🦇


Ivy was early, as she always was most of the time. After a short and cold conversation with Julia, who under no circumstance wanted Ivy to talk to Wren had made it clear that they would only meet once a week all together at the library.She choose thursday for unknown reasons.


Ivy feared her encounter with Wren. She didn't know much about his personality: she only knew the distan basics. He's son of Bill Westerson, a very important person here in Devilson Maine. He's the one in charge of the external relationships and who gets in and out. He may even be more important than Maire Lowe himself.

And it's no secret that Wren's going to be the next Maire. The Lowe and Westersons have always been good friends and since Owen Lowe had no children, logically the first born of the most prestigious family gets the easy way in.


But other than that and the rumors of him having love issues, Ivy didn't know much else. She knew he was a lot nicer than his monstrously cruel brother: Winn. But Ivy didn't have much right to judge knowing what she's done.


The library door opened, taking Ivy back to reality. She stood up as quietly as possible even though she was alone and turned around.

There Wren Westerson appeared, as nonchalant as ever.


                               🕊


Violet Isabelle Mercury sat at her dinner table, working on her project. She was a very studious girl and had already applied to become a Reign. She couldn't imagine following her parents footsteps of being simple baker. Sure it was the best bakery in their small town and Anne and Dean Mercury wanted all their children to keep it going,  but Violet needed more.


It's not surprising that people that aren't ideal for the role of Reign or Supreme to want to apply. Violet had prepared an entire booklet of why they should choose her, but her reasons were a little sloppy compared to some of the higher class children's . Violet had prepared herself alone and told her parents only when the package was sent to Mount Halston.

Her parents were always supportive of their children no matter what, but the disappointment she saw on her Dean and Anne's face hurt her.


Later that day her older sister came in her bedroom and together they talked about the application.

Eleanor and her had always been very close. She was the who helped her out in school, she taught her who she should stay with and who to avoid. That contributed to the town's praising towards the Mercury family.

They also shared gossip about the people surrounding them, especially Wren Westerson, who Violet had a crush on since he gave her a violet in gardening class back when they were only children.


Violet could never forget that night. Her sister questioned her as if she were some sort of criminal and when trying to make her sister understand, it came out all wrong. Eleanor caught onto that and asked Violet, horrified, if she considered herself superior to her family because she was smarter.

Violet had always had the best grades and she was every teacher pet, even those she didn't have class with. Her family didn't think much of it and sometimes even hinted that her studies weren't that important since she was going to work in the bakery.


But Violet wanted to do something important. She didn't like the mold her parents had fit into her. She wanted to be able to do what she wanted. But what she especially needed was to distance herself from her family, only on the work perspective though.

But they didn't seem to want to let that happen, so eventually when the hand written notes from the Supremes and Reigns arrived she knew what she had to do.


                             🦋


Josefine lived the closest to Mount Aphrodisiac. She always loved walking up the small way that led at the beginning of the path to the Supremes. Her dream, unlike all the other girls who wished they would be chosen to be the next Supremes or Reign, was to go on top of both Mounts.

She didn't care much about politics and never really understood why they had so much power over Devilson Maine. She wasn't strong minded like the rest of her family: her mother and father were both very important members in the Maire's office. John Lancaster being the Maire's voice and her mother, Cassandra the police chief.

Her two older siblings both wanted to be something big: her sister Anneliese was running to become a Reign and her brother Josef was going to be a police officer.

Josefine stood out from her family, she didn't think too much about her future and simply enjoyed her freedom. She knew that, sooner than later, her parents would force her to become something she didn't want to be.


Earlier at dinner, her parents had stat her down, alone. They asked what she wanted to do. She answered honestly: she had no idea.

That got both of them frustrated and they continued with their lectures and already answered questions: Where do you expect to be in life if you don't know where you're going? How can you not know?! You're 16 years old! Even when I was younger I knew what to do! Look at your sister, she's got perfect life! We just don't want you on the streets, which is where you're going to be if you don't start looking into your future!


Josefine chased the conversation away, she stayed quiet the entire time as they continued insult after insult.

Why was everyone so focused on the future? What was so wrong with enjoying nature? She wasn't going to be young forever, why not appreciate it as she still had it? Soon enough she'd be forced to marry.

The thought of it disgusted her.


Suddenly, she approached a little too much the bordure and realised she'd crossed the line separating her from Devilson Maine. She'd crossed it many times before but she always went back afraid to get caught. However after everything that happened today, she needed a distraction. So she went down the path, the weather degrading as she stepped father and farther into the unknown land.