“Well, here we are,” Nostra says as we approach the real-life version of my new home. Just like the miniature version he showed me, my cottage does indeed have a bright red door with a rose engraved upon it. Either side of the door are two, small square windows. Through one window I can see a vase of wildflowers sitting on the sill. It is single story, built with grey stone. It has a red brick roof and there is strange purple smoke pouring out of the chimney. It’s like something out of a fairy tale.

“Is someone inside?” I ask, pointing to the smoke dispersing above us.

“No, that would be my magic. I have spelled a fire to warm the hearth. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind?”

“Well, unless it’s for protection, the brothers don’t like my magic in their home. I can understand their wariness, given my sister used magic to curse them all.”

“Should I be worried. I mean, is there anything I need to do, or not do? I don’t want to set off some kind of magical alarm or anything.”

Nostra chuckles. “My magic is very… accommodating, shall we say. Come inside, let me show you around.”

I follow Nostra into the cottage. Inside it is not dissimilar to his own home. There’s an open plan kitchen with table and seating area, a double bedroom and bathroom to the back. I have running water but no mod-cons, which is understandable considering what I’ve seen of Ever Vale so far. Technology is most definitely not a concept here. Everything inside the cottage is run on Nostra’s magic, or so it would appear. It’s incredible, and completely baffling all at the same time.

“Do you like it?” Nostra asks.

“It’s lovely. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You just did,” Nostra winks.

“What do I do now?” I falter. “I mean, I don’t know any of the customs here. People will wonder who I am. I might do something wrong.”

“You needn’t worry about any of that. I will deal with any gossip. As far as the people are concerned, you are a member of Clan Lux who has escaped the Queen’s castle and has sought refuge here. It is, in part, the truth. They need know nothing more. At least, not yet anyway.”

“So they think I am a vampire?”

“Yes, it is better that way.”

“But I don’t drink blood. Won’t they wonder about that?”

“Drinking blood is a private business, it is not talked about amongst our people. They will just assume you are feeding like all the other vampires. Do not worry, Accacia, all will be well.”

“What are those?” I ask, pointing to several dresses hanging from a rail in the corner of the room. “I mean, I know what they are…”

“The women of Ever Vale do not wear clothes like yours,” Nostra says, pointing to my jeans and jacket. “I thought it better you had some dresses to wear. It will help you fit in.”

“Dresses?” I blow out a breath. “I don’t really wear dresses.”

“I’m afraid if you wish to remain as anonymous as possible, the dresses are a must. Women folk do not wear trousers such as those.”

I remember the dresses Ilana and the other women were wearing the first night I arrived in the hamlet. “Okay, I’ll take a look through them later,” I say, noticing that most seemed to be far too fancy for my simple tastes.

“What do I do about food? I mean, if they all think I feed on blood I can’t exactly go to the market and buy the things I need. Not to mention I don’t have any money.” I start to feel a little panicky about the practicalities of living in Ever Vale. Perhaps this is going to be harder than I first thought.

“We do not use money here. We work on the basis that if you want something you swap it with something else of use. Besides, I have thought about that.” Nostra twirls his hand in the air, and on the table more food appears. There are apples, berries, bread, cheese, milk and some other items I don’t recognise but look edible nonetheless.

“This is lovely, but I can’t keep expecting you to turn up every time I am hungry or in need of something.”

“I won’t need to. My magic will sense when you need sustenance, and will supply food to you when you require it,” Nostra says with a shrug, as though it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

“I see.” I drop onto a chair, feeling overwhelmed again.

Nostra sits down next to me. “It will take some getting used to, but you will be okay. Rhain, Ezra, Devin, they will look after you. You need only ask, and they will be here in an instant.”

“It will take a lot of getting used to. I know I will never be able to return home…” I am interrupted by a scratching at the front door and a muffled meow.

“Looks like you have a visitor,” Nostra says, getting back up. He strides over to the door, pulling it open. Mr Tickle strolls in.

“It looks like Mr Tickle has no problem with his new environment,” I say with a laugh as he saunters in and plonks himself by the fire.

“No, indeed he does not.” Nostra hovers by the door, and I get the distinct impression he needs to be elsewhere. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“I don’t think so. Thank you, Nostra.”

He dips his head. “Remember, if you need any of us, you know where we are.”

“Thanks,” I repeat, as he closes the door behind him.

* * *

After spending the day settling in to my new home and sleeping a little, I decide to head out into the hamlet once darkness has fallen to take a look around. This time I am wearing one of the dresses Nostra left me. The one I have on is the least fussy of the lot. It is a light grey colour with a sweetheart neckline, long sleeves and skirt, and a fitted bodice. I feel completely overdressed.

My cottage is on the edge of the hamlet, still within the walls of Nostra’s magic but far enough away from the centre to feel private, so it takes me a few minutes to get to the hubbub that is the central marketplace. Immediately, I am accosted with the smell of the goods available to swap. There are leather skins on one stall, fruit and vegetables on another, items of clothing, freshly baked bread and all manner of tools available. I get the occasional questioning look, but mostly I am treated no differently to everyone else. Stopping at one stall, I pick up a hand-woven basket. The woman behind it gives me a friendly smile.

“You are Accacia, are you not?”

“Yes,” I respond, taken aback that she knows my name.

“This is a small hamlet. We all know each other here. I am Florence, it is good to meet you.”

“And you.” I smile, not sure what else to say.

“I hear you left the castle.”

“That’s right. I couldn’t take living there anymore…” I stutter.

“You are one of Clan Lux born of the curse? Who are your parents? I might know of them,” Florence asks. She seems friendly enough, but there is a hint of steel behind her eyes that warns me to be careful.

“I am,” I say. It is not a lie, just not quite the truth as she perceives it. “My parents are dead. I doubt you know them.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, and this time her eyes soften a little. “Why don’t you take that basket? My gift to you.”

“I couldn’t possibly,” I say immediately, placing the basket back down on the table.

“You should take it as offered, Cia.”

Florence’s eyes widen, before she bows her head slightly. I look over my shoulder. Behind me is Rhain.

“If Florence wishes to gift you a basket, you should take it as is the custom of our community,” he says, picking it up and handing it to me. I take it from his hands.

“Yes, you must. Please, take it,” Florence insists. She is looking at Rhain warily. He nods in her direction, places his hand on the small of my back and guides me away from the stall. I glance back at Florence, who is watching us both with interest. Once we are out of earshot and in a quieter section of the hamlet, Rhain pulls me over to a bench where we take a seat.

“If you wanted to take a look around the hamlet, I would have gladly escorted you,” he says.

“I didn’t need an escort…” My voice trails off as I fiddle with the fabric of my skirt.

“I meant what I said before,” Rhain starts. “I cannot deny I am already finding it difficult to be apart from you, but I will stay away if that is what you wish.”

I glance at Rhain, at the frown that creases his forehead, and at the tension in his jaw. “I just need time. A little space.”

“I understand. Then I shall leave you in peace,” he says. I grab his hand before he is able to walk away.

“This is no reflection on you, or Ezra and Devin. All of this is hard to deal with, not just you three vampires,” I say with a small smile so he knows I mean no disrespect.

“I have waited a thousand years, I can wait a few more weeks, I suppose,” Rhain says, returning my smile. He places a soft kiss against my lips, then stands.

“Goodnight to you, Cia.”

“Goodnight, Rhain,” I whisper back.

As I watch him walk away, I feel the importance of my situation keenly. This isn’t just about me anymore, this is as much about the people of Clan Lux, of Ever Vale. The weight of that responsibility sits heavy on my shoulders.