if humans used fragrances like Wisterians.

"There's no one around here who looks like you." The boy froze realizing he'd overstepped, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean- It's just-" he looked up from his shoes and his eyes rested on the girl's beauty. Her slick hair was fair that fell down her shoulders with vibrant green eyes. She looked exotic and her accent was elegant. He watched as the girl lifted his scarf over her freckled nose with unease, "this is a small town. Everyone knows everyone."

Grace parted her lips to smile as they continued to pace themselves through the snowfall. She was grateful that she took the chance to visit Coppell. "I'm just passing through."

Everything her father had referred to humans as was a lie. Her head spun at the thought of being crowned as Queen. She'd make sure that humans would be valued and their existence wouldn't stand for spite and sin. The streetlights glowed in the foggy distance as the two departed from the main roads. She felt fond of this human who willingly helped her despite his pitiful status. She didn't realize she squeezed his hand as the two approached his home.

The two stopped at a dwindled house. Grace's heart sunk when she read the two words- Coppell's Orphanage- placed brokenly on a thin sign. She looked down to realize they were still holding hands as he approached the doorsteps. Grace has only come upon the word in the books back home.

Letting go of the boy's hand, she turned her attention to him. Grace couldn't imagine a single Wisterian who carried as much charisma and refinement as this human. His eyes were something like a dream. Warm and inviting. She smiled at the human while stretching her hands behind her back with her heels rocking in place, "my name is Grace. But I like you so you can call me Gracie."

She froze in place, noticing a startled look in the human as his cheeks grew pink. It must've been the cold because his pigment didn't change as he returned the smile, "Vladimir. My name is Vladimir Reed." He spoke sweetly as he opened the splintered doors to the orphanage.

Grace drew a sharp breath as she followed his steps and briefly stopped at the door frame. Her parents would be in a frenzy if only they knew she was about to step foot into a low rank. She beamed as she poked the human's shoulder, "I'll call you Vladdy!"

With a loud thud, the duo fought the strong winds to close the door. Grace set her book and pendant on the mud room table as Vlad kicked off his boots on the floor. Small chunks of the snowfall had blown in and clung to the weathered floorboards.

Vlad's home smelt of mahogany and detergent. She assumed the constant rumbling sound was their washing arrangements as she followed the young human to his small dainty entertainment space. To her anguish, she blinked in fear at the sight of the guards speaking to a frail woman with thick ember hair. The human looked pale and her hair stopped at her chest. When the woman turned her attention to the two, Grace could only assume the woman was responsible for Vladimir. They shared the same eyes and sweet smiles. Her eyes were sunken and a distorted row of freckles covered her rosy cheeks.

The guards turned in astonishment at their sheer luck as they bowed to the duo, "my lady, the King, and Queen request your return right away."

Heat rose to Grace's cheeks as she could feel the boy's eyes study her posture and she forced her attention to the maiden of the Orphanage. A look of curiosity panned the woman's face as she turned her body to the two and bowed beside the guards. Grace's chest squeezed in panic at the thought that the human recognized her. Before Grace said a word, the guards separated her from the human she considered a friend. She lowered her head in shame at the thought of what her father might do to Vladimir and his home if he suspected that the poor boy knew of her identity. No one could know about her behavior.

Turning to the woman, the guard bowed respectfully as she straightened herself. "On behalf of the royal capital, we apologize for any inconvenience or distress that we may have caused. The King will reward you greatly, Lady Reed, for keeping her safe."

Vlad turned to the woman in confusion as the guards swiftly guided Grace from his side. Her chest grew tight as she opened her mouth to say something but she fell silent as her eyes landed on the woman. The woman's face held a hint of sadness as she held the boy behind by gently wrapping her fingers over his shoulder.

Despite her feeble attempts to say her goodbyes, the guards removed her from the orphanage. Their fingertips dug into her forearms as they sauntered down the broken stairs. She sulked to a carriage waiting for her outside. The golden frame remained still in the harsh winds as snow fell heavily from the grey sky. Vladimir followed her and watched her from his doorway only to realize she left her journal and pendant on a frail mud table. Her carriage disappeared with trails of snow parting in the air as the young boy chased after her. His breath felt sharp as he stumbled in the snow dropping the leather book. As he picked the girl's book from the snow, he saw a page with his drawing and stared at the darkened horizon.

As her carriage disappeared, she realized she was still wearing the human's scarf. Wrapping the material in her hands, she held it to her nose to remember the human's smell. She couldn't help but hope that she would be able to return to visit the boy but she knew her thoughts were intrusive and impossible. But more importantly, she knew her father was lying.